Yorkshire Marathon
York, United Kingdom · October · Independent
Why people love it
- Course passes York Minster and the city centre in the first miles.
- Open entry with a 7 h cutoff (16:00 per mile).
- About 150 m (490 ft) of gain, highest point about 40 m (130 ft).
- Free medal engraving, massage and bag drop, per reviewers.
- Bus from York station to the university start.
Watch out for
- Weather swings from sun to storm: Storm Ashley soaked 2024.
- Climbs after 30 km (19 mi) and near the finish.
- Toilet queues at the university; limited parking.
- Long out-and-back on the A166 with quiet rural stretches.
- Start is 5 km (3 mi) from the city centre.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved4.2
Racecheck reviewers give 4.3 to 5.0 of 5 and club blogs from 2016 to 2025 are warm. Complaints: toilet queues, a late hill, weather. · Medium confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.1
Called really well organised, with good volunteers, bag drop and a tracking app. Deductions: reserved indoor toilets in 2018 and limited parking. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly4.0
7 h cutoff, about 150 m (490 ft) of gain, a big charity field and village support. Late hills catch some. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.7
One reviewer calls it fast with PB potential; others say undulating with a long late climb. Mild October helps; rain sometimes hurts. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.6
York Minster, city streets and quiet Vale of York villages. The long A166 out-and-back and rural lanes are less striking. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.0
Out-and-back sections and a long switchback around 26 to 32 km (miles 16 to 20). A 2018 runner had to weave. · Medium confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.2
Paved road; no reports of surface problems. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.0
Photographs show road-closed signs and police motorcycles and runners on the A166. No source says whether every section is fully closed. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat3.6
About 150 m (490 ft) of gain by one source, 86 m (281 ft) by another. The high point is only 40 m (130 ft). · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Loop course that starts and ends at the university; no net drop. · High confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.3
Bus from York station and smooth bag drop, but toilet queues of around 5 minutes, limited parking and a start far from the centre. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingGood4.0
Pacers appear in photographs, with timing mats every 10 km (6.2 mi) and a tracking app. A 2017 runner reported a poor 5 h pacer. · Medium confidence
- Crowd supportStrong3.8
Busy at the Minster and Stockton on the Forest, with pipe bands and children offering sweets. Sparse on long rural stretches. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
Water every 3 miles (4.8 km), well-stocked stations praised by reviewers, army marshals near the finish. One runner missed an advertised salt-tablet station in 2017. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.2
RunDida warns that wind can affect pace on the exposed farmland sections; no reviewer calls it windy. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
Highs of 11 to 14 °C (52 to 57 °F) and a start near 10 °C (50 °F), close to ideal. Rain is common. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.8
Storm Ashley soaked 2024, 2018 was very wet, yet 2022 was sunny and 2025 mild. RunDida lists a 46% chance of rain on race morning. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.2
The Minster stretch and university area are easy to reach, but the course loops through countryside, so a bus is needed for the middle. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
York sits near 15 m (50 ft) above sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.3
York has many hotels but October weekends are busy. No source reports shortages. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.8
Tourist city pricing. No price data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving2.8
Start and finish are about 5 km (3 mi) from the centre; a shuttle bus runs from York station. Parking is limited. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.0
York is on the East Coast main line from London (about 2 h) and Edinburgh; Leeds Bradford airport is 50 km (31 mi) away. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
Entry, tracking app, bag drop and baggage handling ran smoothly in reviews. Indoor toilet restrictions annoyed some. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.7
York Minster, the medieval walls and many pubs and restaurants close to the course. · High confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inEasy4.2
Open entry with charity places; entries close just days before the race (15 Oct per RunDida). · Medium confidence
- Value for moneyGood value4.4
A reviewer called the fee fantastic value; finishers get a medal, tech shirt, goodie bag, free medal engraving and massage. General fee not found. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- York, Yorkshire, United Kingdom
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 18 October 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 5,000 athletes
- First held
- 2013
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- loop
- Climbing
- 150 m (490 ft)
- Start time
- 09:30
- Cutoff
- 7 hours
- Boston qualifier
- Yes
- Surface
- Road
- How to get in
- open
- Air temperature
- 6–14 °C (43–57 °F)
- Humidity
- High, about 90% in the morning per RunDida
- Altitude
- 15 m (49 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Leeds Bradford (LBA), 50 km (31 mi) away
- Where to stay
- York city centre, Heslington (near start), Fulford
- Booking
- York has many hotels but the race and the autumn season fill them. There is no race-day parking at the university; use Park and Ride or the bus from York station.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck Yorkshire Marathon reviews (5 reviews, 2017 to 2019)Raced 2019 · aggregator · very positive
Five reviews scoring 4.3 to 5.0 out of 5. Fans praise organisation, volunteers, medals, free engraving and massage, and a fast course with a few hills and a historic city. Critics note undulating terrain, a long climb after halfway, a missing salt-tablet stop and a poor pacer in 2017, and that the university is a long walk from the centre.
“a really well organised event”
- Kippax and District Harriers 2018 reportRaced 2018 · blog · mixed-positive
A wet, cold 2018 day. Dropped off two hours early, indoor toilets reserved for corporate runners, so queues for portaloos. Crowds at the Minster and Stockton on the Forest, pipers near Sand Hutton, a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) climb after 30 km (18.6 mi) and a final hill.
“The wet one.”
- Rose George running blog 2016Raced 2016 · blog · Positive
Fifth marathon, finished 4:18. Praised organisation, VIP lounge with soup, water stations every 3 miles (4.8 km) and entertaining crowds in villages; quieter on rural stretches. Cool start at about 13 °C (55 °F), warmer late.
“It's only in its fourth year, it's well organised, there is great support”
- Eccleshill Road Runners 2022Raced 2022 · blog · Positive
A beautiful sunny autumn morning ideal for PBs. Route through the Minster, A166 out-and-back and Hull Road, ending with a surprise climb to the university. Large local turnout.
- runABC Yorkshire Marathon 2024 reportRaced 2024 · article · Positive
Over 8,000 across the weekend, runners from New Zealand and Canada. Course past the Minster to Stockton on the Forest and Heslington; organiser calls the atmosphere amazing. Winners 2:24:41 and a women's course record of 2:39:11.
“A truly spectacular day and an amazing atmosphere from start to finish.”
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- Ilkley Harriers 2025 reportRaced 2025 · blog · Positive
Mild and slightly overcast, a contrast with the storm of 2024. A long out-and-back to Stamford Bridge, then a steep climb near 42 km (26.1 mi) that almost stops you, followed by a downhill finish. Stayed in York to avoid the 2024 parking trouble.
“Great support there though, plenty to draw energy from.”
- RunDida course guide 2026Raced 2026 · article · neutral
An editorial guide (no runner reviews): about 150 m (490 ft) of gain, 7 h cutoff, 09:30 start, about 11 °C (52 °F) and damp with 46% rain chance, BQ course, climb on Green Dykes Lane near mile 25 (40 km).
Raced Yorkshire Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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