Christmas Day Cracker Run 2026

After the success of the last 5 years of The Christmas Day Cracker Run, join us for our sixth Christmas Day run! If you prefer to put on a pair of trainers rather than open presents, drink and eat Christmas dinner (or if you want to get a run in before you do all of that!) then this is the event for you!

We welcome runners of all abilities and you are allowed to run or walk the course.

The lowest entry price for all distances is available to members only and is £10.00 lower than the full price. You can become a member by logging into your profile and purchasing one of the membership schemes. As well as the cheapest entry price, a member is guaranteed entry to the run and gets a mini-me medal pin at every event they attend!

Christmas Dinner at The Last Hop

This year's Christmas Day Cracker Run 2026 is being held in Staines Upon Thames at The Last Hop.  The Last Hop is putting on a full Christmas Dinner for a special runner price of £50.00 per head. If you are wanting to stay for Christmas Dinner, make sure you enter one of the categories which state "Including Christmas Dinner".  You can also buy extra stand alone Christmas Dinners for any friends or family who may be supporting you.

Please note - The Christmas Dinner is organised by the Last Hop and is not part of Saturn Running. We will provide menu options, including any special dietry options nearer the time on behalf of the Last Hop. Should the Last Hop decide to cancel the Christmas Dinner, we will refund the £50.00 that is relevant to the dinner part of your entry only.

Compulsory Kit

If you wish to run before 7:30am, you will need to use a headtorch for the first hour of the event.

Distance & Time

This is a 7 hour Time Challenge event which allows you full control over the distance you want to run. The minimum distance is 3km, which is part of a lap. A full lap is 4.37 miles or 7km (this is subject to change to a 3.28 mile loop depending on course conditions) and you can run as many, or as few, of these laps as you like subject to UK athletics age restrictions (please see the restrictions below). We will have a 3k turn point and 5k turn point within the lap which is available to allow our younger runners to comply with the UK Athletics distance rules. It is 3 laps for a half marathon, 6 for a marathon and 7 or over for an ultra, we also have a 50km distance available.

Course

The course is along a beautiful stretch of the River Thames. It is fully signed so no navigational experience is required.

Medals

As long as you complete 3km, you will be an official finisher and you will receive our fantastic Christmas themed medal!

Distance Pins

We have distance pins for all runners who do a half-marathon or more. There will be a distance pin for all runners who complete either a half marathon, mega half marathon, marathon, 50km or Ultra in the 7 hour time limit which can be attached to your medal ribbon.

Goody Bag

Absolutely! You have earned these replacement calories after all, so all our finishers get a great goody bag. You will have a selection of goodies to choose from. As well as our standard goody bag, we have a vegan goody bag too. Please remember to let us know if you are vegan or if you prefer a vegan goody bag when you enter and we can have this ready for you.

Christmas Present: We can't have you leaving without a gift from Santa's stocking!

Christmas Dinner Aid Table

It's a full Christmas Dinner aid table, with roast potatoes, parsnips, sprouts, roast ham and a nut roast for our vegan friends. With mince pies and a little tipple of something also available, its Christmas Day with running built around it!

Special Event

If our event is a special event for you, for instance your 50th, 99th, 100th, 150th, 200th, 250th etc. marathon or half marathon then please let us know. We will provide you with a great number with your name and the event date on it. 

Toilet & Changing Facilities 

The Last Hop has toilets but there are no separate changing facilities or showers. If you do wish to get changed, the downstairs toilets are large enough for you to change in. These facilities will be open from 8am and will be available for use throughout the entire event.

Parking

There is parking available in Bridge Street Car Park in Staines, TW18 4TP.

Other Info

There will be somewhere to leave a bag at the start / finish area. However, this is not a secure bag area and the items cannot be watched at all times so please do not leave anything valuable.

Headphones are allowed.

Our running events are help on public footpaths so we would be grateful if all runners were considerate of other path users.