Half Marathon races near Leighton Buzzard

Run at Dorney Lake. The flat course circles the lake, where GB's Olympic rowers train. It's a great run for all levels, whether you're aiming for a PB or just want a finisher's medal.

The Wild Half Marathon - Autumn Edition begins in Tring and covers approximately 13 miles (21.1 km) through the Chiltern Hills during the fall season. This is a guided trail half marathon, not a road race, with English Athletics-qualified run leaders accompanying the group on the course. The route features about 300 metres of elevation gain, offering a genuine off-road half marathon experience that is accessible to non-specialists. The event is designed for a relaxed, inclusive atmosphere, including trail technique guidance, checkpoint refreshments, a bag drop service, on-site parking, restroom facilities, and a finisher's medal.

Grafham Water Trail Races offer 10K and half marathon trail races starting at Marlow Park, adjacent to Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire. The event features marked and marshalled courses on tracks, bridleways, and country paths, supported by water stations and on-course first aid. The 10K is suitable for those new to trail running, and the half marathon provides a longer run around the reservoir. The courses consist of wide, runnable trails with consistent terrain, emphasizing steady pacing and off-road running rather than technical ascents. The half marathon completes a larger circuit of Grafham Water, incorporating parts of the Three Shires Way, offering open reservoir vistas and tranquil countryside sections. All finishers get a medal, and top runners contend for awards.

The Oxford Half Marathon is a 13.1-mile race held in Oxford each October, utilizing a fast, flat course. It is suitable for both novice half-marathon runners and those aiming for a personal best. Recent events have sold out, with charity places becoming the primary way to enter. The route winds through the university city's streets, showcasing Oxford's architecture and central landmarks instead of venturing into rural areas. Live music and spectators offer support along sections of the course. The race's main charity partner is Helen & Douglas House, the first children's hospice globally, which provides support to terminally ill children and their families throughout Oxfordshire and neighboring counties.

The Top Gun 40th Anniversary Marathons & Half Marathons is a running event in Milton Keynes MK7, United Kingdom, offering marathon and half marathon distances. The main race weekend takes place in October, with both the 42.2 km marathon and 21.1 km half marathon listed as sold out. The series also features a 5 km race, scheduled for a Sunday start at 11:00. This shorter race is also sold out, indicating sufficient local interest to fill all available distances.

The Stevenage Half Marathon begins and concludes on the Ridlins Stadium athletics track, offering runners a distinct stadium start and track finish. This Easter weekend road race in Stevenage includes a half marathon and a 10k, alongside a complimentary 400m children's fun run on the track prior to the main events. The half marathon commences in the morning with a 3-hour 30-minute cut-off, accommodating a broad spectrum of runners beyond just fast club athletes. The half marathon route utilizes traffic-free tarmac paths surrounding Stevenage, with its extended lap crossing Fairlands Valley Park before concluding the 21.1k distance. The 10k also incorporates Fairlands Valley Park, albeit with a shorter lap. ATW manages the event, and race-day provisions feature pacers, personal-trainer warm-ups, pre-race massages, live music, a finish-line commentator, complimentary event photos, a custom medal, and refreshments in the event village. Parents may accompany children in the fun run, and the event also partners with Alzheimer's Research UK for fundraising through entries.

The Henley Half Marathon, held annually in Henley since 1983 with one exception, is now in its 42nd edition. Participants range from first-time half marathoners to seasoned endurance athletes. The course winds through Henley, crosses the town's well-known bridge, and follows the Thames Valley. This route provides a distinct local character, featuring a town circuit, a riverside path, and a heritage spanning over forty years.

The Marlow Half Marathon series comprises three road races in Marlow: the Half Marathon, The Frankenstein, and Marlow 7. All races commence simultaneously in the morning and take place in autumn, offering participants a selection between the half-marathon distance and shorter events held on the same race day. Marlow Striders, the local running club, is the organizer, lending the event a club-run atmosphere instead of a corporate one. Funds raised have benefited Bucks Vision, Dementia Action Marlow, and Marlow Sports Club, connecting the races to sight-loss support, dementia awareness, and enhancements to the club’s facilities. Local businesses also support the event, including Runners Retreat in Marlow, Continuum Wealth, Alba Property Management, Horizon Rehabilitation, Shokz, and various Marlow-area sponsors.

The Wendover Woods Marathon, Half Marathon & 10k is a multi-terrain running event held within Wendover Woods, Buckinghamshire, part of the Chiltern Hills. This event is included in the Autumn Festival of Running and features a marathon, half marathon, 10k, and a junior run. Participants can select a distance ranging from a short forest race to a full marathon. The course has hills and includes significant ascents, with a six-hour time limit for all participants. The 10k race follows a multi-lap course on forest trails. The longer races extend this challenge across similar rolling woodland terrain. This event is suitable for novice trail runners, experienced runners seeking a hilly challenge, and marathon runners desiring a more demanding course than a flat road race. It welcomes pets, and the venue is family-friendly, offering an on-site cafe, Go Ape, adventure play areas, biking trails, and a nearby Gruffalo trail for children.

The Hertfordshire Half Marathon starts and finishes before Knebworth House, a Grade II listed house near Knebworth in Hertfordshire. It is an autumn closed-road half marathon with a 10K option on the same race programme, chip timing, a 9:00 AM start, and a three-hour limit for the half marathon. The route uses rural roads and countryside paths around Knebworth Park, with rolling sections rather than a completely flat run. It draws runners chasing a personal best as well as first-timers moving up in distance, and the event supports Garden House Hospice. The setting adds local character: Knebworth House sits in large gardens and parkland, has hosted major open-air concerts by acts such as Oasis, Led Zeppelin, Robbie Williams, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, and also has visitor attractions including an adventure playground and dinosaur trail.

At Enigma Fireworks, runners circle Caldecotte Lake repeatedly: 7.5 clockwise laps for the marathon or 3.5 for the half. The two-day event is based beside the lake in Milton Keynes, near the hotel and pub car park area, and each day offers both distances in November. The format is straightforward: everyone runs clockwise on the same lake loop, with water and toilets available every lap. Course details are provided at the venue, runners must attend a briefing ten minutes before the start, and the race team includes a starter, timekeeper, and referee. Marathon finishers have a 7-hour cutoff.

The Dirt Half Challenge is a trail race series held in Leighton Buzzard, offering half marathon and metric half distances along paths, towpaths, woodland tracks, and country lanes. It takes place in autumn, with Race HQ located at Cedars Upper School on Mentmore Road and the finish line at Tiddenfoot Waterside Park. The course begins with a circuit of Tiddenfoot Waterside Park, then proceeds north along the Grand Union Canal towpath towards Stoke Hammond. From there, it ascends through open countryside to Great Brickhill, passes through Rushmere Country Park woodland, and follows the Greensand Ridge back towards Leighton Buzzard, concluding with another park circuit. The location is convenient for participants arriving from nearby or by train: parking is provided at the school, Tiddenfoot Waterside Park, and along Mentmore Road, with Leighton Buzzard station approximately a 10-minute walk from Race HQ.