The best Christmas runs

The festive season is coming and while it’s typically a time of over-indulgence and partying, a themed race can be a great way to inject a little healthy into your celebrations! Grab your friends, don some fancy dress and maybe even raise some cash for a good cause with a festive race that truly embraces the season.

Christmas Greenwich Park 5K and 10K 

With fantastic views across the city, Greenwich Park has to be one of our favourite race locations, although those epic hills don’t make running there a walk in the park! Take on the challenge though and you’ll be rewarded handsomely at this well-organised race – as there are medals and mince pies for everyone. We recommend fancy dress and grabbing a crew of friends to make sure you get the festive season off to the best start.

Visit runthrough.co.uk

Christmas QE Olympic Park 5K or 10K

Join the Mo Farah Foundation in the venue where Mo won Olympic Gold in both 5K and 10K – and maybe nab a PB for yourself! Starting and finishing outside the Olympic Stadium under the gaze of the iconic ArcelorMittal Orbit, the Christmas QE Olympic Park 5K and 10K race offers a fantastic opportunity to take part in a speedy race that’ll really test your autumn training. Your hard work isn’t going to go unrecognised either, as there’s a fab medal to be had at the finish line, (think Santa getting his Mo-bot on)! Funds from this great race will go to support the Mo Farah Foundation, which dedicates itself to improving the lives of underprivileged and impoverished communities across the world.

Visit olympicpark10k.com

Leeds Christmas 10K challenge 

Fed up of always running the same 10K? Fancy a festive challenge? The Leeds Christmas 10K Challenge is a run with a difference! You’ll be hard pushed to find a more varied, multi-terrain. Off-road course. After leaving the sprinting flat track at John Charles Stadium you’ll come face to face with ‘Scrooge Hill’, which the organisers assure us will truly test your festive spirit! Hill conquered, next up is a dash along woodland paths before a sprint through the park in the spirit of Rudolph himself. This race is a favourite with everyone – from newbies to seasoned club runners, so sign up and feel the festive cheer.

Visit fairplayevents.co.uk

London Santa dash

Grab your friends and family, don your Santa suit and head to Clapham Common for this fun-filled race in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital. Suitable for all ages (with under-5s dashing for free) this race will see you dancing, prancing and dashing around a 5K or 10K course towards a snowy finish line. With lots of festive fun and entertainment before, during and after the race, you’ll be in the Christmas spirit before you know it! Plus, you’ll get an extra warm festive glow knowing that you’ll be supporting Great Ormond Street’s vital redevelopment programme, updating its outdated buildings and creating additional space for patients.

Visit gosh.org.uk

Chase the pud

Hit the ground running this Christmas at your local Chase the Pud. With races across the UK there’s no excuse not dig out your Santa suit (all adults get one for free) or don your best fancy dress (under-18’s are encouraged to raid the dressing up box and go wild) and go chasing after that Christmas pudding! How far you’ll run varies depending on the location, so depending on where you are you could be sprinting (or walking) a mile or five. Likewise, some events will welcome your furry friends, and others are perfect if you’re jogging with a buggy. Whatever your event looks like, you’re sure to have a blast and raise tonnes of vital cash for the British Heart Foundation.

Visit bhf.org.uk/get-involved/events/runs/chase-the-pud