Rainow 5
Rainow, United Kingdom • 6 May 2026
Event details
The Rainow 5 is a small trail/fell race held on the first Wednesday evening in May. It is organised by a member of Macclesfield Harriers with club support and is licenced and run under FRA rules. Runners must be aged 16 or older. Pre-entry is encouraged, with places offered from a wait list where possible; limited entry on the day is allowed. Typical entry is around 250–300 runners; after a COVID gap there were 236 finishers and a record 285 participants in 2023.
Distances
- 5 miles hilly trail/fell route
- 2 miles fun run (held historically, 1992–1999)
Route, prizes and charities
The main route is a hilly five-mile course around Rainow and Kerridge Ridge, using local ridge and village paths; a GPX file of the route is available. The event has historical variations of the course dating back to 1989 and has included features such as ridge-top sections and local landmarks.
Prizes are low-key, normally modest items such as a bottle of local beer, so that profits can be maximised for donation. Post-race cakes are provided by local groups and a nearby pub is a common meeting place afterwards. All proceeds are donated to local organisations and charities, including Buxton Mountain Rescue, the Rainow Institute, Rainow pre-school, KRIV and Cheshire Wildlife Trust. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.