Durham running clubs can be found across County Durham, with plenty based in Durham city itself.

Running is a great way to get fit as well as socialise and have some fun. With plenty of running competitions across the North East - from park runs through to the Great North Run itself - joining Durham running clubs can be a good way to stay motivated and get the support you need.

ExplorAR has pulled together a selection of some Durham running clubs that you can try out if you're looking for things to do in Durham and want to get into jogging or competitive running.

Durham City Harriers

Durham City Harriers is one of the large Durham running clubs with about 400 members taking part in running and other athletics activities. Based at Maiden Castle, Durham City Harriers benefit from the excellent facilities at Durham University.

Membership is open to anyone aged eight years and above; up to 17 years old, members will be part of the junior section, with members eight-10 also part of the mini athletes section.

The Durham City Harriers training sessions take place every Tuesday and Thursday at Maiden Castle Sports Centre. All groups meet by the shelters next to the track at the rear of the centre from 6.30pm.

You can attend up to four sessions by invitation to try out Durham City Harriers before you join; each of these sessions costs £2. Email dchmembership@yahoo.com to enquire. After that, Durham City Harriers yearly membership costs £65 (£55 if paid by the end of April), family £134 (£114), junior 10 to 17 years £53 (£45), mini athlete eight or nine £43 (£37), concessions £42 (£36), second claim (ie when a member of another club as first claim for race representation) £37 (£32).

Elvet Striders

Another Durham running club based at Maiden Castle, Elvet Striders has expanded from its small beginnings and now runs near their maximum membership limit of 450. If you apply and there is no room, you will be put on a waiting list but can still take part in a trial period.

Meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays, Elvet Striders puts on coaches for its members for the more popular runs in the North of England and to club activities. Elvet Striders members take part in a variety of running including cross country, league, orienteering, fell running, trail running and even ultra marathons.

Elvet Striders coach pickup points are Annfield Plain, Lanchester bowling green, Kaysburn roundabout, Witton Gilbert Travellers Rest, Sacriston Dorothy Terrace/Witton Road at the Crossroads Health Centre, Framwellgate Moor Salutation, North Road viaduct opposite Dominos, Gilesgate outbound layby on the A690 under the footbridge, and Belmont Park and Ride.

Prospective members can attend up to three trial sessions at Elvet Striders' Maiden Castle base. Yearly membership is £43, or £20 for Durham University staff and students. You can apply for Elvet Striders membership by emailing elvetstridersmembership@gmail.com

Durham Fell Runners

If you're specifically looking for Durham running clubs specialising in offroad running, then Durham Fell Runners could be the club for you. Durham Fell Runners meet at Hamsterley Forest car park next to the visitor centre on Thursday nights. They meet at 6.45pm for a 7pm start, and are finished by about 8.15pm. Training sessions vary, and are usually announced on their Facebook page.

Durham Fell Runners membership costs £30 including England Athletics membership, and £20 without for social runners. Go along to a meeting in the first instance to try it out.

Teesdale Athletic Club

Teesdale Athletic Club could be a good Durham running club for you if you're based near Barnard Castle. Established in 1984, Teesdale Athletic Club is an athletics and running club; it mainly focuses on road running but Teesdale Athletic Club also supports children aged five-17 in a variety of other athletics too including cross country, fell running, orienteering and track and field.

Teesdale Athletic Club has a couch to 5k programme: this is specifically designed for beginners who aren't sure how to go about starting their running hobby.

Teesdale Athletic Club generally runs on Tuesday or Thursday at 6pm starting from Teesdale Leisure Centre. As well as the set training, many members also meet at 9am every Sunday morning at the Teesdale Leisure Centre in Barnard Castle.

Teesdale Athletic Club fees includes the UK England Athletics registration, which is £15 per person, and the club fee, which is £25 seniors, £16 under 18s, £5 over 65s, £15 concessions, and £19.50 per term for under 12s and track and field (11-16 years old).

