Watermead 10K

7pm, Wednesday 20 May 2026

The Watermead 10K is a Leicestershire Road Running League (LRRL) race hosted by Barrow Runners.

It is completely set within the flat Watermead Country Park.

  • 600 runners
  • Chip timing
  • Water station on the course + water at the end
  • Free parking next to start/finish area
  • KM markers
  • Cash prizes for age categories
  • Toilets
  • Refreshments in the race village, including the coffee van

Race dependent on the installation of a temporary bridge

The staging of this year's race is dependent on the installation of a temporary bridge over the River Soar in Watermead Country Park. We are waiting to open entries much closer to the race date than usual in case the bridge cannot be installed in time and we are unable to stage the race. We appreciate your understanding.

The route will also change from the 2025 edition because of the temporary bridge. Details will follow on the exact course, which will be officially re-measured.

Race entries

Entries for the 2026 race will be available on the EventEntry website 8pm Sunday 03 May 2026*.

*Note that the opening of entries is intentionally closer to the race day than usual to give the race organisers confidence that the temporary bridge will have been installed, and the course measured in time for the race.

  • Entry fee: £14.50 affiliated / £16.50 unaffiliated
  • Entries will only be open to LRRL club runners for the first seven days, and then open to all runners if places are still available
  • No on the day entries
  • Transfers can be possible via the EventEntry transfer form
  • Minimum age: 15yo (on day of the race) and junior runners must be a member of an affiliated club

Race day info

  • The Registration Desk will open at 5.30pm to collect numbers - NO numbers will be sent in the post
  • Club representatives should collect their pack of numbers from the registration desk to distribute to their runners
  • No baggage drop (the car park is close to the finish area)
  • No on the day registrations or transfers
  • Some refreshments in the race village (coffee van, ice cream van, cold drinks)
  • No headphones (of any type)
  • In line with other LRRL races all race positions for the League results will be based on gun times, and we will also use gun time for the senior men's and women's prizes. However, individual times will also be calculated on chip times and any age group prizes we award will be based on the chip times

Times

  • 5.30pm - Registration desk opens for number collection
  • 7:00pm - 10K race starts

Travel and parking

Enter the park from the Northern entrance:

Watermead Country Park,
Wanlip Road,
Leicester
LE7 4PH

>>> Please arrive early -the main driveway to the main car parking areas will be closed between 6.30pm and approx. 7.50pm, as it is part of the course.

If you arrive after 6.30pm you will need to park in one of the small car parks near the entrance to the Park, half a mile from the race village.

>>> There is limited parking and car sharing is ESSENTIAL!The main car parking will be on the actual picnic area, and then when that is full, cars will be directed to the main carpark next to the picnic area.

Please drive all the way up the main drive to the picnic area to park unless you are told by the parking marshals to use one of the other designated parking areas for the evening.

The car parking fee for the park is included in the race entry fee.

Note: it is not possible to drive into the Park to the race village and back out again before and during the race. Please perform drop offs at the Park's entrance.

>>> Do NOT park on the verge of the main drive- unlike ParkRun this is on the race route and we need to keep it clear.

If you know the area around Watermead, please consider parking outside the Park and jogging in. There is some parking on nearby residential roads (around 1/2 mile away), or the Dunelm Head Office (1 mile away). These will not be signposted and you will need to find your own way to the race village.

Note: it is only possible to drop off at the entrance to Watermead Park. There is no drop off zone at the race village.

The course

The course is currently being revised from the 2025 edition because of closure of the permanent bridge of the River Soar and the erection of a temporary bridge. It will be officially re-measured and the route posted on this page.

The course is well marshalled with a water station on the course, plus water at the finish line.

The race starts on the main driveway, 500m back towards the park entrance from the picnic area. Runners will be asked to move to the start 20 minutes before the race.

>>> Please line up at the start in expected time order- There will be signs to help you position yourself and this will really help the field to spread out early and avoid congestion as the course goes onto narrower paths.

There are some hazards: speed bumps, bollards, some uneven surfaces, and a 400m section of grass.

Parts of the course are narrow, so please keep left except where marshals instruct otherwise.

Prizes

There will be men's and women's prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and 1st in categories U23, 40+, 50+, 60+, 70+ if there is a minimum of 5 runners in a category.

Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd will be based on gun time, age group winners will be based on chip time.

Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd will be presented on the night, others will be contacted as soon as the results are available.

In the event of flooding

Watermead Country Park is prone to flooding, although less likely during May. If the Park is only partially flooded an alternative course within the Park will be used.

Results

Contact

Email: [email protected]