TRIATHLONS

All Nations Sprint Triathlon, Dorney Lake

When: 10 May 2025

££: £60

What to expect: Run, swim and cycle for your country. Well sort of. At least you get to race in the team colours. The All Nations Triathlon run is set at the stunning Olympic venue Dorney Lake, and is open to all. This race has a buzzing atmosphere, plus it’s a flat and friendly course, all abilities welcome (400m swim, 20K bike ride, 5K run). It’s time to go for gold.

Bloodwise Blenheim Palace Triathlon, Woodstock

When: 7-8 Jun 2025

££: £48.33 – £215

What to expect: You’ll get a scenic tour of Blenheim’s beautiful grounds with the route looping around the palace. There are six entry options – sprint (750m swim, 19.8km bike, 5.4km run), super-sprint (400m, 13.3km bike, 2.9km run), sprint relay, full duathlon, half duathlon, and the Weekend Warrior where you can go for as long and as far as you can. You can enter as a team too.

Royal Windsor Triathlon, Windsor

When: 15 June 2025

££: £40 – £195

What to expect: Windsor Triathlon is an iconic race with a royal route taking you past some fantastic sights. There’s a 750m/1500m swim in the River Thames, followed by a bike leg (22/40km) through the streets of Windsor, passing Windsor Castle and out into the countryside. Finishing with a 5K/10K run into Windsor Great Park and along the spectacular Long Walk. Sprint and Olympic distances, both with relay options available.

Henley Triathlon, Henley-on-Thames

When: 1 June 2025

££: £89

What to expect: This is the 16th year of Henley Triathlon which takes place at Henley Leisure Centre and within the grounds of Gillotts School. The swim (400m) takes place in a heated pool, followed by a cycle around rural Oxfordshire (25km) and a flat grass run (5km). There’s also a super sprint, a sprint relay, and a fun race.

Castle To Coast, Windsor

When: 19 July 2025

££: £225

What to expect: A fab event on the triathlon calendar and the clue’s in the name. You’ll be swimming, cycling and running from Windsor to the coast. Brighton to be precise. This is an epic one day race that kicks off with a 1.2 mile swim at Eton Dorney, then a 67-mile bike ride down to Hassocks, finishing with a 14 mile trail run down to Brighton’s seafront.

Newbury Triathlon, Newbury

When: 7 Sep 2025

££: £45

What to expect: Newbury Sprint Triathlon is open to newbies to the sport and seasoned athletes. You’ll kick things off at Northcroft Leisure Centre’s heated outside pool for a 300m swim, followed by a 22K cycle that takes you out to into the countryside and back again for a 5K run around the town and River Kennett. It’s a friendly event that’s perfect for beginners.

RUNNING

ENDURE24, Reading

When: 7 – 8 June 2025

££: £45 – £100

What to expect: It’s the UK’s biggest 24 hour relay race that has me breathless just thinking about it. Zip around the beautiful Wasing Park where you’ll go all out on a varied and exciting 8km loop which ensures you’ll cover all the stunning areas of this unique venue. Join solo, as a pair, or in a relay team – suitable for all abilities and speeds. Epic, Brutal, Relentless – race against the clock to tackle as many laps as you can. How far can you go in 24 hours? The fridge and back for me.

Cliveden Classic, Maidenhead

When: 14 June 2025

££: £24.20 – £26.10

What to expect: No better setting for a 10k dart than gorgeous Cliveden. With the permission of the National Trust, newcomers and those of all fitness abilities are encouraged to beeline it around the grounds where you won’t just tackle the dreaded Cliveden steps once, but TWICE. Good luck.

Original Marathon, Windsor

When: 8 March 2025

££: £69.99

Run in the footsteps of legends as you race the route of the world’s first EVER 26.2 mile marathon. The famous route was originally run way back in 1908, taking you from Old Windsor all the way into White City in London. As part of this rare opportunity that will see just 75 runners compete, you’ll even receive a special 1908 replica medal and presentation box once you’ve collapsed in a heap at the end. Pretty cool, huh?

Easter 50 Ultra Challenge, Windsor

When: 12 April 2025

££: £10 – £30

What to expect: Scoff your chocolate bunny guilt-free this Easter and raise money for a good cause while you’re at it. The Easter 50 Ultra Challenge will take place from Windsor Racecourse on looped routes through the Great Park with fantastic views of the castle, to Runnymede along the Thames Path. There’s three options to choose from – 10km, 25km, and 50km depending on what takes your fancy and there’s the option to walk, run, or jog to the finish line. In case you needed motivation, there will be a glass of fizz, t-shirt, BBQ and a massage waiting for you at the end. Sold.

ParkRun UK

When: various dates

££: FREE

What to expect: Parkrun organises totally free 5K timed runs in 730 locations (and counting) around the world open to all ages and abilities. All you need to do is search your hometown to find your nearest run, sling on your trainers and go! Parkrun also organises junior races. It could be the next step from your Couch to 5K app. Your local ParkRun can be found in Newbury, Prospect Park, Thames Riverside or Woodley in Reading, Dinton Pastures Country Park and California Country Park in Wokingham, Bracknell, Sandhurst Memorial Park and Braywick Park Maidenhead and Upton Court in Slough.

