Compiled and fact-checked by Tommo, Verus founder · Last verified August 2026 · Spot an error?
Running · Marathons
Battle of the Borders (Marathon) 2026
- Race day
- Saturday, 5 September 2026
- Location
- Church Stretton, Shropshire, UK, UK
- Distance
- 26.2 mi / 42.2 km
Battle of the Borders (Marathon): 5 September 2026, from Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton SY6 6JG. Route, distance and where to check results.
Battle of the Borders (Marathon) Race Timeline
5 days since race day
Battle of the Borders (Marathon) runs most years, but the next date hasn't been announced. Ask to be notified above and we'll email you the day it is.
Battle of the Borders (Marathon): quick answers
When is the next Battle of the Borders (Marathon)?
The next date hasn't been published by the organiser yet. The most recent Battle of the Borders (Marathon) was Saturday, 5 September 2026, and the race has usually run around the same point in the year.
Where does Battle of the Borders (Marathon) start?
Battle of the Borders (Marathon) starts at Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton SY6 6JG. The organiser hasn't published a finish location.
How many miles is Battle of the Borders (Marathon)?
Battle of the Borders (Marathon) is 26.2 miles (42.2km).
How much does Battle of the Borders (Marathon) cost to enter?
£32.25-£45
Key Race Metrics & Overview
- Date
- Saturday, 5 September 2026
- Distance
- 26.2 miles / 42.2km
- Location
- Church Stretton, Shropshire, UK, UK
- Start Point
- Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton SY6 6JG
- Surface
- Trail (Shropshire Hills / The Long Mynd)
Not published by the organiser at the time of writing: finish point, start time, cut-off time, age requirement, tracking app. Verus records these as unconfirmed rather than estimating them — check the official race website closer to race day.
Direct Entry Summary
£32.25-£45
Ballot Policy
No ballot — entry is direct through How Hard Can it be Events.
Battle of the Borders (Marathon) Race Day Weather
A real forecast appears here once one exists for race day — usually about a week to ten days out. Nothing is shown until then, because a made-up forecast is worse than none.
Battle of the Borders (Marathon) Route Map & Elevation Profile
Starting at Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton SY6 6JG. The organiser hasn't published a finish location. Total elevation gain is not published for this event, and Verus does not estimate one.
Is Battle of the Borders (Marathon) flat?
No official elevation figure is published for this course, so Verus doesn't state one. The organiser describes the going as: trail (shropshire hills / the long mynd).
Battle of the Borders (Marathon) Course Profile
Elevation change not published for this event.
Tap a point on the course for details.
Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton SY6 6JG
Start line.
Where Battle of the Borders (Marathon) starts and finishes
Battle of the Borders (Marathon) starts at Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton SY6 6JG. We haven't been able to place those on a map accurately enough to show one — a pin in the wrong place is worse than no pin.
These are the start and finish points, not the route. Verus doesn't hold course files for this race, and drawing a line between two pins would be a guess you might end up training on.
Full Battle of the Borders (Marathon) Route Breakdown
Trail marathon (and half marathon, 10k) through the Shropshire Hills and The Long Mynd starting from Carding Mill Valley.
Battle of the Borders (Marathon) Pace Calculator & Splits
Battle of the Borders (Marathon) Pace Calculator
Enter a target finish time to see your pace and projected splits.
Average pace / mile
9:10
Average pace / km
5:42
Battle of the Borders (Marathon) Pace Chart
Split markers calculated for standard checkpoints — no official pacers are confirmed for this event.
