New marathon unveiled for Kielder Water
A NEW marathon will be staged at one of the North East’s beauty spots.
Olympic athlete Steve Cram unveiled plans for the Kielder Marathon today at a launch event at the Baltic, in Gateshead.
The event will take place on October 17 will follow the recently-completed 26-mile Lakeside Way, a £3m multi-user track around the shores of Kielder Water in Northumberland.
Cram, who had the idea for the event, has dubbed it Britain’s most beautiful marathon.
For the inaugural event, the organisers are limiting the number of entrants to around 1,000, and expect to attract entrants from around the world.
It is hoped that, using electronic chip technology which allows runners to start in separate waves, the number of participants can be increased to 5,000 in three years.
The event will be another boost towards the target of making Kielder Water and Forest Park a top European outdoor recreation draw.
Steve Cram, who now lives in Northumberland, said: “Kielder Water and Forest Park is my favourite place to run in the world and with the water’s shoreline being 26 miles long it’s an ideal venue for the ultimate running challenge, the marathon.”
One North East and Northumbrian Water have provided funding for the marathon, which will be jointly organised by Extra Mile Events and Hexham-based sports marketing company Roberts and Partners.
Places will be allocated by ballot and runners should register interest at www.kieldermarathon.com.
