The Dun Holm Challenge 2026 - All Days

About The Event

Official start time 9.30am (10:30am on Saturday due to Parkrun - runners can incorporate Durham Parkrun into their run)

Join us for our Dun Holm Challenge around our popular Durham route. The theme of this year's Challenge is Durham itself. The medal will feature the Dun Cow statue and various place names aorund the City.

This event is perfect for anyone wanting a new challenge for 2026. You can enter all five days at once or enter the events individually, if you sign up for all 5 days you will also receive a t-shirt which can have your 5 in 5 days distance on! The t-shirts are available in both men's and women's sizes from XS to XXL. We normally wait to order the T-Shirts until we know the distances you complete, meaning they will be available around 6 weeks after the event.

Location: Durham Amateur Rowing Club, Green Ln, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3JU

Early Bird Price: £110.00 (affiliated) / £120.00 (unattached) - available to 30 June 2025

Normal Price: £125.00 (affiliated) / £135.00 (unattached)

Members Price: £105.00 - you must be a member to achieve this price.

Distance & Time

This is a 7 hour Time Challenge event which allows you full control over the distance you want to run. The minimum distance is 3km, which is part of a lap. A full lap is 4.37 miles or 7km (this is subject to change to a 3.28 mile loop depending on course conditions) and you can run as many, or as few, of these laps as you like subject to UK athletics age restrictions (please see the restrictions below). We will have a 3k turn point and 5k turn point within the lap which is available to allow our younger runners to comply with the UK Athletics distance rules. It is 3 laps for a half marathon, 6 for a marathon and 7 or over for an ultra, we also have a 50km distance available.

Course

The course is along a beautiful stretch of the River Wear with views of the Cathedral and is classified as a trail run. It is fully signed so no navigational experience is required.

All abilities are welcome at our super-inclusive events and we also welcome walkers too.

Medals & Pins

As long as you complete 3km, you will be an official finisher and you will receive our fantastic themed medals!

We also have distance pins available for anyone who runs a half-marathon distance or more. Pins available to collect are our Half-Marathon, Mega-Half, Marathon, 50km and Ultra pins. You will receive one pin on the ribbon of your medal to reflect your achievement.

Goody Bag

Absolutely! You have earned these replacement calories after all, so all our finishers get a great goody bag. You will have a selection of goodies to choose from. As well as our standard goody bag, we have a vegan goody bag too. Please let us know if you are vegan or if you prefer a vegan goody bag when you enter and we can have this ready for you.

Aid Table

We have a fantastic aid table and drinks table at the start / finish of each lap. There is an incredible selection of drinks and savoury or sweet snacks such as crisps, cheese, fruit and cookies with vegan options also available.

Special Event

If our event is a special event for you, for instance your 50th, 99th, 100th, 150th, 200th, 250th etc. marathon or half marathon then please let us know. We will provide you with a great number with your name and the event date on it. 

Venue Facilities

Toilets and changing facilities are available at the race HQ. Bag drop is near the start and finish area. Runners should be aware the bag drop is not staffed and items are left at the sole responsibility of the participant. No liability for lost items will be accepted by the Organiser.

Car Parking

There is nearby free on-street parking or pay and display city centre parking

Race Day Instructions & Number Pick Up

Final race day instructions will be sent out via email 7-10 days prior to the event with full race day information. Number pick up is on the day at race registration before the start of the event.

Other Information

There will be somewhere to leave a bag at the start / finish area. However, this is not a secure bag and the items cannot be watched at all times so please do not leave anything valuable.

Headphones are allowed, but these must be bone conducting.

Our running events are held on public footpaths so we would be grateful if all runners were considerate of other path users.