Excitement builds as the countdown for the Altra Yorkshire Marathon Festival enters the final stretch

Excitement is building as the countdown to the Altra Yorkshire Marathon Festival enters its final stretch, with thousands of runners set to take to the start line on Sunday 18^th October.

The festival brings together the Altra Yorkshire Marathon, Altra Yorkshire 10 Mile and Yorkshire Marathon Relay, offering people of all ages and abilities the opportunity to be part of one of the region's biggest sporting celebrations.

A highlight of Yorkshire's sporting calendar, the Altra Yorkshire Marathon Festival has become renowned for its welcoming atmosphere, passionate support and strong sense of community, reflecting the pride and spirit that the county is known for.

The day will begin at 9.30am with the Altra Yorkshire Marathon. Starting and finishing at the University of York, participants will follow a scenic route through York's historic streets, passing iconic landmarks including York Minster before heading out into the surrounding countryside and returning to the city for the all-important finish line.

Alongside marathon runners, relay teams will also take to the course, with teams of six sharing the 26.2-mile challenge as they work together to complete the marathon distance.

The celebrations will continue with the Altra Yorkshire 10 Mile, which starts at 10.15am. Following much of the same route over a shorter distance, the event offers a more accessible challenge while still allowing participants to experience the unique atmosphere of marathon day.

Across all three events, runners can look forward to incredible support from spectators, schools, volunteers and entertainers lining the route, helping to create a memorable day for everyone involved.

That sense of community extends beyond the course, with fundraising remaining at the heart of the Altra Yorkshire Marathon Festival. As with all Run For All events, participants are encouraged to raise money for a charity close to their heart or one of the event’s partner charities: Children with Cancer UK, Dementia Forward, Jane Tomlinson Appeal, Macmillan Cancer Support, Mind York, St Leonard's Hospice, The Island, York Foodbank and Yorkshire Cancer Research. Collectively, participants are expected to raise thousands of pounds in support of a range of important causes.

Tristan Batley-Kyle, Operations Director at Run For All said: "We're looking forward to welcoming thousands of participants to York for what promises to be another fantastic Altra Yorkshire Marathon Festival.

Whether you're taking on your first running event, chasing a personal goal, running as part of a relay team or fundraising for a cause close to your heart, this weekend is a celebration of everything that makes our events so special.

We wish every participant the very best of luck and look forward to celebrating their achievements, while raising vital funds for so many deserving charities."