Runners are in top gear for city's big marathon weekend

Runners are racing to sign up for the Milton Keynes Marathon as organiser prepare for the biggest event yet.
View of the start of MK MarathonView of the start of MK Marathon
View of the start of MK Marathon

The race returns for its sixth year on Monday, May 1, as one of the flagship events of the MK50 celebrations and a host of charities are set to benefit.

Entries are already up 25% on previous years with the number of runners predicted to reach 10,000 across the five events which make up the Marathon Weekend.

Runners can sign up for the full marathon, half marathon, MK Marathon Relay or the Superhero Fun Run.

MK Marathon medals for 2017MK Marathon medals for 2017
MK Marathon medals for 2017

There’s also the return of the Rocket 5K race which takes place the day before the main event – a fast, downhill 5Km run between CMK and Stadium MK.

Event director Andy Hully said: “We’re very excited that so many runners want to join us in celebrating MK50 by running through some of the most beautiful parts of Milton Keynes. This is a great opportunity to showcase what an amazing place this is with a fantastic, flatter course and of course, the famous stadium finish. It’s no surprise that so many of last year’s runners have already signed up for 2017.”

Setting off from Saxon Street, the runners will be cheered across the finish line in Stadium MK and celebrating with a set of exciting new medal designs incorporating the MK50 logo.

Brioche Pasquier’s new production facility will be providing 10,000 brioche buns for finishers. Details of sponsors, entertainment and how to register are at mkmarathon.com