Runners of all ages and abilities are being urged to book a place at this year’s Durham City Run Festival before the entry deadline passes. Organised by Events of the North, in partnership with Durham County Council and Durham University, the 2022 festival will see the return of the popular Durham City Run 10K and 5K races, along with the Run Like a Legend Mile, Paula Radcliffe’s Families on Track, and a schedule of free themed activities. With events from 14-16 July in and around the city centre, the Durham City Run Festival will coincide with Durham BRASS Festival and is expected to attract thousands of participants and supporters.
The Durham City Run 10K and 5K will both take place on the evening of Friday 15 July, starting by the river at Durham Racecourse and following courses around sections of the River Wear and past some of the city’s iconic landmarks. Both races will finish in Millennium Place. The deadline for entries is midnight on Tuesday 12 July. Throughout Saturday 16 July, runners will be able to challenge themselves in the Run Like A Legend Mile. Following a fast, flat route along the river, there is ample opportunity to achieve a personal best, or simply set a first time for the iconic mile distance. The deadline for entries is midnight on Thursday 14 July.
Saturday 16 July sees the return of Paula Radcliffe’s Families on Track at Durham Racecourse, during which family teams will complete a 10K distance together in a relay format on a safe, enclosed course, running laps of either 1,000m, 500m or 250m. Paula’s Families on Track made its global debut in Durham in 2019 and has established itself as one of the most popular events at the Durham City Run Festival.
New for the 2022 Durham City Run Festival is the XO Urban Orienteering event, which will take place around the city centre on the evening of Thursday 14 July. Teams of two will tackle their own running route through a landscape of architecture and cultural landmarks on an urban orienteering
experience. Planning and strategy are key to achieving points in XO, as teams take on a series of secret challenges around the checkpoints. The event will be hosted from a ‘basecamp’ in the city centre, but the exact location will not be released until 3:00pm on event day.
The 2022 Durham City Run Festival will also host a schedule of free themed activities, from 14-16 July. First up on the afternoon of Thursday 14 July will be Terry Deary’s Deadly Durham 5K, when the Horrible Histories author will lead a run through the historic streets of the city, with stops along the way to hear the tales of notorious events where they happened. On the morning of Friday 15 July, Durham Mums on the Run will hold a buggy warm up run for mums, dads and youngsters. At lunch-time on the same day, the festival’s official charity partner, St Cuthbert’s Hospice, will host a guided walk around the city, welcoming people along for a sociable wander and to find out more about how the organisation supports individuals and families.
First thing on Saturday 16 July, European 1,500m medal winner turned coach Becky Lyne will lead a race technique workshop at Durham Racecourse near the site of Families on Track. Becky will guide runners through her ‘GRACE’ approach, with five key principles that form the blueprint of how humans are designed to run. A second Deadly Durham 5K on the same day is already fully booked.
The final free themed event will be hosted by Sedgefield Ploggers after the conclusion of Paula’s Families on Track. Plogging combines jogging with picking up litter. Gloves, bags and grabbers will be provided, and the Sedgefield Ploggers will lead participants of all ages on a sociable tidy up to wrap up the festival. The themed events are free, but places still need to be booked at www.durhamcityrunfestival.com/events.
Durham City Run Festival founder Steve Cram comments: “This year’s festival is packed with a great variety of events – there’s something for everyone who has an interest in running, or would like to get started in the sport. Durham is a truly stunning location, and working with Durham County Council and Durham University, we’ve put together a programme that provides loads of opportunities to explore the city. We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone who joins us, whether they’re pushing for a personal best in the mile, listening to Terry’s gruesome stories, enjoying a stroll with our friends at St. Cuthbert’s Hospice, or teaming up as a family to tackle 10K down by the river.”
Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for economy and partnerships, adds: “This year’s Durham City Run Festival gives people the chance to have fun with friends and family and to get some exercise, all while taking in some truly stunning sights such as our wonderful World Heritage Cathedral and beautiful riverside.
“There is also plenty for people to do while they are here, not least Durham BRASS Festival and its eclectic mix of live brass music, as well as our city’s array of shops and restaurants. We don’t want people to miss out so we would encourage everyone to book their places for the Durham City Run Festival events and look forward to a fabulous time here.”
