The includes the popular March half marathon and festive Santa Dash
The includes the popular March half marathon and festive Santa Dash
Liverpool and Wirral are hosting a variety of running events throughout 2025, covering short and long distances. Over the next 12 months, Merseyside will transform into an array of running courses taking in some of the region’s most iconic landmarks and areas, including the city’s waterfront, Stanley Park and West Kirby Marine Lake.
Whether it’ll be your first running event or your 20th, there’s a race to suit everyone, from fun runs to half marathons. Below are some of the main running events taking place over the next year. You can find out more about all the races here.
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Half Marathon and 10 miler
The Liverpool Half Marathon is the longest-established road race event on Merseyside. It first began in 1994, and the course has been adapted over the years, but recently, the event has settled down to use an established course.
This includes a grandstand start and finish on Liverpool’s iconic waterfront. The course begins at the Pier Head and travels to Sefton Park before heading back along the waterfront promenade overlooking the River Mersey.
There is also a 10-mile race held in conjunction with the half marathon. The 10-mile option cuts out Sefton Park, and both half-marathon and 10-mile runners merge on Aigburth Drive at the seven and four-mile points, respectively. The course then heads toward the waterfront.
When? March 23
Mersey Tunnel 10k
The Mersey Tunnel 10K was reintroduced to the Merseyside sporting calendar in 2006 and will once again return in 2025. The race starts just yards from the emergency Tunnel exit road on Bevington Bush on the Liverpool side of the River Mersey. It drops directly down onto the main approach road to deliver a fast descent into the Kingsway (Wallasey) Tunnel.
The Tunnel takes runners on a journey of just over 3K before exiting on the Wirral side of the river. At the halfway point, the course makes its way along Dock Road and the Seacombe Ferry terminal.
The second half of the race takes runners along the promenade overlooking the River Mersey, showing off the impressive Liverpool skyline at its best. The race finishes on Ian Fraser Walk at New Brighton.
When? April 13
Run for the 97 5k
The 11th annual Run For The 97 5K is back in Stanley Park in 2025. Participants are invited to take part in the 5K or 1 Mile community legacy fun run as they walk, jog or run to remember The 97.
Virtual runners are encouraged to take a selfie including their run number and/or medal to include in the online gallery.
When? May 24
Women’s race
After the successful return of the Women’s 10K in 2024 the event will be back in Sefton Park in 2025, along with the introduction of a new 5K distance. The 5K will be a great opportunity for those new to running to take part in an organised event for the first time and will be supported with a very helpful Couch To 5K plan. So now anyone can get from scratch to the start line in just nine weeks.
When? September 14
Santa Dash
The Liverpool Santa Dash is the biggest and longest-established Santa Run in the UK and has achieved Guinness World Record status for the Biggest Santa Gathering.
The 5K fun run starts at the Pier Head and flows through the city centre, passing through the Royal Albert Dock and back along the main waterfront roads before turning into the tightly packed streets to finish in front of the Town Hall.
Runners are greeted with giant Christmas characters and a flurry of snow right on the finish line. Everyone who enters the Liverpool Santa Dash will receive a Santa suit as part of the entry fee. There are red and blue Santa suits to choose from. As well as the main 5K, there’s a 1K Mini Dash for children to take part in.
When? December 7
