Record participation and landmark MND Wave at 2026 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon weekend

Record-Breaking MND Wave Makes History at the 2026 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon and Half Marathon

The 2026 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon and Half Marathon delivered an unforgettable day of emotion, community spirit, and sporting achievement as the event introduced its first-ever dedicated Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Wave creating what is believed to be the largest participation of people connected to the MND community in a mass participation running event.

Clare Salter, the MND Association’s Head of Community Fundraising said: “Today 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 Wheechair 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.”

The 2026 event saw record engagement across both the marathon and half marathon distances with over 15,000 entries sold, but the introduction of the MND Wave marked a historic milestone for the running community and the fight against Motor Neurone Disease.

The marathon weekend featured a packed programme of events, including the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon Relay in partnership with Clarion, the Leeds Half Marathon, and the MND Mile, which took place the day before. Collectively, the events brought together runners of all abilities from across the region and beyond.

Both the marathon and half marathon started at AMT Headingley Stadium, where runners set off to strong support from spectators lining St Michael’s Lane. The full marathon, named in honour of Leeds Rhinos legend Rob Burrow, remained at the centre of the day, with thousands wearing ‘Run For Rob’ shirts and personalised race bibs. The event was once again supported by Rob’s former teammates Kevin Sinfield and Jamie Jones‑Buchanan, alongside his wife, Lindsey Burrow.

In the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon, George Ravenhall took the win in 02:26:31, ahead of Tom Charles in second place (02:27:09) and Daniel Grant in third (02:31:55).
In the women’s race, Melisah Gibson claimed victory in 02:45:51, followed by Charlotte Knowles (02:51:46) and Anna Firth (02:56:52).

The Leeds Half Marathon also saw strong performances, with William Tighe winning the men’s race in 01:07:30, followed by Jack Cummings (01:09:35) and Jack Kelly (01:09:59). In the women’s event, Jemima Elgood finished first in 01:13:22, with Eilidh Bell second (01:18:32) and Stella Cross third (01:19:36).

The marathon began at 9:00am, followed by the half marathon at 10:00am, with both races finishing on the pitch at AMT Headingley Stadium. Runners tackled a challenging route through Leeds and the surrounding countryside, passing through local communities that turned out in large numbers to support the event, before marathon participants faced the well‑known Otley Chevin climb.

Support from spectators played a key role throughout the day, with crowds lining the route and creating a positive and encouraging atmosphere for runners at every level.

Alongside the racing, fundraising remained central to the event. Thousands of participants raised money for causes close to their hearts, with many supporting the official partner charities: Candlelighters, Happy Days, Jane Tomlinson Appeal, Leeds North & West Foodbank, Leeds Rhinos Foundation, Leeds Hospitals Charity, Macmillan Cancer Support, the MND Association, My Name’5 Doddie, St Gemma’s Hospice and 4ED.

The final fundraising total is expected to build on the event’s track record of delivering significant support for charities and communities across the region.

Tristan Batley-Kyle, Operations Director at Run For All, commented: “The 2026 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon once again delivered something exceptional for Leeds and the wider region, with more than 10,000 runners taking part across the weekend.

“In a short space of time, this event 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.

“Seeing so many people wearing ‘Run For Rob’ and supporting causes close to their hearts perfectly reflects what this marathon stands for. It’s about honouring Rob’s legacy while bringing the city together in a positive and lasting way.

"This year’s introduction of the MND Wave and the continued growth of the MND Mile were incredibly powerful moments. To see so many people affected by MND able to take part across the weekend showed exactly what this event means to the community and why it continues to resonate with so many people."

“We’re incredibly grateful to the runners, volunteers, supporters, partners and entertainment groups who played a part in making the day such a success, and we’re already excited to build on this for next year.”