Great West Run: course, pace table and race guide
The Great West Run is Exeter's half marathon, one of the longest-established road races in the South West.
The route starts in the city, loops through Exeter's streets and university area and finishes at Exeter Arena. It is a rolling course: Exeter is a hilly city and the race does not pretend otherwise.
Pace it by effort on the climbs and make up time on the descents. Runners who go out at flat-course pace usually pay for it in the last three miles.
Pace table for Half marathon
Find your target finish time to see the pace you need to hold and where you should be at halfway. For any other time, use the pace calculator, or print a set of mile splits with the pace band generator.
| Finish time | Pace per mile | Pace per km | Halfway |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:30:00 | 6:52 | 4:16 | 0:45:00 |
| 1:40:00 | 7:38 | 4:44 | 0:50:00 |
| 1:45:00 | 8:01 | 4:59 | 0:52:30 |
| 1:50:00 | 8:23 | 5:13 | 0:55:00 |
| 2:00:00 | 9:09 | 5:41 | 1:00:00 |
| 2:10:00 | 9:55 | 6:10 | 1:05:00 |
| 2:15:00 | 10:18 | 6:24 | 1:07:30 |
| 2:30:00 | 11:27 | 7:07 | 1:15:00 |
| 2:45:00 | 12:35 | 7:49 | 1:22:30 |
| 3:00:00 | 13:44 | 8:32 | 1:30:00 |
Paces assume even effort on a flat course. Hills, wind, heat and a crowded start all cost time, so start a little slower than the table says and aim to finish strongly.
Training for it
Give yourself enough weeks to build up gradually: the half marathon training plan sets out the sessions week by week, and the half marathon guide explains how to pace and fuel the distance. If you have a recent result at a shorter distance, the race time predictor will suggest a realistic target.
In the final week, cut your training right back (see tapering) and work through the race day checklist the night before.
On the day
- Arrive early. Allow an hour before the start for parking or public transport, baggage, toilets and finding your start pen.
- Wear your number on your front and do not fold or cover it. If your timing tag is on the back of the number, bending it can stop it reading. See how chip timing works.
- Start where your pace belongs. Your chip time only begins when you cross the start line, so there is nothing to gain by pushing to the front.
- Nothing new on race day. Wear shoes and kit you have trained in and eat a breakfast you have tested before a long run.
Staying nearby
Rooms close to the start go early on race weekends, especially for the larger events. Book as soon as your entry is confirmed and check the cancellation terms.
Search hotels in Exeter on Booking.com
Finding results
Results are published by the organiser or its timing company, usually on the day of the race. To make sense of a results table, see how to read race results. If you are looking for a time from a past year, how to find old race results lists the places worth checking. This site does not publish individual results.
More half marathons
- Cheltenham Half Marathon Cheltenham
- Coventry Half Marathon Coventry
- Plymouth Half Marathon Plymouth
- Hackney Half Marathon Hackney, London
- North London Half Marathon Wembley, London
- St Albans Half Marathon St Albans