Durham City Run Festival is set to kick off this year with a celebration to mark the 40th anniversary of local legend Steve Cram breaking three world records in under three weeks.
The festival was established in 2016 and has since become a popular fixture on the North East sporting events calendar. The starting gun for this year will be fired at the Gala Theatre, as former BBC Look North presenter Jeff Brown chats with festival founder Steve Cram, who will tell the story of how he set three track world records in 19 days in the summer of 1985.
In doing so, he became the first athlete to set world records at three different distances, and he’s set to share insights, images, and footage four decades after his achievements captivated sports fans across the globe. Steve told ChronicleLive: “We had a great event with Daley Thompson and the documentary about his career (last year).
“We thought, oh 2025, what does that signify? And someone said it’s 40 years, unbelievably, since I broke three world records that summer wearing my Jarrow and Hebburn vest.”
Steve still has the original yellow vest which he wore in two of the three world records.
(Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)
He added: “My running story started on the streets of the North East, and I hope that it inspires a new generation to try the sport. That’s at the heart of why we put on the Durham City Run Festival – to get more people active and enjoying that experience.”
Following the headline grabbing opening evening, the Durham City Run 5K and 10K races return on Thursday, July 17, while Paula Radcliffe’s Families on Track also returns on Saturday, July 19. More events and activities will be added to the four-day spectacular in due course.
It is hoped that the festival will cement Durham’s position as “The Culture County” as one of many events throughout 2025, as the council works with the North East Combined Authority to boost tourism to the county and region as a whole.
Coun Amanda Hopgood, leader of Durham County Council, said she was delighted that the festival would go ahead again and that Steve could share his success with fans at the Gala Theatre. She said: “The festival offers a fantastic opportunity for families and individuals to come together and take part in a vibrant and exciting event, in the stunning setting of the city centre.
(Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)
Durham City Run Festival is organised by Events of the North, in partnership with Durham County Council and Durham University, with more than 250 runners with a connection to the university raising money for good causes at last year’s event. Entries are open for the 2025 Durham City Run Festival here.
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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/durham-city-run-festival-celebrate-31178551
