Manchester Half Marathon breaks record with 28,000 participants and £1.6M raised for charity

Tens of thousands of enthusiastic spectators lined the streets, transforming the region into a 13.1-mile celebration which saw new course records and over £1.6 million (including Gift Aid) raised for charity.

The event also marked the third and final year of the popular Express Yourself campaign, with hyper-personalised bibs and one-of-a-kind medal allowing finishers to choose from six unique messages to display.

The flat and fast course – which hosted the 2025 England Athletics Championships – saw two new course records. Sean Frame (Elite Men’s Wheelchair) beat his own record in a time of 00:48:24, as a dramatic men’s race saw PUMA athlete Joe Wigfield clinch first place in 01:02:02. PUMA athlete Lily Partridge won the Women’s Elite race for a second time, since her podium finish in 2019. Former Lioness Izzy Christiansen congratulated the winners and presented prizes.

Having started in Old Trafford, the mass field stormed their way to the Talbot Road finish line, having passed iconic landmarks like Old Trafford Stadium, home of Manchester United FC, and being cheered on by the communities of Stretford, Sale and Chorlton.

Thousands celebrated a range of achievements at the finish, including two Guinness World Records. Sophie Godley carried 13 golf clubs to secure the Fastest Time Carrying Golf Clubs (Female), while Matthew Athersmith and his team wiggled their way to the Fastest Time in a Four-Person Costume – dressed as a caterpillar! The Manchester Half’s oldest participant – Gordon Aaron – also took on his fifth event at 90 years old.

Coronation Street’s Harriet Bibby (Summer Spellman), Calum Lill (Joel Deering) and Channique Sterling-Brown (Dee-Dee Bailey) also added a local celebrity presence, while Love Island’s Tom Clare, and The Traitor’s star Diane Carson, were also spotted. Gladiator’s finalist Aneila Afsar also set a new personal best whilst pushing a pram around the course.

What’s more, a record-breaking sum of over £1.3 million (including Gift Aid) has already been raised for various good causes. This included the event’s Official Charity Partners, including Moya Cole Hospice, Alzheimer’s Society, Cancer Research UK, and The Christie.

Event organisers A.S.O. UK will also donate over £28,000 through their longstanding community initiatives, where £1 from every entry is allocated to build a long-term sport and physical activity legacy in Greater Manchester.

Andrew Smith, CEO of Manchester Half event organiser, A.S.O. UK said: “We’ve just delivered the largest half marathon in Manchester ever, and I couldn’t be prouder of everyone who made it happen – especially our incredible volunteers. The atmosphere across Trafford and Greater Manchester has been phenomenal, and it’s inspiring to see so many people come together to celebrate this city and remind us of its resilience.

Raising over £1.3 million for charity – and counting – is particularly special for our team, but the real credit goes to the participants who’ve trained and fundraised for months to get here. While we are looking forward to the future continued success of this event, today was also a moment to reflect, and for the community to shine through, which they did in full Mancunian spirit”.

With the 2025 Manchester Half now complete, entries for next year’s event on Sunday 4th October 2026 will open to the public at noon, Tuesday 14th October. Best-price public places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, please visit www.mcrhalf.co.uk