The organisers of the Active Northumberland Kielder Marathon have announced a new partnership designed to help attract even more visitors to England’s largest forest. The Forestry Commission has signed up as an official partner of the event, which now includes a marathon, half marathon, run-bike-run, 10K and junior races, and will take place on 7 and 8 October.
Founded in 2010, the Kielder Marathon has become a firm favourite for runners who want to challenge themselves with the classic distance. Labelled ‘Britain’s most beautiful’, the full marathon follows a route around Northumbrian Water’s Kielder reservoir. The event has grown over the years and now includes a full weekend of races, offering plenty of action for spectators to enjoy.
Through the new partnership, the Forestry Commission will be able to showcase different aspects of Kielder Forest to both participants and spectators. Runners taking part in the events will follow routes along some of Kielder’s forest trails and spectators with young families are being encouraged to try out attractions such as the Gruffalo Spotter Taster Trail on the Lakeside Way. In addition, anyone who is a Discovery Pass holder with the Forestry Commission can claim a special 10% discount on entry into one of the Kielder Marathon races.
Alex MacLennan, public affairs manager for the Forestry Commission, comments:
“We are delighted to formally become a partner of this event. Forestry Commission has played a key role behind the scenes on the Kielder Marathon weekend, providing local key staff on the routes and supporting the event crew since the first year. It is an incredible event to be involved with, seeing first-hand how people embrace the beauty of Kielder Water and Forest Park.
“Each year the event is growing in terms of numbers of people attending the event weekend and we see this formal partnership between Forestry Commission and Events of the North an important milestone in sustaining Britain’s most beautiful marathon going forward.”
Active Northumberland Kielder Marathon founder and race director Steve Cram adds:
“We have always felt hugely privileged to be able to hold this event in such a spectacular setting. Kielder Water is stunning and it is surrounded by an amazing forest that I have spent many hours exploring. The Kielder Marathon brings visitors to Northumberland from all over the UK and from other countries too. Thanks to our partnership with the Forestry Commission, they will now find out more about the forest while they’re at the event, which I am sure will encourage them to return.”
The Kielder Marathon weekend of events is organised by Events of the North in partnership with Northumbrian Water, and is sponsored by Active Northumberland and supported by Northumberland County Council.
For more information about the Active Northumberland Kielder Marathon races and to book a place, visit www.kieldermarathon.com. Follow @kieldermarathon on Twitter for the latest updates from the event.
For more information about the Forestry Commission, visit www.forestry.gov.uk/england or follow @ForestryCommEng on Twitter. To become a Discovery Pass member and claim a 10% Kielder Marathon discount, free parking for a year plus other great discounts, visit www.forestry.gov.uk/pass.