We like to mark significant milestones for races here on runABC so we are delighted to announce that the Marlow 5 will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Sunday 11 May 2025.

This newly minted veteran among road races is limited to the first 1,600 entrants. There's an Early Bird price cut available until 31 January 2025  – £20, rising to £23 until online entries close at midday on 8 May 2025. Entries on the day, if available, will cost £30 per participant. Click here to take advantage of the discounted entry fee.

The fast, flat course is entirely on road surfaces, starting and finishing in Higginson Park alongside the River Thames. Runners will race up Marlow High Street and through the town centre, heading east to run beside the A404 to the highest point on the course (a gain of fewer than 12 metres) before returning to the finish in Higginson Park, near Marlow Bridge.

The course is England Athletics certified accurate and suitable for runners with buggies. The minimum age for entry is 15 years and the race is ideal for everyone from experienced club runners to novices wishing to take the next step up from Couch to 5K and parkruns.

Charity is an important element and last year's race saw £13,000 donated to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and £11,500 to the Marlow Opportunity Playgroup. This year's selected charities are Dementia Action Marlow and the Thames Valley Air Ambulance.

Marlow 5 is organised by Handy Cross Runners, described on their club website: "We’re a friendly, sociable crowd. We come in all shapes, sizes and ages, both male and female; there are around 150 of us, with a wide range of abilities, some of us more competitive than others, we all love to run."

Just over 900 finished in 1:35:52 last year. Findlay Dyer (Belgrave Harriers, 25:47) and Katy Ward (Marlow Striders, 31:40) were the top athletes in action. Better than 6min/mile pace was managed by 24 men and nearly 100 ran quicker than 35 minutes on this fast course.

If you want to try to fly for five miles, here is the website for Marlow 5 details.

Race details are also at the runABC South race listing here.

Photo courtesy of Handy Cross Runners/Marlow 5 website