Halle (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Halle’s 1st Urban Run will have 6,000 students run 2.7 km through the city. Medals are for the fastest runners, while the event focuses on community and connecting students.
As VRT News reported, Halle’s secondary schools will hold their 1st Urban Run this year. Approximately 6,000 students are anticipated to participate. They will run 2.7 km around the city centre and the nearby park.
Students will be organised to start with their grade level, and not all at the same time, to prevent overcrowding. The event is open to everyone, but the fastest students who wish to compete in search of medals will be allowed to start first.
How did 6,000 students take part in Halle’s 1st Urban Run?
Each participant will carry a timing chip. This records their time and lets them see their results after finishing. The fastest runners are expected to finish in around 10 minutes, while others may take up to 25 minutes.
The Urban Run in Halle focused on connecting students and the wider community. Kris Weemaels, one of the organisers, said students enjoyed meeting peers from other schools. Teachers and school administrators also joined the runners along the course.
Local authorities will be involved in the event. Members of the city council and the police helped organise the event. The police ensured that streets along the route were closed to traffic and safe for participants.
Organisers said the event received positive reactions from students, teachers, and city officials. The event allowed students to run safely while interacting with others. Because of this success, schools are already planning a second edition of the Urban Run.
There have been many urban running events in Belgium before Halle, facilitating its first Urban Run in 2025. The Urban Run & Walk in Buizingen encouraged running or walking in and around this city on April 16, 2023, all whilst providing entertainment and support along the entire route.
Another is Urban Run Merksplas, which took place on May 31, 2025, and which is a running event organised by Meisjeschiro Merksplas; it additionally had distances between 6 and 10 kilometres, and encouraged participation from the community.
The BRITA Urban Trail in Brussels also attracts runners every year, with the next edition scheduled for June 29, 2026, allowing participants to explore the city while running 7 or 12 kilometres.
