Southampton Running Festival

Bishop's Waltham, United Kingdom • 16 Aug 2026

Southampton Running Festival

The Southampton Running Festival takes place at Southampton Common, a green open space in the centre of the city. The venue is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest that includes diverse landscapes such as woodland, grassland, ponds, wetlands, and lakes. The event begins and ends within the common, providing a setting suitable for watching wildlife alongside the athletic activities.

Participants can choose from several distances, which utilize different lap configurations around the park. The course features distance flags at every kilometre and marshals stationed throughout the route to guide runners toward the finish line.

Available distances include:

  • Half Marathon (6 laps plus an out-and-back section)
  • 10k (3 laps)
  • 5k (2 smaller laps)
  • Junior Race

The event includes an event village where various food and drink options are available. Finishers receive items from event partners upon completing their run. Event t-shirts featuring the festival logo can be purchased during the registration process. The organizers focus on sustainability and offer flexible options regarding race merchandise to manage event costs and environmental impact. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

Race information

Half Marathon
Half Marathon
10 km
10k
5 km
Junior Race
Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
Trail runs nearby

Explore the trails of the South Downs National Park near Winchester. Choose from three scenic routes of varying distances, all starting from the Matterley Basin Grand Prix Track. This dog-friendly event offers a hard-packed course with pano..

Experience the beauty of the South Downs National Park on a point to point trail run from Arundel to Winchester featuring ultramarathon or marathon distances with fully marked courses and stocked aid stations.

Discover the scenic beauty of the South Downs with a trail hike through the historic Stansted House estate. Choose between three distances and enjoy a chip timed walk featuring lush woodlands and rolling hills.

Run as many laps as you choose on this forest trail course in Hurn Forest. Enjoy a well maintained loop with distances ranging from 5K to ultra marathon and support forest conservation with your entry.