MK Digest – Marathon record broken as thousands hit the streets

Here’s what’s worth knowing this week – from guided walks to a new city-centre voting hub.

Dog owners and animal lovers are being invited to head to Willen Lake next weekend as The Parks Trust’s popular Big Doggie Do returns for two days of dog-friendly entertainment.

Taking place on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May, the free event will feature dog shows, live displays, expert talks, activities and stalls celebrating all things canine.

Visitors can enter their pets into the annual dog show, sponsored by MK Vet Group, with categories including Best Trick, Waggiest Tail, Best Biscuit Catcher and Golden Oldies. Entry costs £1 per class, with registration opening on the day.

There will also be flyball sessions, dock diving, dog-related talks and local charity stalls, alongside food vendors and family activities including arts, crafts and a dog-themed trivia quiz.

The Parks Trust says the event is one of its most popular annual gatherings and a celebration of one of Milton Keynes’ biggest park-using communities: dog walkers and their pets.

The event takes place at Willen Lake South, running from 12pm to 5pm on Saturday and 11am to 4pm on Sunday. Entry is free and no advance booking is required.

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More than 7,800 runners took part in this year’s Milton Keynes Marathon weekend, with a new course record set in the full marathon on Bank Holiday Monday.

Thousands of runners took part in the full marathon, half marathon and Rocket 5K events across the city, with the main race starting and finishing at Stadium MK.

In the marathon, Mohamed Elbayan crossed the line first in 2:25:35, beating the previous course record by more than four minutes.

More than 2,200 runners completed the full marathon, while another 3,293 took part in the half marathon and 2,387 entered Sunday’s Rocket 5K.

The weekend once again brought thousands of runners, supporters and spectators into Milton Keynes, continuing the marathon’s place as one of the city’s biggest annual sporting events.

In the women’s full marathon, Gemma Carter finished first in 2:51:31, while the relay event was won by local team The Running Hub.

The MK Marathon has grown into one of the biggest mass-participation sporting weekends in the region, attracting runners of all abilities – from elite competitors to first-time fundraisers.

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Unity Place is launching a week-long programme of free events next week as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, with a focus on tackling loneliness and isolation among remote and hybrid workers.

The Milton Keynes venue says the programme has been designed to encourage connection, collaboration and wellbeing at a time when more people are spending much of their working life alone or away from traditional office environments.

The initiative comes as new UK data shows that 58% of employees say they feel lonely at work at least some of the time, while more than four in ten say loneliness has made them consider leaving a job.

Unity Place’s programme will include a series of free and community-focused events throughout the week, including a workplace mental health talk, a wellbeing pop-up with local support organisations, breathwork sessions, creative workshops and social networking events.

Milton Keynes-based freelance creative Kiana Kamalian said remote working can often feel isolating, with fewer opportunities for the everyday conversations and human interaction many workers once took for granted.

She said spaces like Unity Place can help recreate some of that connection, offering informal opportunities for people to meet, work and talk outside the home office environment.

Unity Place says the programme is part of its wider aim to create more opportunities for people in Milton Keynes to connect, whether through work, creativity or wellbeing-focused events.

The full programme begins on Monday 11 May and runs throughout Mental Health Awareness Week.

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Willen Hospice is urging local families to have more open conversations about death and dying as part of this year’s Dying Matters Awareness Week.

The national campaign, which runs from 4 to 10 May, aims to break down the stigma around talking about death, grief and end-of-life care – conversations many people still avoid until they become unavoidable.

Willen Hospice says fear and misunderstanding about hospice care can stop people from getting support when they need it most.

The charity supports around 1,000 local people each year living with life-limiting illness, as well as their families, and says many patients arrive with concerns shaped by fear rather than reality.

One patient, Lynda, said she was initially terrified of staying at the hospice’s in-patient unit while receiving treatment for painful cancer symptoms because she believed hospices were only places people went to die.

After receiving care and returning home with her symptoms under control, she said the experience changed her understanding completely.

The hospice says honest conversations about death can help people make informed decisions about their care, reduce anxiety, and ensure loved ones understand their wishes.

This year’s Dying Matters campaign theme is “Let’s talk about Death and Dying”, encouraging people to start those conversations earlier rather than later.

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Willen Hospice has renewed the lease on its Buckingham charity shop for at least another five years and announced plans for a major refurbishment to improve the shopping experience for customers.

