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| Forget London. Head north for the best UK marathons in 2013 | Forget London. Head north for the best UK marathons in 2013 |
| (3 months later) | |
| The first ever Yorkshire Marathon has sold out just three days after its launch, bringing fresh sporting acclaim to a county which took home the most Olympic medals in the UK this summer. | The first ever Yorkshire Marathon has sold out just three days after its launch, bringing fresh sporting acclaim to a county which took home the most Olympic medals in the UK this summer. |
| The marathon was announced on Tuesday and within 48 hours, 3,500 runners had signed up. By Friday lunchtime all 5,500 places had been snapped up. Competitors will be taking a 26.2 mile scenic route through beautiful Yorkshire villages and countryside, starting and finishing at the Heslington campus of York University on 20 October. The Mansion House, the famous Bettys tearooms and the York Minster are landmarks along the course. | The marathon was announced on Tuesday and within 48 hours, 3,500 runners had signed up. By Friday lunchtime all 5,500 places had been snapped up. Competitors will be taking a 26.2 mile scenic route through beautiful Yorkshire villages and countryside, starting and finishing at the Heslington campus of York University on 20 October. The Mansion House, the famous Bettys tearooms and the York Minster are landmarks along the course. |
| One of the biggest appeals of the York Marathon is its exceptionally flat course – flatter than London, Paris or New York – making it the ideal destination for both nervous first-timers and seasoned runners aiming for a personal best. | One of the biggest appeals of the York Marathon is its exceptionally flat course – flatter than London, Paris or New York – making it the ideal destination for both nervous first-timers and seasoned runners aiming for a personal best. |
| The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon was organised by For All Events, a sporting events organisation established in tribute to Yorkshire fundraiser Jane Tomlinson CBE, who raised almost £2m for charity in endurance challenges while coping with terminal breast cancer. She died in 2007 after completing an Iron Man, three London Marathons and a host of other challenges, all while undergoing chemotherapy treatment. | The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon was organised by For All Events, a sporting events organisation established in tribute to Yorkshire fundraiser Jane Tomlinson CBE, who raised almost £2m for charity in endurance challenges while coping with terminal breast cancer. She died in 2007 after completing an Iron Man, three London Marathons and a host of other challenges, all while undergoing chemotherapy treatment. |
| The quick sell-out of the Yorkshire marathon will be taken by many as a sign that God's Own County is the new home of northern sporting prowess. At the Olympics last summer Yorkshire athletes took home a total of twelve medals – seven gold, two silver and three bronze – winning more than most of the participating countries. Then before Christmas it was confirmed that the Grand Depart of the 2014 Tour de France will take place in Yorkshire. | The quick sell-out of the Yorkshire marathon will be taken by many as a sign that God's Own County is the new home of northern sporting prowess. At the Olympics last summer Yorkshire athletes took home a total of twelve medals – seven gold, two silver and three bronze – winning more than most of the participating countries. Then before Christmas it was confirmed that the Grand Depart of the 2014 Tour de France will take place in Yorkshire. |
| Nonetheless, the organisers were rather taken aback by the overwhelming response to the Yorkshire Marathon. Mike Tomlinson, Jane Tomlinson's widower and marathon organiser, said: "It's phenomenal – we're really humbled by the level of interest in the new Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon. We knew it would be popular, but this is just sensational. It was always our hope this would become the biggest marathon in the north and judging by people's appetite for it, we're well on our way to achieving that." | Nonetheless, the organisers were rather taken aback by the overwhelming response to the Yorkshire Marathon. Mike Tomlinson, Jane Tomlinson's widower and marathon organiser, said: "It's phenomenal – we're really humbled by the level of interest in the new Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon. We knew it would be popular, but this is just sensational. It was always our hope this would become the biggest marathon in the north and judging by people's appetite for it, we're well on our way to achieving that." |
| Double Paralympic gold medallist Hannah Cockroft, one of several athletes and celebrities who attended the marathon's launch party on Tuesday, said: "Last summer proved that Yorkshire was the best county for sport in Britain and now that Yorkshire has its very own marathon, people can come and share in the legacy that was created. I know this event will be fantastic fun, bringing people together and allowing them to achieve lifetime goals at the same time as raising money for some amazing charities." | Double Paralympic gold medallist Hannah Cockroft, one of several athletes and celebrities who attended the marathon's launch party on Tuesday, said: "Last summer proved that Yorkshire was the best county for sport in Britain and now that Yorkshire has its very own marathon, people can come and share in the legacy that was created. I know this event will be fantastic fun, bringing people together and allowing them to achieve lifetime goals at the same time as raising money for some amazing charities." |
| More and more marathons are cropping up across the north, appealing to an ever-growing community of long-distances runners. Here are some of the best | More and more marathons are cropping up across the north, appealing to an ever-growing community of long-distances runners. Here are some of the best |
| • Blackpool Marathon on 7 April: a relatively flat two lap course along the seafront, first run in 2004. | • Blackpool Marathon on 7 April: a relatively flat two lap course along the seafront, first run in 2004. |
| • Manchester Marathon on 28 April: introduced in 1908, but returned last year after a ten year absence. The 2013 course differs from the 2012 route, and starts at Manchester United Football Club. | • Manchester Marathon on 28 April: introduced in 1908, but returned last year after a ten year absence. The 2013 course differs from the 2012 route, and starts at Manchester United Football Club. |
| • The Marathon of the North in Sunderland on 28 April: a run along the river with coastal scenes, it premiered last year and starts and ends at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. | • The Marathon of the North in Sunderland on 28 April: a run along the river with coastal scenes, it premiered last year and starts and ends at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. |
| • White Peak Marathon in Matlock, Derbyshire on 18 May: first run in 1977. | • White Peak Marathon in Matlock, Derbyshire on 18 May: first run in 1977. |
| • Brathay Windermere Marathon in the Lake District on 19 May: voted second most popular UK marathon by readers of Runners World in 2011, presumably for the beautiful sights. | • Brathay Windermere Marathon in the Lake District on 19 May: voted second most popular UK marathon by readers of Runners World in 2011, presumably for the beautiful sights. |
| • Great Langdale Marathon in Cumbria on 21 September: it winds through the Langdale valleys and is exceptionally hilly. | • Great Langdale Marathon in Cumbria on 21 September: it winds through the Langdale valleys and is exceptionally hilly. |
| • Liverpool Marathon on October 13: first run 1992 and organisers are expecting a turnout of 12,000 runners. The route will take them along the seafront and underneath the river Mersey. | • Liverpool Marathon on October 13: first run 1992 and organisers are expecting a turnout of 12,000 runners. The route will take them along the seafront and underneath the river Mersey. |
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