Skip to content

'Running 10 miles for our friend was emotional'

Hayley Coyleand
Fiona Callow,Yorkshire
News imageBBC/Kit Taylor Three women stand next to each other, wearing sportswear and holding up medals. They are all wearing white T-shirts and have paper attached to their fronts that shows their name and running number.BBC/Kit Taylor
From left, Kirsty, Amy and Jess were running for Claire's Wish Foundation, in memory of their friend

The Jane Tomlinson Run For All Yorkshire Marathon and 10-mile event was held earlier, with runners and participants competing for a variety of good causes.

Now in its 13th year, the marathon route started and finished at the University of York, passing York Minster before heading into the countryside to Stamford Bridge and back through Murton.

Amy, Jess and Kirsty were running for Claire's Wish Foundation, a charity set up in memory of their friend, who died from cancer in August.

Wearing T-shirts with a photo of Claire on their back, Amy described the day as emotional. She said: "I would say it's quite raw, it was quite recent, but she would have loved to know we were doing it in her honour."

Amy added: "She was always so proud of me for running, so I was really excited to have her on my back today."

News imageBBC/Declan Vink A mixed age of male and female runners and running through a city street. People are at the side of the road behind barriers cheering them on.BBC/Declan Vink
The Yorkshire Marathon event is now in its 13th year and attracts thousands of runners

Jane Tomlinson Run For All started in 2007 in Leeds and was created as a lasting fundraising legacy to continue supporting cancer and children's charities.

Its founder, Jane Tomlinson, died of breast cancer that year, aged 43.

Tomlinson also raised £1.8m for charity before her death and despite having terminal cancer, the mother-of-two completed the London Marathon, New York Marathon and Great North Run.

News imageAn older man wearing a yellow running top crosses a race finish line. He has his left hand raised to acknowledge the camera.
Mike Tomlinson took part in the Yorkshire 10-mile event

Her husband, Mike Tomlinson, said: "Seeing so many people getting fit and healthy, enjoying the run and enjoying York... the money it brings into York on the day itself is wonderful."

The overall winner was Nick Coyle, who completed the route in two hours and 19 minutes.

News imageTwo runners wearing finisher medals stand beside a hedge at the end of a road race. Pink event branding and a “FINISH” banner are visible in the background, with spectators gathered on a grassy hillside and behind barriers. One runner wears a coral crop top and black shorts, while the other wears a purple-and-yellow club vest. Trees with autumn foliage line the course.
Heather Townsend, left, was the fastest woman, while second fastest Catherine Williamson ran a personal best time

The women's winner was Heather Townsend, from Leeds, who said: "It was nice to see people behind me, it keeps you going."

Meanwhile, Catherine Williamson, who came second, said she ran a "massive PB (personal best)".

"About halfway I did such a nice loop, and I knew it was do or die," she added.

Run For All races, in partnership with the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, have raised more than £10m since 2007.

Highlights from the Yorkshire Marathon 2026

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.

More on this story