The short version
- Week one of a 12 week plan starts on Monday 28 December.
- Train for a Jersey winter: dark evenings, wind and country lanes.
- Be patient to 17 km. The last 4 km are mostly downhill, so that is where you race.
The Hospice Half is back on Sunday 21 March 2027.
It starts at 8am from the Hospice West Shop in St Ouen, winds through the lanes of St Ouen, St Mary and St John, and finishes at Jersey Hospice Care on Mont Cochon. It's a brilliant race for a brilliant cause, and one of the first big local races of the year. Whether it's your first half or you're after a PB, here's how I'd plan it.
Start on 28 December
Twelve weeks is about right for most people. Count back from race day and week one starts on Monday 28 December. I know, it's the week after Christmas. But it means you go into January with a routine already in place, instead of trying to find one.
If you can't run 6 to 8 km yet, don't panic. Start with Couch to 5K or First 10K now and make the Jersey Half in June your target instead. More on that below.
Training through a Jersey winter
- Dark evenings. Do your key session at the weekend or at lunch if you can. Save the easy runs for after work, with a head torch and something bright.
- Wind. Some days on the west of the island it gets windy. Run by effort, not pace. A slow kilometre into a headwind still counts.
- Lanes. The race is on country lanes, so get some of your long runs on them. You'll get used to the bends, the narrow bits and the short climbs.
What a normal week looks like
- One key session, like tempo or intervals, run at the right effort.
- One long run, building a bit at a time and kept easy.
- Easy runs that are actually easy. If you can't chat, slow down.
Every fourth week, ease off so your body can catch up. And never more than two hard sessions in a week.
What I learned racing it last year
I was first across the line last year. Looking back at my data, the biggest lesson for anyone running it is the shape of the course.
Settle in
There's a dip in the first few kilometres. It's easy to get carried away on it, so don't. Find your rhythm and let people go.
Be patient
The course slowly climbs and rolls through the middle, and my watch had the high point at around 17 km. I kept my effort steady and my heart rate only crept up by about 10 beats over that whole stretch.
Race
From there it's mostly downhill to Mont Cochon. The race info says the descent starts at Rue du Bel Vent, so that's your cue. My four quickest kilometres were the last four, and I ran the second half nearly a minute and a half quicker than the first. If you've held back, the drop gives you a free push. If you haven't, it's a long way down on tired legs.
The route has changed slightly this year to avoid St Ouen's Village, so the early kilometres might look a bit different. Have a look at the course map on the entry page before race day. I've written more on pacing in how to pace a half marathon.
Entries
It's a popular one and it sold out this year, so don't leave it late. Entries close on 14 March and there are no entries on the day. You can enter through the Jersey Hospice Care website.
Doing the Jersey Half too?
The Jersey Half Marathon is on Sunday 13 June 2027. Its 12 weeks start on Monday 22 March, the day after the Hospice Half. Take a week or so easy first, then go again.
See you out on the lanes.
Training for the Hospice Half?
All my half marathon plans are 12 weeks, so they line up with a 28 December start. First Half Marathon if it's your first one and you can already run 6 to 8 km. Break 100, Break 90 or Break 80 if you're chasing a time. Not sure which? Put a recent 5K or 10K into the pace calculator.
