Autumnal sunshine greeted the runners to The University of York campus for the 10th edition of the Jane Tomlinson Run For All Yorkshire Marathon Festival. Firmly on the running map now, this ever popular event just grows and grows year on year and is an asset to the beautiful city of York. Eccleshill had participants out in the blue and white in both the marathon and 10 mile races. The Yorkshire Marathon Festival has always been about ordinary people achieving extraordinary things through events which capture the Yorkshire Spirit, charitable causes and the support of thousands of cheering locals. Setting off from the campus first was the marathon, Gemma Illingworth was the lone Errer after our other entrants had to pull out or step down to the 10 mile, as is the sometimes the way of running, for one reason or another. Both events are expected to have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for good causes including its official partner charities which are the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, Macmillan Cancer Support, Candlelighters, The Children’s Hospital Charity, Alzheimer’s Society, Martin House Children’s Hospice, St Leonard’s Hospice, St Gemma’s Hospice and many more. After the sound of the Klaxon, at the University of York in Heslington runners headed downhill to Heworth, along Stockton Lane, Sandy Lane and Northgate Lane to Sand Hutton.
From there runners continued on to Buttercrambe Moor Wood towards Stamford Bridge and down the A166 to Dunnington and back to the University via Osbaldwick. At the 5 mile mark runners are split with the marathon heading off to the left and 10 milers following the road around to the right to start making their way back to the University. Early morning frosty chills gave way to sunny and at times quite breezy conditions, coupled with a great course, fabulous support for most of the route and encouraging marshals, this provided perfect conditions for PB seekers today. Dan Jenkins achieved just that with a 10 mile personal best of 1:03:31, followed by Marc Steele in 1:13:49 & Julie Steele 1:30:46. Gemma Illingworth had a fantastic run in the marathon finishing in 4:02:35! Well done everyone, great running!
