The MBNA Chester Marathon takes place on Sunday 11 October 2026 and, after months of training, you are standing at Chester Racecourse waiting for the 9:00am start. The legs are fresh, adrenaline is flowing and the first challenge is already here: do not run the opening miles too quickly.

The early route makes restraint difficult. Runners head through historic Chester before crossing the Old Dee Bridge and leaving the city behind. The atmosphere gradually changes as the Marathon moves into the countryside through Eccleston and Pulford before crossing into Wales. This is the time to settle into effort, keep fuelling and resist wasting energy chasing perfect mile splits on a rolling course.

Through Lavister and Rossett, the race begins to feel more serious. By halfway, the sensible questions matter. Are you comfortable? Have you drunk enough? Is the fuelling plan working? If everything feels almost uneventful, that is probably good news.

The route eventually crosses back into England from Holt to Farndon and heads towards the miles where a Marathon really starts asking questions. From Churton, runners from the MBNA Chester Metric Marathon join the course for the final eight miles, bringing welcome company as tiredness builds.

Now forget 26.2 miles. Reach Aldford. Reach Huntington. Reach the next drink station. Keep moving forward.

Then Chester starts pulling you home. The River Dee returns, the crowds grow and the finish gets closer. By the time you reach The Groves and head towards Castle Drive, months of training have been reduced to one final job.

Finish the MBNA Chester Marathon.

Entries are still available for the 2026 MBNA Chester Marathon via the runABC race hub.

Image by Matt Cody from Pixabay