Helsby Running Club’s 42nd Four Villages Half Marathon (4VHM). One of the only Half Marathons in the UK organised by a community running club for runners.
Race taking place on Sunday 18 January 2026 at 10:30am
By a community running club. For the running community.
The 4VHM is back for 2026! We’re proud to be one of the main feature races for those training for the London and Manchester Marathons.
Please note there is a strict 3 hour cut off. This is due to road closure timings and the safety of runners/volunteers during a winter race. If you are at the 10 mile marker/clock after 2 Hours 20 Minutes from the official race start, you will be politely asked to stop and transported to Race HQ.
Free park & ride (TRIPLE THE BUSES FROM LAST YEAR – PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY buses start at 8am!)
Please don’t park on residential streets around Helsby, there is especially no parking at Tesco or along the main road/side streets. Parking marshals will be enforcing this along the main road and side streets throughout Helsby. We’re grateful to the local community for their support. Please note there is no runner participant parking available at Race HQ/Helsby Community Sports Club.
Our official FREE car parks with FREE complimentary coach transport to the start and back are: Essar/EET & Helsby High School
Please note: We have more than tripled our coach capacity to ensure you get to the start line in plenty of time! Please arrive early buses start at 8am!
PARK & RIDE CAR PARK 1 – The main FREE car park is provided from our partners at EET/ESSAR. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS DIFFERENT PARKING AREA THAN LAST YEAR
Runners parking is located at EET/Essar Stanlow Induction Centre (For Google Maps search Pool Lane, Elton– W3W:///trails.branded.cubed
Please follow W3W or instructions here: At junction 14 M56, from the roundabout head towards Stanlow on the A5117 dual carriageway, turn right at second set of traffic lights (which is a crossroads) into Pool Lane, carry on about 200m along this road and on the right hand side is the Induction Centre/STANLOW GATE 6.
There will be coaches to transport you to the start/Race HQ and back to the car park after the race (it’s a 10 min journey). FIRST COACH WILL START BOARDING AT 8am – LAST COACH WILL LEAVE PARKING AREA AT 10am (30 mins before race!)
Please note: We have TRIPLED the amount of buses to ensure you get to the start area swiftly and we have full facilities available once you arrive at Race HQ.
Map download link click here (Image left)
PARK & RIDE CAR PARK 2 – Helsby High School
If travelling from the immediate local area, there is VERY LIMITED parking at Helsby High School (WA6 0HY). PLEASE NOTE THE HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE FULL BEFORE 9AM.
There will be coaches to transport you to the start and back to the high school after the race.
There will be a team of parking marshals on the streets who will be able to direct you if you are unsure where to park.
Help us make this the greenest half marathon around! We love running and racing and meeting up with like-minded folk but also recognise we’re contributing in our own small way to congestion and emissions, therefore please, where possible, consider car sharing. And please use the free buses to help us reduce the impact of congestion on the village keep the event going for years to come, we want to continue to be great neighbours!
START AREA/RACE HQ, PACE ZONES & TIMINGS
To manage people crossed the start line effectively we have moved to a waved start this year. Please take a look at the start map and ensure you are in the correct zoned area for your pace (you can choose on the day and pacers will be in the respective zone) Please see below the full details of the start area/race HQ including pace zones & timings.
IMPORTANT TIMINGS:
- 10:15am BAG DROP CLOSES
- 10:20am FIND YOUR PACE ZONE
- 10:30am RACE START
START AREA PACE ZONES:
- Sub 1:30 WHITE ZONE
- Sub 1:45 GREEN ZONE
- Sub 2:00 RED ZONE
- Sub 2:15 BLUE ZONE
- Sub 2:30/Over 2:30 YELLOW ZONE
Please note there will be marshals, pacers and signage to direct you to your zone at 10:20am.
Race route map
There’s an updated race route map, including the new variations to the course from 2022 (new start, mile 1, 8, 10). If you know the older course and want to recce the change, the biggest change is Well Lane around mile 8. UKA race certified and licensed. Adjusted and remeasured in 2022.
