The event has happened in the city before, but this is the first time it will take over the Hill Dickinson Stadium
The start of the BTR Liverpool Half Marathon from the Hill Dickinson Stadium.(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium is set to host another running event after the success of the Liverpool Half Marathon. On Sunday, May 10, Wings for Life World Run will host its annual event at the Toffees’ home ground.
The “unique” running event has been coming to Liverpool for a number of years now with its twist. The global race is available for both runners and wheelchair users in which participants try to outpace a moving, virtual finish line in the app.
Instead of a set finish line, competitors worldwide start at the same time and race to keep ahead of a moving finish line called the virtual catcher car, which tracks their progress in the app.
The catcher car takes off 30 minutes after the synchronised start and steadily increases its speed, gradually overtaking participants to signify the end of their race. The last remaining male and female runners are crowned the winners.
Launched in 2014, Wings for Life World Run has had 1,870,253 participants from 191 nationalities take part on all seven continents.
Wings For Life runners from years gone-by(Image: Wings For Life)
The virtual catcher car format means runners can take part wherever they are in the world and can run as far as they want within the time frame.
Starting at 12pm UK time, the Liverpool run will start at Hill Dickinson Stadium before following a 2km loop around Bramley-Moore Dock.
Participants can enjoy a premium event experience, including music and refreshment stations with water refills, Red Bull, fruit and snacks. The event will be happening across the UK including in Leeds, London, Nottingham and Liverpool, to raise money for spinal cord injury research. 100% of every entry fee goes directly to spinal cord injury research.
Wings for Life has funded hundreds of research projects and clinical trials worldwide since 2004, helping drive forward treatments that are improving outcomes for people living with spinal cord injury and bringing science closer to a cure.
According to World Health Organization data, around 250,000 people sustain a spinal cord injury every year, with millions more living with its long-term effects.
Wings For Life runners from years gone by(Image: Wings For Life)
By signing up to the Wings for Life World Run using the exclusive promo code ‘EFC’, fans will be entered into a prize draw to win a pair of tickets to see Everton take on Liverpool on April 19. Even if they miss out on the Merseyside Derby, they’ll still have a chance to win tickets to Everton vs Man City.
Thousands flooded the stadium to take on the new Liverpool Half Marathon route for 2026. The 33rd staging of the BTR Liverpool Half Marathon attracted its biggest ever number of entries, selling out at 15,000 places.
The event also featured the 11th staging of the BTR 10 Mile Road Race, which sold out at 500 places. Runners and spectators braved wet and windy weather to make the day a success with an inspiring and motivating atmosphere.
Both races set off together from the new start line at the waterfront Hill Dickinson Stadium, home of Everton Football Club. An impressive 12,169 runners completed the half marathon, while 375 runners crossed the finish line after running the 10-mile race – making the overall total of runners on the day 12,544.