THE 2026 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon and Half Marathon delivered an unforgettable day of emotion, community spirit and sporting achievement on Sunday, as organisers introduced a historic new feature — a dedicated Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Wave.
The initiative created what is believed to be the largest participation of people connected to the MND community in any mass participation running event.
Clare Salter, Head of Community Fundraising at the MND Association, said the moment was deeply significant.
“The MND Association had eight people with MND taking part in the marathon, half marathon and relay in wheelchairs, supported by their incredible teams. This is the most we’ve ever had in any mass participation event.
“The wheelchair wave at the start was an incredible moment, and we are so proud that so many people affected by MND have been able to take part in this amazing event.”
More than 15,000 places were sold across the weekend, reflecting record engagement, while the introduction of the MND Wave marked a milestone both for inclusive sport and the continued fight against the disease.
The marathon weekend featured a range of events, including the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon Relay in partnership with Clarion, the Leeds Half Marathon, and the returning MND Mile, held the day before.
Runners of all abilities gathered at AMT Headingley Stadium, where both races began to strong support from crowds lining the streets. Participants again finished on the stadium pitch after tackling challenging routes through Leeds and surrounding areas, including the demanding Otley Chevin climb for marathon runners.
The event, named in honour of Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow, saw thousands of participants wearing ‘Run For Rob’ shirts, with support also coming from his family and former teammates Kevin Sinfield and Jamie Jones-Buchanan.
In the marathon, George Ravenhall took victory in 2:26:31, followed by Tom Charles (2:27:09) and Daniel Grant (2:31:55).
Melisah Gibson won the women’s race in 2:45:51, ahead of Charlotte Knowles (2:51:46) and Anna Firth (2:56:52).
The Leeds Half Marathon also produced strong competition, with William Tighe winning the men’s race in 1:07:30, followed by Jack Cummings (1:09:35) and Jack Kelly (1:09:59).
Jemima Elgood claimed victory in the women’s race with a time of 1:13:22, with Eilidh Bell (1:18:32) second and Stella Cross (1:19:36) third.
As with previous years, fundraising remained central, with thousands of runners supporting a wide range of charities including the MND Association, Leeds Hospitals Charity, Macmillan Cancer Support and Candlelighters. Since launching in 2023, the event has raised £14.1 million for charity.
Tristan Batley-Kyle, Operations Director at organisers Run For All, said the event continues to grow in importance.
“The 2026 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon once again delivered something exceptional for Leeds and the wider region. In a short space of time, it has established itself as one of the most important dates in the UK running calendar.
“That’s not just due to its scale, but the purpose behind it and the impact it continues to have on individuals, charities and communities.
“This year’s introduction of the MND Wave and the continued growth of the MND Mile were incredibly powerful moments. Seeing so many people affected by MND able to take part showed exactly what this event means.”
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