Bedford 5K

The Bedford 5K opens the running action of the ATW Bedford Running Festival weekend, starting and finishing in Russell Park on The Embankment beside the River Great Ouse in Bedford. The course is flat and fast, run on closed roads and traffic-free cycle paths through the town, with only around 22 metres of elevation gain over the full distance, making it a genuinely PB-friendly route. Reviewers describe the course as "flat flat flat", with clear signage and strong marshal support throughout. Starting on the Saturday afternoon of the festival weekend, it kicks off a programme that also includes a fun run and the evening Twilight 10K on the same course network. Every finisher receives a custom-designed medal and race goodies, with a special bonus reward for anyone taking on two or more distances across the weekend, all set against the backdrop of Russell Park's lively festival village.