The Kielder marathon will follow an almost entirely offroad course (From The Northern Echo)

The Kielder marathon will follow an almost entirely offroad course

8:49am Tuesday 9th February 2010

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FORMER Olympic athlete and world record holder Steve Cram has unveiled plans for an international sports event in the region.

The Kielder marathon will follow an almost entirely offroad course around northern Europe’s largest man-made lake, Kielder Water, in Northumberland.

It was Cram who came up with the idea for the event because it is his favourite place to go running.

The marathon will follow the newly-completed Lakeside Way and organisers expect to attract runners from around the world.

Cram, who is due to fly to Canada to commentate on the Winter Olympic Games, said: “The shoreline is 26 miles long, so it’s an ideal venue for the ultimate running challenge, the marathon.

“Most of the course is offroad and it offers a wonderful test for trail runners, adventure racers and marathon enthusiasts.

“I think that this is quickly going to establish itself as the most beautiful marathon in Britain.”

Organisers are limiting the number of entrants to about 1,000, for the inaugural event on October 17.

The event will start and finish at Northumbrian Water’s Leaplish Waterside Park and be part of a weekend of activities for all ages and abilities.

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