'Huge success' – Yorkshire Marathon breaks records for 2026: news
18-10-2026
‘Huge Success’ – Yorkshire Marathon Breaks Records for 2026
The 2026 Altra Yorkshire Marathon Festival has officially made history, drawing a record-breaking turnout of over 10,000 runners and raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for charitable causes across the UK.
Record-Breaking Turnout in York
Starting and finishing at the University of York campus, the flagship running festival returned with unprecedented participation across all three core events: the full 26.2-mile Yorkshire Marathon, the Altra Yorkshire 10 Mile, and the popular Marathon Relay.
Spectators lined the scenic autumn route through historic Yorkpassing landmarks such as York Minster before heading along countryside lanesto cheer on participants pursuing personal bests, running their first endurance race, or fundraising for vital charities.
Race Highlights and Key Winners
Competition was fierce across the courses, highlighted by standout performances in the Altra Yorkshire 10 Mile:
Men’s 10-Mile Race:
Winner: Jack Kelly (00:51:21)
Runner-up: Rob Scott (00:51:44)
Third Place: Ben Jarvis (00:53:33)
Women’s 10-Mile Race:
Winner: Sophie Chumas (01:01:39)
Runner-up: Flick Burton (01:02:14)
Third Place: Venika Owens (01:02:47)
Massive Charitable Impact
Organised by Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All, the event lived up to its legacy of philanthropy. Organisers praised the electric atmosphere and the collective effort of athletes who raised significant funds for partner charities, including:
Jane Tomlinson Appeal
Macmillan Cancer Support
Children with Cancer UK
St Leonard’s Hospice
Mind York
Yorkshire Cancer Research
York Foodbank
Dementia Forward
Event directors hailed the festival as an overwhelming triumph for community sports, marking 2026 as one of the most successful years since the marathon’s inception.