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2026 MBNA Chester Marathon

Name: 2026 MBNA Chester Marathon
Start: 2026-10-11T09:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-10-11T15:00:00+00:00
Location: The Racecourse, New Crane St, Chester

Date

Sunday, 11 October 2026

Start Time

09:00

Location

The Racecourse, New Crane St, Chester

Get Directions

Race Entry Summary

Marathon

£65(+ 5% booking fee)

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Event Location

About This Event

Alternatively, you can join the Official Wait List here.

Join us at the 2026 MBNA Chester Metric Marathon - 11th October 2026

The MBNA Chester Metric Marathon is the UK's original Metric Marathon (26.6km) and forms part of the MBNA Chester Marathon weekend which won the UK's best marathon 3 years in a row. It's a great challenge for half marathon runners and an ideal stepping stone if you're aiming for a full marathon in the future. This event Sells Out every year, enter early to avoid disappointment, especially if you are after the 2026 Chester Triple Medal! You won't want to miss the amazing race day atmosphere.

The event boasts a lively city centre start and finish, with a route that passes all Chester's iconic landmarks, then heads out into the Cheshire countryside, where they will meet up with the full marathon runners, returning to Chester along the banks of the River Dee for an unforgettable finish and all the enthusiasm you could ask for from the Cestrian supporters who line the course to cheer you on.

WHATEVER YOUR REASON FOR RUNNING, WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE GREATNESS

Before race day you'll receive:

Access to training plans to support your running journey

Support and advice, including free training runs to keep you motivated

Your personalised race pack including your race number and timing chip sent to you in the post (runners from outside the UK need to collect their race numbers from our Help Desk on race weekend)

Exclusive offers and competitions from our sponsors right from the moment you sign up

Access to our friendly and supportive social community on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, who are happy to answer any of your running queries, including past and present pacers

FREE runner to runner transfers - should you no longer be able to take part

ON RACE DAY you'll experience all the fitness and mental health benefits associated with running, plus you'll get:

A special long sleeve quarter zip technical T-shirt, bespoke medal and goody bag packed with post race nutrition when you finish

Cash prizes awarded for the top 3 men and women and the winners of each age group

Access to our runners Help Desk for any last minute queries or transfers

On course hydration and nutrition for refuelling

Lots of medical support throughout the course should you need assistance

Access to our tracking website so all your supporters can track your live progress

This is a partner event. RunThrough memberships can be used for entry; however, once the event sells out, no additional places will be available, including for members. Please note there will be no RunThrough member desk, and member bibs cannot be used at this event.

Event Location: The Racecourse, New Crane St, Chester CH1 2LY, UK

Event Information

You can see the route and the profile here . The route is on fully closed roads.

Start times:

Sun 11 Oct 2026 at 09:00

Cut-off:

Chester Marathon is a running event, and there is a race cut-off time of 6 hours . Road closures are lifted in line with the 6 hour pace, and if you are not able to achieve this you may have to withdraw for your own safety.

Minimum ages:

The minimum age on race day is 18.

Chester Racecourse will be open for runners park their vehicles (dependant on weather) from 06:30 and will close at 07:30.

There are over 3,000 car parking places available in car parks within easy walking distance of the racecourse in Chester city centre. These car parks will charge a variety of fees dependent on the length of time vehicles are parked.

There will be a Drop Off zone in operation on Hamilton Place, Goss Street and Crook Street. This will run in a clock wise direction, with cars entering Hamilton Place, dropping off runners on Goss Street, and exiting on Crook Street back to Hamilton Place.

The Little Roodee Car Park on Castle Drive will be emptied and closed from 22:00 on Friday 9th October until 05:00 on 12th October - as it will host our Finish Event Village.

Chester Football club will be offering a pre-book service for £5, a link will be provided in your digital event guide, the car park will operate form 06:30 until 17:00. This is ideal for those looking to get dropped off and for their supporters to park their vehicle, or for those looking for a small warm up to the Start Line.

Further details of the locations of car parks and the fees charged can be found here .

ON RACE DAY you'll experience all the fitness and mental health benefits associated with running, plus you'll get:

A special long sleeve quarter zip technical T-shirt, bespoke medal and a goody bag packed with post race nutrition when you finish

Cash prizes awarded for the top 5 men and women and the winners of each age group

Access to our runners Help Desk for any last minute queries or transfers

On course hydration and nutrition for refuelling

Lots of medical support throughout the course should you need assistance

Access to our tracking website so all your supporters can track your live progress

Address

The Racecourse, New Crane St, Chester CH1 2LY, UK

Getting There

Chester Racecourse will be open for runners park their vehicles (dependant on weather) from 06:30 and will close at 07:30.

The Little Roodee Car Park on Castle Drive will be emptied and closed from 22:00 on Friday 9th October until 05:00 on 12th October - as it will host our Finish Event Village.

Further details of the locations of car parks and the fees charged can be found here.

Parking

Event Village Opens

Before 09:00

Baggage

There will be a baggage storage at the event, you will be given a baggage label with your race number.

Toilets

There will be ample toilets at the start, all clearly signed. There will also be toilets at every drink station and at the finish.

Water & Refreshments

The drinks stations will be 2.5 to 3 miles apart and can be seen on our route maps. There will be water in bottles at each drink station. Info about sports drinks/gels available on course will be published on our race information page before the event.