Chester Marathon 2024 Event Guide
The MBNA Chester Marathon is the sixth-largest marathon in the UK and is a fantastic event to take part in if you’re keen on trying out a new challenge.
This year will be its 13th year in operation and is a big highlight in the racing calendar, with it winning the title of UK’s Best Marathon three times.
The multi-award winning race is the only marathon to span across both England and Wales. And for those interested in history, the route takes you through the heart of Chester which is internationally recognised for Medieval and Roman history.
Learn all you need to know about one of the UK’s largest running events with our in-depth guide.
When is the Chester Marathon 2024?
The 2024 Chester Marathon is taking place on Sunday the 6th of October at 9am sharp.
If you’re taking part or just watching, there’s plenty of ways to get involved.
As well as the marathon there’s plenty of other events on the day that participants can take part in, including the Chester Metric Marathon (26.2km – starting at 10:10AM) and the Chester Mini Marathon (1 mile – starting at 10:20AM).
How to enter the Chester Marathon
You need to register online to take part in the Chester Marathon.
There are different ways to register though and we can help break down all the different routes you can go down.
- Special Entry (£49 – closed 15th October 2023)
- Standard Entry (£59);
- Late Entry (£64 – from 30th September 2024).
Once registered and entered, there are certain things included in your entry. They are:
- Chip timing
- Race number bib
- T-shirt and bespoke medal for finishers.
Participants can also enter as ‘Green Runners’ (£59), meaning they will not receive a finisher’s medal, t-shirt and goody bag after the race – the value of these items will instead be donated to the West Cheshire Foodbank.
A good thing about the entry is that registrations can be transferred to other runners, in the event that you can’t take part yourself.
However, entrants must be aged 18 or over in order to participate.
Refunds are not available, and transferred entries can only be used for the entry that was originally purchased.
Chester Marathon Route
The starting point of the marathon is Chester Racecourse.
From here, runners head into the city where they’ll pass by some of Chester’s most famous landmarks – the Town Hall; Middle Ages Galleries; Eastgate Clock; Amphitheatre – before passing through the Roman Walls and crossing the Old Dee Bridge out of the city.
Runners then leave Chester entirely, passing by the Duke of Westminster’s Estate and trailing through Pulford before crossing the Welsh border.
The route then moves through the Welsh villages of Lavister and Rossett, following a small rural loop before leading runners to Holt village.
They’ll return to England by crossing Farndon’s Ancient Roman Bridge, before completing the home stretch through Churton, Aldford and Huntington.
Runners will pass by the River Dee once again before reaching the finish line on Castle Drive.
Is Chester Marathon Flat?
When comparing the race to similar events, the Chester Marathon is a mostly flat course and could be a good one to take on if it’s your first marathon.
The route includes small hills and there’s some moderate inclines on the second half of the course.
It’s one event where runners have been known to reach personal best times – with 70% of participants achieving a PB on average.
Fundraising for Chester Marathon
You don’t need to raise money for a cause in order to compete in the Chester Marathon, but it’s a fantastic opportunity to.
Runners raise hundreds of thousands every year when they take part in the event and it’s a great chance to raise much-needed funds for charities or causes close to your heart.
You could even run for someone you know, it doesn’t necessarily have to be a charity.
Combining all races and events, the Chester Marathon aims to raise £1 million for charity each year.
The official charity sponsor for all 2024 events is the West Cheshire Food Bank, and all participants are encouraged to bring a tin of non-perishable food to the event’s collection point.
Starting a GoFundMe is one of the easiest ways to start raising money, and we’ve got lots of fundraising tips to help get you started.
Starting your fundraiser couldn’t be easier. You just need to:
- Create your fundraiser
- Set a goal
- Tell your story
- Share Your Fundraiser.
If you’re stuck for inspiration, it could be worth checking out the official charity page for the Chester Marathon.
Chester Marathon Fundraising Stories
There’s a huge number of causes people raise money for when taking part in the Chester Marathon.
If you’re looking for some inspiration, here’s some good fundraisers to check out for ideas.
Sean’s Marathon for Kidney Research UK
Sean Kewn raised vital funds for Kidney Research UK, a cause close to his heart.
He ended up raising hundreds for the charity after his sister was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.
Holly’s Run for Life-Saving Defibrillator Access
Holly raised funds for the Justin Edinburgh Foundation. The foundation campaigns for access and installation of life-saving defibrillators mandated by legislative change.
The foundation was set up after Justin tragically suffered a cardiac arrest in a gym, with no nearby defibrillator.
Emily’s Marathon for the PSP Association
Emily also took part because of a personal connection she had to a charity, the PSP Association.
Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is a rare neurological condition that affects balance, movement, vision, and speech. There is currently no cure or treatment that effectively stops or slows the progression of PSP which is why fundraising its research is of the utmost importance.
Emily went on to raise hundreds, after saying her grandmother was diagnosed with PSP.
Start Fundraising for the Chester Marathon
You can start fundraising as soon as you’re registered – there’s no waiting times required!
Fundraising is free, safe and a great way to provide motivation throughout your marathon journey.