Northumberland Coast marathon 2012

The weekend started with me tail running at Durham parkrun. Most Saturdays at Durham the tail runner does run, but for my fifth time, I had two walkers who were a long way behind the last runner. However, they did better than some of the walkers I have followed,clocking a time of about 54min - I have had two sets who have taken an hour or more. I think everyone is welcome at parkruns and not running was probably a good way for me to prepare for the following day

Melanie did a good time and as usual at Durham we had breakfast with lots of friends and clubmates at the university sports centre which is the HQ for the Durham parkrun.

On the Sunday I left early to get to the start at the lovely village Alnmouth - Melanie was not running this one, though she would have done if she had been able to get a number - the organiser said he could easily have added a couple of hundred more runners who wanted to do it.

The route is an out and back to the bridge just south of Beadnell. It basically follows the Northumberland Coastal Run route, a very popular run which goes from Beadnell to Alnmouth, but with the vast majority of the road sections replaced by trail. It passes a spectacular ruined castle, a lovely seaside village and goes along some beautiful beaches.

There were about eighty runners at the start with a large contingent from the Porter Valley Plodders from Sheffield who were using it as a club day out. It was hot with no wind at this point, so I knew it was going to be tough. Jovi runner was a bit unsure about the route, so she ran with me for about 4m after which the route is pretty straightforward. There is no way I could keep up with her even though she is on a come back from injury. However, I continued at a pace which was probably too quick and I got to halfway in 2hr 14min which was almost exactly the time I had done on the Coastal Run four weeks ago. I felt that I might suffer because of this and I did. Soon after turning back the sky clouded over and a slight head wind started, but the wind was not the reason I slowed, it was just going too quick in the hot first half. On the way back I really suffered from Dunstanburgh Castle until Boulmer in the same way I suffered from Boulmer to the end last year. I could see a sub 5hr time disappearing, not a disaster but it would nice to be sub 5. Then suddenly after Boulmer something changed and I ran the rest of the way and came in with 4hr 53, so I was happy with that time overall.

Looking back I don't think I spent enough time looking at the scenery this time. It is stunning and I think I was taking it for granted on this run. Must do better

Then it was a quick change and a drive home and off to the staff barbecue at the Castle. A bonus was a heavily discounted overnight stay in the poshest suite in the Castle  The evening was good though in the middle of the evening I was so tired, I had to have a nap for an hour !

Elsecar Skelter 27m 2012

What a great event this is. Miles of lovely scenery, not too many long hills, great views, well stocked checkpoint (biscuits, sandwiches, canned fruit in bowls, bananas and apples and of course lots of cake at two of them). Pie and peas at the end and all this for £8.50

The views from Wharncliffe Craggs are very special. The many follies and churches are also interesting and helped me to forget how far we had to go - I kept being surprised at how far we had come.

No cramp this week and we were able to make good progress finishing in 5hr 23min which knocks 35min of Melanie's pb (she has only done LDWA marathons so far - road marathons and their water stations are going to be a bit of a shock !). It is her third marathon and second within six days. I think she is hooked

I made one mistake. I got a bit complacent with the route and blindly followed the route I did two years ago without looking at the map or the route description. We ended up going through shoulder high nettles and both our legs were throbbing for the rest of the day from all the stings. Looking at the route description later, we missed a new right turn, but we soon picked up the route again

I hope they run it again next year, we chatted to the organiser and encouraged him

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/89XfBcDhVJcnJtw26

Dovedale Dipper 26m 2012

Yesterday we went to do the Newcastle parkrun to see Chris and Caroline Renton. It was good to see them both for a catch up. We ran with PenW and it was great to chat with her.

We headed off soon after the finish and dove down to Matlock and had a look around the town before heading off to our night's accommodation.

Up early and on to Hartington for my second Dovedale Dipper. Plenty of people I knew there and chatted to them and some other runners. Started at 10 and we noticed fairly quickly that the ground was pretty wet and it was much muddier than last year. We were making good progress, but just after the steep hill at 15m I started to get cramps in both calves. I slowed down and walked more. It had started to rain in the second half and it was pretty heavy in places. MelanieLH was getting cold so she went on to keep herself warm. She did great on her second marathon and finished just under 6hr. I struggled, the calf cramps seemed to have taken lots of energy out of my legs. But I made it, 6hr 25min.

