The Plusnet Yorkshire Marathon is a brand new event for 2013 -
and is a first for Yorkshire.
Staged by Marathon Yorkshire Ltd, this much-anticipated run
through the heart of York will be the biggest marathon in the whole
of the White Rose County. Our aim in establishing this new event
was to bring a mass participation marathon closer to home for the
thousands of Northern runners eager to push themselves to the
ultimate limit. But, with an exceptionally flat and fast course,
the marathon is certain to attract athletes from across the UK and
beyond.
With the addition of the James Potter Eggs Yorkshire Marathon
Corporate Relay, offering teams of six the chance to complete the
marathon course as a relay, and great opportunities for volunteers,
the day is certain to offer an amazing experience we hope Yorkshire
will be proud of.
Marathon Yorkshire Ltd is a new company founded under the
umbrella of Jane Tomlinson's For All Events - the successful
organisation which already brings you the popular Leeds, Hull, York
and Pennine-Lancashire 10Ks, the Leeds Half Marathon, the Yorkshire
Dales and Lake District Walking Festivals, the Peak District Walk
and the Yorkshire Swimming Festival.
For All Events encompasses the Run For All, Walk For All and
Swim For All brands, which have become synonymous with
well-organised, quality sporting events throughout Yorkshire and
the North of England.
It is also a lasting legacy to the late fundraiser and
campaigner Jane Tomlinson who raised almost £2m for charity by
tackling a series of epic challenges, including cycling over 4,000
miles across America, despite being diagnosed with terminal
cancer.
For more information about For All Events and to find out more
about our other challenges, go to www.forallevents.co.uk
Pretty as a picture, it is no wonder some 4 million visitors
come to York each year.
The city is steeped in history - from the ancient Shambles
shopping street, with its higgledy-piggledy houses, to Clifford's
Tower, the ancient remains of York Castle used by Henry VIII to
public display the slain bodies of his enemies. Families flock here
to take in its varied attractions which also include the York
Dungeon, the imposing York Minster and the 13th and
14th century Bar Walls, the finest remaining medieval
walls in England which measure two miles in length.
But there is a very modern side to York, too. With its vibrant
shopping and café culture, it's a perfect destination for couples
and groups of friends.
Further afield, York is the gateway to some of the best
countryside the UK has to offer. It's just a short hop to both the
Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks and to the
unspoiled East coast resorts of Whitby and Robin Hood's
Bay.
York enjoys excellent road and rail links and is one of the most
accessible cities in the UK. Direct train services link York with
London in just two hours and travelling to Edinburgh takes only
slightly longer. Great motorway links put visitors within easy
reach of Leeds, Manchester, the Midlands and the rest of the UK
while Leeds/Bradford Airport is fewer than 30 miles and less than
an hour away. The ferry ports of Newcastle and Hull are also
conveniently located.
Travelling by rail
York is on the UK's main east coast line and travelling by train
is both fast and easy. It takes just two hours to reach York's
medieval city walls from London, while Edinburgh is around two and
half hours away. Fares from London start from just £10.50 each way.
There are also direct services into York from Liverpool,
Manchester, Birmingham and the South West. Go to www.nationalrail.co.uk for more
information.
Travelling by car
York is at the very heart of the UK, sitting roughly midway
between Edinburgh and London. It has great motorway links to the
M1, M62 and A1 (M), putting it within easy driving distance of all
of the UK's major cities. Newcastle and Liverpool are less than two
hours away, while London and Scotland are approximately four. On
Marathon day, dedicated park and ride schemes will operate to bring
runners to and from the start and finish points at the University
of York.
Travelling by air
The nearest airport to York is Leeds/Bradford, which is fewer
than 30 miles (approximately 50 minutes by car) away. A direct bus
service links Leeds/Bradford Airport with Leeds city centre, from
where frequent trains run to York - journey times are around 30
minutes. Manchester, Humberside and Robin Hood
(Doncaster/Sheffield) airports are also only a short distance away,
making flying into Yorkshire a cost-effective and hassle-free
proposition.
Travelling by sea
York is around an hour from the ferry terminal at Hull which has
daily sailings to Holland and Belgium. Newcastle, which also
regular sailings to Amsterdam, is fewer than 90 miles and two hours
away.
York is packed with places to stay: from cosy guest houses to
luxurious five star hotels, there is something to suit every
budget. Even the most discerning of travellers will find something
to suit them with York being home to all of the main international
chains as well as designer boutique hotels and individual
hostelries.
To find out more about accommodation, browse the website of the
official tourism organisation, Visit York at www.visityork.org/book. Guests booking
through the website are promised best rates and 20% off a York Pass
for entry into the city's most-popular attractions.
