Russell Turner | Happily Ever After

Happily Ever After

Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, two cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running

Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.

Not London At The Double (For Now)London At The Double Croy 10k Tomatin 10k 2026 Loch Leven Half Marathon Index

Durham 10k

by Russell Turner - 11:58 on 18 July 2026

One year after a DNS caused by illness, on Thursday evening I finally got to run the Durham 10k. I’m still undecided about whether it was worth the time, effort and money but it was something new and I got to see (but not meet) Steve Cram in the flesh. Not that there’s much of it – he’s still a whippet, and shorter than he appears on TV.

The trip south began on Wednesday with a scenic drive to the Larbert Premier Inn (near Falkirk – it got less scenic towards the end). The temperature peaked at 28.5ºC (according to Big Blue’s dashboard) when I passed through the Cairngorms, the mountains hazy with smoke and the smell of wildfire noticeable even miles from ground zero. This didn’t bode well for a comfortable run.

Next day, I arrived in Durham around 3pm, where it was a mere 23ºC. After unloading at the Travelodge, where a fan had thoughtfully been left operative in my room, I walked a mile into town to make sure I could find the start, then a mile back. It was hot. And heaving with cars. Durham should be a peaceful cathedral city but the centre is one constant traffic jam around concrete flyovers. Disappointing.

At 6.30, outside the Travelodge I came across someone else dressed for the race so we walked a short distance together until he hurried ahead, worried about missing the start of the 5k which began 30mins before the 10k. The temperature had eased a little, road closure barriers were almost all in place and the Prince Bishops Car Park (how the mighty are fallen) was temporarily closed. I passed through Millenium Square (that’s how Google Maps spells it – I hope it’s their mistake and not the university city’s) and more concrete architecture to a runner-thronged area from where we could look across the River Wear to where the local Microphone Man was whipping up the enthusiasm of the 5k runners.

When they’d left, 10k runners drifted across the footbridge which spanned the river to take their place. By now, having chatted with some seasoned participants, I knew to expect a few inclines along the way, especially at the end. It couldn’t be worse than York, I thought…

Pacers from 50mins to 80mins distributed themselves through the crowd of starters, plus one identifying herself as Tailrunner. It was tempting to seek her out, but finding myself near the 70min pacer I decided to start with him, even though the temperature was now more comfortable. Microphone Man’s excitement increased when the 40min pacer appeared. She’d just finished the 5k, he told us.

Then we were off, beside the river, over a road bridge into Market Place where a cobbled uphill bottleneck meant we were briefly walking after only half a kilometre; then through the underground Prince Bishops Car Park (which left my Garmin confused for the rest of the run), back to the start and a short out-and-back before retracing the route until the road bridge. This time we ignored the bridge and kept going, hitting the first big climb shortly after at just under 3k. A couple of minutes’ walk was called for – this was just a training run for York and Banbury, after all.

By now I’d left behind the 70min pacer, my comfortable speed being just that bit faster.

After 5k we left tarmac roads for 3k of riverside tracks and some more pastoral views, the end in sight after 8.5k when the tops of Durham Cathedral became visible. Before the end on Palace Green there were a few more roads to negotiate, another run through the car park and, finally, the climb to the Green: lined on both sides by enthusiastic spectators but steep and cobbled. I walked some more, despite the bizarre encouragement of a runner dressed as early-1960s Paul McCartney, complete with bass guitar.

I made it, in 1:08. If I’d set off at my own comfortable pace I might have knocked a couple of minutes off that. The Garmin thought I’d finished 120m short but you can blame the car park and all the concrete for that. There were definite Lincoln HM vibes about the course but I enjoyed it, even with a one-mile walk back to the Travelodge in a very damp shirt.

Next day, after a decent sleep, I’d planned to break the journey home at another Premier Inn; the temptation to keep going was too much, especially after a splendid all day breakfast at the Rochester cafe on the A68. Durham’s Travelodge doesn’t provide food. More meandering through the Borders avoided the Edinburgh ring road, and after a stop at the Stirling services I unusually stuck to the A9 the rest of the way, the journey enlivened by at least a hundred leather-clad Blue Angels bikers on their way to an event. I enjoyed my air-conditioned interior and didn’t envy them, especially when one parked his bike in a lay-by and collapsed just as I passed him. Fortunately a friend was hurrying to his aid.

I’d planned a comeback run today but will leave it until Sunday – two weeks before the York 10k, when I might try to follow the 60min pacer. I’ll let the weather decide.

London Update: Age UK has no new marathon places. Still no word from my other three applications.

Add your comment

Please note that whenever you submit something which may be publicly shown on a website you should take care not to make any statements which could be considered defamatory to any person or organisation.