Races Under a Tenner – 2024
Running can be an expensive hobby if you’re into racing. After realising how much I spent in 2019 (half of which I didn’t get to), I decided to focus on prioritising races which cost under £10 to enter as an England Athletics member, and there are more out there than you realise when you start looking! Races do not have to break the bank, especially if you’re happy to support your local running clubs for a cheer and a smile rather than handing over your hard-earned cash to a bigger company for a metal plate on a ribbon you won’t know what to do with by the time you get home 🙂
Below is the list of the races I have come across in the North-East to date with a £10 or lower entry fee for affiliated runners (unaffiliated prices are listed second). Race entries where possible will be linked in the race title, and if I’ve run them before you’ll find them in my Race Reviews list on the menu to the right. This list is not exhaustive, and there will be more which become available as events are finalised throughout the year.
If you’re willing to go up to £15, the list opens out a bit more with 5M/10k options from local running clubs featuring, but currently I’m trying to stick with what’s available for up to £10 knowing travel costs for some can easily creep it up to £15.
This list was last updated on 2nd June 2024.
Free Events
There’s always a parkrun! Timed 5k events on Saturday mornings at 9am all over the world!
National Trust run the Trust 10 at several of their properties around the country. Unfortunately Cragside in Northumberland no longer host one but a new one has opened at Ormesby Hall in Teesside and you may be able to pick another one up on your travels.
Virtual Events
Race the Distance are a site I have used before for virtual events which give a medal. Several are under £10 and they’re all very shiny. I’m currently enrolled on their 500 mile annual challenge for 2024 – it’s not going very well!
Race at Your Pace are great for monthly running/walking mileage challenges to get you out the door if you’re a bling motivated individual! The monthly medals will set you back approx. £12/month.
Great Run offer a 9 week Couch to 5k program with medal for £10 if that helps motivate you to get your trainers on! There are obviously free apps available (NHS/Garmin/etc.) so this is by no means the only way to achieve 5k from a standing start.
April 2024
3/4 Pies and Peas Trail – 5k – Trimdon Grange – Muddy Roads – £10/£12
3/4 DT24 Race 2: Locomotion – 5k – Darlington – Darlington Trail Team – £5
3/4 Monthly Mile – 1M – South Shields – Run Eat Sleep – £4 (£18 for yearly pass)
24/4 Spring Coast Road 5k – 5k – Redcar – New Marske Harriers – £6.50/£9
25/4 Middridge Trail – 5k – Newton Aycliffe – Muddy Roads – £6/£8
25/4 Cockfield Chase Fell Race – 7k – Cockfield – Durham Fell Runners – £5 (FRA only)/£6
May 2024
1/5 DT24 Race 3: Cummins – 5k – Darlington – Darlington Trail Team – £5
1/5 Monthly Mile – 1M – South Shields – Run Eat Sleep – £4 (£18 for yearly pass)
19/5 DT24 Race 1: Baydale Beck – 10k – Darlington – Darlington Trail Team – £10 (£25 for series of 4 races)
22/5 Latterbarrow Loop – 3M – Lowther – Cumberland Fell Runners – £5 (on day entry)
23/5 The Saltburn Trail – 5k – Saltburn – Muddy Roads – £6/£8
29/5 DT24 Race 4: South Park – 5k – Darlington – Darlington Trail Team – £5
29/5 Penshaw Hill Race – TBC! – Penshaw – Sunderland Harriers – £8/£10 (on day entry)
June 2024
4/6 Summer Night Series – 5k – Ormesby Hall – More Than A Run – £5
5/6 Monthly Mile – 1M – South Shields – Run Eat Sleep – £4 (£18 for yearly pass)
9/6 Isaac’s Tea Trail Recce – 19M – Allendale – Greener Miles Running – £10
16/6 Yomp Mountain Festival – 5k – Kirby Stevens – Yomp Mountain Challenge – £5
20/6 The Lordstones Trail – 5k – Lordstones – Muddy Roads – £6/£8
26/6 DT24 Race 5: West Park – 5k – Darlington – Darlington Trail Team – £5
July 2024
2/7 Summer Night Series – 5k – Ormesby Hall – More Than A Run – £5
3/7 Monthly Mile – 1M – South Shields – Run Eat Sleep – £4 (£18 for yearly pass)
9/7 Cock Crow 5k – 5k – Hebburn – Jarrow and Hebburn AC – £10/£12
10/7 Summer Coast Road 5k – 5k – Redcar – New Marske Harriers – £6.50/£9
10/7 Curfew Fun Run – 1.28M – Berwick Upon Tweed – Tweed Striders – £8
14/7 DT24 Race 2: Darlington Trail – 10k – Darlington – Darlington Trail Team – £10 (£25 for series of 4 races)
16/7 Chapelfell Top Fell Race – 7k – Weardale – Durham Fell Runners – £5 (FRA only)/£6
18/7 The Pine Forest Trail – 5k – Middlesbrough – Muddy Roads – £6/£8
24/7 DT24 Race 6: Baydale Beck – 5k – Darlington – Darlington Trail Team – £5
24/7 Willow Miner’s Trail Race – 5.4M – Durham – Elvet Striders – £10/£12
30/7 Kirkcarrion Hill Race – 4.2M – Middleton-in-Teesdale – Middleton-in-Teesdale Carnival – FREE
August 2024
4/8 Dalston Festival – 10k – Dalston, Carlisle – £10 if registered before 30th June, otherwise £12 (I know this is technically North-West!)
6/8 Summer Night Series – 5k – Ormesby Hall – More Than A Run – £5
7/8 Monthly Mile – 1M – South Shields – Run Eat Sleep – £4 (£18 for yearly pass)
7/8 DT24 Race 7: Riverside – 5k – Darlington – Darlington Trail Team – £5
22/8 Newham Grange Farm Trail – 5k – Newham Grange – Muddy Roads – £6/£8
September 2024
1/9 Anne Allan Trail – 9k – Alnwick – Alnwick Harriers – £10
4/9 Autumn Coast Road 5k – 5k – Redcar – New Marske Harriers – £6.50/£9
7/9 Cronkley Fell Race – 17k – Barnard Castle – Durham Fell Runners – £8 (FRA only)/£9
11/9 DT24 Race 8: Harrogate Hill – 5k – Darlington – Darlington Trail Team – £5
11/9 Monthly Mile – 1M – South Shields – Run Eat Sleep – £4 (£18 for yearly pass)
15/9 DT24 Race 3: Locomotion Trail – 10k – Darlington – Darlington Trail Team – £10 (£25 for series of 4 races)
28/9 Orton Fell Race – 10k – Orton – £10
October 2024
2/10 Monthly Mile – 1M – South Shields – Run Eat Sleep – £4 (£18 for yearly pass)
16/10 DT24 Race 4: Darlington Trail Night Run – 5k/10k – Darlington – Darlington Trail Team – £5 for 5k, £10 for 10k (£25 for series of 4x 10k races)
30/10 The Halloween 5k Trail – 5k – Trimdon Grange – Muddy Roads – £10/£12
November 2024
6/11 Monthly Mile – 1M – South Shields – Run Eat Sleep – £4 (£18 for yearly pass)
12/11 Winter Night Series – 5k – Ormesby Hall – More Than A Run – £5
December 2024
3/12 Winter Night Series – 5k – Ormesby Hall – More Than A Run – £5
4/12 Monthly Mile – 1M – South Shields – Run Eat Sleep – £4 (£18 for yearly pass)
20/12 Silent Night Fell Race – 6.6k – Weardale – Durham Fell Runners – £6 (FRA only)/£8
Blue Runnings 