Bournemouth · United Kingdom
5K races near Bournemouth
8 races in 2026
next one in 12 days
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Race calendar
Upcoming 5K races near Bournemouth
JUL 3
13JUL
Run · road · 5K
AVR Westbury 5K July
Westbury · 64 km away
21JUL
Run · road · 5K
Heddington 5K Series Race 2
Heddington · 76 km away
29JUL
Run · road · 5K
Wirral Seaside Run Race 5
Moreton · 29 km away
AUG 4
10AUG
Run · road · 5K
AVR Westbury 5K August
Westbury · 64 km away
16AUG
Run · road · 5K
Frome Running Festival
Frome · 65 km away
Bournemouth · 80 km
8 races mapped
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Recurring 5K races near Bournemouth
Races that repeat — weekly, monthly or yearly
The Maverick South Downs Trail 2026
Run the South Downs. The course crosses the East and West Sussex border, with woodlands, farm trails, and ridgeways. It's a challenge.
Think Pink Day 2
Run Bournemouth Saturday
The Run Bournemouth Saturday programme takes place on Bournemouth Prom in Bournemouth, Dorset. The main listed race is a 5K, with additional 2K, 15K, and 1K options available. It is part of the October Run Bournemouth weekend, utilizing the seafront near the BH2 5AA start area. This event is a short-distance, promenade-based race, distinct from a rural trail race.
Runners participate in a dusk run along the historic Bournemouth Pier as it is illuminated over the water. The Saturday schedule features a complete set of junior races, ensuring children and families are integral to the event. Charity runners have the option to link their entry to GoFundMe fundraising, and results from past editions allow participants to compare their performances.
Semi-Marathon Bournemouth
The coastal waterfront is the point of this one: a half marathon built around running along the littoral, with the sea close enough that the “smell of the ocean” feels like part of the pacing plan. It has the feel of a straightforward running day rather than a big production, using that “magnificent coastal city” setting as its main character.
Expect a course that keeps pulling you back toward the shore and the finish line, the kind of route where the view and the air do some of the work when your legs start asking questions. The field is pitched at both the seasoned runner and the passionate beginner, so it should suit someone chasing a solid effort as much as someone taking on the distance for the first time.
AJ Bell Great South Run
The AJ Bell Great South Run is a 10-mile road race in Southsea, taking place in October on a flat paved course designed for fast times. It begins and ends near the Portsmouth coast. A Saturday 5k is also held that weekend, offering a shorter, hill-free alternative for less experienced runners or those preferring a shorter distance.
The course passes the Spinnaker Tower, runs along Southsea Seafront, and goes through Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, including a section by HMS Victory. Participants include those aiming for personal bests, charity fundraisers, first-time runners, and well-known figures like Hugh Dennis and Iwan Thomas. Previous race starters have included CBBC's Radzi and Olympian Lizzie Yarnold. Spectators in Portsmouth provide music, encouragement, and high fives along the route, and all finishers get an event t-shirt.
Witterings Beach Run
The Wittering Beach Run is a chip-timed event on West Wittering Beach in Chichester, offering 15.3 km, 10 km, and 5 km distances. When the tide is low, runners navigate the wide sandy flats, making it feel more like a beach-and-trail run than a road race. The route traces a Blue Flag coastline, providing open views towards Selsey Bill, the Isle of Wight, Chichester Harbour, the Solent, and the South Downs.
The course incorporates nearby trails and off-road paths, marked by pink arrows and tape, with caution signs at hazards and road crossings. Water stations are available for each distance, operating plastic-free, requiring runners to bring a reusable cup or bottle. Dogs are permitted, with one dog per runner, and canicross participants should bring poo bags, water, and a suitable lead. Finishers are awarded a metal medal, a drink, goodies, and a personalised certificate.
MoRunning Southampton
MoRunning Southampton is a Movember-themed running day at Southampton Common on The Avenue, with a 1.5k Mini MoRun, 5k, 10k, and half marathon on the same programme. The half marathon starts first in the morning, the 5k and 10k follow together, and the Mini MoRun gives children and newer runners a short chip-timed option later on. Registration opens early, closes shortly before each race, and runners collect a race number, timing chip, safety pins, and MoRunning headband before heading to the start. Every distance is chip timed, with instant results after the finish, and placings use gun time rather than net time.
