Isle of Wight Marathon
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Historical Distance Running on the Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight Marathon is a historic road race that has been held continuously since 1957. It is recognized as the longest-running marathon in the United Kingdom and ranks among the longest-running marathons in the world. The event holds a significant place in athletic history, having hosted the first ever women's marathon on a certified course in 1964 and the first UK national Women’s Marathon Championship in 1978.
The event offers a single distance for participants:
- 26.2 miles
Course and Event Details
The route consists of a single lap through the quieter, scenic roads on the western side of the island. Participants run on undulating town and rural roads, passing through locations such as Cowes, Gurnard, Shalfleet, and Yarmouth. The course is marked with boards at every mile point. Water stations providing water only are positioned at approximately 3.5-mile intervals throughout the race.
Race headquarters are located at the Isle of Wight Community Club in Cowes, where changing facilities, showers, and bag storage are available. There is a strict time limit of 6 hours and 30 minutes for the event. For safety reasons, runners may not use in-ear or over-ear headphones, though bone-conducting headphones are permitted. Running with dogs is not allowed, and the course is currently not suitable for wheelchairs. Finishers receive a medal, and awards are presented to the top Five male and female runners across various age categories. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
