Leeds Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield reveals 14.1 million reasons why Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon is 'the best'

Sinfield is among 5,500 runners taking part in Sunday’s 26-mile full marathon, which starts and finishes at Rhinos’ AMT Stadium. Another 11,500 will take on the half-marathon distance. Since Burrow, who died two years ago, was diagnosed with the illness in 2019, former Rhinos captain Sinfield has become nationally famous for his feats of endurance to raise money for motor neurone disease (MND) causes.

The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon is now in its fourth year, having raised £14.1m for a variety of charities and Sinfield told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “Without a shadow of a doubt, it is my favourite.” He said: “The last few years, getting a chance to run with some friends, has been special.

“The slogan we’ve used right from the start is ‘run for a mate with some mates’. That has been so true of my time here, running the marathon. It is the best one. London is great, Manchester’s great, I have done a load of others across the UK, but there’s nothing has the feel Leeds has.

“It has something special about it, it is a real community feel. The support from the people who line the route, the volunteers, Run For All, everybody who’s involved makes it such a special day.”

Though he is one of the headline names on the entry list, Sinfield reckons it’s the thousands of club and fun runners who make the Leeds event so special.

“I have got to say a big thank you to everybody who has run, whether they have done the full or the half,” he said. “I know how hard the training is, but I think the spirit between the runners - which is always great when you do an event like this - is the best.

“When someone’s struggling you hear so much encouragement from other runners. It is a really enjoyable day for everyone.”

The recent London Marathon was won by Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe in an astonishing world record time of one hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds. Sinfield admitted it’s unlikely he, or anyone else, will be setting personal bests on Leeds’ notoriously hilly course, but the West Yorkshire event has its own unique charm.

“I try and enjoy Leeds,” he said. “I still push and try and get a decent time, but I will openly say I don’t think Leeds is a marathon for a PB, with the hills. But the experience you have here is different to everywhere else. I love doing it - I love the city and what it’s about, I love the people here and the spirit. There’ll be no PB for me on Sunday, but it’ll probably be my best run of the year and one I really enjoy.”

On Sunday Sinfield will be running not only in memory of Rob, but also his father Geoff Burrow who died in March. He believes the event will continue to grow. “It is a legacy for Rob,” he said. “For me, bringing people together to run for people they love and care about - and for themselves too - is so important. I always find if you are running for someone else it makes it a little bit easier and gives you a bit more motivation.

“We have got to keep people coming back. Everyone I speak to who has taken part in the full or the half has said what a great day they’ve had and what a fantastic time. I know the training is really difficult, but we have to keep trying to push. We can’t get to a point where Leeds doesn’t have a marathon again.

“That means a commitment from everybody. Over the first three years the marathon has taken place, for all the different charities that have been represented, the sum total of what has been generated is £14.1m. You look at the good that all that money is doing and where it’s helping people, it is important we keep the legacy going.”