Durham Readies for Tourism Surge with First-Ever Garmin Marathon Durham is set to host its inaugural Garmin marathon, marking a significant milestone for the city’s growing sports tourism industry. The event, which will take place this weekend, will see 6,000 runners from 46 U.S. states and 17 countries participating in the 26.2-mile race. The course will begin at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and conclude at Brooks Field at Duke’s Wallace Wade Stadium, offering participants a scenic route through the city’s downtown area. Marcus Manning, Executive Director of the Durham Sports Commission, expressed enthusiasm about the marathon’s potential to boost the local economy. “We’re excited to have the Garmin Marathon Series here in Durham, one of three destinations to have it,” Manning said. He emphasized that the event’s economic impact will extend beyond the race itself, benefiting hotels, restaurants, and small businesses. “All these sectors play a role, and they’re going to experience economic impact,” he added. The marathon aligns with Durham’s broader strategy to attract large-scale sporting events. According to the Durham Sports Commission, sports tourism contributed $14.2 million to the local economy in fiscal year 2025, driven by 48 events and over 93,000 spectators. Steve Lovell, Garmin International’s Director of Advertising, highlighted the city’s unique appeal as a host. “We researched over 50 different cities, trying to figure out what would be good space, places to go, where could we launch the cities at, and Durham just came to mind,” Lovell said. He noted that Durham’s combination of a distinctive character and minimal competition from other major races made it an ideal choice.#duke_university #durham #garmin_marathon #durham_bulls_athletic_park #marcus_manning
Sam Northeast sets coordinates for promotion on return to Kent Sam Northeast, the former Kent batter, expressed confidence that his home county can achieve "something special" during his return to the club after a nine-year absence. The Ashford-born player, who previously spent a decade with Kent before moving to Hampshire and Glamorgan, is back on home soil this season. Kent finished at the bottom of County Championship Division Two last year following relegation, but Northeast, 36, is optimistic about a resurgence. "there's an inner belief that we could do something special this year but we have to go out and prove it," Northeast said in an interview with BBC Radio Kent. "we're quietly confident of a good season. the aim for the club has got to be to get promotion over the next few years, and to play a part in that would be special. to get a bit of silverware would be equally special." Northeast, who holds the record for the highest first-class score at Lord's—335 not out against Middlesex in 2024—also reflected on his recent stint with Glamorgan. He captained the Welsh side in the red-ball game for two seasons and previously led Kent during his initial spell with the club. "leaving glamorgan on a high—getting promotion for the first time in 20-odd years—was nice," he added. "the goal for me is to make sure kent is one of the top clubs in the country again." The club’s director of cricket, Simon Cook, aims to leverage Northeast’s experience to mentor the team’s younger batting talent. "when i sat down with cooky, he wanted to make sure the young guys coming through were mentored in the right way," Northeast explained. "it's not a definitive role within the club, but it's something i would naturally do anyway.#kent #sam_northeast #bbc_radio_kent #simon_cook #durham
