Thousands take part in ‘Britain’s most beautiful’ marathon weekend

Thousands of runners have descended on Northumberland for ‘Britain’s most beautiful’ marathon. On Saturday and Sunday, athletes from around the region and from as far afield as the USA and Australia took part in the Altra Kielder Marathon weekend, tackling a series of races around Kielder Reservoir. Founded in 2010, the Altra Kielder Marathon is organised by Events of the North, in partnership with Northumbrian Water, Forestry England, Northumberland County Council, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and official charity partner 4Louis.

The action began on Saturday afternoon with the Kielder 10K and Gravel Duathlon. Nearly 900 participants completed the event under sunny skies. The Kielder 10K was won by Eddie Knight of Heaton Harriers in a time of 33 minutes and 13 seconds. The women’s race was won by Jessica Fox of Sunderland Harriers in 39:28. The Kielder Duathlon was won by James Anderson in 2:14:09 and the winner of the women’s race was Emma Cutting in 2:36:38. The team relay was won by Team Tripartite in 2:08:43.

Sunday’s cloudy and cooler conditions were good for over 2,000 runners who took part in the Altra Kielder Marathon, Half Marathon and junior Falcon and Osprey races, with each route winding around the spectacular reservoir. The full marathon followed a route alongside Northumbrian Water’s iconic Kielder Reservoir, and saw participants running a gruelling 26 miles on and off-road course through the stunning forest.

The winner of the 2026 Altra Kielder Marathon was Joseph Vis of Kent AC, in a time of 2:52:53. Nicola Reece of Wilmslow Running Club won the women’s race in 3:08:37. Jacob Garthwaite of Heaton Harriers won the half marathon in 1:14:24 and clubmate Charlotte Redhead won the women’s race in 1:28:36. Teddy Shepherd won the junior Falcon race over 2.1K and 6:51 and Iris Thomas won the girls’ race in 7:27. The youngest runners on the day tackled the Osprey race over 1.2K. The boys’ race was won by Harris Jobson in 4:57 and Nel Dennis won the girls’ race in 5:58.

Across the weekend, many runners took part to raise money for good causes, including the event’s official charity, 4Louis. Among the other runners was North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, who ran the Kielder 10K, the co-founder of main sponsor Altra, Brian Beckstead, who travelled from the USA to run the half marathon, and 10 ever present runners who took part in the full marathon, including David Ailano, Susan Wilson and Martin Randall.

Steve Cram comments: “It’s been a brilliant Altra Kielder Marathon weekend and from the moment the first runners arrived, the atmosphere was brilliant. For most of the time, we were blessed with good weather, which helped some of our leading athletes to achieve some excellent times – new records in some cases. And there were a lot of very enthusiastic spectators to cheer them on.

“From the rapid runners at the front of each field and our ten marathon ever presents, to many who were raising money for a good cause, I hope that everyone enjoyed the experience. And if this was their first visit to Kielder or indeed Northumberland, I’m confident that it won’t be their last. Well done to everyone who ran and cycled, and thanks to all of our event partners, and our army of volunteers.”

David Hall, head of commercial strategy & transformation at Northumbrian Water said: “There’s something truly special about Kielder Marathon weekend, and this year’s event has been our most spectacular yet.

“Seeing so many people come together and hearing stories from runners who have travelled hundreds of miles to take part is incredibly rewarding. The passion and determination on display throughout the weekend is inspirings.

“None of this would be possible without the amazing volunteers and event teams who gave their time and energy to create such a memorable experience. We can’t thank them enough.”

Cllr Glen Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council, said: “The Kielder Marathon is one of Northumberland’s standout events, attracting thousands of runners and supporters while showcasing our county council to a national audience. From elite athletes to first-time participants, it’s inspiring to see so many people, of all ages, enjoying our spectacular landscapes and Northumbrian hospitality.

“Events like this give a real boost to our visitor economy and help put Northumberland firmly on the map as a destination for sport and tourism. I’d also like to thank all the volunteers, marshals and organisers whose hard work and dedication make this incredible weekend possible year after year.”

Entries are now open for the 2027 Altra Kielder Marathon events, which will take place on 2nd and 3rd October. To find out more and book a place, visit www.kieldermarathon.com.