It’s the Cambridge Half Marathon this month! Last year’s winner has some tips
The TTP Cambridge Half Marathon on 9 March is one of Britain’s most eagerly awaited annual running events. Both elite and aspiring runners are drawn to the event for its ‘fast and flat’ reputation, friendly crowds and historic scenery. Even the cobbled streets don’t put people off; there are set to be around 14,000 entrants taking part this year.
“I entered the Cambridge Half to try and match the course record,” says last year’s winner, Freddie Hessian, 31. “I ran the Bath Half in 65 minutes 40 seconds a couple of years before, so I knew that if I got myself into good shape I’d be able to approach the Cambridge record at around 65 minutes. In the event I ran 64 minutes 48 seconds, shaving about 30 seconds off and almost a minute faster than I’ve ever run before. That was the biggest shock to be honest. I was pushing the pace all the way.”
Freddie has been an elite runner for the last 16 years. “The Cambridge Half was my second half marathon, and certainly the fastest I’ve run,” he says. “It’s a really good course in that there aren’t that many corners and it’s all super flat. The only tricky bit is through the first college (St John’s) where you have to do a U-turn and you’re on gravel for quite a way.”
Training for any spring running event involves hours of building up distance and stamina in the wet, dark and cold. Freddie’s tip is to maximise your lunch hour and save the longer sessions for the weekend.
“On race day, it’s important to pace yourself,” he says. “Don’t get too hyped up in that first four to five miles of the race. We definitely all started off running a little bit too hard in 2024.”
Spectator support helps a lot too. “The Cambridge crowd was insane – it’s unbelievable,” says Freddie. “There’s this bit where you’re coming back into the city, passing runners on one side and the crowd on the other. It was just this amazing barrage of noise – really brilliant. Probably the best day of running I’ve ever had.”
