
Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom · Sunday 21 April 2024
The Shakespeare Marathon takes place on April 26, 2026, around Stratford-upon-Avon on a traffic-free route that's largely flat with gentle rolling sections, making it suitable for runners targeting a decent time without brutal climbing. The 42.2km trail course stays low in elevation, ranging between 31m and 71m above sea level, so you won't be grinding up and down for hours. It's well-established and organised by RunThrough in partnership with Stratford Rotary Club, supporting The Shakespeare Hospice, which means it should have decent support and organisation. If you're looking for a spring marathon that won't wreck your legs with elevation but gives you a proper road-closed event experience, this delivers that without the typical trail running wear and tear.
Adjusted Time
4:35:60
Time difference: +36.0 minutes compared to a flat, road, temperate course.
Shakespeare Half Marathon & Marathon is a full marathon held in Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom, scheduled for Sunday 21 April 2024. The course is run on trail surface with 165m of total elevation gain, reaching a maximum altitude of 71m above sea level. For registration and full race details, visit the official Shakespeare Half Marathon & Marathon website.
With 165m of elevation gain, this is a moderately undulating course. The route ranges from 31m to 71m above sea level (40m total range). While not completely flat, the elevation changes are manageable for most runners and shouldn't significantly impact pacing strategy.
Shakespeare Half Marathon & Marathon is a trail race, meaning the course includes unpaved surfaces such as dirt, gravel, or forest paths. Trail surfaces are inherently slower than road courses due to uneven footing, technical sections, and often steeper gradients. Trail-specific shoes with good grip are recommended, and runners should expect a finish time 10-20% slower than their equivalent road marathon time.
Our difficulty rating for Shakespeare Half Marathon & Marathon is calculated using a model that combines elevation gain, temperature impact, and surface type. Use the difficulty calculator above to enter your target finish time and see exactly how many minutes this course would add or subtract compared to a perfectly flat, cool, road-based marathon. Faster runners and slower runners are affected differently by the same course conditions, so the difficulty is personalised to your pace.
Looking for an easier marathon or a tougher challenge? You can also compare Shakespeare Half Marathon & Marathon against other marathons to find the right race for your goals.
London, United Kingdom
Blackpool, United Kingdom
Fort Augustus, United Kingdom
Cambridge, United Kingdom
Southampton, United Kingdom
Ashford, United Kingdom