Road Races and Relays 2024
Published with kind permission from Jarrow and Hebburn Athletic Club
Road races take place over a measured distance on any firm, prepared surface, including tarmac, pavements and footpaths. Distances range from 1 mile, 5k and 10k races, up to half marathon (13.1 miles), marathon (26.2 miles) and ultra (anything over marathon distance). Road races take place all year round, whereas relays are more common during spring and summer. Most road races are individual events, and members should sign up for them independently via the race website, although some contain a competitive team element or form part of a race series. Road relays are exclusively team competitions and teams are usually organised by the club captains. Club vests must be worn in all relay competitions as well as any road race where you have registered as an affiliated club member. Failure to do so may result in individual and/or team disqualification.
The key North East relays and road races in 2024 are listed below.
Please note that all dates are provisional and it is best to check the individual race websites for the latest information.
Relays
NECAA Road Relay Championships (Signals Relays) – Saturday 17 February 2024 – Hetton Lyons Country Park (DH5 9DS)
Takes place at Hetton Lyons Country Park, Hetton-le-Hole. Each leg is 2 laps, with a total distance of 2.2 miles. There are two races: a 4 leg relay for senior women, veteran women (over 35) and veteran men (over 50), and a 6 leg relay for senior men and veteran men (over 40). For more information, visit the NECAA website here.
Northern Athletics 12 and 6 Stage Road Relay Championships – Saturday 23 March 2024 – Venue to be confirmed.
Men compete in a 12-leg race, with four ‘long’ legs of approximately 8km and 8 ‘short’ legs of approximately 4km. Women compete in a 6-leg race, with 2 ‘long’ legs of approximately 8km and 4 ‘short’ legs of approximately 4km. The venue rotates each year, but is always somewhere in the ‘North.’ Only athletes from Northern Athletics-affiliated clubs can take part (Jarrow and Hebburn AC are affiliated). For more information, visit the Northern Athletics website here.
Elswick Good Friday Relays – Friday 29 March 2024 – Albemarle Barracks (NE15 0RG)
Hosted by Elswick Harriers. The race takes place on a disused airfield at Albemarle Barracks, near Stamfordham in Northumberland. The senior and veteran women’s (V35+) race features teams of 3, whilst the senior and veteran men’s race (V40+) features teams of 4. Access to the race route and car parking is via the B6309 either from the Military Road or Stamfordham. For more information, visit Elswick Harriers’ website here.
Neptune Relays – Wednesday 24 April 2024 – Hardwick Park, Sedgefield (TS21 2DN)
The Neptune Relays are hosted by Sedgefield Harriers at Hardwick Park and are open to teams of four runners, including teams of men, women and juniors (13+ and U17). Mixed men’s/women’s teams are accepted but are not eligible for trophies and prizes (prizes are fresh fruit by tradition). The race takes place on trail paths through the park, with each leg approximately 1.7 miles. For more information, visit the Sedgefield Harriers website here.
Gordon Smith Relays – Wednesday 8 May 2024 – West Allotment Country Park (NE27 0QJ)
Hosted by Wallsend Harriers on a largely traffic-free course at West Allotment Country Park in North Tyneside. There are separate men’s and women’s races but both races have 3 x 2 mile legs. For the women’s race, the minimum age on race day is 16, but one of the team must be V35 or older. For the men’s race, the minimum age is also 16, but one of the team must be V40 or older. For more information, visit the race website here.
Weetslade Relays – Wednesday 26 June 2024 – Lockey Park, Wideopen (NE13 6LH)
Hosted by Claremont Road Runners at Lockey Park and Weetslade Country Park in Wideopen. Each team must be made up of three runners, which must include at least one veteran (V35+) and at least one lady (although the lady and veteran can be the same person). The race consists of 3 legs, each 2.65 miles, on a traffic free, multi-terrain course, with a thirty metre hill at the halfway point. For more information, visit the race website here.
Gosforth Summer Relays – Date to be confirmed – Newcastle Great Park (NE13 9BD)
Hosted by Gosforth Harriers at Newcastle Great Park, this is a single race featuring separate men’s and women’s teams of 3 runners. Veterans (men 40+,women 35+) may run in senior teams, but teams containing any senior athletes are designated as senior teams. The course is a single lap of approximately 2 miles on tarmac footpaths and grass. There is also an open junior mile race with prizes for U12, U14 and U16s. For more information, visit the Gosforth Harriers website here.
Norman Woodcock Relays – Date to be confirmed – Gosforth Park (NE3 5HP)
Hosted by Elswick Harriers at Gosforth Park, this is a mixed relay event with three runners per team. At least one runner per team must be female. It is a flat, traffic-free course on tarmac, with each lap being 1.66 mile long. For more information, visit the race website here.
Road Races
Brass Monkey Half Marathon – Sunday 21 January 2024 – Website – 2023 Results
Port of Blyth 10k – Sunday 7 April 2024 – Website – 2023 Results
North Tyneside 10k Road Race – Sunday 31 March 2024 – Website – 2023 Results
Terry O’Gara Memorial 5k – Sunday 21 April 2024 – Website – 2023 Results
TCS London Marathon – Sunday 21 April 2024 – Website – 2023 Results
Sand Dancer 10k and Junior Race (Multi-terrain) – Sunday 14 April 2024 – Website – 2023 Results
Gateshead Half Marathon and 10k – Sunday 30 April 2023 – Website
Sunderland City Runs (5k, 10k and Half Marathon) – Sunday 7 May 2023 – Website
Clive Cookson 10k – Wednesday 17 May 2023 – Website
Pier to Pier Race – Sunday 21 May 2023 – Website
Blaydon Race – Friday 9 June 2023 – Website
Anita Nott Women’s 5k – Monday 26 June 2023 – Website
Great North 10K – Sunday 2 July 2023 – Website
Bridges of the Tyne 5 Mile Race – Tuesday 4 July 2023 – Website
Sunderland Harriers 5k Road Race (incorporating the Northern Athletics 5k Championships) – Thursday 20 July 2023 – Website
Quayside 5k (incorporating the NECAA 5K Championships) and Junior Quayside 3km – Wednesday 16 August 2023 – Website
Middlesbrough ‘Run For All’ 10k – Sunday 3 September 2023 – Website
Great North Run – Sunday 10 September 2023 – Website – Results
Northumberland Coastal Run (13+ miles, multi-terrain)- Sunday 17 September 2023 – Website
Jarrow 10k – Sunday 1 October 2023 – Website
Heaton Harriers Memorial 10k – Sunday 12 November 2023 (Remembrance Sunday) – Website
Brampton to Carlisle 10 Mile Road Race – Sunday 19 November 2023 – Website