Over 36,000 participants will take on the adidas Manchester Marathon on Sunday 27th April 2025. The day will make history as the largest day of marathon running in the UK, with a total of 90,000 participants taking on the challenge across the country’s two largest marathon stages in Greater Manchester and London.
Despite its rapid growth, the adidas Manchester Marathon continues to keep to its local roots and forge ties within the Greater Manchester community.
Alongside the millions it will raise for Official and associate charities, over £40,000 has been pledged to local initiatives across Greater Manchester this year including the Trafford Active Fund and City of Trees. This forms part of its mission to support healthy living and sporting opportunities for local people.
The organisers have also worked closely with Manchester Metropolitan University on the 2025 finisher tee design – revealed last week – which saw the Manchester Marathon ‘M’ adapted into eight unique iterations which capture the region’s distinct identity.
University Student Designs Eye-Catching Finisher Tee
The 2025 adidas Manchester Marathon finisher tee was designed by Manchester Metropolitan University Graphic Design student, Kian Godbold, who said that his design was inspired by the unique identity of his home: “One thing I love about Manchester is its diversity, so I knew I wanted to carry this into the design. I explored different variations of the logo that were inspired by the sights and identity of the city”.
The final design showcases a series of cultural landmarks and Manchester distinctions, such as the Manchester Worker Bee; the city’s iconic music scene; its rich football history; and Manchester’s Pride movement.
Kian’s design will be worn by thousands of finishers, who will be the first to experience the new Oxford Road finish line, where Manchester Met University is also situated.
Furthering a Sports and Activity Legacy in Greater Manchester
The adidas Manchester Marathon will also support far-reaching community initiatives, by donating £1 from every entry into a fund that directly helps local people to get more active.
Over £27,000 from the same fund was donated to five local organisations over the last 12 months, including Trafford Wildcats Inclusive Basketball, who offer weekly sessions for people with learning disabilities and/or autism.
It also supported female focused Our Goal CIC, who trained mentors to engage inactive teenage girls in local schools. Its Founder, Ella Williams, said that the organisation was born in response to the statistic that “43% of girls in the UK drop out of sport in their teenage years”. She went on to say that “The Trafford Active Fund allowed us to deliver interventions in two local schools, working directly with 16 inactive teenage girls”.
Participants Set New Record for Green Runner Initiative
The event also continues to support its sustainability charity City of Trees, through its Green Runner initiative in which participants can opt out of receiving a finisher t-shirt, medal, or both.
The production costs saved on these items is donated to the local charity who work on creating new woodlands, planting millions of trees, and revitalising green spaces. Last year’s Green Runner field allowed 500 ‘whips’ (young trees) to be planted in Greater Manchester, which could sequester 1000’s of tonnes of carbon over their lifetime once they reach maturity.
Following a record number of 2025 participants opting out of receiving a finisher top – with an additional 27% choosing to forgo both their top and medal – over £5,000 is expected to be raised for City of Trees this year (a 22% increase from 2024).
Commenting on the adidas Manchester Marathon’s charitable efforts, Andrew Smith, CEO of A.S.O. UK, said: “We’re incredibly proud to support City of Trees and make a positive impact on the local community through the Trafford Active Fund. Both initiatives play a crucial role in helping us achieve our goals of enhancing the sustainability of the event and making a meaningful investment in the community and its residents.”
“With the London Marathon taking place on the same day, April 27th is going to be a record-breaking day for UK marathon running, and it’s so important that we lead by example and spotlight the amazing work of these organisations and, more importantly, the lasting impact they have on the local community.”
The 2025 adidas Manchester Marathon has sold out with over 36,000 participants set to take part—marking a remarkable 38% growth over the past two years. For more information and details on how to sign up to receive more information about the 2026 event, please visit www.manchestermarathon.co.uk.
