Fun runs are a brilliant option for people new to running or for families to run together. With shorter distances and a focus on fun rather than finishing time, there's no pressure. Select your location for fun runs in your area or scroll down to see what's coming up.
Featured events are listed below - select your region to see all events.
A community 5K for all ages and abilities at your own pace. The start time is approx. 10.30am depending on the arrival of salmon from Exmouth. Costumes and salmon references welcome!
Big Fun Run is about being active and having fun whilst doing it! If you’re just beginning your journey to being more active and improving your fitness, this is for you!
Take on a 5K in the beautiful setting of Hyde Park. Run, jog, walk or wheel your way around the course, at an event open to all ages, with an eco-medal and superb festival atmosphere at the finish!
Chelsea FC's Stamford Bridge welcomes you to behind-the-scenes access to the changing rooms, media room and players tunnel as part of a unique fundraising event for Mind!
One of the junior events of the Run Bournemouth Festival for ages 3-6 along a beautiful coastal route with the fun of running near Bournemouth Pier!
One of the junior events of the Run Bournemouth Festival for ages 6-8 along a beautiful coastal route with the fun of running along Bournemouth Pier!
One of the junior events of the Run Bournemouth Festival for ages 9-12 along a beautiful coastal route with the fun of running along Bournemouth Pier!
One of the junior events of the Run Bournemouth Festival for ages 11-18 along a beautiful coastal route with the fun of running along Bournemouth Pier!
Glowsticks at the ready for a twinkly coastal run at dusk along the iconic Bournemouth Pier ideal for families, beginners, everyone and part of the exciting Run Bournemouth weekend festival!
The Mini Marathon is open to anyone wanting to take part, and is aimed primarily at children. Taking place within the racecourse, finishers will receive a medal, t-shirt, race number, drink and treat.
This fun U16's race is part of the Kielder Marathon Weekend celebration of running, enjoying the same stunning scenery and trails as the major events!
This fun U11's race is part of the Kielder Marathon Weekend celebration of running, enjoying the same stunning scenery and trails as the major events!
Epic mud runs, cargo climbs, tunnels, tubes, stretcher manoeuvres, river crosses, slippery slopes, dramatic drops, planks and pools over a 6K course that recreates Royal Marines Commando training.
Epic mud runs, cargo climbs, tunnels, tubes, stretcher manoeuvres, river crosses, slippery slopes, dramatic drops, planks and pools over a 3K course adapted from Royal Marines Commando training.
Epic mud runs, cargo climbs, tunnels, tubes, stretcher manoeuvres, river crosses, slippery slopes, dramatic drops, planks and pools over a 6K course that recreates Royal Marines Commando training.
Epic mud runs, cargo climbs, tunnels, tubes, stretcher manoeuvres, river crosses, slippery slopes, dramatic drops, planks and pools over a 3K course adapted from Royal Marines Commando training.
A much-loved 2K race on traffic-free roads for 8 to 14-year-olds starting and finishing at Millennium Square in Leeds city centre. Beginners welcome - this is an event for all levels!
Ready... Steady... GLOW! Expect to be swept away on a distinctly magical 5K experience as dusk falls on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and grace the grounds of World Athletics Champions.
Featured events are listed below - select your region to see all events.
One of the night-time mixed terrain races on the well-drained sandy soil of Woodbury Common. Well organised, fully marshalled and for all ability levels.
One of the night-time mixed terrain races on the well-drained sandy soil of Woodbury Common. Well organised, fully marshalled and for all ability levels.
Kids age 3-8 can enjoy 1 lap of the traffic-free route with a parent. It'll be well marked out, timed, marshaled with prizes for the first back. There'll also be a hare running too!
Kids age 3-11 can enjoy 2 laps of the traffic-free route. It'll be well marked out, timed, marshaled with prizes for the first back. There'll also be a hare running too!
Come and experience this exciting multi-terrain race at night, for all ability levels and ages, in beautiful parkland on the edge of Bristol.
Come and experience this exciting multi-terrain race at night, for all ability levels and ages, in beautiful parkland on the edge of Bristol.
Ready... Steady... GLOW! Expect to be swept away on a distinctly magical 5K experience as dusk falls on the home of two 30-metre high horses.
Ready... Steady... GLOW! Expect to be swept away on a distinctly magical 5K experience as dusk falls on the home of two 30-metre high horses.
A fantastic race for kids over a substantial 2.62K route with an encouraging finish inside the BT Murrayfield Stadium, as part of the Kilomathon event day.
The multi-award-winning Milton Keynes Marathon Weekend is more than just a running race. Run for fun at Buckinghamshire’s MOST POPULAR weekend of running!
The Fun Run is open to anyone wanting to take part, and is aimed primarily at children. Taking place within the racecourse, finishers will receive a medal, t-shirt, race number, drink and treat.
The perfect way for teenagers to get involved in EMF Weekend! The event offers a picturesque route around Holyrood Park with panoramic views of the city and Edinburgh Castle plus a medal and t-shirt!
One of the junior events of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival for ages 9-12 in the beautiful Holyrood Park with the fun of a medal, t-shirt and goodies at the end!
One of the junior events of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival for ages 6-8 in the beautiful Holyrood Park with the fun of a medal, t-shirt and goodies at the end!
One of the junior events of the Edinburgh Marathon Festival for ages 3-6 in the beautiful Holyrood Park with the fun of a medal, t-shirt and goodies at the end!
Kids race for children aged 8-11 at the stunning Burrator Reservoir with medals for all finishers!
Kids race for children aged 3-7 at the stunning Burrator Reservoir with medals for all finishers!
Select your location for fun runs in your local area.
To people outside the running community, the concept of a fun run can seem strange - an oxymoron, even. We would argue, though, that these people have never experienced taking part in a fun run and probably should!
Short and easy with plenty of extra entertainment, fun runs are ideal for kids and adults to get active in a low pressure environment. Sure, you can race if you like but that's far from the point of these locally organised events. Instead, focus on getting outdoors with friends and family while being active at the same time - it's a win-win!
Many fun runs will take place as part of a bigger event, such as the Great Scottish Mini race in Glasgow - part of the Great Scottish Run weekend, this 1.5 mile route is perfect for children and gets them involved in the carnival atmosphere of the weekend.
Likewise, a fun run might be organised locally - these take place in villages and towns all over the UK and are a fantastic opportunity for families to spend time together being active in the outdoors, as well as for new runners to try out an event with no pressure attached.
So, if you're dubious of the 'fun' element to these runs, we'd recommend getting involved - there's more than enough to go around.
A fun run can be any distance and isn't defined by being a 5K or a 10K (though you wouldn't find one any longer than that). You can even find fun runs that are 1.5K or 2K, for example. The key thing that unites these races is that they are all about encouraging people to get involved, particularly when it comes to kids running. They focus much less on competition and much more on their reason for being: fun!
Use this page to browse fun runs across the UK, including virtual events that you can get involved with wherever you are. To narrow your search, select your region in the search box to discover races in your local area. You can also use the advanced search to refine your results to specific times of the year!
Fun runs can sometimes be run for a charity or may be organised alongside other races as part of a major event supporting a charity. To find races that are directly related to charity, head to our dedicated page for those events.
