The Isle of Wight is a hot-spot for running events, so I’ve prepared a breakdown of what’s on throughout the year. Scroll to the bottom for more information on Island running and route suggestions.
JANUARY
(19 Jan, 16 & 23 Feb 2025) Towards the end of the month and crossing into February , the Harriers also put on 3 cross country races; the Ryde Harriers Cross Country Championship (guests welcomed), the Isle of Wight Cross Country Championship and the Arthur Biggs Handicap. Expect lots of mud!
FEBRUARY
(2 February 2025) Still not burnt off the Christmas excess? Then remove it all at once at the Ryde Harriers Ryde 10 – a hilly road race. As part of the Hampshire Road Race League, it’s a popular race for Islanders and mainlanders alike, often with in excess of 400 runners taking part.
MARCH
The Friendly Frolic (2025 date TBC) is a social running event so no bling on offer, but what it does promise are a variety of predefined run loops out from the Bargeman’s Rest, Newport. Which loop or loops you wish to do is entirely up to you, so you could make it just a short jaunt or a marathon distance!
Lord Pike’s Castle Half of Awesomeness (2025 date TBC) is perhaps the best-named running event in the entire race calendar! It’s a trail half marathon, starting and finishing at Carisbrooke Castle.
MARCH/APRIL
Easter – On Easter Saturday (19 April 2025) the Ryde Harriers hold the Newport to Ryde Race. A multi-terrain challenge involving scrabbling over stiles and tackling mud. If that doesn’t finish you off, you can do the double and run their 3 Hills Race on Easter Monday (21 April 2025) – a great challenge that’ll have you wondering why they only decided it had 3 hills!
The Rog Run (2025 date TBC) is a nominated run around Ventnor, organised by the Isle of Wight Road Runners. It’s in memory of Isle of Wight Road Runner, Roger Walker-Reed; this was one of his favourite running routes. The idea is to estimate how long the run will take you, then to run it without watch/GPS etc, and see how close to your estimate you can get!
MAY
The Isle of Wight Challenge (3/4 May 2025) could see you joining 2,000 adventurers of all experience levels to walk, jog, or run around the island. The full challenge takes you past the iconic Needles from a start in Chale through to halfway in the historic town of Cowes before heading round the island, through Culver down and back to Chale. With half and quarter distance options also – there’s a challenge here for everyone!
Principally a walking event, Walk the Wight (2025 date TBC) also welcomes runners up to the demands of a 26 mile run from East to West across the Isle of Wight. Expect huge crowds of participants, lots of support and some of the best views of the Island you’re ever likely to see.
Newchurch Primary School hold the Newchurch Nine (2025 date TBC). A 9K run along country paths and over heathland and through woods, it’s a beautiful route and so popular that’s always sold out. There’s even a shorter junior run available too.
JUNE
The Isle of Wight Festival of Running sees a whole host of different events spanning a whole week (1 – 8 June 2025). Kicking things off is the Brading 1OK (1 June 2025) The revival of this race in 2023 saw a return of the challenging but popular classic Beaper Shute course, at a different start time of 6pm.
The Needles Cross Country Country Half Marathon (8 June 2025) is a race like no other. It’s mostly off-road, taking in fields, downs, nature reserves, sea walls and even a section of sandy beach. It’s hilly but so rewarding, with awesome views across the Solent and the Needles themselves. It’s the crowning event in the Isle of Wight Festival of Running, running from Sunday 1st June, with a 5K Fun Run and a Junior Fun Run on Sunday.
JULY
The St George’s 10 Mile, (2025 date TBC) hosted by the Isle of Wight Road Runners, this road race has plenty of hills to entertain. Although it’s tough it’s proven a huge hit with both Islanders and mainlanders since the first time round in 2015.
To celebrate summer, the Shanklin Dash and Splash (2025 date TBC) gets you down onto the sandy beach and even into the water. This fun race does what it says on the tin, and has been a roaring success since it started in 2015.
The Bembridge Trail Run (2025 date TBC) is a 5 mile trail run, helping to raise funds for the Bembridge Youth & Community Centre. Scenic, fun and medals for all finishers, it promises to brighten up August for young and old alike, welcoming runners from 15 years old upwards.
