Run Thorpe Park 5K & 10K
September 2026
A Race Day Like No Other at Thorpe Park
Runners will have the chance to combine fitness, competition and one of the UK’s most exciting theme parks when the Run Thorpe Park 5K & 10K takes place on Sunday, 6 September 2026.
Organised by RunThrough, the event will take participants inside Thorpe Park Resort in Chertsey, Surrey, offering a very different running experience from the traditional road race.
Rather than simply following streets or country lanes, competitors will race through the heart of the theme park, passing rides and rollercoasters before the park opens to the public. The unusual setting is one of the event’s biggest attractions and gives runners the opportunity to experience Thorpe Park from an entirely different perspective.
Race Details
Date: Sunday, 6 September 2026
Venue: Thorpe Park Resort, Staines Road, Chertsey, KT16 8PN
Distances: 5K and 10K
10K start: 8:15am
5K start: 8:25am
5K laps: 1
10K laps: 2
The event is scheduled to take place during the early morning, with racing completed before the resort opens to the general public.
Two Distances, One Unique Setting
The 5K provides an accessible option for runners looking to try their first race, improve their personal best or simply enjoy a memorable morning of exercise.
The 10K offers an additional challenge, with competitors completing two laps of the course.
The route uses marked paths within the resort, with kilometre markers and marshals positioned around the course to help runners stay on track and provide encouragement.
The course is designed to be smooth and flowing, making the event suitable for both experienced runners chasing a strong time and participants who simply want to enjoy the atmosphere.
Racing Through a Theme Park
One of the defining features of the race is its setting.
Runners will pass some of Thorpe Park’s famous attractions and rollercoasters as they make their way around the course. The combination of running and theme-park scenery creates an experience that is difficult to replicate at an ordinary 5K or 10K.
For competitors, there is also an added incentive at the finish line: the opportunity to spend the rest of the day enjoying the resort.
Every race entry includes full-day access to Thorpe Park Resort, allowing participants to turn their race morning into a full day out.
More Than Just a Race
RunThrough has designed the event to offer more than a timed run.
Participants receive a themed race medal, free official race photographs, chip-timed results and post-race goodies. Marshals will support competitors around the course, while the event village will provide food, drink and partner offerings.
That combination makes the event particularly appealing to groups of friends and families who want to make a day of it.
Supporting Royal Surrey
The 2026 Run Thorpe Park 5K & 10K is being held in support of Royal Surrey, adding a charitable dimension to the event.
For runners, this creates an opportunity to combine a personal fitness challenge with support for a wider cause.
Entry
The current listed entry price is £42 for both the 5K and 10K. A RunThrough Foundation place is listed at £80, while spectator tickets are £25. L
Why This Event Stands Out
There are thousands of 5K and 10K races taking place across the UK, but relatively few offer the chance to run through a major theme park before spending the rest of the day enjoying its attractions.
For competitive runners, it provides a distinctive setting in which to chase a personal best.
For beginners, it offers a memorable introduction to organised racing.
For families and friends, it creates a complete day-out experience built around health, activity and entertainment.
And for anyone who enjoys a little adventure with their running, the prospect of racing past rollercoasters before heading straight onto the rides makes this one of the more unusual events on the 2026 running calendar.
Race Day
As runners gather early on Sunday morning, the atmosphere is expected to combine the nerves and excitement of race day with the unmistakable surroundings of Thorpe Park.
The first challenge will be getting through the early-morning preparations, lining up and settling into race pace.
Then comes the unique part: running through a theme park before the crowds arrive.
Whether participants are targeting a fast 5K, completing their first 10K, raising money for charity or simply looking for a memorable sporting experience, Run Thorpe Park offers something different.
When the final runners cross the RunThrough finish gantry, the race itself will be over. But unlike most races, the day’s adventure can continue immediately afterwards.
The running shoes can give way to the rides, attractions and entertainment of Thorpe Park.
Final Verdict
The Run Thorpe Park 5K & 10K September 2026 promises to be much more than an ordinary running event.
It combines competitive running, a closed-course theme-park experience, charity support, official race photography, chip timing, a themed medal and full-day resort access.
For runners looking for a race with a difference, it offers an unusual formula: run first, ride afterwards.
With two distances available and the unique backdrop of Thorpe Park Resort, it could prove to be one of the most memorable 5K and 10K experiences of the 2026 running calendar.