In the lead up to the event, Altra and Kielder Marathon organisers will highlight the theme of women in running, in partnership with BOLDLI Running Club.
Altra is proud to announce its new role as the title sponsor of the Kielder Marathon Weekend, an iconic event in the UK running calendar. Taking place on 4 and 5 October, this year’s event will shine a spotlight on the theme of women in running, reflecting Altra’s mission to empower women to pursue their goals, whether they are newcomers to the sport or seasoned marathoners striving for personal bests.
Known as ‘Britain’s most beautiful marathon,’ the Kielder Marathon showcases a breathtaking route around Kielder Water and through the peaceful expanse of Kielder Forest. Its undulating course rewards participants with sweeping views of Northumberland National Park, offering a perfect blend of challenge and inspiration.
“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Altra as the new title partner to the Kielder Marathon weekend. Altra’s commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and love of the outdoors makes the brand a perfect fit for an event that’s all about embracing the challenge and beauty of running in this incredible landscape,” said event founder Steve Cram. “We’re excited to work together to make 2025 our best year yet.”
The 2025 event will also welcome four iconic female runners – Paula Radcliffe, Eve Muirhead, Sophie Raworth and Nell McAndrew.
Entries for the 2025 Altra Kielder Marathon are now open at www.kieldermarathon.com. (Applications close June 15th)
Stay Out There: She Runs Free – A commitment to women’s safety in running
Altra’s involvement goes beyond sponsorship, with a series of activations planned in the lead up to the Kielder Marathon weekend to promote the brand’s values and the event’s theme.
The new initiative, Stay Out There: She Runs Free, will address one of the most significant barriers to participation in running: safety and security, particularly for women running alone, after dark, or in remote areas. Research from Strava shows that in the UK, women are 160% more likely than men to identify a lack of safe places to exercise as a barrier to participation.
“Running is an empowering and accessible activity for many – but the data is clear: safety remains one of the biggest barriers to participation, particularly for women,” said Rob Herdman, Head of Marketing at Altra.
“As a brand of runners, for runners, we’re committed to breaking down the barriers – like safety – that hold people back. Through this initiative, we aim to spotlight the issue and support real community-driven solutions that help more women run freely, confidently, and without fear.”
Partnering with BOLDLI to inspire and connect
In support of this mission, Altra and the Kielder Marathon are partnering with BOLDLI, a UK-based women’s running club dedicated to making running safer through connection, awareness, and advocacy. Together, they will assemble a team of women from across the UK to embark on a shared training journey, culminating in their participation in the 2025 Altra Kielder Marathon.
Participants in the programme will receive expert coaching, community support, and safety-first training tools. The initiative highlights the transformative power of connection and aims to inspire women of all abilities to boldly pursue their running goals.
“We’re thrilled to join forces with Altra and the Kielder Marathon to further our mission and enable us to reach more women and men nationwide,” said Natasha Edwards, Co-founder, BOLDLI. “With this initiative, we can amplify the voices of women in running and demonstrate what’s possible when safety, support, and community are prioritised.”
Apply to become part of the team here: www.altrarunning.eu/uk/altra-kielder.
About Altra
Altra was founded in the backroom of a small specialty running store in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Since the beginning, the goal has been to create innovative and purposeful running shoes that help people run more naturally. Altra’s unique platform includes a Footshape toebox that allows the toes to relax and spread out which enhances stability and encourages natural running form. Altra Running shoes have a Zero to Low Drop, ensuring your body stays in a more natural running position. Altra’s purpose is to unleash human potential by inspiring the world to move naturally. Be a part of our journey and follow along on Instagram and Strava.
About BOLDLI
Founded in 2024 in response to widespread safety concerns for women while running, BOLDLI exists to make running safer through connection, awareness, and advocacy. First launch as a weekly social run and community chat for women through all seasons by three female runners ranging from elite to amateur (Rose Harvey, Steph McCall and Natasha Edwards), BOLDLI is also launching a free-to-use platform to enable runners to easily find run clubs, social runs and safe routes, based on location, schedule, and pace – giving women the confidence to run when and where they want; safe, supported, and bold. To learn more about BOLDLI, find your next run partner, or view resources around safety in running, visit boldlirun.com or follow us on socials at @runboldli.
