Supporting at the Great North Run

I have run the Great North Run ten times and at the moment, I don't have any desire to run it again. I enjoyed running it, but it was always crowded. That was always compensated by the atmosphere which was special. The event is now expensive and their transfer and deferral policy is unfair in my view.

However, there is no denying it is an iconic event and it is seen as a race to do for many people who are setting out as runners. Our club, the Elvet Striders, has many relatively new runners and quite a few of them were doing their first half marathon, so it seemed like a good idea to go along and give them a cheer and some support. This blog post also serves to remind me of certain things when I do this again.

I have supported runners twice before, the first time in 2008

and again in 2010

This year I decided to do it again but instead of supporting Fetcheveryone runners, Melanie and I decided to support our club. Unlike Fetcheveryone, we didn't have a banner so we had to make one. We also decided to go for something bigger than we used in 2010. We used a double sheet and I was all for painting the writing on, but then Melanie came up with two great ideas - use duck tape for the writing and add a couple of Striders shirts. Both worked very well and we would use them again.

We decided to use the same support point, it was reasonably quiet (apart from the Hash club runners about 100 meters up the road who were giving away beer to runners ....) and the road sign was pretty visible from the road.

What we probably would not use again were balloons . They kept popping, coming off and blowing away (sometimes into the race :-( so apologies if you tripped over a balloon) They also took ages to blow up and we were on a tight schedule because of road works at Whitemare Pool had meant we didn't get there until about 9.30.

When we arrived Melanie went off to use the facilities in the Temple Park Sports Centre and I headed for the sign to get the ropes over the sign. In 2010 I did this at the second or third attempt. I had brought a spanner to attach to the ropes to and then I would throw over the sign - well that was the plan. However, my first attempts kept hitting the sign and making a large clang. This attracted a policeman who came along and asked what I was up to. I explained and he generously said that if anyone complained I would have to take it down, but for now he was turning a blind eye. I assured him the sign would not go up until the road closed. Phew ! When he had gone down the road I tried again and got the spanner over the top. However, it wasn't heavy enough to pull the rope over the sign. This wasn't looking good ....

Then a man came out of nearby house. As he came over, I didn't think he was going to be very supportive, but he started by asking what I was trying to do. I explained and he said that he lots of tools that might help including a selection of hammers which would be heavier. I went into his house and we agreed that a rubber hammer would be heavier and make less noise. It worked like a dream and we got the ropes over and down the back. Ken was a lifesaver, he not only lent us tools, he got his foot pump out when ours didn't work and lent a hand blowing up balloons, he lent us a broom when a balloon got stuck behind the sheet. He also allowed us to use his bathroom later :-) He had been a runner himself, having run the now retired Morpeth to Newcastle race. He had moved in just over a year ago, so wasn't aware of my previous supporting activities at this point.

Once we had the balloons attached to the sheet, we started to get it up the sign. The wheelchair racers were already going by so we were stopping to cheer and clap. Finally we got it up, though a balloon got trapped but after several attempts to free it with Ken's broom, we left it there.

The elite women then started to arrive and the leader was flying and well clear. Then the main race led by the elite men. Mo was also looking great, closely following the leader. Then we started to look out for runners we know. The first person we saw was an ex Strider, Michael Mawby, who ended up 77th overall. He was nowhere near that fast when he was running with the Striders. His improvement has been amazing. The first Strider was Stephen Jackson who exchanged a high five and flew off down the road.

The Striders then came along pretty regularly and there were a few runners from Fetcheveryone. We were also cheering any other runners from clubs where we could read the club name quickly. We also became avid race vest readers searching for runners who had their names on their vests so we could give them a shout. None of the Striders who wanted to limit their running to the shortest time possible wanted jelly babies, but they were very popular with runners who were expecting to run for longer :-) We also offered them to those who were walking, it was a hot day. This often seemed to spur them into running - magic !

