Imagine running a one hour seven minute half marathon inside an airport

When most of us get to the airport, we tend to spend the extra hours looking at the duty free or just consuming expensive coffee, but why not use that time to get a bit of training done?

Well, YouTubers Josh Pieters and Archie Thomas Manners went one step further and organised a half marathon race in Terminal 5 at Heathrow airport. 

The logistics of pulling it all off involved recruiting some pro runners, buying plane tickets to Belfast (because it was the cheapest flight they could find) and measuring a 2.1-km loop around the departure lounge, for runners to complete 10 times – all while dodging security. The result? A half marathon like no other. 

Runners needed to successfully complete the distance between clearing security for their flight and arriving at their gate, which closed 4o minutes before departure. 

Pro athletes taking part included Team GB athletes Josh Griffiths, who won the 2021 London Marathon, and Steeplechaser Dan Jarvis.

Jarvis took the win in 67:30, just in time to receive his medal and arrive at his gate – and with a whole 10 minutes to spare. 

Bandit races are not a new thing and modes of transport have often been the source of inspiration – remember this Race To The Tube video from a few years ago? 

Why? We're not sure. But they certainly make for good viewing.

posted Thursday December 1st
by Runner’s World