The Isle of Wight Marathon

The 2026 Isle of Wight Marathon marks the 70th Men's marathon, and the 51st Women's marathon

Race Date: 4th October 2026 – Start time 11:00am
Closing Date: 27th September 2026 at 23:59
Transfer Deadline Date: 29th September 2026 at 23:59
No Withdrawals after the specified Closing Date. (Refunds subject to policy below)
On-Line Entry:
On the day entries may be available (Cash only), subject to the race not selling out. On-Line entry is preferred.
Date for your dairy: Next race – TBC Oct 2027

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History:

The Isle of Wight Marathon will be celebrating it’s 70th Anniversary in 2016, of the running of this historic race.
It has been run continuously since 1957, making it the longest-running (and one of the first to be held) in the U.K.

The Isle of Wight Marathon is included in the Association of Road Racing Statisticians (ARRS) list of longest-running marathons in the world. When the ARRS list was last updated in 2017, it was 25th in the world. Since the cancellation of lots of other marathons in 2020 & 2021, the Isle of Wight Marathon is probably now one of, or the longest running marathon in the UK, possibly the world. For details see ARRS and click on ‘Isle of Wight’ for the list of winners and times.

The inaugural event in 1957 was won by Ken Honney (Walton A.C.) in 2:35:51.

In 1964 Dale Greig (Paisley A.C.) set a women’s world record (recognised by ARRS) of 3:27:25, and was the first woman in the world to run under 3:30:00.

This race in 1964 was the first EVER Marathon by a woman on a properly measured (and certified) course under racing conditions - which means that it was officially timed, marshalled, and recorded, with checks every 5 miles to ensure the course was run. Previous very worthy runs satisfied none of these conditions.

In 1976 the race was the first in the UK to officially be open to women, conjunction with the Men's race, with the inaugural event won by A Lewis (Bromsgrove & Redditch A.C.) in 3:21:06. In 1978 the race hosted the inaugural UK national Women’s Marathon Championship.

If you have an interest in the history a fully searchable / sortable database of all results since 1957 is available here: Search Results.

Race Info:
Race Licence No. #30154
Entry Fees, Early Bird: (ends 1st Feb) £23 Affiliated / £26 Unaffiliated (Plus a service charge)
Entry Fees: £25 Affiliated / £28 Unaffiliated (Plus a service charge)
Entry Fees (on the day, cash only): £27 Affiliated / £30 Unaffiliated
Entry limit: 400
Minimum age: 18 years
Numbers and timing chips will be issued at Registration on Race Day.
The race is operated under UKA Rules.
Runners not conforming to the rules will be disqualified, and their time will not appear in the results.
If you are unable to run. The following actions are available via the entry portal: Transfers to someone else, change race to any of our races that are open for entries (paying the difference), withdrawals and refunds subject to the refund policy. No deferrals.
Refund Policy: Up to 3months before 90%, up to 2weeks before 50%, less than 2weeks before 0%.
The official finish Time Limit is 6hours 30minutes (15min/mile pace), this is approximately 3hrs 15minutes at the 12.8mile drinks station. This is not a walking event. The cut off will be enforced at the race director’s discretion.

Venue and Registration:
The Race HQ is Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7NP ///removers.stole.chucks
Changing and Shower facilities and bag storage available.
Registration opens from 09:00.
Limited free Parking at the finish venue, free on street parking nearby.

Safety Note:
For safety reasons the use of in-ear (or over ear) headphones is NOT permitted. In accordance with England athletics guidelines, bone conducting headphones are allowed.
For safety reasons, runners are NOT permitted to run with dogs.
For UKA Anti-Doping requirements and procedures: Click Here This is applicable to all competing members of UKA.
Medical information provided with your entry, will be supplied to the medical provider for use on race day. GDPR regulations will be followed.

Travel:
Ferries to Cowes from Southampton are operated by Red Funnel Ferries.
Please check timetables before travelling: Wightlink website. Hover Travel website. Red Funnel website
Wightlink offer 50% concessionary rate travel on their ferries over the race weekend, details will be provided on entry.

Awards:
Prizes 1st to 5th for men and women (£60, £50, £40, £30, £20)
Women Overall (1st to 5th), U20 (1st) and 10 year vet categories (1st, 2nd). Teams of 3 (1st, 2nd, 3rd).
Men Overall (1st to 5th), U20 (1st) and 10 year vet categories (1st, 2nd). Teams of 3 (1st, 2nd, 3rd).
Note: All awards are based on gun time. Overall winners can also win vet category prizes.
Medals will be awarded to all finishers.
Presentation will take place at the race HQ at approximately 15:30 to 16:00. Prizes not collected at the presentation will be posted within 7 days of the race.

Requests to amend results will be considered up to 3 days after the race. Requests to change an entry type from Unaffiliated to Affiliated, must be made before the day of the race.

By entering this event you agree that photographic and video footage may be taken by authorised personnel for marketing purposes and the Ryde Harriers website and on social media.

Race results can be found Here
Race photos can be found Here

Awards for breaking records are: £50 for the overall record, and £25 for a veteran record.
The new course records are:
Men – Ross Skelton (HY Runners) – 2:28:30
Women – Charlie Metcalfe (Ryde Harriers) – 2:56:38

For a full list of Records see Here

The Course:
The course (first used 2013, modified in 2022) is a single lap featuring the quieter & scenic roads on the west of the Island.
These are the undulating town and rural roads through Cowes, Gurnard, Rew Street, Porchfield, Shalfleet, Yarmouth, Thorley, Chessell, Ningwood, Shalfleet, Porchfield, Northwood, Cowes.
Marker boards at each mile point.
Water Stations are positioned at approximately 3.5 mile intervals. (Water Only), at the following distances (3.6m, 6.4m, 9.7m, 12.8m, 16m, 18.6m, 21.6m & 24.5m)
No littering outside the water stations.
The course is not suitable for wheelchairs. (Under revision)
SEAA Course Accuracy Certificate 22/398

There are no public or race provided toilet facilities on the course, but the following businesses have kindly agreed that runners can use their toilet facilities if needed. These will not be sign posted, it will be up to runners to know where these locations are, and to navigate themselves off and back onto the course as necessary.

Toilet Facilities Locations:

- The New Inn, Shalfleet – 7.5 & 17.5miles
- Chessell Pottery Café – 14.5mile (200m off the route)
- Porchfield Cricket Club – Water station at 21.6miles
- The Travellers Joy - 25mile

Course Map Link: The IOW Marathon Route