Bedford 20 Mile

The Bedford 20 Mile starts and finishes in Russell Park on The Embankment beside the River Great Ouse in Bedford, on the Sunday morning of the ATW Bedford Running Festival weekend, setting off alongside the shorter Half Marathon. The course is flat and fast, run on closed roads and traffic-free cycle paths through Bedford and the surrounding Bedfordshire countryside, with only around 10 metres of elevation gain over the full distance. That minimal elevation consistently produces quick times, making the race a popular choice for marathon training or a genuine long-distance PB attempt. Aid stations and enthusiastic marshals support runners throughout the route. Finishers return to the lively festival village for live music, street food and a bar, with every runner receiving a custom-designed medal and a bonus reward for completing multiple distances across the weekend.