MBNA Chester Marathon and Metric Marathon
Sun 5 Oct 2025 Chester, Cheshire, UK

MBNA Chester Marathon and Metric Marathon

A multi-award winning event, three-time winner of the 'UK's Best Marathon Up to 5,000 Runners' and the UK’s only marathon from the City of Chester, plus a rare Metric Marathon on race day too!

3 races

  • Sun 5 Oct 2025
  • #1 of 3
Chester Racecourse, Chester

Marathon

09:00

Age 18 & over

£50-£66

  • 26.2 miles road running
  • Sun 5 Oct 2025
  • #2 of 3
Chester Racecourse, Chester > Canal Street, Chester

Metric Marathon

10:10

Age 18 & over

£40-£56

  • 26.2 km road running
  • Sun 5 Oct 2025
  • #3 of 3
Chester Racecourse, Chester

Mini Marathon

10:20

All ages

£10-£15

  • 1 mile road running

Overview

The multi-award winning and sell-out MBNA Chester Marathon has developed an enviable reputation with runners of all levels and abilities.

As the 6th largest marathon in the UK and three-time winner of the UK’s Best Marathon, it is also the only marathon in the UK that spans across both England and Wales. The route takes in the beautiful surrounding landscapes and villages that both countries have to offer. 

Best Marathon

Organised by runners for runners, this aims to be the 'perfect race'; a premier quality, competitively priced race which caters for the needs of runners of all abilities and speeds, combined with friendliness and personal touches which are unique to this event series. A rare Metric Marathon and Mini Marathon make the day exciting and inclusive for all abilities!

The event will once again host the England Athletics Age Group Masters Marathon Championship and be a qualifying race for the Abbott WMM Age Group World Championships.

Highlights

  • Multi-award winning headline marathon
  • UK's Best Marathon Up to 5,000 Runners (2018, 2019, 2020)
  • 6th largest marathon in the UK
  • Now in it's 15th year!
  • Stunning city centre start and finish
  • Qualifying race for the Abbott WMM Age Group World Championships
  • England Athletics Age Group Masters Marathon Championship qualifier
  • Run in city and countryside in both England and Wales
  • Metric Marathon (26.2K) and Mini Marathon on the same day
  • Part of the Chester Triple series for an extra challenge medal
  • Free, monthly, paced training runs and training seminars

Event video

  • All fitness levels
  • Event village
  • Families
  • Fancy dress
  • Newcomers
  • Spectators
  • Traders at event
  • Wheelchair users

Chester Triple Series

The MBNA Chester Marathon and the Metric Marathon are the last events in the Chester Triple Series - run in the 10K and Half Marathon too, for a spectacular Chester Triple medal!

medals

Expo

Event sponsors, partners and charities will have stands at the event.

Disabled athletes

Disabled athletes are encouraged to contact the organisers to ensure a safe and enjoyable race. There is not a wheelchair race, but accompanied wheelchairs, visually impaired and learning disabled athletes have all competed successfully in the past. Choose your start pen with care, to avoid jostling it is usually safer to line up at the back of the race. There is chip timing so your race time won't be affected.

The course does involve some short, sharp climbs and will start on grass. There are some cobbles, speed bumps and hills.

Disabled toilet facilities are available on the marathon route in the village of Holt (16 miles).

If an athlete needs a carer or guide to accompany them during the race, the carer is entitled to a free place in the race.

  • Bag storage
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Paid parking
  • Rural
  • Toilets
  • Urban

Event HQ

Chester Racecourse
Chester
Cheshire
CH1 2LY
UK

Chester is a destination city in its own right, with lots to do. There is fantastic shopping with superior high-street stores and boutiques. Enjoy a taste of history walking round the famous Roman walls, visiting the Roman amphitheatre and seeing the unique Rows (dating from Medieval times). Combine sightseeing and spectating with a stroll along the River Dee. There are numerous restaurants, pubs and delicatessens to suit all tastes. All this in easy walking distance. If you want to venture just outside the city, look out for Chester Zoo, the Blue Planet Aquarium or the Cheshire Oaks outlet village.

  • Public transport links

Green Runner option

Why not enter as a Green Runner?

You wouldn't receive a finisher's medal, t-shirt or goody bag - instead, the cost of these items would be donated to the official race charity which is the West Cheshire Foodbank.

You'd help reduce waste and support the local race charity at the same time!

Gold Award
Gold award on RaceCheck - reviewed independently by runners.

Great course, well organised, fab marshals and a cheeky PB for me! Fran

My 10th marathon and the organisation was second to none. All absolutely awesome - well done! Ros

Thank you for a great marathon on Sunday and making my 100th marathon special. Brian

Fantastic event and one which really thinks about things from a runners perspective. Sarah

Ran with the 5 hour pacers, thank them for making it so enjoyable with the music and encouragement. Norma

Chester was my first marathon in 2017 where it got me good for age and now in 2019 holds my new PB. Jess

Thanks for a fabulous race, very well organised, lots of lovely marshals and great support along the course. Emma

This is first time I did the Chester Marathon. I will be back. Friendly well organised. Great course, excellent weather. Goody bag was great. Parking was easy. Start and finish near each other, plenty of spots for spectators. The only marathon that is England and Wales. Friendly and encouraging pacers on 5 hours. What could be improved? My training! Chris L

I absolutely loved this event, thank you to all those working on the day to support and encourage the runners, it was a very well-organised event. Great medal, it’s good to have a long sleeve t-shirt and the goody bag was a nice thing to have. The pace makers, the communities supporting on the route were fantastic and aid stations and toilets on route were great. There were bands playing and lots of gels being given out and crowds cheering us on. It felt like a special event to be a part of. Mary G

A very professionally run event. Every detail considered and would thoroughly recommend. Jim M


Reviews thanks to RaceCheck

runners

Races at event

  • Sun 5 Oct 2025
  • #1 of 3
Chester Racecourse, Chester

Marathon

09:00

Age 18 & over

£50-£66

  • 26.2 miles road running
  • Sun 5 Oct 2025
  • #2 of 3
Chester Racecourse, Chester > Canal Street, Chester

Metric Marathon

10:10

Age 18 & over

£40-£56

  • 26.2 km road running
  • Sun 5 Oct 2025
  • #3 of 3
Chester Racecourse, Chester

Mini Marathon

10:20

All ages

£10-£15

  • 1 mile road running
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