Yorkshire Marathon charity places for 2025 | Cats Protection

Timetable

• 07:00 | Race office, baggage store and assembly areas open to participants
• 09:10 | Mass warm-up
• 09:25 | Wheelchair race starts
• 09:30 | Yorkshire Marathon starts
• 10:00 | Yorkshire 10 Mile warm-up
• 10:15 | Yorkshire 10 Mile starts

All you need to know

• Event Village

  To satisfy your pre and post-run fuel needs, a selection of tasty food and drink choices will be available to purchase. There are also several bars and cafés in the area that will be sure to welcome spectators and participants and are often bursting with atmosphere after the event. Wonderful partner charities will also be located in the Event Village, so make sure you go say hi! 

• Fuel and hydration

  300ml bottled water is available on the course. High5 energy stations will also be available on course including High5 Zero tabs and High5 energy gels.

• Baggage

  Safe and handy bag storage facility.

• Pacers

  Friendly pacers will be on the course, sponsored by Arla Protein, who can help you stick to your intended finish time. They’ll have flags attached to them with finish times so you can choose the best pace to suit you.

• Toilets

  Allocated toilets are in the Event Village and on the course too.

• Medical

  Should you find you require medical assistance, personnel will be on hand to help at regular intervals on the course with fixed first aid stations located near the water stations.
  In addition, there will be a first aid unit and recovery area located near the start and finish line. There will also be roaming first aiders around the Event Village. 

• Race Day memento

  Celebrate your incredible time and your fantastic achievements with some extra event day souvenirs. Head to the Event Village on race day and visit Epic Etchings to get your finishers medal engraved and Personal Best Vests to order your own personalised finisher t-shirt print to help celebrate your achievements in style. 

• Massage

  May be available after your run - check your race info nearer the time.

• Photos

  Smile! The Marathon Photos team will be on course throughout the event to snap your picture. Photographs can be purchased online.

• Results

  All results will be available in the results section of the website soon after the end of the event. However, keep in mind that it’s not all about times – you should be proud of yourself just for getting out there and getting active!

Event HQ

University of York Campus South
Heslington
York
North Yorkshire
YO10 5NJ
UK

Parking

Car parking at the University of York is for Blue Badge holders only.

Park and Ride

On marathon day, dedicated park and ride schemes will operate to bring runners to and from the start and finish points at the University of York.

By bus

Runners can benefit from a city-centre shuttle service from York Railway Station (Stand J), direct to the Event Village, and also regular timetabled services including No. 66.

By rail

York is well served by trains, including direct services from Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and the South West.

By air

The nearest airport to York is Leeds/Bradford Airport - approx. 50 minutes by car.

GPX route

The route is displayed on the map above.

Overview

You will experience the crowds cheering your name, along a flat and fast course.

One of the diamond routes of the UK running scene, the Altra Yorkshire Marathon takes participants past some of the most iconic landmarks York has to offer. After passing York Minster at just 2 miles, runners race toward the city walls, then head out into the stunning Yorkshire countryside. At the furthest point, Buttercrambe Wood, the course turns back toward the city, passing Balloon Tree Farm on its way to the finish. As runners descend on the finish line at The University of York, the crowds get intense, loud and energetic. It may just be the most atmospheric finish line on the UK race calendar.

Map

Elevation

The Altra Yorkshire Marathon has serious PB potential.

It’s not just about history and scenery. With just 281 feet of elevation gain over the full 26.2 miles, blisteringly quick times are possible. Thousands of marathon PBs have been set here, and thousands more cross the marathon finish line for the very first time. The Altra Yorkshire Marathon is for everyone.

Cut off

7 hours.

Water and energy stations

Bottled water will be available every 3 miles throughout the course. High 5 energy gel stations are at 9, 15 and 21 miles and High 5 tabs are at 6, 12 and 18 miles. Water, High 5, and a pint of well-deserved Erdinger Alkoholfrei will be available at the finish.

Entertainment

A variety of performers and charity cheerleaders will be on hand to keep you motivated around the course!

Keeping York Green

This event is committed to keeping York green and understands the importance of doing its bit for the environment. Bins will be provided across the event site and people are urged to use the facilities provided.

individuals

• Chip timing
• Finisher’s goody bag
• Exclusive medal
• Training sessions
• A fantastic experience

Optional extra

• Quality tech T-shirt
• iTAB - make your medal uniquely yours by adding your name and finish time to your medal
• Memento - get yourself a high-quality framed picture personalised with your name and finish time with the event

VIP Packages

Elevate your race day with a VIP experience. Enjoy the Erdinger Runners Lounge at the Altra Yorkshire Marathon and make your day unforgettable!

