Kielder Marathon event featuring 70-year-old runner

The event comprises a range of races including a marathon, half marathon, 10K race, and junior runs.

Participant, Judith Sadler, is marking her 70th birthday by persuading 69 others to join her in one of the events.

Judith Sadler is recruiting a team of 70 to raise funds for Alive and Kicking (Image: Kielder Marathon)

Organised by Events of the North along with partners like Northumbrian Water, Northumberland County Council, Bright Northumbria healthcare charity and Places Leisure.

The Kielder Marathon was set up by Steve Cram in 2010.

Now, drawing over 3,500 participants, it has earned the nickname of Britain’s most beautiful marathon.

(left to right) Jo Farrier, Leanne Beattie, Cheryl Pardue, Cllr Jeff Watson, Steve Cram, Judith Sadler (Image: Kielder Marathon)

Participants, including leading club athletes and others aiming for a personal best or fundraising for charities, will gather at Kielder Waterside Park for the races on October 5 and 6.

The official charity partner for the event is the baby loss charity 4Louis.

Ms Sadler plans to run the Kielder 10K in aid of Alive and Kicking, a social enterprise that supports sustainable employment in Zambia and Kenya.

She said: "I only started running in my fifties and I’ve since experienced the positive impact that getting so active has had on my physical and mental health.

"I want to do what I can to encourage more people to try running for themselves and that’s what inspired the idea of bringing together 70 runners for events over the Kielder Marathon weekend."

Kielder Marathon founder, Steve Cram, said: "Judith is a brilliant example of someone who has found running relatively late, but is making the absolute most of what the sport offers.

"I echo her call to runners of all ages and abilities to join us at the Kielder Marathon weekend in October."

(left to right) Jo Farrier, Cheryl Pardue, Judith Sadler, Steve Cram, Cllr Jeff Watson, and Leanne Beattie (Image: Kielder Marathon)

The initiative also has local government support.

Cllr Jeff Watson from Northumberland County Council said: "It’s a really important event for Northumberland, the surrounding rural businesses and for the many charities that will benefit through fundraising."

For further details on the Kielder Marathon races and to book a place, visit their website.

You can also follow @kielder_marathon on Instagram for the latest updates from the event.