Bournemouth · United Kingdom
Marathon races near Bournemouth
4 races in 2026
next one in 53 days
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Race calendar
Upcoming Marathon races near Bournemouth
AUG 1
23AUG
Run · trail · Marathon
Big Pilgrimage
Southampton · 39 km away
SEP 3
13SEP
Run · road · Marathon
Garmin New Forest Marathon
Brockenhurst · 24 km away
13SEP
Run · road · Marathon
New Forest Marathon
Hampshire · 24 km away
20SEP
Run · road · Marathon
The Purbeck Marathon
Dorset · 14 km away
Bournemouth · 80 km
4 races mapped
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Recurring Marathon races near Bournemouth
Races that repeat — weekly, monthly or yearly
Green Mile Day Marathon
The Green Mile Day Marathon is run inside the former HMP Dorchester in Dorchester, Dorset, England, with the start listed at postcode DT1 1JD. The main race is a full marathon of 42.195 km, and the event also offers an 83 km road race and a night option.
The prison setting is the point: the marathon stays completely inside the prison, which the organisers describe as the only marathon in the world run entirely within one. Runners can tackle gruelling stairs in daylight, in the dark, or both, and the programme includes a spooky Halloween evening edition for anyone who wants the prison atmosphere turned up another notch.
New Forest Xmas Trails
New Forest Xmas Trails begins and ends at Holmesly Campsite in Bransgore, situated on the boundary of the New Forest National Park. This event, organized by BigFeat Events, offers winter off-road running with 15 km, 30 km, marathon, and 50 km distances. All races are single-lap courses that are fully marked. The event is presented as a Christmas trail-running festival and a final significant run prior to the holiday period.
The courses depart from the campsite, venturing onto New Forest heathland and woodland, where winter conditions are an intended aspect of the challenge. The routes are characterized as demanding yet traversable, suitable for runners seeking authentic trail conditions without a multi-lap structure. BigFeat states the event was conceived by trail runners for trail runners, and the practical arrangements include complimentary hard-standing parking at Holmesly Campsite.
Portsmouth Coastal Waterside Marathon
The Portsmouth Coastal Waterside Marathon is a winter race weekend on England's south coast, centered on the Southsea seafront in Portsmouth. Participants can select from a marathon, half marathon, and shorter distances like 12K. Some editions of the series also feature a 50K ultra. The courses are flat, incorporating promenade, waterfront paths, coastal tracks, and multi-terrain sections, rather than being purely road races.
The marathon begins seaside at Southsea, proceeding out and back towards Hayling Island. The route traces the edge of Langstone Harbour and other shoreline segments around Portsmouth. Runners will find expansive views across the Solent, extensive harbour running, well-supplied aid stations, and finish medals. The event embraces its winter timing with a festive atmosphere, and the broader Southsea event schedule includes fireworks over Southsea Common.
Portland Coastal Marathon
The Portland Coastal Marathon is a February trail race held on the South West Coast Path near Portland, offering marathon, half marathon, and 10k distances. It is a self-navigation event; runners must download the GPX file beforehand and follow it using their own device. The terrain is exposed, the route is neither flat nor fast, and the race is suited for those seeking a challenging early-season test rather than a rapid road time.
The marathon course circles the island twice, with the sea on the left during the first loop and on the right for the second. The half marathon and 10k follow single-loop sections of the same coastal path. No route markers are provided, checkpoints verify completion of the full course, and taking shortcuts results in disqualification. All finishers receive a unique Portland Coastal medal, and the top three male and female athletes in each distance category are awarded trophies.
BigMud Trails
BigMud Trails begins and ends at Queen Elizabeth Country Park in Hampshire. Runners immediately face a steep ascent up Butser Hill, the highest point in the South Downs. This is a winter trail event held in the Meon Valley, offering 50K, marathon, and 16-mile distances on single-lap courses within the South Downs National Park.
The route includes undulating terrain, woodland paths, sharp ascents, fast-running stretches, and significant mud. Butser Hill is tackled twice before the finish line at its base. BigMud represents the Earth race in the Classic Element Trail Series, a quartet of events themed around Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. This event is now in its sixth year. The clearly marked course, provision of aid stations, and the start and finish being at the same location simplify logistics. However, the challenging terrain is the primary attraction for participants seeking a demanding race over a flat, quick course.
BigMud Trails (EARTH)
BigMud is the Earth race in the Classic Element Trail Series, a collection of four trail events themed around Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. It starts at Queen Elizabeth Country Park in Hampshire, offering three single-lap options: a 50K ultramarathon, a marathon, and a 16-mile race. The event occurs early in the series, embracing muddy winter trail running over road speed or flat pacing.
The routes venture into the Meon Valley and traverse the rolling hills of the South Downs National Park. Every distance involves the 518ft ascent to Butser Hill, the highest point in the South Downs, which runners climb twice before returning to Queen Elizabeth Country Park at the hill's base. The race is in its sixth year, does not permit canicross entries, and requires each runner to carry a minimum of 500ml of fluid, with hydration vests frequently used and handheld soft flasks permitted.
Larmer Tree Marathon, 20 Miler, Half Marathon
The Larmer Tree race series takes place at Larmer Tree Gardens on the Rushmore Estate, featuring trail races across the Wiltshire Downs in spring. Participants can choose from a marathon, a 20-miler, and a half marathon, with 7-mile and 10-mile routes also available during the same weekend. This event is a small, family-friendly gathering, attracting a few hundred runners for each of the three main distances, unlike large city races. The setting provides a distinctive atmosphere; Larmer Tree Gardens is an elegant country estate, and the organizers humorously refer to using the Rushmore Estate’s “backyard” for the race routes.
The courses consist of hilly trail routes, and the terrain can become muddy based on weather conditions, making it more of a countryside run than a quick road race. The shorter 7-mile and 10-mile races are suitable for beginners and include dog-friendly options, while the half marathon and 20-miler serve as good early-season training for runners preparing for a marathon. The marathon covers the full 26.2 miles, and all finishers in the main races are awarded peacock-shaped medals, each distance featuring a unique design. The event spans Saturday and Sunday, with the marathon, 20-miler, and 7-mile race on Saturday, and the half marathon, 10-mile race, and a dog-friendly 10-mile race on Sunday.
Larmer Tree Marathon, 20 Miler, Half Marathon & 10K
The Larmer Tree races start and finish at Larmer Tree Gardens on the Rushmore Estate, with spring trail races across the Wiltshire Downs. The series is family friendly and offers several distances: 7 miles, 10 miles, half marathon, 20 miles, and marathon. Dog-friendly 7-mile and 10-mile options are also scheduled.
The routes use the private Rushmore Estate grounds, giving the event a country-estate feel. Runners should expect hills, and the ground can be muddy after wet weather. Shorter routes are suitable for newer trail runners, while the half marathon and 20-mile races are good for those building toward marathon season. Larmer Tree Gardens has been described as one of Britain’s poshest race venues, an unusual base for a muddy spring trail weekend.
Looking for something else near Bournemouth?
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Jurassic Coast Challenge | 75-miles | 3-days
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The Mendips Classic 2026
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Winchester Pedal Paddle Pace
About Marathon races in Bournemouth
Bournemouth Coastal Training Notes
Bournemouth hosts 12 Marathon 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.