The course is set inside Southampton Common, with the event hub in the park beyond the Cafe at the Hawthorns, in the field next to the playground. It is public land, so runners share the space with local residents and need to stay aware around the route. The day is tied closely to Movember, raising money and awareness for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention. The moustache theme is part of the fun: runners are encouraged to grow one, paint one on, or turn up in fancy dress, with bonus medals and spot prizes for fastest MoBro, fastest MoSista, best dressed, best Mo, and other MoRunning categories. Finishers get a medal, drinks, and snacks, while parking and bag storage are both limited enough that arriving early and travelling light matters.
The Maverick Dark Castle 2026 - Friday
The Maverick Dark Castle is a Friday trail race starting from Corfe Castle in Dorset. Runners depart near one of the most dramatic ruin sites in the Purbeck Hills. This is the event's fourth edition, part of Maverick Race’s trail series held in countryside locations across Britain, offering multiple route lengths for participants to select their desired challenge.
The route provides a close view of the Corfe Castle ruins, which overlook the village and occupy a pass between Swanage and Wareham. The castle, constructed by William the Conqueror to oversee passage through the Purbeck Hills, stands on a site with earlier defenses. Evidence suggests possible Roman military activity and a 9th-century wooden palisade predated the Normans. The event accommodates mixed abilities, from novice trail runners to experienced endurance athletes, united by the goal of running on countryside trails rather than roads.
The Maverick Dark Castle Trail - Saturday
The Maverick Dark Castle is a Saturday dark trail race starting at Corfe Castle in Dorset. It is part of the Maverick events calendar and is in its fourth running.
Runners get close views of the castle ruins above Corfe village. The site predates the Normans: Corfe Castle was built under William the Conqueror to control the Purbeck Hills route between Swanage and Wareham. The same spot had an earlier fortress, possibly used by Romans, with a 9th-century wooden palisade.
St Andrew's Day Run
The St Andrew's Day Run is a 5K race in Gosport, Hampshire, starting at Alexandra Sports. This event marks the fourth and final race in the four-part Run the Saints series, with Alexandra Sports Ltd providing sponsorship and support for all the races.
The designated start location is Alexandra Sports, with the postcode PO6 3EN. The race coincides with St Andrew's Day, and participants have the option to fundraise for a charity via GoFundMe.
Looking for something else near Bournemouth?
Other races in the next 90 days
JUL 273 km away
cycling
North Hampshire RC Club Dummer 18.9
JUL 416 km away
walking
Jurassic Coast Mighty Hike
JUL 567 km away
cycling
Alton Cycling Club TT Championship
JUL 937 km away
cycling
Wightlink CRT 3-up TTT Club 10
JUL 955 km away
cycling
Fareham Wheelers CC Club 10
JUL 1053 km away
multisport
Jurassic Coast Challenge | 75-miles | 3-days
JUL 1175 km away
cycling
The Mendips Classic 2026
JUL 1255 km away
multisport
Winchester Pedal Paddle Pace
About 5K races in Bournemouth
Bournemouth Coastal Training Notes
Bournemouth hosts 18 5K races in 2026 within 80 km of the city centre — upcoming dates, recurring series, and other races nearby, all in one place.
Locals run Bournemouth by stitching beach, park, and cliff-top miles together. The beach route runs 8km with Southbourne less crowded and much quieter. Slades Park gives a 5km lap, Littledown Park has a one-mile running trail, and Poole Park stretches into a 10km+ route. Bournemouth Joggers meet Mondays and Thursdays at 7pm for speed sessions, hill runs, intervals, and chatty runs. Poole Athletic Club hosts weekly Thursday runs. Bournemouth Half Marathon, Boscombe 10K, The SoBo Five, and Run Bournemouth keep the calendar honest.
Locals ride coastal first, then go looking for sting inland. The local climbs pack 515m into 3km. Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers, founded in 1935, bring the proper club rhythm with a hard and fast Saturday morning chain gang and more sociable Sunday morning club runs. Members race Road, Track, Time Trials, Cyclocross, and Cross Country MTB. The toughest loops pack 5km with 1,137m of climbing. Knowle Hill, East Hill, Ballard Down, and the Purbeck Hills hold the climbs.
July and August suit Bournemouth best, with warm coastal mornings for base miles and later rides along Poole Bay. Summer puts the beach paths, Boscombe, Southbourne, Hengistbury Head, and Sandbanks into regular rotation, and the glorious sight of the beach never gets boring. Locals keep intervals sharp at Kings Park, Redhill, Boscombe beach, Strouden Park, Southbourne, and Iford. Winter turns the town into cooler, steadier training, with runners leaning on club nights and park loops. Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers make winter useful with their Reliability Ride series, and riders keep ticking through chain gang, club runs, gravel, and cyclocross.