Endurance Life CTS Northumberland 2018

Last year I think I spat out my dummy over this event. I just wasn't in the mood for it, the tide was in so it was often a choice between running on very soft sand or running in the sea. I tried both and neither worked very well. I had a terrible second half and walked lots. However, I somehow managed to get third prize in my age category 😕

And the prize was an online discount code for another Endurance Life event. Given that most of them are miles away, it seemed the obvious thing to do was to enter it again and see if it went any better.

The forecast looked pretty sunny with the wind mainly in our faces for the first six miles or so then the rest of the way it would be behind us. It looked like it would be a bit cold. This was how it turned out. The race ends in Bamburgh Castle and you register there and they put you on a coach to near Alnwick Castle and then you run back.

Melanie was doing the marathon as well so we stayed in Ashington to reduce the driving and arrived at Bamburgh at about 7.45. It is a very pretty venue

and the views are great

Melanie took this lovely one

The briefing took place in a sheltered courtyard this year, which was much better than last year when it took place on the very windy battlements. Then it was on to the warm coaches to the start at Alnwick

It starts with a lovely stretch by the River Aln

My memory of this section to Alnmouth was that it was pretty flat. It isn't, it undulates but nothing too serious. The course had been described as claggy at the briefing, but compared to my other three long events this year it was easy going.

Last year they put in a muddy diversion because the stepping stones were under water, but they were fine to cross this year.

On under the railway line near Lesbury and up some more hills

before we approached Alnmouth harbour

Past the first checkpoint and on to the beach in front of Alnmouth Golf Club

An unusual aspect of this event is there was not a single marshal out on the course, except at checkpoints. It was superbly well marked. They even had signs to let you know that you have taken a wrong turn and should back up. They did supply a GPS on the website and the signed route did diverge from this at one point. Otherwise the whole event appeared to go like clockwork which isn't easy when you have a 10k, half, marathon and ultra. We didn't consider the ultra as it involved running past the finish and doing another 9 mile loop !

On towards Boulmer

and then onto the lovely Longhougton

Before Craster we past the halfway point in 2hr 30min which was fine. On into Craster which looked lovely. Here three children came running towards us thinking Melanie was their Mum. This was news to me. However, their Dad reassured them that she just looked like their Mum. I hope that wasn't just a cover story...

I had my first wobble on the way to Dunstanburgh, I started to walk a bit more than I should have been. However, I picked it up a bit

and on to the dunes above Embleton Beach

Through Low Newton and on to Checkpoint 3 at Newton Links. After this, at about 20m, I realised I was slowing rapidly. Melanie was getting very cold and so she went on to keep warm. I came to the Brunton Burn crossing

In Beadnell Bay there were many kite surfers

I noticed at this point that all the other runners in sight were going round the beach quite high up and it was shorter to go close to the sea. The sand looked a bit wetter, but it was fine. I saved a bit of time doing this, which was helpful later.

On past Beadnell and on to the beach again where I saved more time sticking close to the sea. Last year crossing Annstead Burn meant wading up to the top of my thighs, but this year with the tide out is was much easier. On to Seahouses

and finally on to the beach to Bamburgh. Again so much easier than last year and I employed another direct route. The wind was helping us a lot in this section. I had in mind a finish under 5hr 30min and kept trying to keep going. I just made it by a couple of minutes. I found Melanie who had finished about 10 minutes before me. This was her 49th marathon/ultra which is an amazing achievement ! We went on to the cafe in the Castle and had something to eat before going back to the car. Melanie took this photo before we left.

Age category prizes and only announced during the week following the event, so I am wondering if I will get another online voucher and be doing this again next year ?

Hardmoors Saltburn marathon 2018

This was going to be my twenty fifth Hardmoors marathon. Some of these marathons have been over 30 miles so it gets a bit confusing when there are Hardmoors 30 mile and Hardmoors Princess 30 mile events. Today I was meant to be running with Elly and Kath, but sadly Kath is injured so she was helping out in the Sports Hall which is the start and finish. Melanie was running the half and she came down separately and I was able to see her briefly before we started.

What is lovely about the Hardmoors events is that they are friendly and the marshalls out on the course play a big part in that. They are all runners who are either injured or who are volunteering to stand outside in the windy and very cold conditions. This marshall was at Lauren and Chris's party marshalling point.

The event starts with a run down a road before the descent into Valley Gardens where it is sheltered

Then onto the sea front

before the climb up on to the cliffs and these are the views back to Saltburn

At the top of our climb is the famous wind vane (this picture was taken by Melanie)

and shortly after there was an unofficial photographer (photo taken by Steven Carter)

 and the descent down towards Skinningrove where last year the wind was so strong it was nearly blowing us back up the steps. This year the wind had been behind us and not as strong

After Skinningrove there is sharp climb upwards

where the Sports Sunday photographer was positioned

and then onto the party checkpoint which was full of inflatables and music

 The views back before we left were great, the weather was cold but you could see for miles

Then it was into the wind which I could feel despite three layers on my upper body. Through Skinningove Mining Museum, Carlin Howe and out into muddy fields

Through Skelton, West Skelton and Slapewath and into Guisborough Woods. Jon, the race director, plays a cruel trick with the route at this point. You climb up to be this high above Guisborough

and then he send you down a very muddy descent

before you have a long muddy drag all the way up to High Cliff Nab. Here is the very muddy final section

and then you get another view of Guisborough

Through the woods and out on to the waterlogged moors, which were very grim in the wind and the rain last year. This year there was a bit if a cold wind, so not as bad, but bot really fun. You then start to go downhill back to the finish. You descend down into Valley Gardens and under the Saltburn Viaduct.

In the hall it was pretty cold, but there were hot showers and after that Jon presented me with my 1000 miles Hardmoors fleece - I completed the 1000 miles at Goathland in November, but it takes a while to get the fleece sorted.

A tough day out again with the cold and the mud, but it was great to have Elly's company !