Thrive Leisure

Organisers have unveiled exciting details for this year’s festival, which will begin with a special evening at the Gala Theatre, commemorating the 40th anniversary of North East athletics legend Steve Cram’s incredible achievement of setting three world records in under three weeks. Commissioned by us - Durham County Council – and delivered by Events of the North, in partnership with Durham University, the 2025 Durham City Run Festival will take place from 16 to 19 July, offering a spectacular celebration of running, fitness, and community spirit. And this year, we are delighted to announce that our leisure service, thrive, is the festival’s headline sponsor.

A festival for all

Since its launch in 2016, the Durham City Run Festival has grown into one of the region’s most beloved grassroots sporting events. This year’s festivities will kick off on Wednesday 16 July with an exclusive evening at the Gala Theatre, where former BBC Look North presenter Jeff Brown will host a special talk with festival founder Steve Cram. The athletics icon will reflect on his historic 1985 achievements, sharing never-before-seen insights, photos, and footage from his record-breaking summer. The action continues on Thursday 17 July with the return of the Durham City Run 5K and 10K races, starting near the Radisson Blu Hotel and finishing at the breath-taking Durham Cathedral and Castle UNESCO World Heritage Site. On Saturday 19 July, Paula Radcliffe’s Families on Track event returns, encouraging families to get active together in a fun, relay-style 10K challenge. To make the festival even more special, thrive leisure is supporting additional family-friendly activities and live music from performers featured in this year’s Durham Brass festival.

thrive leisure: moving together

As the official sponsor of the festival, we are committed to promoting health and wellbeing across County Durham. The event supports the Moving Together in County Durham strategy, which encourages residents to lead active, healthier lifestyles. Durham University is also a key partner, with over 250 university affiliated runners taking part last year – a number they hope to grow in 2025. Many participants will be raising funds for the festival’s official charity partner, the Red Sky Foundation, which champions heart health and funds life-saving community defibrillators.

Steve Cram: a legend’s legacy

Festival founder Steve Cram said: “It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years since those world records – I remember each race like it was yesterday. Sharing my story at the Gala Theatre will be a privilege, and I hope it inspires a new generation to discover the joy of running. That’s what the Durham City Run Festival is all about -bringing people together to get active, have fun, and create unforgettable memories. With the support of Durham County Council, Durham University, and our fantastic sponsor thrive leisure, we’re determined to make 2025 the best festival yet.”