A new premium sports brand launched in Liverpool this month has been hand-picked by race event organiser BTR Liverpool as an official partner for the 2026 event calendar.
Canvas Athletic is built around community. An ethos which strongly resonates with BTR Liverpool and its standing within the running community.
Values align and both parties are excited at the prospect of working together for the next 12 months.
The partnership will see Canvas Athletic kit out the pacer team for the sold-out and biggest ever Liverpool Half Marathon and 10 Mile Road Race on Sunday 15 March.
The race will welcome 15,000 runners to the city for the event, which has also been updated for 2026 with a new route starting at Everton Football Club’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.
In addition to sponsoring the pacer teams for BTR events throughout the 2026 event season, Canvas Athletic will work with BTR Liverpool to build and develop a new run club.
Canvas Athletic are based in Cleveland Square in Liverpool city centre, a short walk from Liverpool ONE.
They host a weekly run club – Never Miss A Monday – which is already gathering momentum. The 5K run is at 6pm, it starts and finishes at the Canvas Athletic base, and is led by trained running coaches.
Through the partnership, there will be a monthly BTR Liverpool take-over of Never Miss A Monday, allowing BTR runners to train together and become part of the Canvas Athletic community. Details will be announced on Canvas Athletic and BTR Liverpool social media.
Canvas Athletic is a new Liverpool-based performance apparel brand born from a deep understanding of sport and the people who live it every day. The brainchild of several sports industry veterans, including Kieran Owens and John Gillies; and supported by the Emerge Group, and its Head of Sports Brands Tony O’Neill.
The brand brings together almost a century of combined experience across global performance apparel, technical materials, and athlete-driven product development. Built on the belief that progress is earned daily, Canvas Athletic blends elite-level functionality with a clean, modern aesthetic, designed to perform under pressure whether in competition, training, or everyday life.
The range features everyday essentials and technical performance pieces, made to work hard and feel right on the body. Rooted in fitness and sport, they are carefully designed and crafted to perform under pressure – from moving through daily life and training runs, through to gym and track sessions, and even pushing through intense HYROX challenges. Whatever the activity, Canvas Athletic is designed to move seamlessly.
Canvas Athletic Co-founder Kieran Owens explained:
“We’re proud to partner with BTR Liverpool and Run For All, starting with the Liverpool Half Marathon and 10 Mile Road Race, and continuing our collaboration throughout the 2026 event season.
“Being part of these massively popular races, meeting new faces, and supporting runners as they chase personal bests or take on new challenges is exactly why we exist. To play a regular part in the runner journey means everything to us.
“Canvas Athletic is built around community. We are all about lifting those around us through a shared love of sport and moment. Each day gives you a blank canvas. Show up, leave your mark. Our message is no blank days. It’s a mindset. A commitment to approach each day with intention, to take a step forward, however small, and to encourage others to do the same.
“This is about progress, not perfection. Step by step. Together. See you on race day.”
BTR Race Director Alan Rothwell added:
“It is inspiring to be working alongside a new Liverpool-based premium sports brand from its infancy – and we’re excited to see how Canvas Athletic will grow, develop, and establish itself in the community.
“The specially designed pacer kit looks fantastic, and will enable runners to find and stay with their chosen time group with ease. We’re excited about the monthly BTR Liverpool and Never Miss A Monday take-over, this will be a great addition to the runner experience. We look forward to welcoming familiar faces to join this new community and enjoy a run together between race events.”
BTR Liverpool is the leading organisation for creating, managing, and delivering headline running events across Liverpool City Region. The annual calendar of competitive races and fun runs take place between March and December.
The event portfolio for 2026 also includes the Mersey Tunnel 10K in April; Run For The 97 5K and 1 Mile in May; Port Sunlight Road Race featuring 5K, 10K, and 1K Fun Run in June; Women’s 10K and 5K Liverpool in September; Wirral 10K in October; and Liverpool Santa Dash 5K and 1K Mini Dash in December.
Full details about BTR Liverpool events visit www.btrliverpool.com
