2027 Southampton Marathon - May 2 Countdown

Q: What is the Southampton Marathon route?

The full marathon starts at Dock Gate 8 at the City Cruise Terminal and runs a two-lap city loop finishing in Guildhall Square. The route passes Mayflower Park, the Red Funnel ferry terminals and Queens Park, climbs Terminus Terrace, then crosses the Itchen Bridge into Woolston, the historic home of the Supermarine Spitfire. It returns along Weston Parade and the waterfront before heading inland past St Mary's Stadium (Southampton FC) and through the green expanse of Southampton Common.

Q: How many times does the Southampton Marathon cross the Itchen Bridge?

The full marathon crosses the Itchen Bridge four times in total &mdash; twice on each of the two laps. The bridge is the course's signature feature: from its high point you get views over the docks, the city skyline and, on a clear day, the New Forest. It is also the route's biggest single climb, so save something for the third and fourth crossings late in the race.

Q: Is the Southampton Marathon flat or hilly?

It is rolling rather than flat. The four Itchen Bridge crossings and the climb up Burgess Road toward the University of Southampton are the main efforts, followed by a welcome descent through Southampton Common. It is a fair, runnable course, but it is not a dead-flat PB special &mdash; plan a slightly conservative effort with our pace calculator.

Q: How much climbing does the Southampton Marathon have?

Estimates vary widely between GPS sources, from roughly 150m up to 350m of total ascent, with a realistic figure around 250m. The climbing is concentrated on the repeated bridge crossings and Burgess Road rather than spread evenly. See how those rises stack up against your goal pace with our elevation profile tool.

Q: How do I enter the Southampton Marathon 2027?

Entry is open to the public (no ballot) via the official ABP Southampton Marathon site at southamptonmarathon.co.uk, with super-early-bird places released first and prices rising as the date approaches. Charity places through partner organisations are also available. Entry fees are paid in GBP, so enter early to lock in the lowest tier.

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

The full marathon starts at 09:00 on Sunday 2 May 2027 from Dock Gate 8. There is a 6-hour overall time limit: runners must complete the first lap by 12:00 noon and finish by around 15:00. A Spitfire flypast has featured before recent starts as a send-off.

Q: Is the Southampton Marathon a Boston Qualifier or Good For Age course?

The course is an officially measured, certified marathon distance (a route certificate is issued), so a time run here is valid for Boston qualifying (BQ) and a London Marathon Good For Age (GFA) entry &mdash; there is no qualifying standard to get in, but your finish time counts. Check your target against the standards with our Good For Age tool.

Q: What is the weather like for the Southampton Marathon, and how do I get there?

Early May on the south coast is typically mild and breezy, around 13C (55F) at the start and one of the drier times of year. Southampton Central station has direct trains from London Waterloo (about 75 minutes) and the South West, and the city is well served by the M3 and M27, with Southampton Airport nearby. City-centre roads close for the race, so public transport is the easiest way in.

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Race Information

Race	2027 Southampton Marathon - May 2
City	Southampton
Date	2027-05-02 at 09:00
Time Limit	6 hours
Cutoff pace	8:32/km
Timezone	Europe/London
Official Site	ReesLeisure (ABP Southampton Marathon Festival)
Registration	Register

Race Day Weather

Average Temperature	10.5°C / 51°F
Humidity	83%
Wind	23 km/h
Rain Chance	37%
Typical Conditions	Mild, breezy early-May morning on England's south coast. Expect around 13C (55F) at the 09:00 start, rising into the mid-teens by mid-morning, with high coastal humidity and a fair chance of a sea breeze off Southampton Water. May is one of the drier months, so heavy rain is less likely than a passing shower.

What to Prepare: Dress for low-to-mid teens Celsius with a throwaway top layer for the start corral at Dock Gate 8. The exposed bridge crossings and waterfront stretches can be windy, so a light cap and lip balm help. May is mild rather than hot, but the two-lap layout means full sun exposure builds in the second half.

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 23 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	7.7°C	10.5°C	13.4°C
Dew point	3.6°C	7.8°C	10.8°C

Wet-day chance: 37% Runnability: 71/100

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

Course Profile

Course Type	Two-lap city loop, closed roads, waterfront
Elevation Gain	250m
Terrain	Road
Profile	Honestly rolling rather than flat. Runners cross the Itchen Bridge four times (twice per lap) and tackle a noticeable climb up Burgess Road toward the University before a descent through Southampton Common. Independent course analyses put total ascent in a broad 150-350m range; a conservative real-world estimate is around 250m, with the gradient concentrated on the bridge and Burgess Road. Pace it as a strong-effort race, not a guaranteed PB.
Boston Qualifier	Yes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2027 Southampton Marathon - May 2

Use our free training tools to get race-ready:

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

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Free Pace Band Generator — Printable Race Day Wristband

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Marathon Wake-Up Time Calculator — Race Morning Timeline

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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 Southampton Marathon route?

The full marathon starts at Dock Gate 8 at the City Cruise Terminal and runs a two-lap city loop finishing in Guildhall Square. The route passes Mayflower Park, the Red Funnel ferry terminals and Queens Park, climbs Terminus Terrace, then crosses the Itchen Bridge into Woolston, the historic home of the Supermarine Spitfire. It returns along Weston Parade and the waterfront before heading inland past St Mary's Stadium (Southampton FC) and through the green expanse of Southampton Common.

How many times does the Southampton Marathon cross the Itchen Bridge?

The full marathon crosses the Itchen Bridge four times in total — twice on each of the two laps. The bridge is the course's signature feature: from its high point you get views over the docks, the city skyline and, on a clear day, the New Forest. It is also the route's biggest single climb, so save something for the third and fourth crossings late in the race.

Is the Southampton Marathon flat or hilly?

It is rolling rather than flat. The four Itchen Bridge crossings and the climb up Burgess Road toward the University of Southampton are the main efforts, followed by a welcome descent through Southampton Common. It is a fair, runnable course, but it is not a dead-flat PB special — plan a slightly conservative effort with our pace calculator.

How much climbing does the Southampton Marathon have?

Estimates vary widely between GPS sources, from roughly 150m up to 350m of total ascent, with a realistic figure around 250m. The climbing is concentrated on the repeated bridge crossings and Burgess Road rather than spread evenly. See how those rises stack up against your goal pace with our elevation profile tool.

How do I enter the Southampton Marathon 2027?

Entry is open to the public (no ballot) via the official ABP Southampton Marathon site at southamptonmarathon.co.uk, with super-early-bird places released first and prices rising as the date approaches. Charity places through partner organisations are also available. Entry fees are paid in GBP, so enter early to lock in the lowest tier.

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

The full marathon starts at 09:00 on Sunday 2 May 2027 from Dock Gate 8. There is a 6-hour overall time limit: runners must complete the first lap by 12:00 noon and finish by around 15:00. A Spitfire flypast has featured before recent starts as a send-off.

Is the Southampton Marathon a Boston Qualifier or Good For Age course?

The course is an officially measured, certified marathon distance (a route certificate is issued), so a time run here is valid for Boston qualifying (BQ) and a London Marathon Good For Age (GFA) entry — there is no qualifying standard to get in, but your finish time counts. Check your target against the standards with our Good For Age tool.

What is the weather like for the Southampton Marathon, and how do I get there?

Early May on the south coast is typically mild and breezy, around 13C (55F) at the start and one of the drier times of year. Southampton Central station has direct trains from London Waterloo (about 75 minutes) and the South West, and the city is well served by the M3 and M27, with Southampton Airport nearby. City-centre roads close for the race, so public transport is the easiest way in.