There were lots and lots of people in fancy dress and of course they got a shout as well. We had great fun, but by 2.30 we reckoned all the Striders had gone by and the runners were thinning out. We had also given away a ton of jelly babies by that point (point for the future - they were cheapest at the Pound Shop). So we packed up, thanked Ken for all his help and went back to the car in King George Road. This was parked south of the race, so we were home soon after 3.00 and had no delays. We then chilled as it had been a great but tiring day :-)

More photos here 

Hardmoors Princess Challenge 30m 2014

This event is organised by Fetch's very own Princess Purple Bubbles ably assisted today by another well know Fetchie, Flip. They and the other volunteers did a great job  

The route is the same as the Hardmoors 30 which is run on New Year's Day. I have done that event three times and the Prncess Challenge once. They two different events because of the time of year they are held.


The section from Whitby to Ravenscar (about 11m) is very tough in winter. It is very muddy, it is cold and often the wind is very strong. It was so strong in January this year, they diverted the route away from the cliffs.

On the Princess Challenge, that section is so different. It is still tough, there are lots of undulations which you don't need after 20m, but at least the ground is firm. There was a bit of a breeze today, but that helped cool us down on a reasonably hot day.



I had some calf problems at about 10m after pushing a little too hard, so I had to take the next 21m a bit easier than I hoped. I still managed to come in under 7hrs which I have never done on the Hardmoors 30. Melanie went on ahead after Whitby and did an excellent time 6hr 20min.

My calf problems were mainly in my left one. It didn't actually seize up but it was painful on both sides for the rest of thr run. Later on I had a twinge in my right calf but unlike last Sunday it didn't seize either. MelanieLH has suggested drinking much more water regularly and foam rolling. I do both only very occasionally.

There were quite a few of our clubmates doing this event and two of them were doing their first ultra. They did great and they seemed to love the event and the atmosphere. They were particularly impressed with the round of applause that every runner received as the entered the finish in the village hall.


The event is for an excellent charity, the Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team and hopefully lots of money was raised 

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/cYP9zSHhfZkYab3C6

Northumberland Coast marathon 2014

This is a special race. It is out and back from Alnmouth along the Northumberland coast until the route does small loop south of Beadnell and returns the same way. It keeps to the coastal path and there is very little road, probably about a quarter of a mile. A lot of the route is on beach.

It is not the same route as the Northumberland Coast Run (14m) which goes from Beadnell to Alnmouth as the road sections have been taken out of that route.

The weather conditions were perfect, cool at the start, but hardly any wind. It warmed up when the sun came out later, but it felt fine, nothing like some of very hot races we did in July.

I love running alongside the sea and seeing the beautiful beaches, the sea breaking on rocks, the attractive dunes and the attractive castles.

I ran fine in the first half, but I struggled in the second half. I haven't done a marathon for four weeks and I have only done short runs in that time. So no surprise there, poor training, poor run. But the views when walking were sensational and I got round and that is the most important thing. Also I only had calf twinge which went away, so that is the first time for a long time that I haven't had a major calf issue in a race !

Nice food and a drink in the pub with MelanieLH and two other clubmates afterwards. They all had a better run than me, but none of us had a great run.

So all things considered, it was a lovely day out 

Rock and Rowel 26m 2014

Day 1 of our time off at home. Last year this was my favourite event of the year, lovely scenic route, reasonably challenging, lovely weather, ice cream at halfway, great food afterwards, bit of navigation to distract us from how far we had to go - it ticked all our boxes.

On our recommendation, two clubmates came down with us this year, Rachael and Jules. We also met up with Fran when we got there  The weather was forecast to be very, very hot and they certainly got that right, it was a scorching day.

The organisers had altered the route in three places, which meant that we missed out on a shady route round a reservoir and some moorland, but it was good to have something a bit different. They also made the start an hour earlier, which meant we got up at 5.00, but at least that meant we started when the temperature was still lovely.

After a sharp hill soon after the start it was just gently undulating for a while, going through fields, farms and crops. Sometimes the ground was a little uneven and I went over on my ankle at about 5m. My lower calf started to ache a little, but it didn't seem too bad and I was able to keep up. Rachael was carrying an injury which got worse so she started to walk with the intention of dropping our at checkpoint 3, near Ripon. 

