Best Running Events in London, from 5K Fun Runs to Marathons & Ultras

During the last few years, everyone and their dog started running. There are now so many events out there, especially in a big city like London. It can be hard to choose an event that’s right for you. This blog post is designed to assist you in doing so.

WHAT DOES “BEST RUNNING EVENTS” MEAN?

While I haven’t done more than a tiny fraction of all available runs, I have done many dozen of them over the years. I also speak with a lot of other running enthusiasts. The events listed here are ones that either I have completed and enjoyed, or that people I trust have completed and enjoyed.

WHAT DOES “IN LONDON” MEAN?

For the distances up to marathon, “in London” means in almost all cases, that you can run the event without staying overnight, even if relying on public transport (and possibly a short taxi ride). Considering that ultras are often taking place in hilly areas or even proper mountains, the distances from London to the respective start lines tend to be longer. In principle, any UK ultra could be considered by Londoners, but only very few are being discussed here.

WHY IS THIS TOPIC CLOSE TO ME?

You could ask, why this topic is close to me. Well, ever since my early 20s I’ve run on most days. For the past 20 years here in London. Usually around 10K, unless it’s an organised event. For the latter, I used to prefer the 10K distance until about 5 years ago, when I started to do more half marathons. There is rarely a month when I don’t take part in at least two running events, sometimes three or four.

 

Last year, I ran my second marathon and my first ultra. For the avoidance of doubt, an ultra is defined as any distance longer than the 42.2km (26.2mi) of a marathon. There are very few ultras of less than 50km (31mi) distance.

Despite only getting into ultra-running towards the middle of the year, I completed 7 days of ultra-running in 2023. And I keep focusing on ultra distances. I used to run exclusively on roads until a year ago. Now I try to run on trails whenever I can and I avoid roads almost entirely.

I’m an extremely slow runner and not trying hard to become faster. I run mainly, because it makes me feel good, physically, but, much more importantly, mentally. When it comes to marathon and ultra distances, another important aspect for me is to challenge myself.

DOZENS OF REASONS TO RUN

Naturally, everyone has their own reasons to run. I know that many of my friends are enjoying the social aspect of the Park Runs. Others are all about improving their Personal Best (PB). Becoming or staying slim. Staying healthy, getting rid of aggression or depression. Some are cross-training in order to become better at their chosen main activity like boxing or tennis.

   

COSTS, CUT-OFFS, CATERING

There are other considerations. Some races can be expensive. How much is it to register? How easy and how costly is it to get to the start line and back home from the finish line. If you’re coming by car, then you’ll prefer circular routes, unless there is a frequent and affordable shuttle service from the finish line back to the start line.

Are you a slow runner like me? Then it is vital that there are generous cut-off times. In ultra-running there are many people who attach a lot of importance to the catering.

HOW WELL IS THE RACE ORGANISED? HOW IS IT RATED BY RUNNERS?

I’ve taken part in races that were supposed to be marked (with signs pointing you into the right direction at each turn), but most markers had vanished. At one of the longer-distance races, a checkpoint had run completely out of water and other drinks. If in doubt, do some internet research. Webpages like RaceCheck collect reviews for a large number of races.

BEAUTY MEANS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE

Most runners prefer to have some beauty around them. Some love to run past beautiful inner-city buildings, others need to be in nature. Perhaps your perfect set-up is doing dozens of rounds on a running track, because you don’t like surprises or distractions.

SURFACES, ELEVATION GAIN

What are the surfaces you will run on like? Many trail runners won’t register for trail races where there are long stretches on paved roads. How hilly is the route? It’s not just about total elevation gain, but also about how the elevation gain is distributed along the route and about the level of incline. I always found the Hastings Half quite brutal. The elevation gain is not that serious, but it’s largely concentrated on the first couple of kilometres and very steep (for a road race).

   

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR DISTANCE

Most runners know their preferred distance. If you are new to the game, then start with a 5K or 10K and see how you like it. Unless you’ve trained for several months, it’s not a good idea to start with longer distances. Even if the cut-off times are very generous, walking for 5 hours or more without stopping is still no piece of cake.

