The course begins at the corner of the athletics track at Durham University's Maiden Castle sports facility around the 200m point. Heading towards Shincliffe the first part of the course is over grass before heading onto the riverside path on the nearside bank of the River Wear. The run continues along the path before crossing the wooden bridge to the other side of the river. Turning right at the end of the bridge, still on a riverside path the route heads again towards Shincliffe before a period running around the outer edge of a series of grass playing fields. This leads back to the wooden bridge at which point you re-join the riverside path and head right towards Durham City centre. The route heads over a reasonably narrow second bridge and after this the reminder of the run is a largely flat tarmac path that crosses Baths Bridge and finishes near the bandstand on the Racecourse in central Durham City where the finish funnel will be clearly visible.