Leeds Marathon 2026 Guide and Route

The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon will see over 10,000 participants take on a route through Leeds that starts and finishes at Headingley Stadium, passing through some of the more scenic locations in the city.

The marathon honours the legacy of former Leeds Rhinos player Rob Burrow, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in December 2019 and passed away on 2 June 2024. Rob and his family campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness and funds to support families living with MND. The event continues to support the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease and the MND Association.

When is the Leeds Marathon 2026?

Sunday 10 May 2026 is the date of the Leeds Marathon. The marathon starts at 9am in the morning, with the half marathon setting off at 10am. We would recommend planning to get there much earlier than this, as there will be road closures and extra footfall in the centre of Leeds.

Although this is currently the date and time of the event it is always subject to change.

Marathon Relay

New for 2026, the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon introduces a Marathon Relay. Teams of seven take on the full marathon distance together, with each runner completing a leg of the course. The seven legs cover distances of 2.9, 3.5, 5.5, 4.9, 2.4, 2.8 and 3.7 miles respectively. The relay is sponsored by Clarion Solicitors and is a popular option for running clubs, workplaces and groups of friends looking to take on the marathon distance as a team.

MND Mile

On Saturday 9 May 2026, the day before the marathon, the MND Mile takes place at Leeds Beckett Headingley Campus. This accessible one-mile route is open to all ages and abilities, including wheelchair users and families with pushchairs. The MND Mile is a chance for anyone to take part in the weekend of events and show their support for the MND community.

Entry and Registration

General entry for the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon is approximately £68. Charity places are available from £20–£50, with a fundraising minimum. Entries close on 30 April 2026. You can register through the Run For All website.

How Many People can Take Part in the Leeds Marathon?

Over 10,000 runners will take part in the Leeds Marathon, making it one of the largest marathon events in the north of England.

The original 2023 event set its entry at 7,777 runners, a nod to Rob Burrow’s shirt number ‘7’ which he wore when playing for the Leeds Rhinos. The field has since grown significantly.

Who was Rob Burrow?

Rob Burrow, born in 1982 in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, was a professional rugby league footballer who spent 16 years playing for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. At just 5 ft 5 inches and less than 11 stone, he was often referred to as ‘the smallest player in the Super League’. Burrow remains one of the most successful players in Super League history.

Between 2001 and 2017, Burrow played 493 matches for the Rhinos and scored 198 tries. He also earned 15 caps for his country. Burrow won a total of eight Super League titles, two Challenge Cups and was named in the Super League Dream Team on three occasions. He went public with his motor neurone disease diagnosis in December 2019, and a year later was appointed MBE in the 2021 New Years Honours List for his services to rugby league and the MND community.

Rob Burrow passed away on 2 June 2024 at the age of 41. The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon now stands as a lasting tribute to his courage, determination, and the ongoing fight against MND.

The Route

Leeds Marathon Route Map

Route Highlights

The route takes in some of the better parts of Leeds, but a particular highlight is when the route passes through Adel and then Golden Acre Park. The lack of cars makes this section of the route a calming break from the roads.

Route Description

Start the marathon route at Headingley Stadium. Run out onto St Michaels Lane – St Michaels Road and turn right on Headingley Lane heading towards the city centre.

At the edge of Woodhouse Moor park run anti-clockwise around it via Hyde Park Road. Come back onto the Headingley Lane dual carriage before leaving it to run a triangle around Cavendish Road, Hilary Place and Blenheim Terrace.

It’s now time to run a long stretch back north up Headingley Lane – Otley Road. Soon after mile 6 around Lawnswood you will take a right onto Church Lane. Run onto Eccup Lane – this is where a few hills begin – and keep going until you reach Black Hill Lane, taking a left onto the latter…

Cross the junction onto Kings Road and run back to Otley Road – continue north until you hit Creskeld Lane in Bramhope. Follow Creskeld until you reach Arthington Lane taking a right on this road and running a mini out and back to the edge of Arthington Park.

Running west on Arthington you will continue directly through Pool in Wharfedale. Keep running west on the A659 until you get to Otley – you’re two thirds complete at this point – and brace yourself for the second series of hills.

In Otley begin running south on the A660 past Bramhope and back onto Otley Road. Run south back the way you came until you reach the Kirkstall Lane right turn and the Headingley Stadium finish! Well done marathoner!

Route Video

Checkout Jamie Jones Buchanan MBE taking you on the route:

Start and Finish

The start and finish of the run takes in the inner city areas of Hyde Park and Headingley – smack bang in the middle of the city’s student population. Three of the largest college and university campuses are a short stroll away in the direction of the city centre.

The Headingley Stadium complex is one of the only sports facilities in the world that has two professional sports teams – the Yorkshire County Cricket Club and the Leeds Rhinos – side by side each other.