Shildon Running Club

Running a variety of adult sessions, junior sessions and mixed gender, Shildon Running Club meets every Monday and Wednesday 6-8pm at Shildon Sunnydale Leisure Centre.

Paying per sessions costs £2, while yearly fees are £20 for adults, £15 for juniors 11-17, and £7 for under 11s. You can email Shildon Running Club on shildonrunningclub@gmail.com

Riverside Striders

A Durham running club based in Chester le Street, Riverside Striders welcomes new runners and has members running everything from 5k upwards. The run leaders plan sessions for all abilities. Riverside Striders also has links to the couch to 5k course, which could be a good way to build confidence first.

Riverside Striders meet every Thursday evening at 6.30pm at the Riverside Leisure Complex, Chester le Street, by the roundabout situated next to the running track. If you think Riverside Striders might be the Durham running club for you, in the first instance you can contact them on riversidestriders@gmail.com

Sedgefield Harriers

Sedgefield Harriers is a Durham running club with a wide variety of disciplines. The endurance seniors compete on road, cross country, fell running, trail and track and even track and field.

Sedgefield Harriers meet at Sedgefield Community College in Sedgefield, County Durham, with senior training sessions taking place most nights of the week and juniors club nights on Wednesdays, all supported by a strong team of coaches.

Sedgefield Harriers membership fees are £39 adults, £24 for over 60s, and £21 for students. New members can try out the club for four weeks, after which they will have to pay £1 per week. Contact the secretary on ahummelinck@yahoo.co.uk

Houghton Harriers

Having merged with Peterlee, the two Durham running clubs formed a larger organisation that now has more of a competitive edge at race meetings. Houghton Harriers encourages the inclusion of all age groups and abilities and is structured to participate in all track and field events. It also has a youth development policy for children aged nine or over. New members are always welcome and of all abilities.

Houghton Harriers training session days are Mondays and Wednesdays at 7-8pm. Wednesday meetups are at Houghton Kepier School, as are Monday sessions in winter. In the summer, Monday meetups are at Silksworth track.

Houghton Harriers members take part in the North East Division One Young Athletes League, the Junior Men Tyne League, and the Senior Men North East Division Two. You can email Houghton Harriers at houghtonharriersac@gmail.com or contact them via their Facebook page.

Derwent Valley Trail Runners

Derwent Valley Trail Runners is a Durham running club whose members love running on trails, and have a beautiful part of County Durham in which to do it. They meet in Dipton Village in the main car park in front of the surgery at 6.30pm every Tuesday for a coach-led training session focusing on all aspects of trail running. Derwent Valley Trail Runners also has a regular club run every Thursday at 6.30pm. Runs last about an hour. They also meet most Sunday mornings at 9am.

Senior annual Derwent Valley Trail Runners membership fees are £20, while second claim and junior membership are £14. Either go along to a run or contact them via Facebook.

Crook and District Athletic Club

Crook and District Athletic Club is a small and friendly running club and is one of the Durham running clubs who run for fun, with the occasional competition. They welcome new members of all ages and abilities.

Crook and District Athletic Club is based at Shildon Sunnydale Stadium. The main senior session is on Tuesday nights from 6pm and junior night is on Thursdays from 6pm, as well as informal runs organised on their Facebook page.

Tuesday night sessions at Shildon cost £2. Crook AC membership fees for the year are £35 for competing members if paid before March 31 2019 and £75 after for existing members. Non-competing membership is £30 and social members £20; under 18s and concessions £20 before March 31.

Go along and try them out, or contact Crook and District Athletic Club at grahamlaverick@hotmail.co.uk

Chester le Street and District Athletics Club

As well as running, Chester le Street and District Athletics Club also takes part in high jump, long jump, triple jump and discus. They meet at Chester le Street Riverside Leisure Centre, next to Durham County Cricket Club.

Anyone aged eight upwards can go along and receive coaching and compete in local, regional and national events. Membership costs £40 for senior and junior competing members, £35 for non competing members and £20 for under 11s.

You can contact Chester le Street and District Athletics Club at info@chesterlestreetac.com