Marathon races near Haywards Heath

Run Kent’s Tonbridge race series starts and finishes at The Judd School in the historic town of Tonbridge. It is an October road-running event with three distances on the same day: a half marathon, 10K, and 5K, all held on closed roads. Each route is a professionally marked and measured single loop, going through Tonbridge and out onto the surrounding Kent countryside roads. The races support Tonbridge Rotary Club and Tonbridge Lions, with local bands, aid stations, and spectators adding to the day along the course.

The Gatliff Marathon is an annual challenge walk, jog, or run based in Edenbridge, Kent, starting from Edenbridge Cricket Club at Blossoms Park. Despite its name, it is not a standard road marathon; participants select 25 km or 50 km routes, with a marathon-distance option sometimes listed, and the objective is to complete the course within 10 hours. The route primarily follows footpaths and tracks through the Kent, Surrey, and Sussex countryside, requiring participants to navigate using directions instead of following closed roads. Checkpoints are included, and walkers, joggers, and runners begin at staggered times throughout the morning. Having been held for over forty editions, the event has the character of a long-standing local challenge rather than a large-city race.

The Beachy Head Marathon, Ultra & 10K is an off-road race weekend held on the Eastbourne seafront in Sussex, with its event hub at Bede's Prep School. The programme includes a marathon, 10K, half marathon, and a 52K ultra, with the half marathon taking place the day after the marathon. The marathon is one of the largest off-road marathons in the UK, and it suits runners seeking hills and open-country running over a flat road-race rhythm. The marathon starts and finishes on the Eastbourne seafront, then enters the South Downs National Park on a challenging countryside route. The race was formerly known as the Seven Sisters Marathon, indicating the type of terrain runners should anticipate. The 10K follows a shorter loop across the Downs to Belle Tout Lighthouse and returns, while the ultra connects the full marathon course with the 10K route for a total of 52K, or 32.4 miles.

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.

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 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.

Every finisher receives a chocolate advent calendar at the PHOENIX Christmas Advent Run, a timed run held annually on the Thames towpath during the Christmas season. Participants select their own distance, ranging from a single 5.3km lap to 10km, half marathon, marathon, or ultra distances, with a seven-hour time limit for those adding laps. The course follows a straightforward out-and-back lap along the River Thames, making the format suitable for first-time participants, club runners, and individuals aiming for longer distances on the same path. Completing one lap qualifies as a finisher, and the adaptable "rock up and run" start window contributes to a relaxed atmosphere. Phoenix includes its customary medal emphasis, a custom finisher’s medal, an option for entry without a medal, an aid station, same-day results, digital bibs and certificates, and a Christmas Advent prize draw announced via Facebook video.

PHOENIX - Year End Marathon & Half Marathon is a low-key marathon and half marathon on the River Thames, starting from Xcel SPORTS HUB Stadium on Waterside Drive in Walton on Thames, Surrey. It is run on a flat riverside towpath, with half marathon runners completing 4 laps and marathon runners completing 8 laps. The route is accurately measured and UKA certified, suiting runners who want a logged distance without the noise of a big-city race. The course heads from Walton on Thames toward Hampton Court and then returns, with no elevation gain or loss. Entry numbers are strictly limited, and UK Athletics distance rules apply to runners aged 20 or under. Finishers receive a medal or memento, fitting Phoenix Running’s style: inclusive events built around straightforward routes, friendly people, and giving runners a clear chance to complete a distance they may have doubted they could manage.

Frozen Phoenix is a timed, lapped run held at Xcel Sports Hub in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. It begins in the morning, situated in the quiet period between Christmas and New Year. This event is part of Phoenix Running's Twixmas Triple, allowing participants to combine it with the Year End Marathon or Half and Winter Runderland on adjacent days. The structure is adaptable; runners can complete 5km, opt for the marathon distance, or continue into ultra distances within the allotted time. The course consists of a 5.3km out-and-back lap along the River Thames. The event centers on multiple traversals of this riverside path rather than a single, extended point-to-point route. Completing a single lap qualifies as finishing, making the event accessible for less experienced runners, while more capable runners can challenge their endurance limits. Frozen Phoenix is now in its tenth year, and all finishers receive a unique medal.

PHOENIX Winter Runderland is a winter running event on the River Thames, structured around laps rather than a single fixed distance. Participants can select from 5km to 10km, half marathon, marathon, or ultra distances by completing 5.3km out-and-back laps within a 7-hour timeframe. The start is flexible, with runners able to begin within a 1-hour window, and special start times can often be arranged based on the planned distance. The course follows the Thames out and back, allowing a straightforward format: complete one lap for a finish, or continue laps to increase distance. The event welcomes all abilities, from those targeting a 5km lap to runners utilizing the full time limit for an ultra. Each participant receives a custom finisher's medal; this edition features the event's Snow Globe medal design with a new color palette.