HOW TO FIND YOUR RUNS

Once you’ve made up your mind about what’s important to you, it’s pretty straight-forward to search for your running events. In order to keep this blog post reasonably compact, very little information about each specific race has been included. You can usually find all the information you need on the race organiser’s website. It’s useful, to also google for some additional information and independent reviews.

PUT ON A FAKE MOUSTACHE OR A SANTA COSTUME

Some of these events even come themed, such as the Mo-Runs (for Movember Runs), where every runner, male or female, has to wear a fake or real moustache. Or the Santa Runs, where you dress up as Santa, and so on. It’s in the title: fun runs are all about the fun, and zero about improving your PB.

MY FAVOURITE FUN RUNS

Except for Victoria Park events, where the route is unattractive, all the Mo-Runs and Santa Runs are fun. We usually do the ones in Battersea Park. Of course there are plenty more great 5Ks.

OTHER 5K’S

Many people have issues with Park Run’s political views and rules. That said, I know of many runners across the political spectrum who enjoy their completely free 5K Park Runs. There are more than two dozen London locations available, including Hampstead Heath, Finsbury Park, Hackney Marshes, Mile End, Victoria Dock, Southwark, Dulwich Park, Clapham Common, Wimbledon Common, Fulham Palace, Richmond Park, and Kingston.

Plenty of well-organised 10K and longer distance events also offer a 5K option. Race for Life, for example, will offer a 5K option in Regent’s Park this May, Windsor in June, and in Hyde Park this July for a mere £11.50. Windsor even offers a “Pretty Muddy 5K” on the same day as the regular 5K for an additional fiver.

   

ONE LEVEL UP: 10K’S

The following 10Ks are my favourites and some of them I’ve done almost every year for many years: Hyde Park 10K, Regent’s Park 10K, Vitality London 10K, ASICS London 10K, Cancer Research UK London Winter Run, Richmond Park 10K, Wimbledon 10K, Greenwich Park 10K, Battersea Park 10K, as well as the London Easter 10K. Bushy Park 10K and Hampton Court 10K are high up on my list, too.

RUN-THROUGH FOR THE BEST RUNS IN LONDON

These days I book almost all 10Ks and some half-marathons with the UK’s largest race organiser Run-Through. I like that there are so many runs to choose from on a single platform. Once you’ve started to do more of their runs, you should look into their loyalty discounts and their so-called season passes, which can potentially save you hundreds of pounds a year.

OTHER WEBPAGES WHERE TO LOOK FOR THE BEST RUNS IN LONDON

There are also online platforms that allow you to book any of dozens or even hundreds of races. Regularly, booking through these webpages will save you 5% or so. However, even with the best of them, there is a risk that information will get lost because of the added middleman (the booking platform). I’ve experienced cases where a race director of an event had decided to reschedule or cancel, and I never received the information.

Despite all the trouble with third-party booking platforms, they can still be enormously useful to see what’s on offer. In cases where the discount exceeds 20 percent, I still sometimes book indirectly. In my experience, FindARace, LetsDoThis, and TimeOutdoors are probably among the better platforms out there. Be aware that some race directors only permit direct bookings for their races.

HALF MARATHONS

Apart from the one in Hastings, mentioned above, my favourite halves are the ones in Richmond and Wimbledon. A bit further afield, Windsor is absolutely brilliant. I must have run it 5 or 6 times at least. Some marathon events also offer simultaneous half marathons. Battersea, described below, is just one example. The timed events towards the end of this blog post offer great opportunities for newbies to check out the distance without any pressure. If you drop out after 10 or 15K, you’ll still get your medal.

 

MARATHONS

14 years ago, I ran the London Marathon for charity. I collected £2,000, largely while dressed as a chicken. Back then there were ‘only’ 25,000 runners, this year the numbers have doubled.

LONDON MARATHON

Despite the smaller numbers, there is no doubt to me, that this run was the most memorable run I’ve taken part in so far. It’s an overwhelming experience to hear hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic onlookers cheer you, the runners, on. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

Unfortunately, your chances of getting into the race via the annual ballot are slim, and many charities these days ask you to collect a lot more than £2,000.

BATTERSEA MARATHON

My marathon in Battersea last year was an entirely different experience. Just a few relatives and friends of runners along the track. A very relaxed atmosphere. I watched dozens of runners cheating by jumping across fences. Skipping some of the distance. It didn’t negatively impact my enjoyment. I just don’t understand why anyone would do that.