The rest of us reached the lovely valley of the seven bridges which was past checkpoint 3 and after going through that and stopping for photographs, we noticed Rachel behind us. She had been able to run a little on the road sections and wanted to see if she could finish. Jules stayed with her and MelanieLH, cackleberry and I went on, though after slowing for some raspberry foraging (you can see that finishing time wasn't important to us !), Jules and Rachael caught us up at the halfway checkpoint.

This was a highlight last year. Ice cream in cones, lots of food, water, buckets to cool yourself down, the perfect checkpoint. This year it was the same, just wonderful.

The second half has lots more hills (there is 3000ft of ascent on the route), we were chased by a herd of bullocks at one point but Fran knew exactly what to do and stopped them in their tracks. Rachael and Jules dropped back again at this point. At about 21m, Fran said the heat had drained her and she would walk the rest. MelanieLH and I started to run on a flat section, but I became aware that my lower calf was no longer just an ache, it was now a sharp pain. Melanie stayed with us until Brimham Rocks and then went on ahead and Fran and i walked the rest. Brimham Rocks were as spectacular as ever. We were so impressed last year that we came back for a longer visit later in the summer.

Shortly before the easy run in to the finish, Jules and Rachael went by and we all met up again at the Village Hall. We started with pudding - jelly, fruit and ice cream to cool us down. Then went on the most impressive main course I have ever had at an LDWA event - quiche, peas in parsley sauce, potatoes, lots of salad dishes - amazing that this was all in an entry fee of £10.

Then it was off to the pub next door for a relaxing drink before starting the drive home.

There were about thirty runners and quite a few walkers on this event and I was surprised there weren't more. It is a lovely event 

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/SpeYZZoaj94PYnuk9

Osmotherley Phoenix 2014

This is an event I keep coming back to. I have done 33m route twice and the 26m route once, two years ago when Melanie did her first marathon. The plan was to do the 33m, her longest official race (The Ultimate Trail 50K last autumn race turned out to be longer than 33m).

It was clear that it was going to be very hot day with only a slight breeze which we didn't get the benefit of very much. It was good to see Jason T and Nicki no miles before the start, we hadn't expected to see any people we knew. The event was sold out as usual.

We started slowly uphill out of the village which meant that we had to dodge round walkers once we started to run. Then it was the familiar climb up to the radio mast on the Cleveland Way, down to cross the road and along to Scugdale. I have lost track of how many times I have done this particular section of the Cleveland Way, but I am not bored by it, it still feels lovely. More tiring is the climb up to Carlton Bank and the steep descent to Lordstones. At this point the 17m route cuts off and one the great things about this event is that you can decide when you get to the checkpoint which route to take. We were both fine, so the 33m was what we continued with.

After Lordstones there is a choice, you can go up over the three sisters (including the Wainstones) or contour round. We have always contoured round, there are more than enough big hills in this event. This year there seemed to be more people doing the three sisters which surprised us a little.

On to Clay Bank and then the slog up the other side to eventually reach the trig point which is the highest point on the North York Moors. We run this area on the Wainstones marathon a few weeks ago and it was good to run down a downhill section we had slogged up last time. Down into Chop Gate and the 17m checkpoint there at the Village Hall, where the Wainstones marathon had started. We spent a little longer at this checkpoint, putting on more suncream and preparing ourselves for 'that hill' the one that hits you straight away. It is just so long and steep and to get that after 17m is just a killer. I had to take a couple of breaks in the climb up and I was concerned about an attack of cramp which I seem to get climbing big hills well into races on hot days. I made it over the most difficult bit, but then the cramp hit, a juddering pain in my right calf. Having just recovered from my second calf injury of the year and two long races in the next two weeks, it felt like preservation was important, so I slowed down.



We discussed what to do and we agreed that at the 20m checkpoint where the 26m and 33m routes diverged that I would do the 26m and Melanie would do the 33m. She had the route on her garmin, a map and the route description so although she was a bit anxious about getting lost, off she went. I walked most of the way back, I knew I was going to be back way before her and I didn't want to do any more damage.

I chatted to a few people, a Swede who had not realised how hilly it was going to be and had also transferred to the 26m route and a two of women doing their first ever marathon.

