2026 Richmond RUN-FEST Marathon - Sep 13

2026 Richmond RUN-FEST Marathon - Sep 13 Countdown

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Race Information

Race2026 Richmond RUN-FEST Marathon - Sep 13
CityRichmond / Kew
Date2026-09-13 at 08:00
Field Size~1,300 runners
Time Limit6 hours 30 min
Cutoff pace9:15/km
TimezoneEurope/London
Official SiteRUN-FEST
RegistrationRegister · 54-59 GBP

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Race Day Weather

Average Temperature15.3°C / 60°F
Humidity81%
Wind22.4 km/h
Rain Chance32%
Typical ConditionsCool, humid early-autumn London morning, often with light river mist at the 8am start

What to Prepare: Mid-September London starts cool (~14°C / 57°F) at 8am and warms toward the high teens. Expect ~80% humidity and a real chance of light rain (~30%) — a vest or short sleeves plus a throwaway top for the start corral is ideal. The flat riverside towpath holds puddles after rain, so grippier road shoes beat racing flats if the forecast turns wet.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 22.4 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

Cooler Typical Warmer
Temperature 11.9°C 15.1°C 18.6°C
Dew point 7.9°C 11.5°C 15.5°C
Wet-day chance: 32% Runnability: 72/100

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course TypeRiverside point-to-point
Elevation Gain160m
TerrainMixed riverside: tarmac road, paved path, gravel towpath and short grass sections
ProfileOne of England's flattest road marathons: the course climbs and descends just +160m total along the River Thames, so it nets out essentially level — a genuine PR and Boston-qualifying course. Starting beside the Orangery in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, it follows the river past Ham House, Richmond Green, Teddington Lock, Kingston Riverside and Hampton Court Palace, crossing three bridges before finishing in Old Deer Park, Richmond. It is a point-to-point route — the start at Kew and the finish in Richmond are genuinely different locations. England Athletics certified (Licence ID 28982).
Boston QualifierYes — Check your BQ time

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you enter the Richmond RUN-FEST Marathon?

Entry is first-come, first-served online — there is no ballot or lottery. Public places open roughly a year ahead and the full marathon typically sells out around late May. For 2026, general entries are closed, but charity places (for example the British Heart Foundation, which offers a full-marathon place with a fundraising target) are still available. Standard public entry runs about £54–£59 depending on how early you register.

Is the Richmond RUN-FEST course flat, and is it a Boston qualifier?

Yes on both. The organiser calls it "flat as a pancake," and the profile backs that up: about +160m of total climbing across 26.2 miles, with the same 160m of descent, so it nets out essentially level. The course is England Athletics certified (Licence ID 28982) and counts as a Boston Marathon qualifier and a London Marathon Good-for-Age qualifier — you do not need a qualifying time to enter, but a clean time here can qualify you elsewhere.

What is the time limit?

The course has a maximum time limit of 6 hours 30 minutes. The organiser also advertises a 6-hour official cut-off on its event pages, though slower finishers can usually continue to 6:30. The 6-hour mark works out to roughly a 13:44 per-mile (8:32 per-km) pace, and the 6:30 limit to about 14:53 per-mile (9:14 per-km) — comfortably accommodating run-walk finishers.

What landmarks does the route pass?

The start is beside the Orangery in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the route hugs the River Thames past Ham House, Richmond Green, Teddington Lock, Kingston Riverside and Hampton Court Palace, crossing three bridges before finishing in Old Deer Park, Richmond. It is a point-to-point riverside route along the towpath, which makes it both scenic and easy for spectators to reach by train.

What should I wear for the weather?

Plan for a cool, humid early-autumn morning. The 8am start is typically around 14°C (57°F) rising to the high teens, with humidity near 80% and roughly a 30% chance of light rain. A vest or short sleeves with a throwaway layer for the corral works well. Because parts of the route are gravel towpath that puddles after rain, grippier road shoes beat thin racing flats if the forecast is wet.

How do I get to the start, and where do results come from?

The start at Kew is well served by Kew Gardens station (London Overground / District line) and the finish in Richmond by Richmond station (South Western Railway / District line), both a short walk away — there is little parking, so trains are the practical choice. Chip-timed results are published online after the race, and every finisher receives a medal at the line plus a personalised medal insert printed with their name and finish time, posted out about two weeks later.

Is this the same as the Richmond Marathon in Virginia, USA?

No — these are two completely different races that share a name. This is the Richmond RUN-FEST Marathon in London, England (held in September at Kew). The Allianz Richmond Marathon is a separate, larger race in Richmond, Virginia, USA, held in November. Aggregator finisher counts of around 5,000 refer to the US race, not this one — Richmond RUN-FEST's full marathon is a smaller field of roughly 1,200–1,400 finishers.

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