Putting Southampton’s best foot forward, one race at a time

Chris Rees

I was born in Southampton and have lived locally and in the city for many years, including time at the legendary South Western House. I’m deeply passionate about Southampton and proud to call it my home. Much of what I do is rooted in a desire to give back to the city that shaped me – by creating events that bring people together, promote healthy lifestyles, and generate meaningful economic and social impact.

At 18 years old, I launched my first business – a swim school built around a simple but ambitious idea to make swimming accessible, enjoyable, and a skill for life. What began with a single pool and a passion for helping people into the water has grown over the past 21 years into World of Swimming, now operating multiple swim school sites, delivering more than 2,000 lessons every week. We’ve also expanded nationally through the acquisition and development of swim schools across the UK, helping thousands of children and adults build confidence, fitness, and lifelong safety skills.

Swimming was just the start. Since 2004, I’ve also been running ReesLeisure, which delivers major participation events that encourage people of all abilities to get active, set goals, and challenge themselves. Our flagship event is the ABP Southampton Marathon, now in its 11th year. Each year, it welcomes around 10,000 runners and has raised over £5 million for local charities – a figure we are incredibly proud of and eager to build upon as the next race approaches in just a few months.

One of my biggest milestones was organising the very first ABP Southampton Marathon. It remains a blur – a whirlwind of planning, nerves and excitement. Before that, we had only ever organised events for around 500 people. Suddenly, we had over 6,500 runners and 10,000 spectators flooding the city. It was chaotic, inspiring, and proof that Southampton was ready to embrace something bold.

Reaching our 10th anniversary last year was incredibly special, and I’m especially excited about what’s ahead. For the 2026 event, and to celebrate 90 years since its creation, we’ll be featuring a spectacular Spitfire display at the start of the race, adding a truly memorable moment for runners and spectators alike.

We’re also introducing newly designed collectible medals for the 2026 races – if you take part over the next five years, your medals will connect together to form the Hampshire Rose once the set is complete.

The race itself will also feature a couple changes to the route, including our new 2026 start line coming out of ABP Ports, and the 10k distance going through St Mary’s stadium.

The course itself has taken more than a decade of careful fine-tuning. We work closely with the council and traffic planners to keep the city moving while still delivering a dynamic and scenic route. By using underpasses, rerouting sections, and designing a loop around the city, we’ve created a race that balances minimal disruption with maximum impact.

The route also showcases the best of Southampton, blending urban energy, coastal beauty, and green spaces into a route that truly highlights the city’s diversity. I genuinely believe it puts Southampton on the map, and our ambition is to make it a must-do national event on every runner’s bucket list.

Beyond logistics, medals, and finish lines, it’s the people that make it meaningful. Seeing runners cross the line – many having trained for months, overcoming personal challenges, or running in memory of loved ones – never loses its impact. Hearing stories of friends and families running for charity, and witnessing the positive effect of the funds raised on local organisations, is incredibly powerful. Knowing that our events change lives, support causes, and inspire people into sport is what keeps me motivated.

I’ve always been humbled by how strongly Southampton has embraced and helped build these events. It’s truly a collaborative effort, involving thousands of volunteers, partners, businesses, and residents. It reminds me every year that this isn’t just about a race, it’s about community, pride, and shared achievement.

As this year’s ABP Southampton Marathon approaches, I feel as excited as ever. Creating moments of achievement, helping people reach their goals, and celebrating their success remains at the heart of what I do… and I can’t wait to see the city come alive again on race day!

To find out more about the ABP Marathon, please visit the website: https://www.southamptonmarathon.co.uk/