Water stations are at miles 5, 8, 10, and the finish (please note there are no gels).
NEW SLATE & OAK MEDAL FOR 2026
We’re excited to showcase the new Slate & Oak medal that you will be there waiting for you as you cross the finish line!
Thank you to our medal partners Tilia Craft, a small family business specialising in unique sustainable medals and trophies. They have really pulled out all the stops to make this medal special, with every single medal being hand crafted. The medal features an outline of the course revealing the slate centre, around the edge are the “four village” names of the 4VHM.
If you put on a race/event and looking for something special and looking to support a small family business then we can’t recommend Tilia Craft enough. They have been amazing to work with (especially as we’re all volunteers, so the having understandable communication is a big thing for us), so we hope you check them out: https://tiliacraft.co.uk
Timelapse of the 4VHM Course
Here’s a 5 minute preview the 4VHM route with a representation of the mileage and elevation throughout the course.
Please note this is an approximation giving you an idea of the ups/downs and twists/turns along the route.
Start & Finish areas
The start and finish are in two different locations.
Start: Helsby Community Sports Club WA6 0FX (W3W: ///seriously.activity.hungry)
Finish: Hornsmill Primary School (Denbigh Close, WA6 0ED) (W3W: ///hobbit.piano.centrally)
The finish is a short 5 minute walk back to Race HQ/Start area. Spectators are able to walk through the school yard to see the finish on Denbigh Close, but access is through a narrow gate so please be patient when busy. Please follow marshal guidance in the finish area and stay off the lawns of our patient neighbours!
Award Winning Half Marathon
We are thrilled that Four Villages Half Marathon won 1st place in the Half Marathons North category of the Challenge Awards presented by Runners World and powered by Let’s Do This.
Technical race running tops
This year we’re running a competition with local primary schools to design the artwork for our infamous technical T-shirts – all while engaging the next generation of runners! T-shirts are collected on race day from Race HQ. If you haven’t pre-ordered, we’ll have limited stock for sale on race day.
Your email address
Please be careful adding your email to your entry — it is our primary way of contacting you with any late-breaking news. We will not pass your address on without permission. You’ll receive race information, your number and chip in the post early in the New Year. We’ll also send details about the collection of your t-shirt, if you have ordered one.
For Local Residents
We sincerely thank the local community for their support in putting on this annual event. Here is a map of the road closures and further information you may find useful:
For The Community – Charity Donations
As well as giving you a great race, we also support a number of local charities from the money raised and make donations to the groups that help us out.
Last year we donated over £14,000 to over a dozen good causes throughout the local area including Halton Haven Hospice and the Hospice of the Good Shepherd.
A Special Thank You
Huge thanks to our regular headline sponsor of EET (Essar Energy Transition). We’re also grateful to Mick Hall Photos, and Addhire for their most excellent van loan. Without their help this race either wouldn’t happen or would cost you a lot more!
People that make this happen:
Voluntary Groups: Helsby & Frodsham Rotary, Elton Guides, Helsby Scouts, Ashton Scouts, Beacon Explorer Scouts, Dewa Explorer Scouts, Mersey Weaver Scouts, Alvanley Cricket Club, Helsby Cycling Club, Manley pre-school, Helsby Tennis club, Marie Curie Fundraising Group, Helsby WI, Halton Haven Hospice, Camp Project Wales.
Suppliers: Nifty Events, Blue Arrow, Timewise, Spark Medical, Acton Marquees Ltd, Cestrian Loos, Runner Print, Mick Hall Photography.
Supporters: EET, Helsby Community Sports Club, Horn’s Mill School & Pre school, Helsby High School, Addhire, Beesley & Fildes, Horn’s Mill Pub, Brio, Active Leisure – Chester Marathon, Big Bobble Hat. Many thanks to the residents along the entire course for their patience and support.
If we’ve forgotten anyone – thank you!
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please check out 4VHM FAQ’s page here or alternatively contact us via email on 4VHM@helsbyrunningclub.org.uk