AUGUST
It’s usually a beautiful summer’s day for the Isle of Wight Half Marathon (17 August 2025) so make sure to wear plenty of sun tan lotion! Finishing in Appley Park, Ryde, makes it a great race for the family to come along and watch.
SEPTEMBER
Fancy three races in two days? The Fell Races Series is right up your street (or up and down your hill, more to the point). Organised by the Ventnor Fell Run Championship Association and Ryde Harriers, and consisting of the St Boniface Fell Race (7 September 2024), the Ventnor Horseshoe Fell Race and the Wroxall Round Fell Race, (8 September 2024) victory falls to those who climb fastest and descend fearlessly!
The Great North South Run (2025 date TBC) Organised by The Vectis Lunatics Full Moon H3, come and enjoy the rolling countryside in the company of runners from all different branches of the sport in this non-competitive 19.6 mile trip from Egypt Point to St Catherines Lighthouse (“It’s Not A Race” stress the organisers!). There are shorter stages for first timers.
The Sandown and Shanklin Seafront 10K (2025 date TBC) is a flat and fast race that offers superb views across Sandown Bay. T-shirts and medals are provided, together with trophies for the top 3 runners and the Geoff Watkin Award for first over-45 male and female.
The Nettlestone RAT Race (2025 date TBC) has nothing to do with rodents! It’s a Road And Trail run with an option of a single loop of either 5km or 5mile out to Appley and back. There will also be a 600m children’s run around the school field starting at 10:00am. There’s also a raffle afterwards, which all runners will automatically be entered for.
OCTOBER
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance hosted the Dash in the Dark for the first time in 2022 (2025 date TBC). This is a charity 5K fun run at Seaclose Park, Newport at night time with lights and music.
Isle of Wight Marathon (5 October 2025) is one of the UK’s oldest marathons, which celebrated its 60th year in 2016. It starts and finishes in Cowes, and undulates its way through Gurnard, Shalfleet, Yarmouth and Wellow. With good, local support, it’s a tough but friendly marathon.
NOVEMBER
(2025 date TBC) If you want to challenge yourself, see if you can beat a steam locomotive! The Isle of Wight Steam Railway first held the Race the Train event in 2021, and this year promises to bring yet more fun and excitement!
DECEMBER
2015 saw the inaugural running of the Chilly Hilly (8 December 2024) .It’s a race with a friendly feel to it, which is just as well as the hills are brutal! Stunning views over Tennyson Down and Headon Warren, mulled wine and minced pies and the world’s best marshals are some of the highlights of this festive jaunt. There’s also a Junior Fun Run year to cater for families full of runners! It was possibly the windiest race in the UK last year yet everyone rose to the challenge and thoroughly loved the experience.
First ran in 2016, the Bembridge Soup Run proved to be a popular run, taking competitors over the hilly Culver Down, guaranteeing them wonderful views as compensation for their hard work, as was the welcoming mug of soup afterwards. As a bonus, they also got to keep the mugs as run souvenirs (15 December 2024).
The Abominable Snowman (2024 – CANCELLED) is the perfect way to burn off the Christmas excesses. Using the mountain bike centre at Cheverton Farm, this tough race will see you climbing hay bales, wading through ponds and fords, descending steep hills and tackling the unbelievably sheer “Eliminator” just before the end. Well over 400 entrants put themselves through hell last year – are you tough enough this year? Last year there were 5K, 10K and half marathon options to choose from.
The Island is awash with fabulous running routes, cycleways, bridlepaths, footpaths and sea-fronts, so get out there and explore!
We are also home to 16 brilliant “3, 2, 1 Routes” – safe. accurate and beginner-friendly running routes of 3, 2, or 1km all created and measured by the late – and much missed – Ray Scovell (of the IW Council’s Sports Development Department). To find a list and map of all Ray’s routes visit the Council website.
The “Great Runs” website has created a whole section for the Isle of Wight, and details routes from countryside to promenades, plus the best Coastal path highlights for runners!