AJ Bell Great Manchester Run 2025 Weekend of Running Begins

Manchester original and best loved running event the AJ Bell Great Manchester run takes over the streets this Sunday. The biggest it has been in a decade, over 35,000 runners will take on the 10K and half marathon courses cheered on by an expected 150,000 specatators.

Once again, the event will see a whole host of inspiring participants take part from elite athletes, fundraisers, celebrities, and fun runners. To mark the start of the weekend’s festivities, Great Run Ambassador, Olympian Eilish McColgan was joined this morning in central Manchester by 2024’s Elite 10K champions as well as a host of runners from the North West.

Elite Athletes

Defending champion, Vincent Ngetich of Kenya returns to Manchester to try and retain his crown. He faces stiff competition from amongst others Selemon Barega of Ethiopia. Sunday will be the first 10K raod race outside of Ethiopia for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic 10000m Champion and 2022 World Indoor Champion

Gotytom Gebreslase from Ethopia also returns to defend her win of last year. She was joined at the launch event by Hellen Obiri of Kenya, – 2024 Olympic Marathon Bronze Medallist and past Great Manchester Run Champion, and Alex Bell the British track athlete who has recently announced her switch to road running.

Paul Foster, Chief Executive for The Great Run Company, said: “The Great Manchester Run 2025 is sold out, proving once again to be the best loved running event in the city. We’re proud to host an event that not only attracts the best elite runners from across the world, but provides many everyday runners with an unforgettable experience that raises millions of pounds for charity each year.”

Our inspiring class of 2025 hoping to be their best on Sunday include:

Joanne Harding, from Urmston, running the half marathon for British Heart Foundation. The Trafford councillor’s husband had a cardiac arrest after undiagnosed high blood pressure, sustaining hypoxic brain injury and now lives in a care home. Jo is running with their daughter to raise awareness about the importance of blood pressure checks to help prevent other families going through the same as them.

Holly Thorpe of the Sale Sharks Women’s team who is running to support the Sale Sharks Foundation. The foundation uses rugby to engage, educate, and empower communities across the North, promoting health, education, grassroots rugby development and inclusion, This year sees an exciting new partnership between the Great Manchester Run and the Sale Sharks Foundation founded on a shared mission to inspire people of all ages to embrace the benefits of sport and physical activity.

Nabeel Hoque, from Hales Barn, who battled severe depression in early 2024 as junior doctor and began running to improve both his physical and mental well-being. This will be his first official running event, having set the Great Manchester 10k as a goal to complete with a close friend, Rebecca. His journey highlights the transformative power of running on mental health and the importance of a supportive community.

Elaine Wilkins from Stockport who has taken part in every year since it began in 2003. Raising money for Beechwood Cancer Care Centre which supported her when she lost her parents, Elaine has run in fancy dress for the last 14 years – this year running as Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story along with her friend Ian as Woody in the hope of making people smile when they’re are out on the course.

Leah Delaney, 26 from Manchester who is participating to give back to The Christie for the amazing care and support she personally received last year. Leah as diagnosed with a rare aggressive form of melanoma. Following life altering surgery she has struggled with complications during recovery which means she is unable run the race, however she is allowed to walk it. Leah is working hard on her physio to build her strength to achieve her goal – to get over the finish line as a thank you for the care and treatment she received.

She will be joined by Kiyan Bessant and Dayna Maither, two young radiographers from The Christie who are running the 10K in old scrubs decorated by young patients at the cancer hospital, and Manchester music legend, Peter Hook, who is competing in the GMR for the 14th time for cancer charity.

Peter said: “I’ve been very proud to do it because when you get there and you see the support, it is amazing. It’s awful to think how many of us have been touched by illness, including people that we love. It breaks your heart. You always feel like you’re doing something definitely to help, which is the main thing.”

The Great Manchester Run will be broadcast on BBC2 from 11am.