March 2023
Our selection of the best, fastest, toughest, quirkiest and most enjoyable races taking place in the UK in March 2023.
Trafford 10K
Here’s a super-quick 10K along the country lanes between Manchester and Liverpool, with a field that will include both sickeningly fast runners and those who are along for a nice springtime jog. Whether you’re in one of these groups or somewhere in between, a PB is certainly a possibility on this quick and quite flat course. We’re also big fans of the organisers trying to save plastic by reserving a place at the finish line for runners to leave their own pre-filled bottle of water.
Partington, Cheshire, March 5, runnorthwest.co.uk
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Orion 15
This storied event is about as far from a big-city race as you can get. There won’t be any supporters cheering you on as you stumble and squelch through the mud in Epping Forest for 15 miles, and you may even get lost on the tricky-to-navigate course that winds its way in a wonky figure-eight with a start and finish near Chingford Golf Club. But it is by all accounts a truly special event, and has pedigree dating all the way back to 1957.
Chingford, Essex, March 25, orionharriers.com
Omagh Half Marathon
At last year’s Omagh Half Marathon, around half of the field finished in under two hours – a particularly impressive set of results considering that the route through rural Co. Tyrone is anything but flat. Why is this? Are the good people of Northern Ireland especially quick? Do the organisers hand out free Vaporflys to all competitors? (disclaimer: they don’t) Is the race just so inspiring that everyone performs really well? You’ll just have to go along and find out for yourself.
Omagh,Co. Tyrone, March 26, omaghhalfmarathon.run
Total Coastal Ultra
This race carves out a chunk of the South West Coast Path, and the chunk can be 50K, 21.1K or 10K depending on how much of the area around Shaldon you want to explore. The 50K ultra is the jewel in the crown of this event, and has a nice mix of easier road sections (25%) and tough technical trail sections (around 75%). With a well-signposted route all the way, there is little danger of getting lost and the scenery will of course be quite lovely.
Shaldon, Devon, March 25, windingpaths.uk
Ashby 20
Speed is required long before you get to the country roads around Ashby that set the scene for this outstanding 20-miler: it always tends to sell out fast. That’s partially because it’s a very well-organised event with excellent support and marshalling, but also because it presents a unique challenge: 20 miles is a great marathon warm-up event, and with a two-lap route, you’ll get to experience how a hill that didn’t feel so tough on the first lap can crush your spirit into dust on the second.
Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, March 26, ashby20.co.uk
Minchinhampton 10K
A positive split is almost guaranteed on this road race: the first half is mostly downhill and all the ups come in the second half. The route is, however, quite lovely, exploring narrow and winding Chilterns country lanes around Minchinhampton, itself full of narrow and winding streets. As if the uphill second half wasn’t tough enough, the final few metres are on grass and will sap whatever last drops of energy you’ve managed to conserve.
Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, March 5, iamoutdoors.co.uk
Great British Seaside Marathon & Ultra
The organisers of this event have prioritised a good route with a pleasant turn-around point for this out-and-back pair of events, with the result that the marathon comes in at just under 44km – but there will be a timing mat at the 42.2km mark to ensure that you get an accurate marathon finishing time too. You just have to decide whether to use your finishing sprint for the marathon line, or the actual finish line. The ultra follows the same route but turns a few kilometres further along the way for 57km in total. This is coastal Lincolnshire, so the benefits of the flat route are likely to be cancelled out by the sea winds.
Skegness, Lincolnshire, March 25, thegreatbritishseasidemarathon.com
High Legh 10K
It may not have the history of some other well-respected races in the country, but the High Legh 10K is a great example of a race that has carved out a place for itself on the race calendar with excellent organisation, a quick route, a competitive field and a warm welcome. Since 2008, it has gotten a little bit bigger and a little bit better every year, growing from 200 runners to 650. It also returns all proceeds to the local community.
Knutsford, Cheshire, March 12, highlegh10k.org.uk
Mother's Day 10km
Men are of course welcome to take part in this 10K along a cycle path between Lancaster and Morecambe, but only when they have smothered all the mothers in their lives with all the love, attention and gifts that they can muster. As for the running mothers: you’re choosing the post-race meal and no objections will be tolerated. The route is about as flat as can be, but care is required because it will not be closed to the public.
Lancaster, Lancashire, March 18, lancaster-race-series.co.uk
Chiltern Kanter
Walkers take off an hour before runners for these events of 26, 18 or 13 miles. These are walking and map-reading events at which runners are welcome, so don’t forget your essential hill-walker’s kit: an OS map, waterproofs and a pencil for answering the set of questions at the grid point that you navigate to. There’s no prize for finishing first, just a certificate for getting to the finish with the correct answers, so you can take your time and enjoy the Chilterns scenery.
Pitstone, Buckinghamshire, March 5, ldwa.org.uk
Haweswater Half Marathon
There aren’t many races that give you what the Haweswater Half does: fabulous Lake District scenery from the sure-footed safety of a tarmac road. There are of course a few hills to ascend, but most of the steep inclines around you are merely for visual enjoyment. You’ll have charming old stone walls and the tranquil Haweswater reservoir by your side for most of the route, and the worst of the hills will be out of the way by 13km, leaving you with a barrelling downhill finish back to Bampton.
Bampton, Westmorland, March 5, edenrunners.co.uk
Inverness Half Marathon
If you live in the south, here’s the perfect excuse to travel the country on the romantic, environmentally friendly night train – although you may want to pack both thermals and sunscreen to allow for the vagaries of springtime weather up north. This event is one of the friendliest and most fun in the country, and while there is talk of the route being quite flat, that’s Scottish flat – in the rest of the country, that means there are a few decent inclines on a route that largely follows the River Ness.
Inverness, Inverness-shire, March 12, invernesshalfmarathon.co.uk
The NW El Diablo 1/2 Marathon
You have a decision to make if you’re running in this event. Do you keep your eyes on the ground, making sure to land well on the hilly, sometimes technical trail path, but then miss out on the gorgeous scenery? Or do you take in all the sights and risk a face-plant? You might see Guernsey and Sark in the distance as you head westwards along this stunning cliffside path, and best of all, there’s a nice flat finish at the gorgeous and seemingly endless L’Ouzière beach. You are going to gallop straight into the sea to cool down, aren’t you?
Les Platons, Jersey, March 4, trailmonkeyjersey.com
Welshpool 10K
This is not one of those fast and flat 10Ks. The route heads up into the hills to the southwest of Welshpool – so named to distinguish it from Poole, which we think should be called Englishpoole from now on – and after 7-ish kilometres of climbing, you can shred a completely different set of leg muscles as the final 3km descend rather rapidly back into the town. With fully closed roads and a town-centre start and finish, this is a great event for beginners and experienced runners alike.
Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, March 26, adrenalinesportingevents.co.uk
Feighan Fury 10M Trail Race
Mike Feighan was a much-loved and very talented member of the Devon running community. He sadly passed away in 2021. This event was launched to commemorate him, his love of trail running and his dedication to championing the mental health benefits of running. It’s no walk in the park: expect over 600m of ascent though forests and rivers, mostly on trail paths.
Templeton, Devon, March 26, swrr.co.uk