Hopefully it should go better next week

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ar2hwUqCDBVUB67u5

Osmotherley Phoenix 26m 2012

There is a lovely atmosphere at this event, it is held in conjunction with the Osmotherly Summer Games and they block off the main street so that all sorts of stalls can be put up. The only downside to the event is that the car parking is at least a mile away from the start/finish. It is not too bad before the start, but it is a bit harder at the end ...

It was also great to see many people from the Hardmoors events and Kev Scone who we bumped into several times during the first half 

The route follows the Cleveland Way for the first half. There was a lot of mist about and there were times you couldn't see very far ahead. The rocks were slippery and MelanieLH fell on the descent from Scarth Wood Moor, but luckily there was no damage. We got to Scugdale and the first manned checkpoint which had wine gums and jaffa cakes. 

We then started the long drag up to the top of Carlton Bank but we missed out on all the views as the mist was down and we could only see about 50 yards. Then the tricky descent to Lordstones cafe which we took slowly because the rocks were slippery. There was another checkpoint at the bottom with slabs of malt loaf, flapjack and chocolate covered rice crispies. We couldn't resist.

After the cafe you could choose to go over Cringle Moor, the next hill (what is that called ?) and Wainstones or you could contour round all three. We chose to contour round  but that route is always muddy, today it was just a quagmire. We rescued a whole group of runners who had contoured round Cringle Moor and were about to head off up the next two hills without realising. Down to Clay Bank and more food 

Then another big climb up Carr Ridge and to Round Hill followed by a lovely descent to Chop Gate and yet more food  The hill out of Chop Gate is a monster, especially having run 16m at this point. Then it was paths through the heather which were hard to run on they were so muddy. I lost my enthusiasm at this point, but I knew I would get better after a couple of miles and it did once we had got to the Wheat Beck checkpoint (and you guessed it, more food)

The next bit to Oakdale Head I hadn't done before as I have done the 33m route when I have done this before and that goes off in a different direction at Wheat Beck. We went up to another moor which again was very boggy. This was MelanieLH's time for a low mood, she wanted it over now, it was her first marathon and she wanted it to be finished.

Once we got to Oakdale Head and we could see Osmotherley in the distance, she was fine and we headed mainly downhill to the finish. She was very happy to finish, it has been only four months since she finished radiotherapy, she has done amazingly well to recover so quickly from that. It was great to run with her on her first marathon 

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ar2hwUqCDBVUB67u5

Hamsterley Forest marathon 2012

This clashed with the Lakeland Trails marathon that I enjoyed last year, but as Hamsterley was nearer and it was the first time it had been held, I thought I would give it a go. As the date got nearer I remembered that last time I ran through Hamsterley in June the midges had been awful so I was beginning to think I had made a error. As it turned out they weren't a problem for me ay all, but one runner was covered in bites.

Crazy Lady from my club asked if she could run with me. As she is faster than me I didn't think she would stay with me too long, but she stayed until 23m and then sped off. I think I probably ran a bit faster then I would have done on my own

The course started with 2m flat section along road followed by 3 laps of 7.5m ending with the same 2m back to the start/finish. Each lap consisted of 3 climbs uphill to halfway and then a lovely gentle 3.5m gentle downhill section. We walked all the hills and then made good time on the downhills.

The weather was pretty good, there was a bit of wind but on the climbs we were sheltered by the trees and and on the downhills it was behind us  Very light drizzle now and then but that helped to keep us cool. Plenty of water stations and marshalls and even a fetchpoint consisting of Jovi Runner and Nrgee - thank you for your encouragement 

Another well organised North East Marathon Club event

Very pleased to finish under 5 hours - 4h 51min

Karrimor Great Trail Challenge marathon 2012

The first time for this event and you could do various different events: marathon, half marathon and 10K either running or walking). MelanieLH, Yusuf and I drove over for the day to Keswick. We were lucky enough to get a parking place near the start/finish field. The main spectator area was a bit of a quagmire, but there was an enormous start/finish gantry, plenty of catering a secure baggage area (but outdoors !). The work 'Great' in the title of this event indicates it was organised by the the same people who do the GNR. Entry was expensive and the tee-shirt was cotton which is no surprise for these events. However on the plus side, it was well marshalled, signposted, plenty of water stations and chip timing.

