ABP Southampton Marathon Festival Routes 2026

Race Day

Explore the official ABP Southampton Marathon Festival 2026 routes, created to showcase the very best of Southampton, from the waterfront docks to the heart of the city.

We’re proud to be partnering once again with OS Maps, giving runners detailed, interactive route maps for all four distances:

5K

10K

21K

42K

Whether you’re planning your training or visualising race day, OS Maps allows you to explore each course in detail, including terrain, elevation and key landmarks.

View the Routes

on OS Maps

Click the distance below

Use the links below to explore each route in detail:

Route

Highlights

Start & Finish Locations

Start Line – Dock Gate 8

All races will start from Dock Gate 8, located within Southampton’s historic docks and home to our headline sponsor ABP. This brand-new start line creates an unforgettable opening to race day, right on the waterfront.

Finish Line – Guildhall Square

Every runner, across all distances, will finish in Guildhall Square, right in the city centre. A lively, spectator-friendly location perfect for celebrating your achievement.

A Unique Race-Day Highlight

For 2026, runners taking part in the 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon will experience something truly special, a run-through of St Mary’s Stadium, home of Southampton FC. Running through the stadium adds a huge atmosphere boost and is a standout moment on the course for thousands of participants.

Merchandise

See our range of exclusive race merchandise

Training

Get race-ready with expert tips, training plans & support

FAQs

Got questions? Find all the answers you need for race day

Important Route Information

Please note:

All routes are subject to change as part of ongoing course planning and safety reviews.
Final routes will be UKA Certified in the weeks leading up to the event.
Any updates or minor adjustments will be communicated clearly via our website, email updates and social channels.

Distances may vary slightly due to on-the-ground refinements required to deliver the safest and best possible race experience.

Training

TIPS

https://www.solentmind.org.uk/news-events/events/mental-elf-2025/

ReesLeisure Joins Solent Mind for Mental Elf 2025

Join Solent Mind on 7th December 2025 for the Mental Elf 5K Fun Run. A festive, feel-good event raising vital funds for mental health support. Run, elf-up, and make a difference!

https://www.solentmind.org.uk/news-events/events/run-the-abp-southampton-marathon-2025-for-solent-mind/

Mind Over Movement - Run the ABP Southampton Marathon for mental health Charity Solent Mind

Run for a cause - Join Charity Partner Solent Mind in raising mental health awareness across Hampshire

https://southamptonhospitalscharity.org/charity-events/abp-southampton-marathon-races/

The 10K Experience - An Assisted Running Duo's Perspective

David and Alice, an assisted running duo, are taking part in the ABP Southampton 10K to raise awareness for MND and advocate for inclusion in sport.

SO:RUN 2025 – Prepare for Your Best Race Yet!

SO:RUN 2025 – Prepare for Your Best Race Yet!

Join SO:RUN 2025 on 6th February at Southampton Solent University. Expert workshops, guest talks, and training tips to prepare for the ABP Southampton Marathon.

Running through wet puddle

Our Top Five Tips for Running in the Rain

Sticking to your training plan, rain or shine, is all part of the challenge. To help you out, here are our top five tips for running in the rain.

Runners at the start line at the ABP Southampton Marathon 2024 with cheering crowds.

6 Months to Go Until the ABP Southampton Marathon: Let the Countdown Begin!

The ABP Southampton Marathon celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2025, offering multiple race distances, team challenges, and volunteer opportunities. Join us on race day.

University of Southampton runners participating in the 2024 ABP Southampton Marathon, raising funds for the Ignite Programme and Cancer Immunology Fund

University of Southampton Raises Over £22,000 for Charity at the 2024 ABP Southampton Marathon!

The University of Southampton raised over £22,000 at the 2024 ABP Southampton Marathon, supporting the Ignite Programme and Cancer Immunology Fund.

Strides of Unity: Medical Physics Team's Journey to the ABP Southampton Marathon

Medical Physics team of University Hospital Southampton take the Half. An alternative take on team building, bettering their sense of self and the community.

Our Top Tips for Running in the Wind

University of Southampton staff take the miles

University of Southampton Activity Coordinators YiLin and An-Sofie set themselves the ABP Marathon challenge.

Running for Hearts: A Father's Marathon Tale of Hope and Gratitude

Family man takes on ABP Marathon as a gesture of gratitude towards Southampton Hospital for looking after his daughter and family.

Alan Hardwick, couch to marathon, 8 month journey.

Alan is training to run for Southampton Hospitals Charity! From a couch potato to runner in eight months, follow his journey.

Last year's Williams Shipping runners

Williams Shipping Return As ABP Southampton Marathon Partners

Williams Shipping proudly return as partners to this year's ABP Southampton Marathon. Hampshire’s popular marathon will again feature Williams Shipping’s famous truck!

Kathryn and Anya

Dynamic Duo Set to Leave Their Mark On ABP Southampton Marathon 2022

Avid runners Kathryn and Anya, friends from Cornwall, are running the ABP Southampton Marathon this year as a way of marking big occasions in 2022!

ABP Running vest

Winter is coming!

One of the questions asked following my recent running posts was “How on earth do you run in a vest at this time of year?”

Postman Wayne’s aiming to deliver a World Record!

Local Hampshire runner Wayne Bevan is aiming to set an Official Guinness World Record at the ABP Southampton Marathon 2022

Multiple runners

NEW Event date – Sept 2021

2020 was an unpredictable and devastating year for so many from a personal, physical, financial and mental point of view

Running trainers

Lockdown 2.0… here we GO!

Lockdown 2.0… here we are! If you’re feeling a bit lost, need some motivation, or that extra drive to get outside, then read on

Southampton lecturer is running Half Marathon for cancer unit that saved his life

A university lecturer from Bassett is running in the ABP Southampton Half Marathon to raise funds for the special cancer unit which helped save his life.

Running 12 Half Marathons in 2022!

Matthew Boyd-Wallis is running 12 Half Marathons in 2022 to raise money for the Southampton Hospitals Charity.

Southampton Hospitals Charity Runners

Family run the ABP Southampton Marathon for Southampton Hospitals Charity

Learn about the Hughes family who are inspiring many by running to raise money for Southampton Hospitals Charity for their dad after he suffered with COVID-19.

Half Marathon for double cancer survivor

Colin Parker, 54, from Andover, talks about how he beat cancer twice, and is running the ABP Southampton half marathon for Southampton Hospitals Charity.

Interview with Macmillan’s Southampton Marathon Team Captain

Interview with Macmillan

Find out more on how Macmillan work with ABP Southampton Marathon to support people living with cancer in Hampshire.

Southampton Hospitals Charity

Southampton Hospitals Charity returns as ABP Southampton Marathon’s Lead Local Charity

Southampton Hospitals Charity will be joining us this year at ABP Southampton Marathon as our Lead Local Charity.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No…it’s ‘Pooperman’!

Local runner, Mike Sharpe, runs in the marathon to raise awareness of IBD dressed as Pooperman!

New ABP Southampton Marathon Route 2022

ABP Southampton Marathon Reveals New Routes for 2022

ABP Southampton Marathon is back! We welcome new runners and a new route for the marathon as well familiar faces back to the vibrant city of Southampton!

Bag full of Healthy foods

Pre-Run Nutrition Tips For Runners

By Dr. Ali Hill R. Nutrition. (Sport and Exercise), SENr Course Leader BSc (Hons) Applied Human Nutrition School of Sport, Health and Social Sciences at Solent University

Runner stretching

Five Ways To Prevent Injury

Staying injury-free is vitally important throughout your training programme.

Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors

Title Sponsor

ABP Southampton blue