Marathon races near Radstock

The Bath & Bristol Railway October is a running event held in Bath, England, during October. It takes place on and around the former railway corridor connecting Bath and Bristol. The event offers multiple distances, from a 2 km option up to 50 km, including 10 km, half marathon, 25 km, and marathon distances. Race conditions are typically autumnal, with average weather around 10.8°C, light wind, and high humidity. The route utilizes a former railway line, incorporating transport history alongside the running course. This line, which opened in the nineteenth century and closed in the twentieth, was later repurposed by Sustrans as the initial route of the National Cycle Network. Bath provides a notable setting, being a UNESCO World Heritage site with proximity to Roman Baths and Georgian streets. The event's atmosphere reflects its local railway connection, with one participant describing it as “Sooo British.”

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.