Bacchus Wine Half Marathon & 10k

GENERAL ENTRIES FOR 2027 ARE NOW OPEN

Thank you to everyone who took part in the 2026 Bacchus Wine Half Marathon and 10K. We had another fabulous event with a record number of finishers. After a dismay early morning forecast we were very lucky with the weather and if anything it was a little warm and humid, particularly if you were climbing those hills inside an inflatable dinosaur. Once again most of you who run can probably claim another PW (Personal Worst) time for the half marathon or 10K, which is the way we like it. Run this event too quickly and you miss out on much of the food, the wine and the entertainment along the way. Like a good English wine, Bacchus is something to take your time over.

All the results, if you  really want to see how slowly you ran,  and individual photos are now available through the links on this page. As always the cost of the photos is included in your entry fee so they are free to download and show off for any personal use.

From our side it's a big thank you to all our volunteers, partners and official charities.  St Pauls Church in Dorking, or more precisely the congregation, once again gave up their Sunday morning to man the baggage areas and hand out meals, T-shirts and water at the finish line  Combat Stress and Sensory Services by Sight for Surrey, our two official charity partners, took on two of the biggest and busiest drinks stations. Mole Valley Running Club manned another aid station as did the Nepalese ladies sport club, Ma Kchelchu who were there for the third year.

Entertainment on the course was a mix of old friends and a few new acts. South London Samba were drumming everyone off at the start, Mole Valley Silver Band were there to welcome back at the finish, local group Broken Switch, which have played at every edition of the event were at the final drinks station and there was the usual mix of Scottish Pipers and classical musicians at strategic parts of the course. This year for the first time we also had a mini circus, Circus Sensible, around at the start/finish area to entertain the crowds while the race was going on.

IWe are now open for entries for the 2027 Bacchus Wine Half Marathon and 10K. The 2026 event sold out seven months before the race date so don't wait too long if you want to be part of the 2027 event.

Welcome to the Bacchus Wine Half Marathon and 10K, a celebration of award-winning English wine, fine food, fancy dress, music ... and a little bit of running. If you are not familiar with 'Bacchus' and have stumbled across this website, read on for details of what you can expect. 



Although our ethos is very much that of a 'fun run', Bacchus is a still a real running race with all the trappings of a professionally organised event: a well-marked and well-marshalled course, fabulous medal, chip timing and full medical support. But in many ways the running is the least important part of the event. The course, which weaves in and out of Denbies Vineyard and sections of the North Downs, is stunningly beautiful but tremendously challenging. Fast times are difficult at best, but nigh on impossible if you stop and enjoy the wine, which really is the point of the day. If you are entering into the spirit of Bacchus the fancy dress will also hinder your progress to a fast time as it is quite difficult trying to run quickly dressed as a bunch of grapes, carrying an inflatable dinosaur or a viking sword and shield...

If you are running the Half Marathon, the main event of the day, you'll have six chances to sample a selection of wines grown and produced on the Denbies estate . The 10K runners visit two of the wine stops. In addition to the wines each drinks station will also be serving a selection of snack food - fresh fruit, cheese and biscuits, savoury snacks or a selection of deserts to name a few - often to the accompaniment of live music at various points on the course.. It is those aid stations which separate Bacchus from other events. They are to be savoured and enjoyed rather than to be rushed past at speed.. Far from running a PB, it is quite likely that Bacchus will be your slowest ever half marathon or 10K and you should be proud to admit it. We wouldn't want it any other way.

We don't have a hard cut off for the half-marathon but we do have tail runners who walk the course and are there to encourage those lingering at the aid stations - the wine will do that to you - to keep on moving. We don't pull people out of the event but the target time, which we give to marshals, medics and musicians, is to have everyone off the course and into the post-race party by 3pm. If you start in one of the earlier waves that means you have more than five hours for a half marathon. 

If six wine stops are not enough, you'll have the chance to sample more food and wine (as well as beer and soft drinks) just after the finish at the legendary post-race party. As last year we will be serving pulled pork and a range of meat-free options. You can expect the music to go on long into the afternoon and early evening. One of the challenges of organising Bacchus remains encouraging everyone to go home!

The Half Marathon is limited to 1800 runners going off in six waves every 10 minutes from 9.30am onwards; the 10K has 1200 runners in four waves. We use waves to avoid too much over crowding at the drinks stations.. As the reputation of the event has grown so too has the demand for the places. This year's race is now sold out, it sold out in the middle of April.