Covid Safe Plan

MK Marathon start 2016

Keeping you and our community safe

We are planning additional safety precautions during race weekend to keep all of our volunteers, spectators, and participants safe.

The MK Marathon team continues to monitor the developments relating to COVID-19 and is committed to open communication with our participants, volunteers, partners, and the entire Milton Keynes and running communities. We will update the status of our event as often as possible. Our number one priority is to put on a safe event next May.

What might change in 2021?

The coronavirus situation is continuing to change. No-one can predict with certainty the situation by the time of our event in May. So we are developing a number of different and flexible event plans to suit a range of possible scenarios, including…

  • Reducing the number of entries
  • Temperature checks
  • Social distancing
  • Wearing of face masks before and after the race
  • Changes to the start time of events to allow for small and scheduled wave starts.
  • Pre-allocated start time
  • Hand sanitiser stations
  • Planning small alternations to our course route so that we do not impact access to the hospital
  • Controlling spectators access to the stadium and start area
  • Reducing or removing ‘contact points’ at the event, such as aid stations and hospitality

Should the 2021 MK Marathon event be unable to take place in-person, all registered participants would automatically be transferred to the 2021 Virtual MK Marathon event. Participants who do not want to take part virtually, will be able to defer their registration to the 2022 event free of charge by a specific date, which will be published should the event be cancelled.

We will update you as our plans develop, after ongoing stakeholder consultations. Further details will be confirmed as the situation becomes clearer, and in good time before the event.

Thank you for supporting our event.

COVID-19 FAQS

No problem. Even though we’re excited about the virtual race experience, we understand that it may not replace the in-person experience for everyone. If you’re not interested in the virtual race, you would have one week after the cancellation date to defer your entry free of charge.

Your race entry fee is non-refundable.

If you’re unable to participate but still want your medal and shirt, you may transfer your registration to the virtual event. Log into your Active account at myevents.active.com. Find your 2021 event and follow the prompts to transfer to the Virtual MK Marathon event

Yes. Deferrals are available from 1st April. Simply return your race number to us before race day and complete an online form before 1st May at midnight and we will send you a deferral link to the 2022 event, including a 25% discount off the early bird registration.

Visit myevents.active.com to confirm your race registration.

You can update your address, t-shirt size, or buy merchandise before 31st March at midnight. Simply visit myevents.active.com and select your race registration.

We are developing a number of different and flexible event plans to suit a range of possible scenarios, including…

  • Reducing the number of entries
  • Temperature checks
  • Social distancing
  • Wearing of face masks before and after the race
  • Changes to the start time of events to allow for small and scheduled wave starts.
  • Pre-allocated start time
  • Hand sanitiser stations
  • Possible changes to the route/s
  • Controlling spectators access to the stadium and start area
  • Reducing or removing ‘contact points’ at the event, such as aid stations and hospitality

As we develop race plans we will update participants regarding any changes that may be necessary. We will make appropriate adjustments to our traditional race experience that are necessary to enable a safe and responsible event for our participants and community. That could mean any number of modifications to our traditional race experience, including but not limited to changes to the race routes, water stations, masks, starting zones, and times.