86,158 votes cast across all categories to select the 21 Challenge Awards winners

After 4 weeks of ferocious competition, the Challenge Awards voting period closed at midnight on Sunday, and with it 21 category winners were announced.

We’ve been amazed by the efforts our nominees made in promoting their nominations and the uptake from the general public has been immense.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the awards – it would not have been the same without your reviews and votes.

We now set our sites on an evening of celebrations at the Queen’s Club on 18th October. Attended by award winners, industry leaders and 10 prize draw winners picked from the 86,158 people who voted, this will definitely be one to remember. 

Runner’s World will be writing an article on each of the winners and distributing these over the coming months – so watch that space.

But for now, here is a list of all the winners and runners up.

BEST OF THE UK

Flagship Events

1. The SimplyHealth Great North Run – 66%
2. Virgin Money London Marathon – 14% 
3. SimplyHealth Great South Run – 6% 

5k Runs

1. Porsche Brooklands Colour Me Krazy 5k – 28% 
2. Chase the Sun Victoria Park  – 24% 
3. The Maverick Silva Dark Oxfordshire – 24% 

10k Runs North 

1. Wakefield 10k and 1k Mini Run – 37% 
2. SimplyHealth Great North 10k – 31% 
3. Run Tatton Half Marathon & 10k – 13% 

10k Runs South 

1. The Hadleigh Legacy 10k – 35% 
2. Weybridge 10k – 33% 
3. The Maverick Silva Dark Oxfordshire – 11% 

Half Marathons North

1. Essar Four Villages Half Marathon – 25% 
2. Leamington Spa Half Marathon – 16% 
3. Run Tatton Half Marathon & 10k – 16% 

Half Marathons South 

1. Wokingham Half Marathon – 32% 
2. Surrey Half Marathon – 29% –
3. Victoria Park 5k, 10k & Half – 13%

Marathons

1. Cybi Coastal Marathon – 49%
2. Giants Head Marathon – 33% – 
3. Maverick x TRIBE Run Free Marathon – 8% 

Ultramarathons

1. Mizuno Endure24 Reading – 30% 
2. Dixons Carphone Race to the Stones – 29% 
3. Mizuno Endure24 Leeds – 21% 

Multisport

1. The London Triathlon – 51% 
2. Blenheim Palace Triathlon – 23% – 
3. The Islander – Middle Distance Triathlon – 14% 

Road Cycling Events

1. The Flat 100 – 41% 
2. Etape Caledonia – 24% 
3. Tour De Shane – The Pembrokeshire Sportive – 16% 

Obstacle Races

1. Zeus Summer Obstacle Run – 55% 
2. MacTuff – 33% 
3. Rough Runner – Oxfordshire – 2%

Event Organisers

1. The Great Run Company – 29% 
2. Sportive HQ – 29% 
3. Maverick Race – 12% 

BEST INTERNATIONAL 

Running Events

1. Great Ethiopian Run International 10K – 56% 
2. San Diego Beach and Bay Half Marathon, 10k, 5k – 24% 
3. Bay Bridge Half – 10% 

Obstacle Races

1. Terrain Race – Irvine – 62% 
2. Stadium Blitz – Houston – 18% 
3. Green Beret Challenge – Commando – 8% 

Road Cycling Events

1. The Transcontinental Race – 47% 
2. Pedaled Silk Road Mountain Race – 24% 
3. Haute Route Alps – 13% 

Triathlons

1. Herbalife24 Los Angeles – 46% 
2. Alpe d’Huez Triathlon – 25% 
3. Austria eXtreme Triathlon – 18%

BEST OF THE REST

Most Inspiring Woman

1. Lucy Bartholomew – 23%
2. Girls Who Dare – 21% 
3. Lucy Charles – 11% 

Most Inspiring Man

1. Millan Ludena – 34% 
2. Tim Don – 23% 
3. Russell Cook – 12% 

Small Charities

1. The Running Charity – 33% 
2. Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity – 27% 
3. Spinal Research – 12% 

Big Charities

1. Children with Cancer UK – 22% 
2. Teenage Cancer Trust – 19% 
3. Macmillan Cancer Support – 14% 

Communities

1. Mikkeller Running Club – 35% 
2. November Project – 29% 
3. Midnight Runners – 8% 

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We can’t wait to celebrate these inspirational winners and present their prizes at the inaugural Challenge Awards on 18th October at the Queens Club. Stepping outside your comfort zone is never easy, but we hope the Challenge Awards has helped you see that there really are no limits.

Anyone can race and anyone can be a hero, so discover your next race and be the next inspiration. If you’re looking for the UK’s best 10ks, half marathons or any other distance, as long as it has a finish line, you’ll find it on our new events listing page.