| Target | Pace /mi | Pace /km | 5K | 10K | Half Marathon | 30K | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00 | 6:52 | 4:16 | 21:21 | 42:41 | 1:30:04 | 2:08:04 | 3:00:00 |
| 3:15 | 7:27 | 4:37 | 23:07 | 46:15 | 1:37:34 | 2:18:44 | 3:15:00 |
| 3:30 | 8:01 | 4:59 | 24:54 | 49:48 | 1:45:05 | 2:29:25 | 3:30:00 |
| 3:45 | 8:35 | 5:20 | 26:41 | 53:22 | 1:52:35 | 2:40:05 | 3:45:00 |
| 4:00 | 9:10 | 5:42 | 28:28 | 56:55 | 2:00:05 | 2:50:46 | 4:00:00 |
| 4:15 | 9:44 | 6:03 | 30:14 | 1:00:29 | 2:07:35 | 3:01:26 | 4:15:00 |
| 4:30 | 10:18 | 6:24 | 32:01 | 1:04:02 | 2:15:06 | 3:12:06 | 4:30:00 |
| 4:45 | 10:53 | 6:46 | 33:48 | 1:07:36 | 2:22:36 | 3:22:47 | 4:45:00 |
| 5:00 | 11:27 | 7:07 | 35:34 | 1:11:09 | 2:30:06 | 3:33:27 | 5:00:00 |
| 5:30 | 12:36 | 7:50 | 39:08 | 1:18:16 | 2:45:07 | 3:54:48 | 5:30:00 |
| 6:00 | 13:44 | 8:32 | 42:41 | 1:25:23 | 3:00:08 | 4:16:08 | 6:00:00 |
| 6:30 | 14:53 | 9:15 | 46:15 | 1:32:30 | 3:15:08 | 4:37:29 | 6:30:00 |
| 7:00 | 16:02 | 9:58 | 49:48 | 1:39:37 | 3:30:09 | 4:58:50 | 7:00:00 |
Battle of the Borders (Marathon) Finish Time Estimator
Enter a recent 5K, 10K or Half Marathon time to estimate your Battle of the Borders (Marathon) finish time.
Your 5K time
Estimated Battle of the Borders (Marathon) finish
3:59:36
An estimate only, based on Pete Riegel's race-time prediction formula. Real marathon performance depends on endurance, training specificity, pacing and race-day conditions — not just your speed over a shorter distance.
Training for a different distance? Try the full pace calculator, race time predictor or pace chart.
Got your target time? Save it to your profile.
Tag Battle of the Borders (Marathon), set your goal pace, and let Verus track your countdown, training and fundraising in one place.
Start Your Verus JourneyBattle of the Borders (Marathon) Race Day Checklist
Tap items to mark off your race-day readiness.
- Race number attached, and any timing chip fitted per your race pack instructions
- Weather-appropriate kit, plus something warm and disposable to discard before the start
- A plan for reaching Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton SY6 6JG
- A meeting point agreed with family and friends for after the race
Training Strategy for Battle of the Borders (Marathon)
16-20 weeks is the target window for first-time marathoners; 12-16 weeks is solid if you're already maintaining a baseline mileage. Arrive with your longest run behind you in training, not on race day itself.
This is a largely flat course, so most of your long runs can mirror that — flat and steady, building time on feet rather than hill strength.
Reduce overall mileage across the final 2-3 weeks while preserving short race-pace bursts. Arrive at Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton SY6 6JG fresh, energized, and primed — not fit, fresh.
Lock in your target pace using the interactive splits calculator below — no official pacers are confirmed for this event, so a pace band on your watch is the more reliable option.
Test your race-day fuel and hydration plan on your long training runs, not for the first time on race day — check the Race Day Checklist below for what's actually on this course.
Marathon Nutrition & Fueling Plan
A deliberate increase in carbohydrate over the two to three days before the race is the well-established approach at marathon distance.
Eat a carbohydrate-focused breakfast two to three hours before the start, and stick to something you've already tested in training rather than trying anything new.
Most runners take on carbohydrate every 30 to 45 minutes from about an hour in, alongside fluid at the on-course stations.
A mix of carbohydrate and protein in the hour or so after finishing supports recovery.
Battle of the Borders (Marathon) Charity Places 2026
No formal charity-place scheme published — runners commonly fundraise for a charity of their own choosing.
Lead with your personal story — explain why the charity matters to you. Personal connection generates 3x more support than a generic link broadcast.
Share key training milestones on Instagram (first 10-miler, peak week, race week) with your fundraising link in bio. Publicly thanking donors prompts secondary gifts!
Running Battle of the Borders (Marathon) for charity?
Link your JustGiving page to Verus and show up right here alongside other Battle of the Borders (Marathon) fundraisers — goal, progress and story, all in one place.
Add Your Fundraiser to VerusTravel & Logistics
No road closures — the Battle of the Borders (Marathon) is run off-road (Trail (Shropshire Hills / The Long Mynd)), so local traffic is unaffected.
Battle of the Borders (Marathon) Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know for race weekend.
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Race details independently compiled and fact-checked by Tommo against the official Battle of the Borders (Marathon) site , last verified August 2026. Always confirm official timings and policies directly prior to race day.