Jersey Half Marathon: Course, Elevation & Route Profile

Course & Elevation

Start and finish are on the cycle track at Les Quennevais Sports Centre in St Brelade, and the gun goes early, at 08:00. The first three kilometres stay on the high ground at around 75 metres, then the course falls almost to sea level by 6 km. A section through the lanes of St Ouen with a short rise around 8 km follows, before the second half runs largely flat along the coast back south. From about 17 km it climbs roughly 60 metres in one go, with a short pitch around 15 percent, and the last two kilometres cross the high ground back to the finish.

Roads are not closed: you keep left, Honorary Police and marshals manage traffic, and walkers and cyclists have right of way. Water is at the start, at 3, 6.5, 9 and 11 miles and at the finish, in cups only. There is no strict cut-off, but the organiser expects finishers within three and a half hours.

Pacing Strategy

The first half is deceptive: after the drop to the coast everything feels easy, and going faster than target pace here costs you twice at the end. Run the descent relaxed and use the flat coastal stretch to settle into an even rhythm rather than banking time.

The race is decided from 17 km. The climb back to the high ground arrives with 17 kilometres already in your legs; pace it by effort and let the watch slow down clearly. At the top there are nearly two flat kilometres where a climb run under control turns into places. If there is a headwind on the coast, it pays to run in a group.

Training plan for Jersey Half Marathon: 12-week build

For most age-group runners the Jersey Half Marathon means one and a half to two and a half hours of steady work at half-marathon effort, mostly on flat to rolling road. What sets it apart is a single serious climb shortly before the finish.

Build long runs of 90 to 120 minutes that include a hill in the final quarter, and practise running it at half-marathon rhythm by effort. Short hill repeats of one to three minutes once a week give your legs the strength for the steep pitch around 18 km.

The race starts at 08:00 in June. Rehearse getting up early, eating and running in the morning a few times beforehand. The coast can be windy and the stations hand out cups only, so it is also worth training with a small bottle of your own or practising drinking from cups on the move.