Southampton · United Kingdom
5K races near Southampton
11 races in 2026
next one is today
Running ▾
Race calendar
Upcoming 5K races near Southampton
This week 2
1JUL
Run · trail · 5K
Chippenham River Run 5K
Chippenham · 79 km away
8JUL
Run · road · 5K
Race For Life Guildford
Guildford · 69 km away
JUL 3
13JUL
Run · road · 5K
AVR Westbury 5K July
Westbury · 68 km away
21JUL
Run · road · 5K
Heddington 5K Series Race 2
Heddington · 69 km away
29JUL
Run · road · 5K
Wirral Seaside Run Race 5
Moreton · 66 km away
+6 more 5K racesShow fewer ↓
AUG 6
9AUG
Run · road · 5K
Newbury Racecourse 5K, 10K & Half Marathon August
RG14 7PN · 56 km away
10AUG
Run · road · 5K
AVR Westbury 5K August
Westbury · 68 km away
16AUG
Run · road · 5K
Frome Running Festival
Frome · 73 km away
20AUG
Run · road · 5K
Itchen Valley Summer Challenge Race 2
Southampton · 6 km away
22AUG
Run · trail · 5K
Trail Trot 5K, 10K, Marathon & Ultra
Lancing · 78 km away
26AUG
Run · road · 5K
Wirral Seaside Run Race 6
Moreton · 66 km away
Southampton · 80 km
11 races mapped
View on map →
Recurring 5K races near Southampton
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
Phillips Law Basingstoke Half Marathon, 10k & 5k
The Phillips Law Basingstoke Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K offer runners three distances on a single autumn race day in Basingstoke. Destination Basingstoke organizes the event, sponsored by Phillips Law. The setup accommodates half-marathon participants, shorter-distance racers, corporate teams, families, volunteers, charities, and local businesses.
The available facts do not provide a detailed route, but they indicate a strong community and workplace focus. Team Phillips has supported the Basingstoke Running Festival for over ten years, with its runners participating in both the Half Marathon corporate team category and the Corporate 10K. The festival also raises funds for local charities, such as The Pink Place, which supports individuals affected by cancer.
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.
The Hurt Trail Run
The Hurt Trail Run is a challenging autumn trail race situated near Guildford, approximately 45 minutes from London. It offers 15k and 21k distances, both commencing from Hound House Road. The routes traverse the Surrey Hills and Hurtwood Forest, presenting a test of fell and cross-country running rather than a straightforward park run. Participants will collect their timing chip and race number on the morning of the event. Facilities including parking, toilets, and refreshments are located adjacent to the start area.
The course navigates rugged hill terrain instead of flat roads, reinforcing its reputation as a demanding autumn trail race. The 21k course includes three aid stations, and the 15k has two. Both events are designed for runners seeking a demanding yet supported experience within the woods and hills. The common start point contributes to a straightforward event atmosphere: choose the 15k or 21k, start together, and anticipate Surrey mud, ascents, forest trails, and cross-country running from the outset.
Running Grand Prix Goodwood October
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.
Guildford 5k, 10k & Juniors October 2026
Guildford 5k, 10k & Juniors is a running event on closed roads in Guildford, with the 5k and 10k starting and finishing on Guildford High Street. Both races begin at 08:00, and the 2k Junior Race follows at 08:10, accommodating both adult runners and younger participants.
The 5k and 10k follow out-and-back courses from the town centre, proceeding towards Clandon via Epsom Road before returning to the High Street. A 90-minute cutoff is in place because of the road closures. The event benefits Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy, a local service established in 2008 that assists individuals living, working, or visiting the town, and supports clients and volunteers of all beliefs.
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.
Looking for something else near Southampton?
Other races in the next 90 days
JUL 237 km away
cycling
North Hampshire RC Club Dummer 18.9
JUL 455 km away
walking
Jurassic Coast Mighty Hike
JUL 474 km away
cycling
Crawley Wheelers 10
JUL 530 km away
cycling
Alton Cycling Club TT Championship
JUL 931 km away
cycling
Wightlink CRT 3-up TTT Club 10
JUL 917 km away
cycling
Fareham Wheelers CC Club 10
JUL 1228 km away
cycling
Jubilee Rumble Strip 10
JUL 1257 km away
cycling
Reading CC 10
About 5K races in Southampton
Southampton Training Notes
Southampton hosts 28 5K races in 2026 within 80 km of the city centre — upcoming dates, recurring series, and other races nearby, all in one place.
Southampton Common is the default start line for base miles, parkrun, and midweek intervals. The classic loop gives locals 2-5 km on traffic-free tarmac and gravel, while the lakes and woodland route gives 5-7 km past small woodland paths and lake circuits. The Central Parks chain links Watts, East, Palmerston, Houndwell, and Hoglands for flat city-centre miles. Ocean Village to Mayflower Park gives 4-7 km with cruise ships and ferries as moving landmarks. Lordshill Road Runners meet Monday evenings at Taunton's College, and ABP Southampton Marathon Festival anchors the year.
Southampton riders get useful Z2 from the Southampton Cycle Network, especially routes 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 through Western, Eastern, Northern, and Bevois Valley lines. Southampton University Road Club rides Wednesdays and Sunday mornings from the Redbrick, outside Chaimberlain Halls, or behind the Shell Garage at the top of the Avenue. Southampton CTC covers Southampton, Romsey, Eastleigh, Chandler's Ford, and Waterside, with rides from 10 to 50+ miles. Mottisfont gives riders a 27mi round trip with 36% traffic-free. Old Winchester Hill is where locals go when flat legs need climbing work.
May, June, July, August, and September are the cleanest months for stacking run volume and long rides. Southampton's sheltered, low-lying spot near Southampton Water keeps summer training warm by UK standards, and the city has held the UK June temperature record since 1976. Locals keep summer evenings simple with waterfront runs, Common laps, club rides, and steady Z2 toward Netley Abbey, Romsey, or Mottisfont. Winter changes the surface choice more than the mindset, so runners lean on tarmac, compacted gravel, and Common sessions while riders keep the cycle network, CTC miles, and shorter endurance loops ticking over.