Yusuf and I were doing the marathon and Melanie was doing the half, which set off 30min after the marathon. The marathon had about 70 runners and it consisted of two big laps and two small laps in that order (the half was one big, one small). We did a loop of the field before heading for the old railway line and running east and ascending gently. I usually love running along this bit, but after four trips along it today, I wasn't quite so fond of it the fourth time. What I like about is the numerous bridges over the river which was in full flood. We turned off at the same place as the Lakeland Trail Derwentwater race (LTDR) but went right instead of left and climbed a fairly big hill before turning down the way the LTDR comes up, then a sharp right uphill before a nice undulating section through woods until we hit Lonscale Farm. The climb up Lonscale Fell was one of the hardest climbs I have done in a trail race. Unrunnable. Finally got to the the trail the LTDR comes down on and then headed towards the Latrigg car park and then plunge down to Keswick. 

As I was climbing up Lonscale Fell I was seriously thinking of stopping at the end of lap 1 (7.9m). The thought of that climb again was not something I fancied. However the plunge down from Latrigg brightened my spirits and I realised when I got to the end of lap 1, that I could do it again. It wasn't so bad the second time.

The third time was the short lap and after the railway line we turned left and climbed directly towards Latrigg although when we reached the top we skirted the top and came back to the Latrigg car park. Still it was quite a climb.

At the start of the fourth lap it seemed clear I would finish somewhere between 5 and 5hr 30, so I ran/walked the railway line, climbed the hill and took it easy on the descent to Keswick. 5hr 18, I am happy with that on such a tough course.

Would I recommend it (I seem to be the only Fetchie doing it this year). Not strongly, it is not as good as the Lakeland Trails marathon in my view. The laps make it seem harder, you run past the finish three times before you finish. I have done plenty of marathons which involve laps but for some reason I just didn't enjoy the laps here (maybe because they were so tough)

Would I do it again ? Hmm, possibly not, but I have said that before immediately after finishing.

Yusuf did a great time 4hr 52 on his last marathon before returning home. MelanieLH found the half marathon tough but did a great with 2hr 16min 

Brathay Windermere marathon 2012

I joined the Striders in August 2005 with the mindset that at the ripe old age of 54, it was far too late to start running marathons. This resistance lasted just over a year until the Autumn of 2006 when someone sent round an email about a new marathon round Windermere. I was very tempted, so I thought that if I was going to do one marathon, what could be more scenic than running round Windermere. Anyway May seemed a very long way away...

So I entered, did some training and in May 2007 turned up at the lovely Brathay Hall next to the lake. It was a lovely location, the organisation was great and there was a great atmosphere. My children came and watched their Dad do his one marathon. Everything went fine until 21m, I was enjoying it, but soon after I was hit by cramp and my training was shown to be inadequate. The last few miles were tough. Still it had been a lovely day and I had completed a marathon and there was no way I was going to do another one. My daughter reminds me of this frequently.

Six months later the pain had receded in my memory and I entered Windermere again and more marathons and ultras after that. In 2011 I went slightly mad and completed thirty marathons or ultras in my sixtieth year. This year I am going to take it easier, but running the Windermere marathon has always been on my list, so I was back for my sixth time round the lake and my sixty fourth marathon/ultra.

The event is always preceded by truly amazing people who run the course ten times in ten days with the final day on the day of the marathon. As usual I went over early on day 9 to see the runners on the route, a few of whom I know. One of them was doing the event for the fourth time, that is forty times round the lake ! Melanie came with me and we found it pretty cold on the Saturday. There were eighteen runners doing the ten in ten this year and they all finished, but it was very hard work for some of them. Some of them were out there for eight hours on some days, which does not leave much time to recover before the next day. I have been tempted by this event especially before they set off for the final day, but once I am out there on the course, my enthusiasm evaporates. It is a very scenic but it is a hilly course and the thought of doing that route every day, well not for me.

The weather on the day of the marathon was much warmer, sunny and no wind. I saw the ten in ten runners off, they start an hour before the main event, and chatted to other marathon runners who I have met at other events around the country. There was a rolling start which was new for this year. The runners were led down to the start and as soon as the first ones got there, the gun was fired. It was chip timed so that was fine

The first half down to Newby Bridge went fine, though it was a little warm. Fortunately, the clouds came over at that point and that made it easier. The third quarter of the race I always find hard. There is a 4m stretch of tough undulations on the way to Bowness. These took a toll on me and it slowed my pace. I got back in 4hr 39min, my slowest time there, but I know I am not in the best shape at the moment, probably too many races. I had a bottle of specially brewed ten in ten beer at the end, the nearest I will come to doing that event !

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/x2ymksitT9t28Vo87

2011 blog : Lisrun: Brathay Windermere marathon 2011