2027 Shakespeare Marathon - Apr 25 Countdown

Q: What is the Shakespeare Marathon route?

The marathon starts on Wood Street in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon and finishes at the riverside Recreation Ground. The route heads out past the racecourse into the Warwickshire countryside through the villages of Luddington and Welford-on-Avon, then joins the traffic-free Stratford Greenway footpath back toward town. The full marathon completes a second, extended loop that also takes in Long Marston before returning to the Recreation Ground. The half runs one lap; the marathon runs two.

Q: Is the Shakespeare Marathon flat and good for a PB?

It is undulating rather than dead flat. The course is advertised as fast and flat, which is fair for the one-lap half, but the marathon runs the loop twice, so the one notable hill around 8 miles comes back again near 18 miles. Total elevation gain is moderate at roughly 190m. It is a steady, honest course on quiet roads, but treat it as a strong race rather than a guaranteed PB track. Set a realistic target with our pace calculator.

Q: How much climbing does the Shakespeare Marathon have?

Total ascent over the full distance is around 190m based on GPS course data, concentrated in one notable rise that the two-lap route hits twice (near 8 and 18 miles). It is gently rolling Warwickshire farmland rather than hilly, but it is not flat. See how the climbs line up with your goal pace using our elevation profile tool.

Q: How do I enter the Shakespeare Marathon 2027?

Entry is open to the public on a first-come basis (no ballot) through the official site at shakespearemarathon.org.uk, with online registration handled by RunThrough. Standard marathon entry is around 45 GBP, with a charity Foundation place option at a higher fee and no fundraising minimum. There are no entries on the day, so sign up in advance.

Q: What time does the Shakespeare Marathon start and what is the cut-off?

The marathon starts at 09:00 from Wood Street on Sunday 25 April 2027. The overall cut-off is 6 hours, and the course is cleared after 3:00pm. There is also an intermediate limit: marathon runners must reach Greenway North at 11.84 miles within 2 hours 30 minutes, or they are diverted to the half-marathon finish.

Q: What should I wear and what is the weather like for the Shakespeare Marathon?

Late April in Warwickshire is typically cool and fresh, around 9C (48F) at the start and climbing into the low teens. Dress for high-single-digit Celsius with a throwaway top layer for the start, and pack a light waterproof in case of a spring shower. The Greenway section can be slightly damp underfoot, so road shoes with reasonable grip are fine.

Q: Does the Shakespeare Marathon count for a Boston Qualifier or Good For Age?

The course is run under UK Athletics rules and is an officially measured 26.2-mile route, so a finish time here is valid for both Boston qualifying (BQ) and a London Marathon Good For Age (GFA) entry. There is no qualifying standard to get in; your finish time simply counts. Check your time against the standards with our Good For Age tool.

Q: What makes Stratford-upon-Avon a good marathon destination?

Stratford-upon-Avon is the historic birthplace of William Shakespeare, a compact and walkable market town on the River Avon with the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Tudor streets and easy rail links from Birmingham and London. The marathon usually lands close to Shakespeare's Birthday Celebrations weekend in late April, so you can combine a quiet-roads country marathon with a genuinely English heritage town visit.

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Race Information

Race	2027 Shakespeare Marathon - Apr 25
City	Stratford-upon-Avon
Date	2027-04-25 at 09:00
Time Limit	6 hours
Cutoff pace	8:32/km
Timezone	Europe/London
Official Site	Rotary Club of Stratford-upon-Avon
Registration	Register · 45 GBP

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	9.1°C / 48°F
Humidity	82%
Wind	21.3 km/h
Rain Chance	38%
Typical Conditions	A cool, fresh late-April morning in Warwickshire. Expect around 9C (48F) at the 09:00 start, climbing toward the low teens through the day, with high humidity and a moderate chance of light spring showers or a breeze across the open countryside.

What to Prepare: Dress for high-single-digit Celsius at the start with a throwaway top layer you can ditch on Wood Street. Pack a light waterproof — a damp English spring morning is common. The two-lap profile means you can settle into a rhythm, so race in your usual long-run kit.

