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A view outside the Palatine Centre

Thousands take to the streets during Durham City Run Festival

29 July 2024
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The centre of Durham was taken over by thousands of runners and spectators for the 2024 Durham City Run Festival on Thursday 18 July.

Over 2,100 participants completed the Durham City Run 5K or 10K events on a mild evening earlier this month, finishing at the World Heritage Site in front of Durham Cathedral. The races were part of the three-day Durham City Run Festival, organised by Events of the North, with our support as a major partner.

Both the Durham City 10K and 5K followed new undulating routes this year, starting outside the Radisson Blu Hotel on Thursday 18 July. The races started half an hour apart, which allowed for increased capacity and more action for spectators to enjoy. Along with leading club runners from around North East England, many of the participants were taking on personal challenges or raising money for good causes, such as Mark Tallentire from our Communications Office, who was fund raising for the PSP Association (progressive supranuclear palsy), and Katie Taylor from our Development and Alumni Relations Office, who is participating in a raft of activity to support charity If U Care Share over this year.

The 2024 Durham City Run Festival continued on Friday 19 July with XO urban orienteering in the city centre, and concluded on Saturday 20 July with Paula’s Families on Track at the old racecourse, which saw a record number of 75 teams of three to five family members of all ages tackle a 10K relay event. 

Left to right: Daley Thompson, Katie Taylor, Mark Tallentire, and Steve Cram

Overall 10K race results

The winner of the 2024 Durham City 10K was Corrin Leeming of Western Athletic Club, in a time of 30 minutes and 47 seconds. Adrian Bailes of Birtley AC, and staff member in our Strategy, Planning and Insight Office, was second in 31:42, with Stephen Jackson of Sunderland Harriers third in 32:30.

The women’s race was won by Charlotte Dillon of Houghton Harriers in 35:48, followed by Vicky Simpson (39:05) and Natalie Lye (40:45), both of North Shields Poly.

Left to right: Adrian Bailes, Corrin Leeming, and Stephen Jackson from the men's 10K (image by Will Palmer)

Overall 5K race results

Durham Chris Perkins of Birtley AC retained his title of the Durham City 5K, winning in 15:43, followed by Duncan Hughes of Blackhill Bounders (16:23) for the second year in a row, with Liam Taylor of Sunderland Harriers in third (16:31).

Jessica Eaton of Tyne Bridge Harriers won the women’s race in 19:02, followed by Anna Pigford of Houghton Harriers (19:06) and Nicole Burlinson of Durham City Harriers and staff member in our Business School’s International, Engagement and Careers team (19:15).

Left to right: Anna Pigford, Jessica Eaton, and Nicole Burlinson from the women's 10K (image by Will Palmer)

Our staff, students and alumni in the 10K and 5K

More of our staff, students and alumni participated in Durham City Run Festival than ever before. As well as Adrian Bailes and Nicole Burlinson in the overall rankings above, a number of others also placed in different categories.

Alice Heslop, also from our Business School’s International, Engagement and Careers team, crossed the line in third place in the women’s 5K’s FV40 category with a time of 25:34. Paul O’Connor, from our Department of Physics, came third in the 10K, with 45:19 in the MV60 category. Finally, alumnus Mark McNally (BA in Politics and History, St Cuthbert’s Society, 2001-04; MA in Theological Research, Ustinov College, 2004-05; MLitt in History, St Cuthbert’s Society, 2007-14) took third place in the 5K’s MV70 category with a time of 26:03.

Congratulations to everyone who participated, volunteered, and cheered on friends and family.

MBA student Sumit Bhatia participated in the 10K and wrote a blog about his experience (see below)

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