Make A Date With Durham!
Athletics legend and council chiefs team up to inspire residents to run...
Athletics legend Steve Cram and council chiefs have teamed up to inspire residents to take part in a series of running events in Durham next month. The annual Durham City Run Festival (18-20 July) will feature three days of races and family friendly activities, and senior officers from Durham County Council will be joining other council employees to take part.
Durham County Council is the portfolio holder for culture, creative, tourism and sport in the new North East Combined Authority, and the Durham City Run Festival will be one of the first major events to take place in the county since the formation of the new authority. Amy Harhoff, the council’s corporate director of regeneration, economy and growth, will take on the Durham City Run 10K, while Alison Clark, head of culture, sport and tourism, will tackle the 5K.
Other members of the county council team have also signed up to participate in or volunteer at the festival, which also includes the Run Like A Legend Mile challenge, XO urban orienteering, and Paula Radcliffe’s Families on Track initiative that gives family groups the opportunity to complete a 10K distance in a continuous relay, having fun while exercising together.
With just under a month until the start of this year’s festival, Amy, Alison and some of their colleagues met event founder Steve Cram, who provided them with a few training tips. They also talked through final plans for this year's event and discussed its importance as a big event in County Durham, and the role it plays in encouraging more residents to get active as part of healthier lifestyles.
Steve Cram commented: “One of the most important aspects of the Durham City Run Festival is the wide range of opportunities to get involved that it offers, which means that there is something for participants of all ages and levels of ability.
"Of course, we love seeing the fierce competition at the front of each race, but looking at the bigger picture, it’s even more important that people who are new to the sport, or returning after a break, feel welcome and enjoy their experience here.
"We work closely with Durham County Council to reach as many residents as possible with positive and appropriate messages that persuade them to take part in one of the running events, or join us as a volunteer. So it’s great that county council officers are also prepared to put their best feet forward and set an example by taking part.”
If you'd like to know more, cisit the Durham City Run Festival website.
Image: Events of the North