PORTSMOUTH, SOUTH DOWNS

Last December, I had been registered for the Portsmouth Coastal Marathon’s ultra distance. I arrived the night before, then made my way to the start line. But in the end I decided to pull out, because I felt a bit under the weather that morning. I’ll almost certainly register again this year, either for marathon or ultra. The Three Forts Marathon near Worthing is another one on my list. It follows hiking paths along the South Downs and involves more than 1,000m of ascent.

ABINGDON MARATHON

Taking place in and around the beautiful, ancient Oxfordshire market town of Abingdon, this fast, flat marathon is a favourite amongst ambitious amateur athletes.

BRIGHTON MARATHON

Brighton Marathon is extremely popular with London Marathon runners as a preparation for the big run. And with those who have missed out on the main event.

Both events are organised by the same company. The seafront marathon is one of the largest running events in the UK and thousands of spectators line the roads. The scenic course starts in Preston Park and meanders through Brighton city centre, before finishing at Hove Lawns.

RICHMOND, FARNHAM PILGRIM MARATHON, MILTON KEYNES, BEACHY HEAD

Having run at least 5 halves in Richmond Park, the local marathon certainly looks like something I should do. The route starts at Kew Gardens and finishes in Old Deer Park. The Farnham Pilgrim Marathon is a tiny, very relaxed event with some steep ascents along the Pilgrim’s Way hiking trail.

Milton Keynes is within easy reach from London and has a fast and scenic route through parks, woodland and along tree-lined boulevards. Ellie & I regularly go hiking around Beachy Head. One of my favourite practice trail runs is from Lewes to Eastbourne. At some stage I’ll need to register for the Beachy Head Marathon, formerly known as the Seven Sisters Marathon.

   

BOSTON MARATHON

Yes, you heard that right. While you’ll probably have to arrive the night before the race, the marathon in Boston, England, is well within reach from Londontown. As an accredited race, it will give you the opportunity to qualify for the prestigious World Marathon Major of the same name. The race is fast and flat. Its course starts in the town centre, then passes through picturesque little villages and the gorgeous Lincolnshire countryside for the most part. This one is definitely on my list.

100 MARATHONS CLUB LIST OF EVENTS

I regularly check the events list on the website of the 100 Marathons Club to see which marathons and ultras are coming up. It’s the most complete list I’ve come across so far, and it is regularly being updated.

THE LONDON ULTRA (55K)

My first ultra in June last year was the London Ultra, which follows a crescent-shaped, surprisingly scenic 55K route from Woolwich Arsenal, east of Canary Wharf, to Richmond Park in West London. In essence, it largely follows the southern half of the Capital Ring hiking path and has 550m elevation gain. The day I ran it was the hottest June day on record in London and the heat was brutal. During a normal year, the weather should be just fine. The event has extremely generous cut-off times and some people will walk the whole distance.

ULTRA X WALES 50K

For my second ultra I already picked a proper, mountainous trail run, the Ultra X Wales 50K in Snowdonia. It’s the race, mentioned earlier, where I finished first in my group. There was a lengthy stretch of scrambling involved, with long queues at the bottlenecks, and an abundance of wading through mud. Nonetheless this was my favourite ultra so far. I’m looking to book further races with Ultra X and would also like to attempt the Ultra Trail Snowdonia (UTS) 50K next year, organised by a different group.

COUNTRY TO CAPITAL

The Country to Capital race (43mi / 69km) was my first DNF (Did Not Finish). It is highly regarded and attracts elite trail runners from the UK and further afield. The first half is very hilly, the second half is mainly along the Thames. The 500 runners are expected to make it all the way from Wendover in Buckinghamshire to Little Venice in London. At the back of the field, where I was, we often had to queue for 5 minutes and more at every stile and gate. It was also extremely muddy. At some stage I was so frustrated, I dropped out. Fellow running enthusiasts tell me, it’s not always like this. So I’ll register again next year.

THE THAMES PATH CHALLENGE (100K)

Classified as a challenge, not a race, the Thames Path Challenge attracts mainly walkers and extremely slow run-walkers, many without much previous ultra experience. There are plenty of shorter options available, which are being run at the same time on the same track. Overall there were around 8,000 runners on the Thames Path as part of this event at least at some stage during the weekend.