• Access to the Runners Lounge pre and post-race
• Access to refreshments pre and post-race
• Post-race massage
• Private baggage drop
• Access to private toilets pre and post-race
• Finisher t-shirt
• Park and Ride ticket (runner only)

Training sessions

Join the fun, free and friendly Social Run Group (SRG) hosted by Up and Running. A weekly 5K that is perfect for runners of all abilities. Join the community when you sign up to this event.

Training plan

How to fundraise

Wondering whether to run for charity but unsure how to fundraise? Charities are experts in this topic and will provide the reassurance you need but here are some tips get you started:

• Start fundraising early

  Starting your fundraising early gives you the best chance of reaching – and even exceeding – your sponsorship goal.

• Make it known

  Keep talking about your fundraising target to your friends, family, colleagues, social media followers - everyone!

• Have some fun

  Seize the chance to make it your own: sell unwanted clothing online, hold an afternoon tea, host a ticketed dinner party, wash some cars, shave your beard; be inspired!

Benefits of running for charity

Committing to raising money for charity gives you motivation to get outside and train when the going gets tough, plus all of these extras which will elevate your event experience:

• Fundraising support

  Charities know that raising money is all part of the marathon challenge, which is why they provide advice, branded materials and a personalised online fundraising page to help the donations roll in. Think eye-catching videos for social and traditional collection tins too.

• Training support

  Whether this is your first or fifth marathon, you'll need to train for it! You may receive an in-depth training plan with guidance, plus many charities have access to expert coaches and elite runners too, who can provide exclusive tips for your race preparation.

• Branded running kit

  When you turn up in England's historic capital, people need to be able to see clearly that you're supporting a charity. Most charities will give you a branded and personalised t-shirt or vest to wear with pride on the big day, and often kit you out with a training top too.

• Support on the day

  When you're at mile 20 and your energy is flagging, what you need is a boost from cheering spectators to keep you moving. Many charities set up a cheer station along the route, keeping an eye out for you to send up a huge cheer as you run past. This is where the personalised vests come in!

• Post-race recovery

  Refreshments and an indulgent post-race sports massage are often provided by charities for their runners. This is the perfect way to recover alongside other people who have run for that cause.

• Exclusive social groups

  You won't be the only person running for that charity, so it's well worth meeting other runners through the charity's invite-only social media pages! You can organise to meet up for training runs, chat with the charity's expert coaches and share tips and stories with each other to keep the motivation levels running high. You won't be alone in central York.

I would recommend any novice runners to enter the Yorkshire Marathon, you will be well looked after. This was my first marathon and I had an unforgettable experience. Andrew R

My first marathon and I loved it. Running through York centre was amazing and the country lanes were beautiful. I was slow and steady, my goal was just to finish. Jennifer B

I would recommend it to first timers looking to do their first marathon. Neil G

Really enjoyed this race as an event, my first ever marathon. I would recommend this race to anyone, the route is very forgiving, the marshals are plenty and helpful. The crowds are fantastic and make you feel like a rock star. Alexandra D

I love this marathon! It's ideal for first-timers as well as PB hunters. The organisation is good throughout, from the moment you sign up until you cross the finish line. The course is beautiful. Jed H

This was so so lovely. The course is gorgeous, both through town and out into the countryside. The spectators were super friendly. Everything ran really smoothly and wasn’t confusing, very well organised which helped keep calm before the race! Stella M

What a great event. Course was well signposted and spectacular scenery. Crowds were plentiful and support at the finish was superb. Emma F

I would recommend any novice runners to enter the Yorkshire Marathon, you will be well looked after. This was my first marathon and I had an unforgettable experience. Andrew R

My first ever marathon and it won’t be the last! Superbly well organised the support from the event leaders and local community was just fantastic xx thank you so much!! Cheryl M

Whether it's running past the historic York Minster, hi-fiving the vicar and just taking in the beautiful Yorkshire scenery  there is guaranteed to be a memorable moment at the Yorkshire Marathon. Great race, fantastically well organised and marshalled, fabulous friendly support and a lovely piece of bling. Put Yorkshire on your to do list! Nigel M

Beautiful run through the middle of the city and then out into the countryside. Beware the gradual, but long, incline at mile 17/18. Phil K

My first marathon. The route itself is fairly flat with a little bit of a climb at the end before my favourite fast finish down to the finish line. Good quality big medal, good event village with food. Ray J

Great day Yorkshire Marathon. This was a really well organised event. Lots of pre-race emails. Race bib arrived through the post with a shiny race booklet. You don't get that often these days. Leeds C

I did the York Marathon as my first marathon, lovely city and plenty of time spent around the country side. I thought it was pretty flat and can see why plenty are saying its PB material. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole event. Michael T

Very well organised race, great flat-ish course, well supported by locals and great medal (with free medal engraving). Francis M

Fabulous event. This was my fourth time running it. The support is amazing and the runners are all so friendly. Michelle M

Reviews thanks to RaceCheck