While the London Marathon tends to take the headlines, it wasn’t the only big-city marathon taking place last weekend.
Thirty-six thousand runners took place in the Manchester Marathon, cheered on by around 140,000 spectators. The meant that between London and Marathon, 90,000 runners took on the 26.2-mile distance – a UK record.
At the front of the field, Josh Griffiths took the men’s title in 2:16:56. The women’s race, meanwhile, was won by Tessa McCormick, who crossed the line in 2:34:53.
Other notable participants included Humphrey Ker, executive director of Wrexham FC, who was raising money for the Wrexham Miners Project. Wrexham FC club owners, Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, donated to the cause.
Harry Newton, 87, was the oldest participant to run the marathon this year, while Charlotte Whistlecroft, 30, took part in full cricket gear – a tribute to her cricket-loving friend, David, who died of a heart attack last year aged 32.
This was the first time ever that Manchester and London marathons took place on the same day. In another first for the Manchester event, the finish line had moved to the city centre, specifically Oxford Road, framed by the striking backdrop of the University of Manchester.
Highlighting the growing popularity of the event – and of marathon running in general – more than 50% of participants were taking on their first marathon.
Not that Manchester is a race solely for enthusiastic amateurs. England Athletics selected the race for the 2025 English Championships, with more than 70 athletes fighting it out for the top spots. Perhaps the most remarkable performance came from second-placed woman Olivia Tsim, who had given birth only seven months previously.
While not on the same level as London in terms of fundraising, Manchester did nonetheless raise more than £4 million for charity – a figure that es expected to rise over the coming days.
Andrew Smith, CEO of Manchester Marathon organisers A.S.O. UK, said: ‘Today has been nothing short of spectacular. Manchester has shown once again why it’s one of the best cities to take on a marathon – welcoming, passionate and full of heart. To see 36,000 people cross the finish line, many for the very first time, on the UK’s biggest-ever day of marathon running, is incredibly special. We’re proud to celebrate this moment with the whole community – participants, volunteers, charities and supporters – who made this event so successful.’
The Manchester Marathon returns on Sunday 19 April 2026. The ballot opens tomorrow (Tuesday 29 April): manchestermarathon.co.uk
