Run Dorney Lake takes place on a November morning at the rowing lake near Dorney village in Buckinghamshire. The half marathon, 10k, and 5k races all begin together at 09:10. The venue hosted the London 2012 Olympic rowing events, meaning runners follow wide, open lakeside paths instead of town streets. Each distance is run on road, chip-timed, and sufficiently flat for the 5k and 10k to be suitable for personal-best attempts.
The course involves laps of the lake: one for the 5k, two for the 10k, and four laps with a U-turn on each for the half marathon. The elevation gain is minimal, measuring 8m for the 5k, 15m for the 10k, and 27m for the half. The focus is therefore on pacing rather than climbing. Entry includes a themed medal, free race photos, and post-race refreshments, contributing to a direct mass-participation atmosphere for club runners, those seeking personal bests, and participants opting for a shorter distance at the same location.