Marathon races near Basingstoke

A midweek run to chase personal bests. The course follows the River Thames. Runners can complete it multiple times within the 7-hour limit.

The Abingdon Marathon begins at 9am from Tilsley Park in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, and has been run since 1982. It is one of the UK’s older marathons, featuring a flat, fast, mostly road course that attracts runners aiming for personal bests and those seeking a first marathon that feels manageable. The race is organized by runners for runners, with a committee bringing over 125 combined years of experience. Club runners come from across the country, entries can sell out, and the event operates strictly not-for-profit, with surplus funds allocated to local charities and selected organizations.

Scare Bear Run is an annual spooky-themed run held at Herrington Country Park in Houghton-le-Spring, near Penshaw and New Herrington. It is designed as an inclusive event for all abilities, welcoming both walkers and runners. The theme draws on 1980s Care Bears nostalgia, reimagining the concept into a cute yet slightly menacing finisher medal. Members receive a reduced entry price of £17, assured entry, and a mini-me medal pin at each event they participate in.

The Lancaster Bomber Run is a Phoenix Running timed event on the River Thames, held on the Friday of a Remembrance-themed weekend. Participants select their own distance, from 5K or 10K up through half marathon, marathon, and ultra, by completing the desired number of laps. Each lap covers 5.3 km, or 3.28 miles, on an out-and-back course along the Thames. Completing a single lap qualifies a runner as a finisher. The event acknowledges the bravery of Lancaster bomber crews. The weekend also features the annual Lest We Forget run and the Remembrance Day Run, allowing participants to combine multiple events and medals, including a substantial 1 kg anniversary medal at the Remembrance Day event.

We Will Remember Poppy Run is a midweek running event built around remembrance, with entrants marking the sacrifice of people who died in conflicts around the world. It is set up as a low-cost event rather than a high-pressure race, with multiple distances implied by the entry options and a lowest-price tier reserved for members. The event welcomes runners of all abilities, and walkers can join too, so it suits people chasing a personal goal, adding another finish to their tally, or simply wanting a purposeful midweek outing. Each participant receives a Poppy medal, and £5 from every entry fee goes to charity.

PHOENIX - Lest We Forget is a remembrance-themed running event on the River Thames, held around Remembrance Day. Runners have seven hours to cover as much or as little distance as they want, with options starting at 5km and stretching through 10km, half marathon, marathon, and ultra distance. The route uses repeated laps of a 5.3km out-and-back course along the Thames, so one lap is enough to finish and longer distances come from carrying on. All abilities are welcome, and every finisher receives a bespoke medal shaped around an Unknown Soldier silhouette in antique brass, showing a lone soldier paying respects to the fallen; the ribbon can be removed with a Velcro join, and the medal stands on its own base. PHOENIX also runs an annual Remembrance Day Run the following day, with a separate 1kg medal, so some runners make a full weekend of the two events.

The Remembrance Run South is a running event for Remembrance Day featuring a 7 hour and 2 minute time challenge. Participants select their desired distance, starting with a minimum of 3km. There is no set race distance beyond the number of laps they choose to complete. At 11:00 AM, the event stops for a two-minute silence to honor fallen service members; these two minutes are deducted from official finish times. A full lap is typically 4.37 miles (7km), but the loop may change to 3.28 miles if course conditions necessitate. The route also incorporates 3k and 5k turn points, offering younger runners and those seeking a shorter distance a defined option within the same event structure.

The Riverside Marathon & Half Marathon, a Phoenix Running event, takes place on the River Thames. It starts and finishes at Xcel Sports Hub Stadium on Waterside Drive in Walton-on-Thames. The event provides marathon and half marathon races on a UKA-certified, accurately measured course. Entry is limited to 250 participants, and runners must be at least 18 years old. The route uses the off-road riverside towpath, heading from Walton-on-Thames towards Hampton Court and returning. Half marathon participants run 4 laps, and marathon runners complete 8 laps. This course is suitable for those who prefer a flat, repeatable path with no significant elevation changes. Every finisher will receive a medal, and Phoenix Running also awards medals or mementos for their in-person and virtual events.

The Donut Dash is a Sunday-morning 5K and 1K Fun Run held at Fairfax Corner in Fairfax, Virginia. Virtual 5K and 1K options are available for those who prefer to run at their own location. The live race begins at 8:00 a.m. on a paved course. The format is straightforward: complete the short road distance, cross the finish line, and enjoy donut-themed post-race refreshments. Participants who pre-register receive a Donut Dash shirt, a distinctive bib, a medal, post-race snacks, complimentary race photos, and a digital finisher certificate. The live 5K is electronically timed by Commonwealth Race Management, utilizing ChronoTrack disposable bib tags, with results published immediately after the event. Awards are presented to the top three overall male and female finishers, as well as the top three male and female runners in five-year age categories ranging from 14-and-under to 80-and-over. Virtual runners receive the event merchandise but are not eligible for awards.