Dambusters 5k
Silent Valley, Down
8 Aug 2026
⚠ Start times change frequently. Always check with race organiser or their website for this year's confirmed start time before travelling.
Course map
Confirmed by race organiser
Elevation profile
About this race
The Dambusters 5k is a road and trail race organised by Born 2 Run Events, held at Silent Valley Mountain Park in Annalong, County Down, within the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The course starts and finishes at the Silent Valley Mountain Centre, taking runners through the lower section of the glacial valley on road and path surfaces, with the towering Mourne Mountains providing a dramatic backdrop throughout. The Silent Valley reservoir and the historic Mourne Wall are prominent features of the valley setting. Running shoes are suitable for all terrain on the course. All finishers receive a Dambusters medal and the race is chip timed. The 5k is the first of the day's races to start, at 10.30am, sharing the venue with the 10 Mile and 10k. Open to juniors aged 11 and over, the 5k is the most accessible of the Dambusters distances and is a popular choice for families and those new to racing in the mountains.
Course profile & record eligibility
World Athletics record-eligibility rules cap net elevation loss at 1m per km of race distance, and require the start and finish to be no more than 50% of the race distance apart — both meant to stop a course gaining an unfair edge from downhill grade or a point-to-point tailwind. This is based on this course's recorded elevation and GPS data, not an official measurement or certification.