Guy Fawkes 5 race 2026 (alternative course)

My sister, brother-in-law and I, along with lots of members of my running club, recently ran the Guy Fawkes 5 race. It was my third time running it and the first time for my sister and brother-in-law.

Organised by Tewkesbury Running Club, Guy Fawkes 5 is a five mile road race in Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, taking place on the first Sunday of November. It is the last race of the year in the Gloucestershire AAA road race series, which I’ve been taking part in again this year. I knew I’d already won my age category in the series and didn’t even need to run the race, but I wanted to enjoy the victory lap! I was expecting my main rival in the series to be there (and to beat me!), but she wasn’t there.

Race HQ for Guy Fawkes 5 is Tewkesbury School’s sports hall. There’s plenty of parking on the school grounds, but organisers were recommending people park at the Cotswolds Designer Outlet, which is about a 10 minute walk away. We ignored them and parked at the school as usual

I picked up my number and queued for the toilet. There were four portaloos in the car park and we could also use the sports hall toilets. I think there were only two cubicles for the ladies and a big queue. The queue for the portaloos was big too, but I decided to use those.

Usually, Guy Fawkes 5 is a ‘frying pan’ shaped course, which involves crossing two motorway bridges. This year, there were works on one of the bridges and at the last minute the course was altered. The course was a complete out and back, which would involve crossing one of the motorway bridges and turning round soon afterwards.

This meant a different start line, which was a much longer walk. Organisers didn’t really make clear how much longer or make a big announcement along the lines of ‘you must leave now’. My sister, brother-in-law and I set off at just after 9:30 for a 10am start. We jogged the first bit and I did some warm-up drills. Then we turned left off the main road to where the start usually is. And it was still a really long walk!Eventually, we found the start line. Inevitably, the race started a few minutes after the scheduled 10am start.

I positioned myself in what felt like the right place and we were off! The start of the course was very narrow and I felt quite hemmed in. I probably should have started a bit further forward. The road was very uneven too. It was pretty much just a path running behind the Walton Cardiff housing estate. There were probably three little crossing points with marshals and bollards, to make it even more treacherous.

Before the first mile marker, we were off the narrow path and onto a country lane. At about 1.5 miles, we turned left onto a wider road and out into the wind. It was a pretty cold day – about 7 degrees – and I was still running in my vest and shorts. At this point, I saw three friends from my Thursday running group (and trip to York) out on their bikes to watch the race.

At two miles, we came to the motorway bridge and I saw the first runners heading in the opposite direction. Then it was up and over the bridge and keep running until the tight turning point.

On my return run, I saw my brother-in-law and a man from our club almost immediately, then my sister and a few other club members. I managed to wave to them all, but not to speak! I was running fast and strongly. So many people said ‘well done, Sarah’ that the man rubbing next to me (who I’ve never seen before) said ‘well done, Sarah’ at the end!

Somehow, the motorway bridge on the return looked like a very steep hill. I wasn’t sure if it was as steep on the other side. I guess it was, but I was probably feeling more tired after another mile of running.

The out and back course was so precise that the one and four mile markers were opposite each other, as were the two and three.
Then I was back running past my friends supporting, back to the right turn, then back to the narrow path…

With less than half a mile to go, the man from my club (who’d run the Yorkshire marathon two weeks previously) overtook me. There was a ‘200 metres to go’ sign and I flew to the finish line.

I crossed the line in 36:18 – five seconds faster than last year and 11 seconds faster than 2024, so I’m certainly consistent! I don’t think I’ll ever reach my five mile PB of 35:36 at the Linda Franks race last year. I was third in my age category, but first is still in the FV45 category for the Gloucestershire AAA series (ie she’s just turned 50 recently) and second wasn’t from Gloucestershire, so my maximum race series points were secured.

Interestingly, after all my summer races were slower than last year, due to the extreme heat, all of my autumn races (with the exception of Cheltenham half marathon) have been slightly faster than last year. That’s pretty good for a 53 year old!

I picked up my bottle of water. I could have had a banana, but they are the devil’s own food. Then I half walked and half jogged back to the school to pick up my medal and my bag. I was in desperate need of my jumper!

I’m not planning to run the Gloucestershire AAA road race series next year, but I’m sure I’ll be back at Guy Fawkes 5 at some point.