For the first time ever, the adidas Manchester Marathon and the TCS London Marathon will take place on the same day – Sunday 27th April 2025 – creating the biggest day of marathon running in recent UK history.
With a staggering 90,000 participants set to take on 26.2 miles across two UK major marathons, there is also some friendly North vs. South rivalry along the way.
The adidas Manchester Marathon polled 3,500 marathoners to reveal the fascinating differences in training habits across the UK.
The North vs South: different approaches, same determination
While motivation, mindset and training habits vary, one thing remains clear—whether from the North or South, a desire for accomplishment drives people to the finish line, with the most popular motivation for taking on an upcoming marathon challenge being a sense of personal achievement (46.18%).
Other findings included:
- Motivation matters: Southerners are in it for the competition, with 31% saying they are running to achieve a time goal (vs. 24% of Northerners) whereas Northerners are
motivated to take part for charity fundraising causes (6.66% of Northerners compared to 4.54% of Southerners). - Braving the elements: living up to their reputation for resilience when it comes to the weather, Northerners are more likely to brave the elements when training for a marathon. Over half (51.54%) of Southerners will avoid training in heavy rain, compared to 42% (41.90%) of Northerners.
- First-time fever: a greater proportion of Northerners (39.48%) will be tackling their first marathon, compared to 30% of Southerners.
- Women leading the charge: The survey reflects the surge in female participation, with 43% of female participants making their marathon debut, compared to 30% of men. More Northern women (46.49%) will be taking on the challenge for the first time vs their Southern counterparts (36.88%)
- Fuel to go the distance: For on-the-go energy to keep both those in the north and south at their best performance, gels, blocks and chews are the most popular choice (87%), with women significantly more likely to turn to sweets for an extra boost (41.34% vs. 18.58% of men).
- Music motivation: music plays a vital role in keeping motivation high with Eminem, Sam Fender, Kendrick Lamar, Fred Again and Taylor Swift being among the top named go-to artists. But regional favourites emerge: Oasis reigns supreme in the North (6:1), while Southerners favour Chase & Status (4:7).
- Training treats: Pizza took the top spot as the UK’s favourite treat meal during marathon training, with nearly half (46.88%) of all marathoners indulging in a slice. Southerners’ second choice would be burgers and chips (12.27%), whilst Northerners turn to Chinese food (13.37%) and curry (11.73%).
- Ditching Drinking: Marathon training can also influence a change in lifestyle, with 85% of marathoners curbing their alcohol consumption. Notably, complete abstinence is more prevalent among male runners (24.39%) than female runners (18.35%), and among Southerners (24.75%) compared to Northerners (19.70%).
Post-event celebrations
Crossing the finish line is just the beginning of the festivities for marathon champions. Over a quarter of participants (26%) plan to celebrate their 26.2 mile victory at the pub, but the North and South also intend to continue celebrating in different ways.
The research also revealed that Southerners are more likely to opt for a sit-down meal in a restaurant (24.43% compared to 19.00% of Northerners) whereas in the North takeaway was king (17.83% compared to 13.80% of Southerners).
Commenting on what is set to be a historic day for UK Marathons, Andrew Smith, CEO of A.S.O. UK, said: “Having the adidas Manchester Marathon and the London Marathon take place on the same day — Sunday 27th April — marks a landmark moment for British running. We’re incredibly proud to be part of this historic occasion, inspiring 90,000 people to take on 26.2 miles, supported by nearly a million spectators across the country.
This year’s brand-new city centre finish in Manchester will bring a whole new energy and the friendly North vs South rivalry will only make the atmosphere even more electric.”
The 2025 adidas Manchester Marathon will feature a new finish line on Oxford Road, set against the backdrop of The University of Manchester. This change aims to enhance the post-finish experience with improved transport links and more celebration options for participants and supporters. The iconic start near Manchester United FC in Trafford remains, while the new finish offers a spectacular setting, combining tradition with exciting progress for one of Europe’s largest marathons.
The past two years have sold out months in advance with over 36,000 participants ready to take on the Manchester challenge this year – a remarkable 38% growth over the past two years.
