/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.footballgroundguide.com%2Fmain%2F2026%2F02%2FFotoJet-3-1.jpg)
Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium is set to host another major sporting spectacle, with a unique global running event scheduled to take place at the venue this May.
Following the success of the recent Liverpool Half Marathon, the stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock will welcome the Wings for Life World Run on Sunday, May 10, adding further momentum to its growing reputation as a multi-use sporting destination.
A new kind of racing experience with a global twist
Unlike traditional races, the Wings for Life World Run brings a completely different concept to long-distance running. The event is built around a “virtual catcher car” format, meaning there is no fixed finish line for participants.
Instead, runners and wheelchair users across the world start at the same time, all attempting to stay ahead of a moving finish line tracked through the official app. Thirty minutes after the race begins, the virtual catcher car sets off and gradually increases its speed, overtaking competitors one by one until only the final participants remain.
The last remaining male and female runners are crowned global winners, creating a truly unique and inclusive race format that blends technology with endurance sport.
Launched in 2014, the event has already attracted over 1.8 million participants from 191 nationalities across all seven continents, underlining its global appeal. The flexible format also allows runners to take part from anywhere in the world, covering as much distance as possible before being caught.
Liverpool event to showcase Hill Dickinson Stadium growing versatility
The Liverpool edition of the race will begin at 12pm UK time, starting from Hill Dickinson Stadium before following a 2km loop around Bramley-Moore Dock.
Participants can expect a premium race-day experience, with music, refreshment stations, water refills, energy drinks, fruit, and snacks available along the route.
The event will also take place in other UK cities including Leeds, London, and Nottingham, further highlighting its nationwide reach.
Beyond the sporting element, the event carries a strong charitable purpose. All entry fees go directly towards spinal cord injury research, with the Wings for Life foundation having already funded hundreds of research projects and clinical trials worldwide.
The initiative is particularly significant given global health data indicating that around 250,000 people suffer spinal cord injuries each year, with many more living with long-term effects.
The announcement comes on the back of a hugely successful Liverpool Half Marathon, which also started from the Hill Dickinson Stadium. The 2026 edition attracted a record 15,000 entries, selling out completely.
On race day, more than 12,000 runners completed the half marathon, while hundreds more took part in the accompanying 10-mile race, despite challenging weather conditions.
The event created a vibrant atmosphere around the waterfront and demonstrated the stadium’s ability to host large-scale mass participation events.
FGG Says
While football remains at the heart of Everton’s new home, events like the Wings for Life World Run show how modern stadiums are evolving into multi-purpose arenas.
By hosting innovative formats such as a global race with a virtual finish line, the Hill Dickinson Stadium is positioning itself at the forefront of this shift.