PR agency to run ABP Southampton Marathon media centre

Lee Peck Media will be running the ABP Southampton Marathon media centre on race day this Sunday.

Now in its 7th year, the ABP Southampton Marathon is one of the most inclusive and fun community highlights in the running calendar and takes over the city with a marathon, half marathon, a 10k and a fun run – the full and half marathon races start in the Guildhall Square at 9am, with the 10k starting at 10am.

More than 58,000 people have run a total of 750,000 miles since the marathon was first held in 2015 with more than £2m raised for local charities as well as generating in excess of £1.3m for the city’s economy each year. And this year’s it’s expected to be the biggest yet with the London Marathon, traditionally being held in April, now being held in the autumn.

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of receiving its Royal Charter, the University of Southampton’s Highfield Campus is a new landmark on the route of this year’s route.

With the 2022 course winding through the University’s grounds, Celebration Campus will welcome runners who have conquered the gruelling incline up Burgess Road with a much-needed watering station, while supporters and locals can enjoy the entertainment and atmosphere at the event.

The Marathon covers two laps around the city, starting and ending in Guildhall Square in the city centre. The route takes in key Southampton landmarks such as MAST Mayflower Studios, the docks, the Itchen Bridge, Weston Shore and St Mary’s Stadium, before heading through the University’s Highfield Campus – which, on the second lap, is just two miles from the finish line.

Chris Rees, Managing Director of Rees Leisure and event organiser, says: “After taking a break during Covid, and making a tentative return in 2021, we hope this year’s event will be bigger than ever. Getting our message out to our many audiences not least the regional media is key to our success and we’re delighted to have appointed Lee Peck Media to deliver our PR. We have worked with Lee and his team since our very first event in 2015 so they know us extremely well and have built up an enviable reputation for delivering outstanding results.”

Lee Peck, who has run eight marathons in his time plus ABP Southampton half marathons in 2017 and 2018, said: “The day is one of the highlights of the city’s calendar and brings the entire city together. It’s brilliant fun to be in the thick of it!”

Pictured (L-R): Lee Peck and Chris Rees