Heroes honoured with new services sprint at Durham City Run
TONIGHT’S sell-out Durham City 5k and 10k road races have an added attraction when the emergency services go head-to-head in a special hill sprint to the cathedral.
The Services Hill Sprint, with police, fire and ambulance runners, will take place at 7.10 - minutes before the Prince Bishops Durham City 10k and 5k races.
Five representatives from each of the three emergency services will start on Sadler Street and race up to Palace Green, to be cheered across the line by thousands of participants in the Prince Bishops Durham City Run who will have assembled ahead of their events at 7.15.
Everyone who takes part in the sprint is being offered free entry into one of the Durham City Run races and the winner will receive a trophy.
The sprint is being staged to highlight the vital work of the emergency services which allows major events to take place.
Cadets from the police and fire services and the army will be part of the volunteer workforce in Durham.
Event founder and director Steve Cram said: “We simply could not stage big events like the Prince Bishops Durham City Run without the cooperation and input of the emergency services.
“Their contributions are hugely appreciated by us as event organisers.
“The Services Hill Sprint will be a chance for participants in the 10k and 5k to give the police, fire and ambulance racers a really rousing reception and let them know how much we all think of the amazing work they do every day of the year.”
The Durham City Run is organised by Events of the North and supported by Durham County Council, Prince Bishops Shopping Centre the headline sponsor.
The event is a sell-out with more than 2,500 runners taking to the city’s cobbled streets and undulating roads in the 5K and 10K races.
This year sees revised routes for both races, designed to improve the raceday experience for all runners.
Organisers have made minor adjustments to the 5k route and runners in the 10k will experience the amended route during their first lap before a slightly different course for the second half of the race.
Carol Feenan, city centre manager at Durham County Council, added: “We are always extremely grateful for the efforts of our emergency services and the key role they play in the Durham City Run.
“It is a really nice touch which this special event is being put on for them.”