 

YOU CAN CHOOSE TO SPLIT THE DISTANCE OVER TWO DAYS

For the 100K distance, you can choose to split it into two consecutive days of 50Ks or do it all in one go. I opted for the 50K + 50K option and booked myself a tent in the runners village for the night (all set up when you arrive). Because most everybody in the 50+50 group was walking, I ended up being the 9^th finisher out of some 360 participants or so. I couldn’t believe it.

EXTREMELY WELL-ORGANISED, GREAT ATMOSPHERE

While this event doesn’t come with the thrill of a real race and reasonably tight cut-off times, I can’t recommend it enough. Everything is extremely well organised and it’s a great atmosphere throughout.

JURASSIC COAST 40-MILER

The Jurassic Coast Ultra (40mi / 64km) didn’t pan out for me. My 2nd DNF. I ended up bailing out after 37km with an injured left knee. The views were absolutely mind-blowing, though, and I plan to register again next year.

RANGER ULTRAS – PEAK DISTRICT SOUTH & NORTH (50+43K)

The Ranger Ultras Peak District South & North two-day event was by far the hardest race I’ve run so far. Not only the elevation gain of more than 3,000m over two days. The mid-November weather was insanely brutal. At times, especially in the evenings and at altitude, the temperatures came close to the freezing point. Hard rain for hours on end. Some hail. Extremely strong winds.

 

NAVIGATION CAN BE TOUGH ON UNMARKED COURSES

Often we’d move through knee-deep mud streams for minutes on end. Impossible to tell where there were rocks under the mud, only waiting to take out our ankles. The race is unmarked. Luckily I was moving along with a group of more experienced navigators for most of the time. During the rest of the time, my GPS watch thankfully did its job. I still got lost on a couple of occasions. On the second day I walked more than half of the distance.

6H AND 7H TIMED EVENTS NEAR LONDON

A number of race directors organise timed events in and near London. I usually pick the ones by Phoenix and Saturn, as they are reasonably easy to reach from where I live and allow you 6 to 7.5 hours to finish whichever distance you set your mind to. Most of the time I aim for 50K.

 

SATURN AND PHOENIX MEDALS ARE THE BEST

The medals for these events (any distance) are often very quirky and colourful and follow fun themes like Zombie Runners, Mexican Day of the Dead, or frogs for the February 29 event (LEAP year, get it?). Another plus for these events are their low cost, often between £22 and £30.

BACKYARD ULTRAS

Backyard Ultras are events where all runners are running one yard every hour to the hour. Now that sounds doable, I hear you say. Well, ‘one yard’ refers to one 6.7km (4.2mi) loop, often in the backyard of a private farm or estate. The race only ends when there are no more runners on the track. In most cases, all except for one runner will gradually drop out. Then the last remaining runner will normally finish one last yard on his own and wins. Everyone else DNF’ed.

LONDON BACKYARD ULTRA, CROYDON

I’d be happy if I make it through the first 12 laps (a cool 50 miles!) at the London Backyard Ultra in Croydon later this year. It is currently the only Backyard Ultra I’m registered for, but I’ve got several others on my radar, including the Governor’s Backyard Ultra in Dover, which is being run entirely inside the grounds of a decommissioned prison.

 

ARE TOUGH-MUDDERS AMONG THE BEST RUNS IN LONDON?

While it might sound a bit silly to run 10 or 15km on a muddy obstacle course, I think I will probably register for one of the many so-called Tough-Mudder events with a few friends at some point.

IN SUMMARY

To wrap this up, the most important thing is not to put yourself under too much pressure. Enjoy yourself. You can have fun at any distance and any speed. There are so many events to choose from, you can be sure that the right one for you is somewhere out there. Do your own research and then simply register and rock up on the day, well-prepared.

LONDON MIGHT WELL BE THE BEST CITY FOR RUNNERS

London might well be the best city in the world in terms of the number and variety of organised events on offer. I couldn’t find any reliable sources of information.

You might also want to have a look at my post about an available running technique check-up, called Runners’ MOT. Other posts about outdoor activities include the RGS Explore Symposium, packrafting, hiking, canoeing, white water kayaking, skydiving, rock-climbing, and open-water swimming.