Kettering Half Marathon and 5K run day road closures, course routes and when it starts
As runners prepare for the Kettering Half Marathon and 5K, residents living along the route are being warned of road closures.
Back for 2026, the event organised by Kettering Town Council takes place on Sunday, March 8, 2026, starting at Wicksteed Park which is expected to attract thousands of runners and spectators.
The event will see rolling road closures along the town centre route in time for the 9am start to ensure runners have space to run safely – with an expected finish time of 12.30pm.
In 2025 roads leading to London Road were closed off ahead of the 8.30am deadline to prevent traffic accessing the course.
Runners will be taken on a loop course – through Kettering town centre on the shorter course – while the 13-mile half marathon heads to the grounds of Boughton House, before returning to the Barton Road venue finish line.
People can park at Wicksteed Park – usual car parking charges will apply. Parking costs £3 for 2 hours, £5 for 3 hours or £7.50 for all day.
Town centre car parks will be open as usual but those heading to the Cornmarket Hall car park in London Road will not be able to leave until 10am.
Car parking will be available at Boughton House for people cheering on runners of the half marathon, but the advice is for people to go on foot, bike or scooter.
The race has been designed as a single lap course, so roads can be reopened as the last runners pass by. If any residents along the route will be expecting home carers to visit their household on the morning of Sunday, March 8 then they can get in contact with Run Through by emailing [email protected] so they are able to create access contingency plans.
8.30am - Road closures in place
9am - Half marathon race start
9.20am - 5k Race Start
9.45am - Eskdaill Street, Newland Street, Silver Street, Dalkeith Place, Horsemarket, Queen Street, Victoria Street reopen
10am - London Road, Bowling Green Road reopen
10.15am - Stamford Road reopens
11.30am - Grafton Road reopens
12 noon - Cranford Road reopens
12.15pm - Barton Road reopens
12.30pm - End of race
There will be marshals all around the course as well as distance signs and arrows.
The route of the 5k race: Leaves Wicksteed Park from the main gate, left into Barton Road – London Road – Bowling Green Road – Sheep Street – past the Market Place – Market Street – London Road – back to Wicksteed Park in Barton Road.
The half marathon: Leaves Wicksteed Park from the main gate, left into Barton Road – London Road – Bowling Green Road – Sheep Street – past the Market Place – High Street – Gold Street – Newland Street – Eskdaill Street – Montagu Street – Silver Street – Dalkeith Place – Horsemarket – Queen Street – Victoria Street – Montagu Street – Stamford Road – through Weekley – towards Geddington – turn right into Boughton House park – out into Grafton Road – right into Grafton Underwood – to Cranford – through Cranford to Barton Road, Hanwood Park – Barton Road – down past Barton Hall – back into Wicksteed Park.
Each kilometre is accurately marked with distance flags and marshals will be on the course to guide – and cheer runners.
At the finish line, runner receive chip timed results, post-race refreshments, free official event photos plus a themed medal.
To enter either the Kettering Half Marathon or the 5k race go to https://www.runthrough.co.uk/event/kettering-half-marathon-5k-march-2026.