The Buckingham store, based in Meadow Walk, has been part of the town centre since 2009 and has become a popular destination for shoppers looking for clothing, books, furniture and homeware.

The shop will temporarily close from Thursday 14 May while work takes place, before reopening on Friday 5 June with a new-look layout and updated displays.

The hospice says the revamp will create a brighter and more welcoming space, while improving how popular items such as furniture, homeware and ladieswear are displayed.

Retail income remains an important source of funding for the charity, which says it costs £11 million a year to provide free specialist care for local people affected by life-limiting illness, with more than a quarter of that funding generated through its shops.

Ian Palmer, Associate Director of Retail at the hospice, said the investment reflects the charity’s long-term commitment to Buckingham and its local supporters.

The hospice says customers can continue shopping online or visit nearby stores while the refurbishment is completed.

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Looking for something to do locally? Here are a few ideas for the week ahead:

Mon 11 May:

The History of Folk Horror
Professor Robert Edgar explores the origins and evolution of folk horror – from The Wicker Man to haunted landscapes and Gothic storytelling – in a live talk at Chrysalis Theatre, followed by audience Q&A.
📍 Chrysalis Theatre
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Nick Mohammed is Mr Swallow: Show Pony
Comedian and Ted Lasso star Nick Mohammed brings his chaotic alter ego Mr Swallow to Milton Keynes Theatre for an evening of surreal comedy, music and audience interaction.
📍 Milton Keynes Theatre
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Tue 12 May:

Luther Live & Velvet Voices
A live celebration of Luther Vandross featuring classic hits performed with a full live band and backing vocalists.
📍 Milton Keynes Theatre
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Wed 13 May:

Simon & Garfunkel tribute show heads to MK
The internationally touring theatre show tells the story of Simon & Garfunkel through live music, archive footage and performances of classic songs including Mrs Robinson, Bridge Over Troubled Water and The Sound of Silence.
📍 Milton Keynes Theatre
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Thu 14 May:

Collaborate MK Business Networking
A relaxed local networking event bringing together Milton Keynes businesses, freelancers and entrepreneurs for conversation and collaboration.
📍 Unity Place
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Fri 15 – Sat 16 May:

Welsh National Opera comes to Milton Keynes
Welsh National Opera returns to Milton Keynes Theatre for a weekend of powerful performances, bringing The Flying Dutchman and Blaze of Glory! to local audiences as part of its latest UK tour.
📍 Milton Keynes Theatre
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Sat 16 May:

Codebreaking workshop at Bletchley Park
Visitors can explore wartime codebreaking history through interactive exhibitions, historic buildings and family-friendly activities at Bletchley Park.
📍 Bletchley Park
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Sun 17 May:

Taylormania
A family-friendly tribute to Taylor Swift comes to Milton Keynes Theatre, featuring live performances inspired by the singer’s biggest hits in a high-energy stage show for fans of all ages.
📍 Milton Keynes Theatre
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Sat 23 May:

Love Willen fundraiser
A family-friendly fundraising day supporting Willen Hospice, featuring sponsored walks, activities, entertainment and community stalls.
📍 Willen Lake
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Tue 26 – Thu 28 May:

Half-term woodland activities at Howe Park Wood
Families can enjoy free woodland trails, nature challenges and themed craft activities during half-term at Howe Park Wood, with drop-in sessions running across three mornings.
📍 Howe Park Wood
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Thu 14 May:

Green Break: Loughton Valley
A free lunchtime guided walk designed for local workers wanting to take a break outdoors and explore nearby green space.
📍 Loughton Valley Park
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Until 24 May:

Shallow Gallery: Heavy Things
A contemporary public art exhibition exploring memory, identity and belonging through sculpture, installation and moving image work.
📍 centre:mk (Field Walk entrance)
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Throughout the week:

Ride High charity football tournament
A community fundraising football tournament supporting Ride High, the Milton Keynes charity helping vulnerable and disadvantaged young people through equine therapy and mentoring programmes.
📍 Milton Keynes
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Live events at The Stables
Live music, comedy, spoken word and touring performances continue this week at The Stables, one of Milton Keynes’ best-known live entertainment venues.
📍 The Stables, Wavendon
More information →

Explore more local events on Eventbrite and Destination Milton Keynes.

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See you next issue.

Toby
MK Digest
[email protected]