Some Christmas traditions are simply too good to change. While most running events move around the calendar to accommodate weekends, the Wheaton Aston Roman 10K has a rather different approach. It takes place on 27 December every year, regardless of which day of the week that happens to be.

For 2026, the date falls on a Sunday, with Newport & District Running Club preparing to welcome hundreds of runners to the Staffordshire village for another edition of this popular festive fixture. The event has become a favourite with local clubs and visiting competitors looking to stretch their legs after the Christmas celebrations.

And despite its relaxed seasonal atmosphere, there's plenty of opportunity for serious racing. The single lap road course starts and finishes at St Mary's School before heading through Wheaton Aston and the surrounding country lanes. With approximately 45 metres of climbing across the entire 10K, it's a relatively flat route that can produce some impressive finishing times.

The 2025 race attracted 436 finishers, with Jonathan Morris leading the field home in 32:05. The previous year saw 411 runners complete the course, demonstrating the consistent popularity of an event that regularly attracts a substantial field between Christmas and New Year.

Fancy dress adds another dimension, with some runners swapping their usual racing kit for seasonal costumes. Of course, December weather can introduce its own challenges, and the organisers know from experience that snow, ice and winter rain can occasionally make the familiar country lanes rather less predictable.

The race starts at 11am, with registration at St Mary's School opening at 8:45am. Entries are currently available, although Newport & District Running Club expects the event to sell out, as it has done in previous years.

For runners who fancy a little competition between Christmas dinner and New Year's celebrations, Wheaton Aston offers a rewarding excuse to get moving. 

Entries are open now through the runABC Race Hub.

Image courtesy Charlotte Benton.