Are you planning a foray into the rarefied world of marathon running this year? There does seem to be a certain synergy around running 26 miles in 2026. If so, the award-winning Nice Work Race Management company could have just the event...

The prolific, Sussex-based race organisers won Agency of the Year gold at the annual Running Industry Awards in December, so you can have confidence that any of the four marathon events in their portfolio will be well organised and beginner-friendly.

There certainly is a wide variety in the quartet of marathons offered by Nice Work, the family company that was started 21 years ago with the Beckley 10K, in Sussex (still going strong and next due to be run on 2 November 2026). The four marathons offer different challenges across attractive road, trail and multi-terrain routes.

The Kent Spring Marathon and Half Marathon is a popular Spring race on Sunday, 19th April.  The full marathon comprises two laps of undulating, quiet, wide country lanes, plus a short section on the historic Pilgrims Way, just outside Ashford in Kent. The 2026 charity partner is Ashford and Tenterden Samaritans. Race HQ is at Sandyacres Sports Club, with free parking at Bidwell's Car Park, just a half-mile walk from Charing Station, which is served by Ashford International Station.

The Tissington Trail Marathon and Half Marathon is one week later, based at Ashbourne Leisure Centre, in Derbyshire. The star of the show here is The Tissington Trail, the site of a former railway line, that takes a 13-mile route from Ashbourne to Buxton. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, the traffic-free trail is perfect for a cracking out-and-back marathon, going uphill to Parsley Hay and slightly downhill on the way back to Ashbourne Leisure Centre, so you've got gravity on your side for the homeward stretch!

Chelmsford Marathon and Half Marathon, on Sunday 11th October, is a more traditional road race from the Event Village at Central Park, Chelmsford, in Essex. This race is a fundraising event for Little Havens Children's Hospice, providing specialist care and support for babies, children and young people living with complex or incurable conditions. In 2025, runners helped to raise an incredible total of £53,082.82 for this special cause.

The Wendover Woods Marathon and Half Marathon, on Sunday 1st November, is back on the trails and hilly. Based in Wendover Woods in Buckinghamshire, at a time of year when the forest is shrouded in autumnal colours, there is an on-site cafe, Go Ape, adventure playground, and Disc Golf to keep spectators entertained while your quads and lungs are burning!

To learn more, click on the links for any of the events. The full Nice Work calendar is here.

Photo courtesy of Nice Work Race Management