Got back and relaxed, consumed two pints of shandy and then at just over eight hours Melanie came in. She had made one or or two minor errors but her watch had told her when she went off course. However, she had a bad headache from the heat and half wished she had also done the 26m, but she was also pleased to have done the 33m route at least once. This was her 31st marathon/ultra in the two years since her first marathon. In that time she has also had an operation and had to take time out because of a stress fracture. 31 events in two years is just amazing !

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/U9nTvhf6abPXCMUh7

Hardmoors Rosedale marathon 2014

We did this one last year and of the marathons in the Hardmoors series that we have done, we considered this to be the easiest. It starts through undulating countryside and a few quiet roads until it gets up onto the moors and then there is a long drag upwards to the 10m point at Blowarth Crossing, a windswept junction familiar to many Hardmoors runners. Then there is relatively flat section along old railway lines before a short climb to an isolated pub (the Lion Inn), then down to more railway lines, followed by a plunge down to the valley and a steep climb up the other side, back to an old railway line. The final downhill 3m includes short sections of quiet road, but is mainly on paths across the moor.

There was an alteration to the route from last year, the steep climb came at about mile 18 rather than 20. Not much difference really, but I think it wasn't quite as steep as last year. This led me to think that this year I wouldn't get any cramp issues after the climb, but it did happen again. Not sure why, I had been taking S-caps regularly, drinking a reasonable amount. 

It slowed me down a bit, but it wasn't as bad as last year and I finished about 8 minutes earlier which was pleasing. Melanie went on ahead at mile 22 and flew along the remaining 5.5m - Hardmoors marathons are well know for being a bit long.

It was a good day for running, cloudy but you could see for some distance, so there were some lovely views down into Farndale and Rosedale. A nice breeze on the tops.

One of our clubmates, Anita D, chose this to be her first marathon. She only completed a Couch to 5K programme less than a year ago and see forgot her running shoes for this event, so she ran it all in sneakers. She finished, a great achievement 

Brathay Windermere marathon 2014

After the Keswick Mountain Festival marathon Melanie spent some of the evening looking at youtube videos about how to tape up her knee. I tried not to get cramp, but failed at this...

I woke up feeling much better and ready to run, it is amazing what a good night's sleep can do. Melanie wasn't too bad, but she wanted to try the K-tape. We went to Brathay and found some tape to buy and I tried to put it on as per the video. It wasn't as easy as it looked to avoid getting kinks in the tape, but I got it on with some minor kinks. Neither of us had a great deal of faith. As it turned out her knee was fine all the way round. Could have been coincidence, but you never know ...

We saw the awesome 10 in 10 runners including Rentboy and Kaz and lots and lots of Fetchies and one other clubmate from Durham. It was clear it was going to be another hot day, but at least the route is pretty shady.

We decided to run separate races for this one as we knew we would probably run out of steam at different places. Melanie gradually pulled ahead but I found myself catching her gradually after Hawkshead and I caught her at about 6m when she had stopped to stretch. We then ran on for about 5m together. After that I slowed a bit and she disappeared and I didn't see her again.

The traffic was much lighter on the way down to the bottom of the lake which was good. The third quarter I always find hard, not just because of the undulations, but because of the traffic. There is no pavement, the road is narrow and two way traffic means that cars are passing very close to you. It was slowed down by convoy cars going up and down at 20 mph, but it still felt risky. However, this year the organisers had made it largely one way (though there was less traffic going south so maybe that was restricted as well), which made an enormous difference. Not sure how they achieved this, it must have affected lots of people, but hats off to them, it was great.

My running of this section was poor though, the after effects of the previous day, poor training and the heat were taking their toll. It thought I might try for sub 5, but I missed out by just under 2min. I wasn't disappointed, on Saturday afternoon I couldn't even see myself starting ! Melanie had a much better second half than I did and came in with 4hr 38min, a great performance on her first double 

My eighth time at this one and I will definitely be back, it has such a lovely atmosphere and it is beautiful 

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/okVHndszceVtUmqa6

2013 blog : Lisrun: Brathay Windermere marathon 2013