Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon to include extra events

Organisers of the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon have announced that a new marathon relay and one-mile run will be taking place this year to make the event "even more inclusive".

The two new elements of the event, which is dedicated to the late former Leeds Rhinos rugby player, will take place in May.

Burrow's widow, Lindsey, was among those at the launch at Headingley Stadium in Leeds earlier.

"We're incredibly proud," said Tristan Batley-Kyle from organisers, Jane Tomlinson's Run For All.

He said the extra events "provide a fantastic opportunity for everyone to be part of this special event and we encourage as many as possible to come along and get involved".

In 2023, Kevin Sinfield stopped short of the finish at the inaugural Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon to carry his friend over the line.

Lindsey Burrow, who also ran the marathon in 2023 and last year, has announced that she will be running the London Marathon in April as a tribute to her husband.

Mrs Burrow, who will be taking part alongside her brother Mark, said running the marathon was "not just a physical challenge; it's a deeply personal journey of love, loss, and resilience".

"Each mile I run is a testament to his enduring legacy," she added.

She will be raising money for the Leeds Hospitals Charity and Leeds Rhinos Foundation, the official charity of Burrow's former club.

The MND Mile will take place on Leeds Beckett University's Headingley campus on Saturday, 10 May.

Then on Sunday, 11 May teams of seven can take part in the marathon relay, with each member completing different legs of the 26.2-mile course to combine their efforts.

The marathon initially took place in 2022 but this year will mark the first event since Burrow's death at the age of 41 in June 2024.

He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2019, just two years after retiring from a 17-year career for the Rhinos, where he won 13 trophies, including eight Super League titles.

He helped raise more than £15m for MND charities and was made a CBE by the Prince of Wales in 2024, five months before his death.

Representatives from Run For All, Leeds City Council and the event's charity partners MNDA, Leeds Hospitals Charity, MyName'5 Doddie Foundation, Gloucester Rugby Foundation (4ED) and Stand Against MND also attended the launch.

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