Run Cheltenham
The Lowdown
Run Cheltenham is Gloucestershire's largest running festival, staged annually in the Cotswold town of Cheltenham since 2018 (the 2020 edition was cancelled). The event offers a Half Marathon, a 10K, and a non-competitive Move More Mile, with both timed races starting and finishing inside Cheltenham Racecourse and looping through the town's Regency streets, including Montpellier, Lansdown, and the traffic-free Honeybourne Line, before a grandstand finish in front of the Princess Royal Stand. The Half Marathon covers 21.1 km with roughly 122 meters of elevation gain on gently rolling closed roads, and carries a 3 hour 30 minute time limit. Run Cheltenham is organized by WMP Creative in association with title partner Safran, with Sue Ryder as headline charity partner; entrants must be at least 17 for the Half Marathon and 15 for the 10K. The 2026 edition takes place on Sunday, September 20, and general entries have already sold out after the event drew more than 7,500 runners in 2025, so most remaining places now go through official charity partners. Standard entries close September 11, or sooner if capacity allows, with transfers permitted until August 3, 2026.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Large field
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Excellent spectator turnout
Cheltenham Racecourse - start and grandstand finish in front of the Princess Royal Stand
Montpellier - Regency shopping and cafe district on the route
Lansdown - residential Regency-era neighborhood on the route
Honeybourne Line - traffic-free former railway path used as part of the course
Pittville - Regency parkland area near the course
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
GB
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Minimum age 17 on race day for the Half Marathon
- Minimum age 15 on race day for the 10K
- 3 hour 30 minute course time limit for the Half Marathon
Required Documents
- Race bib with attached timing chip, collected at the Event Village before race day or on race morning
Entry Methods
- Online general entry via runcheltenham.com (sold out for 2026)
- Guaranteed charity place through official partners such as Sue Ryder and Team NHS Glos
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Full refund available within 7 days of purchase; no refunds after that window
Entry transfers to another runner permitted until August 3, 2026
First held in 2018; the 2020 edition was cancelled and the event has otherwise run annually since.
Safran (Safran Landing Systems) is the long-running title partner, sponsoring the event since 2023 and extending the partnership since.
Sold out its general entries for both the 2025 and 2026 editions, with over 7,500 runners taking part in 2025.
The route changed in 2024 to add the 10K distance alongside the existing Half Marathon and Move More Mile.
Free bag drop is available in the Event Village at Cheltenham Racecourse for all participants.
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