‘I have run 3 London marathons, one Prague marathon and one Edinburgh marathon. Milton Keynes was by far the best.’
Recognised as one of the top 10 marathons in the UK, the everydayhero MK Marathon provides one of the greenest marathon routes and a genuine stadium finish. Now in its 5th year we tell you about why the 2016 event will be the biggest and best yet.
A green city with a sporting heart
Known as “the city in the country”, Milton Keynes boasts over 5,000 acres of parkland, rivers, lakes and woodland including over 22 million trees. And yet it is a buzzing city with one of the best theatres outside London’s West End, over 400 shops and a nightlife to suit any taste. It is also truly sports mad – from cable-tow wakeboarding and indoor sky-diving through to cycling and indoor snowboarding on real snow, Milton Keynes is the home of the Red Bull Racing Formula One team and the national centre for Badminton.
The MK Marathon route combines the best of ‘green’ and ‘sporting’ Milton Keynes by giving you one of the fastest and greenest routes through tree-lined boulevards, lakes, parks and woodland with a champion’s welcome at the state-of-art Stadium MK, home to Milton Keynes Dons Football Club and one of the host venues of the Rugby World Cup 2015.
A Champion’s finish for all
Not many UK marathons can offer a finish at a 30,000 all-seater capacity Championship football stadium. With all races finishing here with a victory lap of the pitch, it makes a truly unforgettable experience.
Top rewards for all finishers
You put all the effort into your training and running on the day, so the race organisers want to make sure you are properly awarded for your efforts. All finishers of the Marathon, ½ Marathon and Relay races will receive high quality tech t-shirts, goodie bags and one of the best marathon medals out there as a lasting memento of your run.
‘Fantastic event. Well organised in every respect, with friendly supportive marshals and an excellent medal. Highly recommended.’
Superb organisation
MK Marathon has been voted by Runner’s World readers as one of the UK’s top races on account of its organisation, atmosphere, beginner friendliness and scenery. It has also been awarded the British Association of Road Runners (BARR) Bronze Award for the standard of race organisation and commitment to runners. With a dedicated team of volunteers to make sure everything runs smoothly, excellent crowd support and entertainment enroute from bands and DJs, all the elements are there for a totally enjoyable day out.
Something for all ages and abilities
If you’re a beginner or just want to keep your training up between races, there is also a half marathon or a corporate relay option, letting you compete as part of a team. And if you’re just looking to have a bit of fun with the family, there is the increasingly popular Superhero Fun Run.
So if you haven’t yet made plans for your 2016 May Bank Holiday weekend, here is a great way to combine your marathon running plans with a chance to explore the shops and culture of this green city – and maybe discover some other high-octane sports while you’re there!