Toilets

The event village which marks the start and finish of the event will have a portaloo area for any runner needing the toilet.

For Runners

At different points of the 26.2 mile course there will be portaloo toilet stops on the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon course. These will be available for the runners and not the public. Run For All are planning on providing 8 water and toilet stop combinations for you to use. That gives you a toilet break roughly every 3 miles during the event.

For Spectators

A local pub or restaurant along the route is a good option. Grab some food or drink and use their facilities. See the section below on Food and Drink.

Parking

Park for free (some on street parking spaces are timed) on St Michaels Lane, postcode: LS6 3BR (Google Map Directions)

Food and Drink

There are a number of great bars and restaurants that will be passed on the Leeds Marathon. Some are bang on the route, others set back a road away.

A list of venues along the whole route that should give you some options:

• The Skyrack Pub – Medium sized beer garden. Just a moments walk from the start of the marathon
• The Original Oak – One of the larger beer gardens in Leeds (if not the largest). Will be busy, but always a good pub!
• Hyde Park Book Club – Decent outside seating to watch the marathon go past.
• Library Pub – A student favourite. Outside seating. Food and drink available from here.
• Santorini Bar & Grill – Cocktails and Food. Would recommend!
• Heaney and Mill – Very good outside seating. Right on the marathon trail – there and back. Worth booking!
• Ecco Pizzaria – Pizza place opposite Heaney and Mill. Great food, few tables. Good watching place!
• Woodies – Also the start of the Otley Run. Good drinks and grub.
• Ristorante Sorriso – Small family run Italian along the route of the marathon.
• Fox and Hounds – Great family run pub. Outside seating. Set back a road away from the marathon.
• North Bar Social – Small bar that welcomes cyclists, dogs and walkers. Large outside seating area.
• The Horse and Farrier – Historic pub, with some outdoor seating. Decent food and drink.

Landmarks to Look out for on the Leeds Marathon Route

The route takes in some of the better parts of Leeds, but a particular highlight is when the route passes through Adel and then Golden Acre Park. The lack of cars makes this section of the route a calming break from the roads.

What are the Best Spots to Spectate the Leeds Marathon?

If you’re not running or volunteering for the Leeds Marathon then you may fancy spectating this special event. Here are three spots that provide a great view of the runners.

1. Taking up a spot on Hyde Park corner (Woodhouse Moor) will give you a vantage point of the runners completing the first mile of the race. Happy smiles and a nervous adrenaline fuelled energy will be in abundance at this point.
2. Otley Road is one of the straightest stretches of the entire race. You can take up a place along Otley Road to view the runners in the first and final section of the race. With the final couple of miles to go expect to see runners giving it all they’ve got on this stretch.
3. If you’re a little further out north of Leeds then Otley and Bramhope are two of the best places to watch the field of runners. Otley and Bramhope will have dedicated spectator hubs, with transport put on for both areas.

How to get to the Leeds Marathon event?

The Leeds Marathon starts and finishes at the iconic Headingley Stadium. Travel to and from Headingley Stadium may be restricted as a result of the event road closures. If you’re travelling by car the Stourton Park & Ride connects to a city centre shuttle bus up to Headingley Stadium.

It is recommended to travel to the event by public transport. For the most up to date travel advice check out Northern Rail trains and First Bus Leeds.

What to Wear to Run the Leeds Marathon?

A good pair of running shoes are incredibly important. This might seem like an obvious statement but it can be easy to overlook. If you wear a pair that are not suitable for your feet, this could lead to blistered feet, or even worse, injury.

It is worth getting two pairs and using these simultaneously on alternate runs during your training.

It’s a good idea to seek professional advice from a specialist running shop.

How to Volunteer at the Leeds Marathon?

The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon recruits volunteers each year to join the ‘Eventeers’ team. Volunteer roles include helping with baggage and water stations, providing general event information, marshalling the route, and handing out medals and goodie bags at the finish line.

Volunteering for the ‘Eventeers’ team is an effort that is felt beyond the start and finish line on race day. Your support is a direct contribution to the wider effort to raise awareness and funds to support families across the UK living with MND. Register your interest.

What is the Official Leeds Marathon website?

The official website is the Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All website. This website contains information on the event and fundraising sponsorship you can raise as part of your efforts.

Road Closures for Leeds Marathon 2026

Due to the size and scale of a marathon, there are going to be quite a few road closures. Road closures begin at 04:00 on St Michael’s Lane, with route-wide closures from 07:30. Roads reopen on a rolling basis as runners pass, with the final closures lifted at approximately 16:45. Parking suspensions on the route begin from 18:00 on Saturday 9 May.

Take a look at this map to see if any changes affect you.