Arla Protein 10k 2026 running race in York on August 2

Setting off just after 9.30am this morning, the 2026 Arla Protein 10k took place today (August 2) and saw thousands of runners take to the streets of the city to raise money for charity and push themselves towards their athletic goals.

The route took athletes past some of York’s major landmarks including the City Walls, Rowntree Park, Clifford’s Tower and York Minster before returning to Knavesmire – with the flat course offering runners ample chances for a personal best (PB).

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In the men’s race, Samuel Roberts of the Vegan Runners came out on top with an impressive score of 30:40, with the fastest female finisher – Hannah Hobbs – not too far behind with a time of 34.56

Many of the runners were local to York and had decided to make the most of the atmosphere, including Howard Bury from Dringhouses who dedicated his bib to his granddaughter Evie.

He said: “I started doing the park run about six or seven years ago and every year, my daughter has encouraged me to do the 10K. Four years ago, I did my first one and I just kept going from there – I loved it.

“I’m running for my granddaughter – she wasn’t even born last year and I just thought it would be nice to have Evie’s Granddad on there instead of a normal name, so we can look at it together. I’ve kept all my medals for the past four years too.”

Evie’s very proud granddad Howard Bury (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

Others, such as Jenny Brocksopp from North Derbyshire, who had travelled to aid with their training goals. She said: “I’m training for the Chicago Marathon in October, so this is a nice race for me to do during that training period.

“It’s not local for me, but it didn’t take too long to get here this morning.  I’ve not done the 10K before, but I’ve done York Marathon a few times before and I loved it.

“It was one of my favourite races and last year, I got a PB, so I thought lets go back to York and hope for the best.”

Jenny and her fellow North Derbyshire runners (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

As well as offering runners a chance to enjoy the course and push themselves, the event also brought attention to a range of good causes.

This included sponsor charities such as the Jane Tomlinson Appeal, Family Fund, RSPCA, St Leonard’s Hospice, York Against Cancer, The Hut York, York Carers Centre, York City Foundation, York Down Syndrome Support Group, Candlelighters, and Mind York.

Megan Smith and Tam Gorbert for the RSPCA York, (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

One group running for a sponsor charity was Tam Gorbert and Megan Smith who were pledging their support for the RSPCA York, whilst dressed as Oompa-Loompas.

Tam said: “I rescued our little puppy from there a year ago, so we’re running for Spud and all the animals that need rescuing as they do amazing work there and they need all the help they can get.”

Liv Wilson’s loved ones who are running for Meningitis Research Foundation (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

Another team taking part were the loved ones of Livia Wilson, who were running to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation in memory of the York teenager who died from the disease.

Gathering under a flag of her face and running in matching shirts, mum Alison Goude thanked all those who had offered their support – adding that the group had raised over £46,000 since they started in Liv’s memory and were keen to continue raising money.

Purple Pete raising money for the Veterans Charity (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

She said: “Lots of Liv’s friends and family just keep coming up with great ways that we can raise more money. We love seeing how many people have turned out today.”

Individual fundraisers taking part included Purple Pete – who was running for the Veterans Charity after 14 years in the Army Catering Corp – and the ‘Pram Man’, 87-year-old John Burskill from Sheffield, who has raised over a million pounds for Macmillian with the York 10K being race number 1036.

The ‘Pram Man’, 87-year-old John Burskill from Sheffield, who has raised over a million pounds for Macmillian (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

John said: “I’ve done races all over the country and they’re just wonderful. I have to start last – it may be very late, but I do finish. There’s no losers and no winners – everyone is a winner here.”