With the Great North Run on the horizon, now's the perfect time to talk about a brand new event that is set to join the north east ranks in 2024. The Newcastle-Gateshead Marathon will make its inaugural outing on 5 May 2024 and hopes to emulate the successes of the other great races of the region. 

Speaking about the event, organisers said: "The road closed course takes in the famous landmarks of Gateshead including Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Sage Gateshead, BALTIC, Tyne Bridge, Swing Bridge and finishes in the iconic Gateshead International Stadium.

"In fact it is in the stadium that you will finish the race by running around the track and crossing the finish line cheered home by family and friends."

And what a place to finish your marathon - Gateshead International Stadium is the third largest sporting venue in Tyne and Wear and the North East’s only IAAF-standard athletics stadium. The venue has hosted IAAF Diamond & Golden League Athletics and the European Cup featuring the superstars of athletics. Runners in this event will be stepping foot where many World Champions and Olympians have crossed the finish line before. In fact five world records broken in track and field on the famous track!

Taking place on the same day, the Gateshead Half Marathon will follow the same course and pass the same iconic landmarks. The Half Marathon has been staged since 2021 and has enjoyed good numbers in that time, this year's winners were Matthew Alderson in 1:12:05 and Ruth Brooker in 1:27:24. 

If you'd like to know more, visit the Newcastle-Gateshead Marathon website. 

Image: Gateshead-Newscastle Marathon