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Marathons in Liverpool have always had a civic backing. We have held Liverpool marathons at irregular intervals since 1927. The first-ever winner of a Liverpool marathon was Sam Ferris who managed a time of 2:35:27. Ferris is one of the best marathoners in his era with three Olympic competitions under his cap and becoming second in the 1932 event. The first 1927 Liverpool marathon had 25 finishers and was organised by George Neville White. The former wrestler and Football League referee is also a distinguished and respected figure in the athletics world and once President of the Northern Counties AAAs. Since his victory, Ferris is the inspiration behind most Liverpool running clubs today!
Over 144 runners took part in the maiden marathon. The Liverpool marathon covered about 41Km and finished at Anfield Ground. A local newspaper nicknamed this first marathon the “Greatest Athletic Event” in the city. The article promised an enormous collection of the most famous champions in the racing world then. Organisers held it on a Wednesday afternoon because many shops were closing early for the Civic Week celebrations.
Liverpool is one of the biggest metropolitan areas in England. The port city is famous for football clubs and is also home to The Beatles. Liverpool has an extensive collection of riverfront paths, green spaces, coastal promenades, and parks.
Running in Liverpool is varied and rich, backed by an active running community. Excellent running places in the city include the Otterspool Promenade and Wirral Circular Trail. Notable running parks include Newsham Park, Rupert Lane Recreation Ground, and Sefton Park. For runs close to the city centre, the Trans Pennine Trail is your best bet.
The second Run Liverpool Marathon was an enormous hit with runners from as far as Brazil. Entrants in the event represented a vast array of continents and countries. Scandinavia had the largest number of runners outside the U.K. because of its proximity. Many runners came from East Yorkshire and North Midlands. Over 73% of the entrants were from outside the Merseyside area, proving Liverpool’s popularity as a sporting and tourist destination.
The marathon had excellent support from the local community. Thousands of spectators along the course cheered the runners on, many of whom were raising money for charities. Today, the Liverpool Marathon (under different names and organisations) is part of a worldwide series of events that promise to offer cheerleading and musical accompaniment.
Opting to run a Liverpool marathon for charity is a rewarding experience. Joining a Liverpool marathon is your chance to raise funds for your favourite charity, at no extra cost. Apart from the small joining fees, the money you raise is mostly profit that goes directly to a charity. Beyond the feeling of achievement after completing a race, running for charity gives you more reasons to complete the event.
Charity marathon running is a major economic force. In it, UK companies promote fitness and charitable giving. This helps transform the individual nature of the sport into a phenomenon that has a positive, wide-reaching effect on society. Liverpool marathon events offer special entry privileges to charity runners. Best charity causes to run for in the UK include cancer research, cardiovascular research, treatment centres, sight-saving charities, organisations that offer help in a crisis, and fighting for children’s rights.