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 21.3 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	6.2°C	9.1°C	12.1°C
Dew point	2.6°C	5.9°C	9.2°C

Wet-day chance: 38% Runnability: 71/100

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

Course Profile

Course Type	Two-lap loop, mostly closed roads plus Greenway footpath
Elevation Gain	190m
Terrain	Road and compact Greenway footpath
Profile	Undulating rather than dead flat. The full marathon runs two laps, so the one notable rise near 8 miles returns again near 18 miles. Total climb is moderate at roughly 190m. The marketing tag of fast and flat suits the half; the marathon's repeated lap and that second hill make it a steady, honest course rather than a pure PB track.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2027 Shakespeare Marathon - Apr 25

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

Running Pace Calculator — Min/km, Finish Time & Pace Chart

Free running pace calculator for 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon. Get min/km or min/mile, your ...

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Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

Free printable pace band for marathon, half marathon, or custom distance. Choose even, negative, or ...

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

7 AM race, wake at 3:45 AM? Enter the gun time; we work backward through meal, gear, bathroom, warm-...

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Dew Point Running Calculator — Pace Adjustment Chart

Enter temperature and humidity to calculate dew point and its impact on your running pace. 7-zone ch...

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Elevation Gain/Loss Impact Calculator

How much will hills slow you down? Enter elevation gain, loss, and distance to see adjusted pace, di...

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Grade Adjusted Pace (GAP) Calculator — Hills & Strava

Convert uphill or downhill running pace to flat-equivalent GAP in one click. Free grade adjusted pac...

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Shakespeare Marathon route?

The marathon starts on Wood Street in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon and finishes at the riverside Recreation Ground. The route heads out past the racecourse into the Warwickshire countryside through the villages of Luddington and Welford-on-Avon, then joins the traffic-free Stratford Greenway footpath back toward town. The full marathon completes a second, extended loop that also takes in Long Marston before returning to the Recreation Ground. The half runs one lap; the marathon runs two.

Is the Shakespeare Marathon flat and good for a PB?

It is undulating rather than dead flat. The course is advertised as fast and flat, which is fair for the one-lap half, but the marathon runs the loop twice, so the one notable hill around 8 miles comes back again near 18 miles. Total elevation gain is moderate at roughly 190m. It is a steady, honest course on quiet roads, but treat it as a strong race rather than a guaranteed PB track. Set a realistic target with our pace calculator.

How much climbing does the Shakespeare Marathon have?

Total ascent over the full distance is around 190m based on GPS course data, concentrated in one notable rise that the two-lap route hits twice (near 8 and 18 miles). It is gently rolling Warwickshire farmland rather than hilly, but it is not flat. See how the climbs line up with your goal pace using our elevation profile tool.

How do I enter the Shakespeare Marathon 2027?

Entry is open to the public on a first-come basis (no ballot) through the official site at shakespearemarathon.org.uk, with online registration handled by RunThrough. Standard marathon entry is around 45 GBP, with a charity Foundation place option at a higher fee and no fundraising minimum. There are no entries on the day, so sign up in advance.

What time does the Shakespeare Marathon start and what is the cut-off?

The marathon starts at 09:00 from Wood Street on Sunday 25 April 2027. The overall cut-off is 6 hours, and the course is cleared after 3:00pm. There is also an intermediate limit: marathon runners must reach Greenway North at 11.84 miles within 2 hours 30 minutes, or they are diverted to the half-marathon finish.

What should I wear and what is the weather like for the Shakespeare Marathon?

Late April in Warwickshire is typically cool and fresh, around 9C (48F) at the start and climbing into the low teens. Dress for high-single-digit Celsius with a throwaway top layer for the start, and pack a light waterproof in case of a spring shower. The Greenway section can be slightly damp underfoot, so road shoes with reasonable grip are fine.

Does the Shakespeare Marathon count for a Boston Qualifier or Good For Age?

The course is run under UK Athletics rules and is an officially measured 26.2-mile route, so a finish time here is valid for both Boston qualifying (BQ) and a London Marathon Good For Age (GFA) entry. There is no qualifying standard to get in; your finish time simply counts. Check your time against the standards with our Good For Age tool.

What makes Stratford-upon-Avon a good marathon destination?

Stratford-upon-Avon is the historic birthplace of William Shakespeare, a compact and walkable market town on the River Avon with the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Tudor streets and easy rail links from Birmingham and London. The marathon usually lands close to Shakespeare's Birthday Celebrations weekend in late April, so you can combine a quiet-roads country marathon with a genuinely English heritage town visit.