FAQs
New Forest Marathon — Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to the New Forest Marathon FAQs — here you’ll find answers to our most frequently asked questions, covering everything from parking and race times to entry rules and prizes.
New Forest Marathon FAQs: Event Day Basics
When are the New Forest Marathon races held?
The Junior 200m, Junior 1 Mile, Woodland Walk, 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Full Marathon all take place on the same date: Sunday 13th September 2026.
What time do the races start?
10:00am — Full Marathon
10:45am — Half Marathon
11:15am — 10K & Woodland Walk
11:30am — 5K
3:30pm — Junior 200m / 1 Mile
Where does the New Forest Marathon start and finish?
All races start and finish from New Park Showground, Brockenhurst, Hampshire, SO42 7QH.
What distance are the Full and Half Marathon?
Both are standard distances as measured by Ordnance Survey. The Half Marathon measures 21.1km (13 miles 192 yards), and the Full Marathon measures 42.2km (26 miles 385 yards). The Full Marathon is a one-loop course.
Why are the events classed as ‘multi-terrain’? How much is off-road?
The routes cover a variety of surfaces, including compacted gravel, small trail sections and tarmac roads. Approximately 50% of the Full Marathon is on forest tracks.
How hilly are the events, and what’s the terrain like?
New Forest National Park is a mix of compact gravel tracks winding through enclosures, and undulating tarmac forest sections. The 5K, 10K and Half Marathon are fairly flat; the Full Marathon becomes more undulating in the second half of the route.
What running shoes should I wear?
We’d advise road shoes, as the routes are predominantly compact gravel tracks and forest roads. More details will follow on social media in the lead-up to the event.
Are there drink and energy stations on the route?
Yes — there are 8 drinks stations across the routes, offering water, drinkable energy gel and High5 Gummies.
Getting There & Parking
More New Forest Marathon FAQs on travel and parking on the day.
Where do I park on race day?
New Park Showground has extensive on-site parking, just a short walk from the Race Village and Start/Finish area — plenty of room for runners and spectators alike. Parking costs £6 for the day, and can be purchased when signing up.
Is there a shuttle bus to the Race Village?
Yes — a shuttle bus runs from Brockenhurst railway station to New Park Showground on a 20-minute loop, from 7am to 5pm. The cost is £6 one way or £8.50 return.
Is there a route guide?
Yes — check out our Route Guide video for a great insight into what to expect, plus some New Forest facts along the way. Alternatively, head to The Races section of the website, where you can access detailed information, route maps and elevation charts for every distance.
Entry & Eligibility
These New Forest Marathon FAQs cover who can enter and our age requirements
Can I enter if I’m not part of a team or club?
Yes, of course. One of our aims is to encourage as many people as possible to be active, so you certainly don’t need to be a member of a running club, or part of an official team, to take part. Simply leave the ‘Team/Club Name’ field blank on the entry form and run as an unattached runner. If you’re unattached, or your club isn’t affiliated with UK Athletics, you’ll pay a slightly higher entry fee.
How old do I have to be to compete?
On race day, you must be 18 or over to run the Full Marathon, and 17 or over for the Half Marathon. The minimum age for the 10K is 15, and for the 5K it’s 11 — although juniors aged 8–10 can enter the 5K if accompanied by an adult.
See our Race Entry page for full details →
Is there more than one 5K race?
There’s only one New Forest Marathon 5K race, which includes Junior (8–10), Junior (11–16) and Adult entrants.
Are we affiliated with UK Athletics?
We’re not affiliated with UK Athletics, so results don’t count towards ‘The Power of 10’. However, all events are measured by Ordnance Survey.
Where can I find details about the Virtual Race?
Race Day Logistics
Further New Forest Marathon FAQs about what happens once you’re here
Do all finishers receive a medal and t-shirt?
Yes — everyone crossing the finish line receives a New Forest Marathon medal for their distance, and a finisher’s t-shirt, handed out in the finish funnel by one of our amazing community groups.
Is there a size guide for the finisher t-shirts?
Yes — as you cross the finish line, you’ll enter the finish zone where you can collect your t-shirt. A size guide will be available to help you get the right fit.
Do I need to collect my race pack?
All runners will have their race packs posted to their registered address from 2nd September onwards, in good time for the event. If you sign up after this date, you’ll need to collect your pack from the Registration Marquee in the Race Village.
Will I receive confirmation of my entry?
Yes — you’ll receive email confirmation with all your race details from our entry partner, EntryHub (FR Systems). If you don’t see it, check your junk folder first; if it’s still not there, get in touch and we’ll resend it.
Can someone else compete using my race number?
No — entries shouldn’t be used by another runner. Our database holds the details of the original entrant (or whoever the place was transferred to), which may be needed in an emergency on race day. We can’t allow runners to use another entrant’s number for this reason.
Will late entries be accepted on race day?
If the event isn’t sold out, entries will be available from the Registration Marquee in the Race Village.
Is there somewhere to leave baggage on race day?
