Will’s 30th 🎂
30 for 30 🏃
Saturday 31 January 2026
Save the date to your calendar by scanning/clicking the QR code above (or click here)
Please RSVP using the form below!
🎂 Countdown to being 30 (28 Jan 2026)
🎉 Countdown to the Run & Party (31 Jan 2026)
About the Day
What on Earth is this?
As you might be aware, I am turning 30—like many of you have already done so or are deciding to do shortly.
I wanted to celebrate this notably unglamorous milestone with those special to me in a way that I find personally significant: through running! I’ll be doing a KM for each year of life: a 30K round Oxford, and I would love you to join for as much or as little as you wish.
Don‘t worry: There is no expectation to run if you don’t want to. There’ll be a good, old-fashioned party afterwards for all to enjoy!
How will this work?
I have planned out a 30KM route around Oxford (see below). This will start at midday and will be run at a consistent pace, so the timings will be predictable for where/when/if you wish to join. I’ve suggested some options below of how you might join for a portion (which I’d love if you did, even if just for the end!).
The run will start and finish at Wolfson College, Oxford, OX2 6UD and take place fully in the daylight.
I will then be hosting a party in our Cellar Bar: expect very cheap drinks (bring a little bit of your own drink before the bar proper opens), plentiful pizza for all, darts, pool, tunes, a quiz, and even a spot of karaoke as the night draws in.
When will this all happen?
12:00-15:15 — The 30 for 30 run – join for all, some, or none.
15:15-16:00 — Wash and change – plentiful shower and change facilities will be available.
16:00 onwards — Party in the Bar!
02:00 (at the latest) — The Cellar Bar formally closes for the night
The 30 for 30 Route
The route will be a mix of my usual running paths, some of the prettiest streets in the city (with plenty of great sights along the way), and even includes the usual parkrun route! Join for all, some, or none of it – it’s up to you. Just let me know in the RSVP.
The first 20KM will be run at a consistent 6:00 min/km (9:39 min/mile) pace.
20-29KM will be 6:30 min/km (10:30 min/mile).
The final KM will be at the walking pace of the group (and hopefully any non-runners might be keen to join for this part).
I’ll share updates during the run and I will have live location sharing on in the WhatsApp chat for the duration!
| Time | KMs | Route Section |
|---|---|---|
| 11:50-12:00 | 0 | Meet at Wolfson Lodge |
| 12:00-12:30 | 0-5 | Wolfson - Marston - Cowley Road |
| 12:30-13:00 | 5-10 | Cowley Road - Hinksey - Folly Bridge |
| 13:00-13:30 | 10-15 | Folly Bridge - Summertown (Woodstock Rd) |
| 13:30-14:00 | 15-20 | Summertown - St John's College |
| 14:00-14:33 | 20-25 | Central Oxford to Uni Parks |
| 14:33-15:00 | 25-29 | Two laps of Uni Parks (like parkrun) |
| 15:00-15:10 | 29-30 | The Final Walk to Wolfson! |
FAQ
😬 I loathe running, why are you doing this?
I know it’s far from innovative, but running has genuinely changed my life for the better in so many ways. I love the way it’s changed my outlook on so many things—and I also love it when others join me (as many in college will know when I try and drag them along to parkrun on a Saturday morning).
I’m training for Brighton marathon, so this will be a training run and I thought it’d be special to share the time with others.
🌧️ Isn't the weather usually miserable in late January?
Correct, consistently so in fact. When growing up, it frequently used to snow on my birthday; nowadays it’s usually horrible rain or sleet with a greater chance of sunshine on the dark side of the moon. If I could have been born in June, trust me, I would have taken it, but we are where we are.
Potential for precipitation notwithstanding , it’s much easier to run when it’s cooler than when it’s baking hot—and this will go ahead no matter the conditions, believe me!
⛰️ Isn't it a faff hosting this in Oxford?
Yeah for everyone who doesn’t live here, I do appreciate it means you have to travel during your Saturday morning. The good news is that Oxford is very easy to get to: it’s served by trains from both Paddington and Marylebone and a very convenient and speedy 24/7 coach service. I would normally host my birthday in London to make it easier for the majority, but I wanted to celebrate this milestone in the place that is both special to me and which I call home.
Trains can be as cheap as ~£3.50 each way when booked at Advance rate with a railcard – why not check your journey on National Rail Enquiries and avoid being extorted by the booking fees of the greatest unconscious scam company in modern Britain: Trainline.
If you want to park, no problem: there is plentiful road parking on Linton Road and the other roads surrounding college which is free-of-charge from 1pm.
🙄 Fine - what should I bring?
Hooray! If you’re running, obviously bring what you need to run and anything you’ll want to wear for the evening. Bring clothes for the cold and wet. Once we’re at Wolfson, there’s no point at which we shouldn’t be undercover.
For the party, bring a little bit of your own drink before the bar properly opens. No need to bring food, pizza will be there.
Apart from that, just bring your lovely selves – please don’t feel any pressure for gifts. Seeing you would be more than enough!
🎒 Where can I leave my stuff?
If you’re arriving before the run starts I’ll have a bag drop. I’ll arrange a drop off point for those who arrive after the run has started, too – don’t worry, plentiful easy space to store your stuff safely.
🏃 So how does the run actually work if I'm only doing a bit of it?
I’ll be sharing my live location and running the exact route I set out above to those exact timings. I’ll share updates on WhatsApp so you can know where to join. You can run with the group for as long or as little as you wish – it should be a nice communal vibe, but there is no pressure to stick along for any longer than you want! We’ll all be reassembling back at Wolfson for the whole evening anyway.
🎉 Can I just come to the party and not run?
Yes, absolutely. Did you actually read the rest of the page?
1️⃣ Can I bring a plus one?
Absolutely, please just let me know by doing a separate RSVP entry for them!
🎂 This is the most important bit — please RSVP so I know numbers! 🎂
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