Reading Half: Join the afterparty at Blue Collar Corner

The Reading Half Marathon is returning to the streets on Sunday, 22 March, with thousands of runners taking part in the annual event. 

It is the culmination of weeks of hard work and preparation for those taking part and many charities benefit from their fundraising. 

It is also a day of celebration and fun. 

So it should be no surprise that Blue Collar Corner wants to help people toast their success by opening specially for an unofficial Half Marathon After Party. 

The Hosier Street venue is home to the Biscuit Town Running Club for its twice-weekly runs, and its members will be welcoming people for a day of street food, beer and music from the Rum and Donuts DJs. Entry is free and the doors open at 11am. 

Glen Dinning, who runs Blue Collar, is looking forward to the event. 

“We did it for the first time last year, and it was a brilliant day,” he says. “We have always done bits and bobs around the Reading Half because it’s undeniably a big day in the Reading calendar, but last year did it properly. 

“We work closely with Biscuit Town Running Club and Rum and Donuts. They DJ at a lot of our events and are always, always great at getting the right tune for the right moment. We all came together for the after-party last year, and it was brilliant, with such a nice atmosphere.”

This atmosphere is something Glen feels goes across the town on days like the Reading Half. He gets in early to help the Blue Collar team get ready, and sees athletes getting shuttle buses from the town to the Select Car Leasing Stadium start line. 

“There is a really nice atmosphere in town, and when people have completed the half-marathon, they want that atmosphere to continue, that feel-good factor to continue.”

That bit of sunshine and happiness is to be expected … even though, as Glen admits, “It actually hammered it down with rain last year, but that didn’t put a dampener on anything!

“It seems logical and a bit of a no-brainer to do it again this year, and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Street food options will include meals from The Burger Society, Mac’s Deli sandwiches, and Swedish fried chicken, while Double Barelled Brewery beer will be available too, as will a special cocktail for runners to toast their success. 

“We will offer a welcome to everyone, whether they’ve run the Reading Half or not, in a big group or on their own. Everyone can come on in, because it’s all about celebrating Reading, celebrating community, and it’s just a nice day that deserves to be celebrated.”

For more on Blue Collar, log on to: https://www.bluecollarstreetfood.co.uk/

Photos: © Dijana Capan/DVision Images https://www.dvision-images.com/