Yes — we offer a baggage area in the Race Village, exclusively for participants. Your race pack includes a baggage label showing your race and number; attach this to your bag and drop it at our staffed Baggage Area. Simply show your race number to collect it afterwards.
Can I walk the event? What time does the course close?
The Full and Half Marathon courses close 6 hours after their respective start times. We encourage everyone to complete the course at whatever distance feels achievable.
If you don’t finish before the cutoff, our sweep bus will take you back to the Start/Finish area or the nearest drop-off point. In line with our sign-up conditions, this is for your safety. If you haven’t completed the course by the cutoff, chip timing will have stopped, so you won’t receive a result, and you won’t be covered by our medical teams.
Are the races suitable for wheelchairs?
Unfortunately, the course isn’t currently suitable for wheelchairs. We’ve trialled this in previous years and are keen to be as inclusive as possible — please get in touch if you have a disability, and we’ll do all we can to help you take part.
Can I use electronic devices during the event?
Personal stereos, iPods and MP3 players can currently be used, although this isn’t recommended. The New Forest Marathon team follows UKA standards and strongly advises against wearing earphones or audio devices during the race for your own safety, especially on road sections. We do endorse bone-conduction headphones (such as Aftershokz), as these let you hear your surroundings as well as your music. While not recommended, there’s no disqualification for using audio devices.
Are there toilets on the route?
Yes — toilets are available on the Half and Full Marathon routes, shown on the route maps, as well as plenty in the Race Village before and after your run.
Spectators, buggies and dogs?
For space and safety reasons, child buggies and dogs aren’t permitted to accompany runners in the races. Spectators and dogs are very welcome in the Race Village, but dogs must be kept on leads at all times.
If you’d like to run with your dog, our sister event, The Chase Trail Run, offers a ‘Run With Your Dog’ option.
Discover The Chase Trail Run →
Race Village & Community
More New Forest Marathon FAQs on food, music and giving back on the day
Is there food and drink in the Race Village?
Yes — we have a full range of food and drink vendors to suit every taste. Whether it’s tea or coffee from one of our specialists, a real ale or celebratory glass of wine from our own NFM Bar, or simply water from one of the 10 water points, we’ve got it covered. A great selection of food will also be available throughout the day — full details of providers to follow.
Is there live music in the Race Village?
Yes — we have a packed stage of live bands and solo artists creating the perfect soundtrack to your post-race celebrations. Keep an eye on social media, the Live music page or our emails for lineup announcements.
Can I run for a charity?
We encourage everyone to run for the New Forest Marathon Community Fund, which benefits local good causes and inspires them to be active. These groups take part in the event too, supporting drinks stations, marshalling positions and the Race Village.
If you have a charity close to your heart and would like to raise money for them instead, that’s absolutely fine — we just ask that you donate your first £10 to the New Forest Marathon Community Fund.
Learn about the Community Fund →
Where can I find accommodation for race weekend?
We offer on-site camping right in the Race Village. A Weekend Camping Pass covers 3 nights (Friday to Sunday) for up to 4 people and 1 car, so you can make a full weekend of it without needing to book anywhere else. For other options nearby, visit our Accommodation & Camping page.
View Accommodation & Camping →
Prizes
Are there prizes in all races?
Main Prizes: all events have a range of prizes from our generous sponsors. Main prizes go to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place (male/female) in the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5K. Each runner is limited to one prize — so if the overall winner is also a category winner, the category prize passes to the next fastest runner.
Category Prizes: awarded to 1st place male/female in each age category below, with winners receiving a place in next year’s event.
40+
50+
60+
70+
Spot Prizes: a range of spot prizes are allocated to random finishing positions throughout the races, giving everyone a chance to win.
Team Event: a winning team is selected at random from all teams that complete the challenge.
All winning times are taken via chip time from the official FR Systems results. The prize presentation takes place online, with winners announced on social media and notified by email; prizes are posted out shortly after the event.
Changes & Refunds
Can I request a refund?
Full refunds are available within 14 days of purchase. After this, we’re unable to offer refunds if you don’t run. Refunds also can’t be issued if you’ve redeemed a promotional code as part of your entry.
Can I defer my place?
Unfortunately, deferrals aren’t available for this event.
What are my options if I can’t run or attend?
We understand things happen — here are your 4 transfer options:
- Transfer your place to another person — transfer, gift or sell your place at no cost, following the guidelines in your entry confirmation email. Available before midnight, 31st August.
- Transfer to another race distance — subject to space, before midnight 31st August. If upgrading, you’ll pay the difference in cost; if dropping down, refunds aren’t available.
- Transfer to the Virtual Event — if you can’t make the day, or are injured and need more time to recover, transfer to the Virtual Race instead and still receive your medal and t-shirt. We’d still love to see you at the event to soak up the atmosphere and cheer on other runners! Transfer before 31st August; the Virtual Race itself must be completed by 31st December the same year. This option is popular with runners who pick up last-minute injuries.
- Transfer to our sister event, The Chase — subject to space, before 31st August.
Discover The Chase Trail Run →
We hope these New Forest Marathon FAQs have answered your question — if not, get in touch!
