Plans have been revealed that herald an ambitious new era for two popular annual running events in Middlesbrough. From 2026, Steve Cram’s company Events of the North will be organising the Middlesbrough 10K and Ali Brownlee 5K, and will bring them together to be held on the same day. The races will be at the heart of Middlesbrough Runs, a weekend of events that will also feature Paula Radcliffe’s Families on Track initiative, all organised in partnership with Middlesbrough Council and Everyone Active. The 2026 Middlesbrough Runs events will be held over the weekend of 29-30 August.

On Saturday 29 August, Paula’s Families on Track will come to Albert Park. The event is the brainchild of athletics legend Paula Radcliffe and gives family groups of all ages the opportunity to get active together by completing a 10K relay in a controlled and safe environment. The focus of Families on Track is on participation and fun, and the event is suitable for every generation and ability.

The Middlesbrough 10K and Ali Brownlee 5K will both be held on the morning of Sunday 30 August, following routes around the town. 2026 will mark the 10th anniversary of the death of ‘Voice of Boro’ Alastair Brownlee, and organisers will be working closely with Ali’s family to celebrate his life and legacy through Middlesbrough Runs.

Steve Cram commented: “We’re really excited about the potential for Middlesbrough Runs. Bringing the Middlesbrough 10K, Ali Brownlee 5K and Paula’s Families on Track together into a two-day event allows us to create a vibrant summer festival atmosphere in the heart of the community. The 10K and 5K are already great races, but we’re ambitious to grow them, and adding Paula’s brilliant Families on Track to the mix opens up the opportunity for more participants of all ages to get involved. We’ll be working closely with Middlesbrough Council and Everyone Active to deliver a fantastic event next August.”

Places for the Middlesbrough 10K and Ali Brownlee 5K can be booked at Middlesbrough Runs – Events of the North. Entries for Paula’s Families on Track will open on the same website in the near future.

If you'd like to know more, visit the Events of the North website.

Image: Events of the North