Run Dorney Lake, Eton

When: Monthly

££: £20 – £35

What to expect: If you’re new to competitive running or just want to push yourself to a new distance, the flat course at Dorney Lake is perfect to build stamina and confidence, with 5K, 10K and half marathons to run. Or change gear and try a duathlon or triathlons here. It was also a London 2012 Olympic venue so imagine you’re going for gold and bask in your own glory. Next event is scheduled for 14 Feb.

Reading Half Marathon, Reading

When: 23 March 2025

££: £51

What to expect: You set off from Green Park and finish at the Madejski Stadium and there’s 13.1 miles of flat and hills in between. Lots of London Marathon runners do this one in advance of the big one, but it’s open to all abilities and always has a great vibe. Also 3k family Green Park Challenge.

Runthrough Newbury Racecourse, Newbury

When: 10 August 2025

££: £25 – £32

What to expect: A relatively new race to the competitive calendar but one that is flat, so you can push for a PB. Gallop around Newbury Racecourse over 5K, 10K or a Half Marathon. You’re running laps, one loop for 5K, two for 10K and four for the half. See you in the Winner’s Enclosure.

Racing Line Running, Berkshire

When: Various dates

££: £20 – £65

What to expect: If you loved your old school cross country, the events hosted by Racing Line Running could be right up your street. A number of race days to pop in the diary. There’s Reading 1020 (16 March) – 10 or 20 miles from the stunning riverside Mapledurham Estate, Mortimer 10km (21 April), Beat the Sunset 50km (31 May) – an ultramarathon not for the faint of heart where the aim is to make it to the finish line before darkness falls. Plus there’s Midsummer Murder (22 June) which is either 10 miles or a half marathon starting in Maidenhead, and brand new for last year, the Renegade 10km (13 July) around the stunning Yattendon Estate where you’ll get a pint from the brewery on completion.

Oxford Half Marathon, Oxford 

When: 12 Oct 2025

££: £62

What to expect: A scenic 13.1 mile route around Oxford’s historic buildings and universities with a buzzing atmosphere of onlookers lining the streets. The route is mainly flat, so go for that personal best!

Windsor Half Marathon, Windsor Great Park

When: 28 Sep 2025

££: £35.70 – £48

What to expect: Windsor’s iconic half marathon with royal sightseeing thrown in so you keep putting one front in front of the other. Just the idea of running up the stairs is enough to make me wheeze, but if we start training now, we could be ready. Shall we? Team Muddy – I will, if you will.

Wendover Woods Marathon, Half Marathon & 10k, Aston Clinton

When: 2 Nov 2025

££: £7 – £50

What to expect: A variety of events for all abilities including a kids 1k, 10k, half marathon and marathon, all in the enchanting setting of Wendover Forest.

FANCY SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT?

Inflatable 5K, Windsor

When: 25 October 2025

££: £46 – £76

What to expect: A bonkers dash around the world’s BIGGEST and most EPIC Inflatable 5K Obstacle Course. It’s bigger, bouncier and better than ever as you’ll navigate your way around 30 inflatable obstacles including the swing shot, the temple of doom, holy moly, and the boss. You’ll be jumping, sliding, and bouncing your way to the finish line at Windsor Racecourse like never before. Who said running wasn’t fun?

Tough Mudder, Henley-on-Thames

When: 10 & 11 May 2025

££: £20 – £85

What to expect: This one’s all about getting muddy so, naturally, we’re all for it. The Tough Mudder 15k (formally known as The Classic) is a 15km race including 20+ obstacles and – you guessed it – rolling around in loads of mud. There’s also a shorter, 5km version with 12+ obstacles, the 12-hour version and a 1-mile Muddy adventure for kids.

The Maverick Exposure Lights Dark West Sussex, Amberley Museum

When: 8 Feb 2025

££: £25 – £40

What to expect: Running doesn’t have to be resigned to only the spring/summer months, those Mavericks have organised this series to help you continue running in those darker months. With three courses to choose from (7, 10 and 17 km) the route takes runners around Amberley Museum, these are challenging events but throw darkness into the mix it is not for the fainthearted but it’s a good goal to work up to – head torch, not optional.

Bubble Rush, Norfolk Showground

When: 18 May 2025

££: From £5

A fun run and for a good cause – sign us up! Bubble Rush is a 2.5km course full of (you guessed it) bubbles! Nothing is timed because we’re all winners here and participants of all ages can walk, run, toddle and even dance their way round the multi-coloured bubble-filled course, with proceeds going to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice.

Run for Cake, Peterborough

When: 9 Feb 2025

££: £30 – £36

What to expect: Let there be cake! The catch? You’ve got to run for it (sorry). Choose your distance (5k, 10k, half, full or ultra marathon), run through the Peterborough location with the lure of cake at the finish line to keep you motivated. I mean, is there any other way to run?