Saturn 7 Hour Time Challenge - Gilesgate

DEC
13
2026
Run your own distance challenge along the River Wear in Durham. Within 7 hours, choose your goal from 3km to an ultra marathon. Every finisher gets a themed medal and a bobble hat.
Sun 13 Dec 2026
50 kilometers 49 kilometers Marathon Half Marathon 7 kilometers 5 kilometers

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Event Details

This is the Saturn 7 Hour Time Challenge - Gilesgate, a timed running event. Participants can choose how far they run within the 7-hour window. The minimum required distance to be an official finisher is 3km.

Course Information

The route is a trail run along a stretch of the River Wear, offering views of Durham Cathedral. The course is fully signed. A full lap is approximately 4.37 miles (7km), but this is subject to change to a 3.28 mile loop depending on conditions. The loop includes turn points at 3km and 5km for younger participants. Distances based on laps include:

  • 3 laps for a half marathon
  • 6 laps for a marathon
  • 7 or more laps for an ultra marathon A 50km distance is also available.

What You Get

All finishers who complete at least 3km receive a themed medal and a bobble hat. Participants who run a half-marathon distance or more can collect a distance pin (Half-Marathon, Mega-Half, Marathon, 50km, or Ultra) for their medal ribbon. Every finisher also gets a goody bag, with a vegan option available.

Venue and Facilities

The event starts and finishes at Durham Amateur Rowing Club. On-site facilities include toilets and changing rooms. An aid station with drinks, crisps, cheese, fruit, cookies, and vegan snacks is located at the start/finish area for each lap. There is an unsecured area to leave bags. Nearby on-street and city centre pay-and-display parking is available.

Additional Information

The maximum number of entrants is 300. Headphone use is permitted. Participants are asked to be considerate of other users on the public footpaths. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

50 km
49 km
Ultra
Marathon
Marathon
Half Marathon
Half Marathon
7 km
5 km