Cupacoffee was a bit nervous about this (her first 10K) and was saying that the other runners looked like real athletes and we all had a laugh when I parked next to a Paula Radcliffe look alike ! Met up with she runs for cake, ha!ha!, Mr sj, J, aminita, anr1972, geordiegirl, Durham Dawdler and a few people from my club and the hour or so before the start passed very quickly. I offered to pace she runs for cake as she was going for a pb and she warned me that when she ran she sometimes got a bit grumpy (but she never did).

3hr 53min 11sec

1) 8:46   
2) 8:35   
3) 8:38   
4) 8:35   
5) 8:48 
6) 8:49   
7) 8:50   
8) 8:42   
9) 8:42 
10) 8:56   
11) 8:45   
12) 8:53 
13) 8:38   
14) 8:31   
15) 8:29   
16) 8:33   
17) 8:47   
18) 8:38   
19) 8:33   
20) 8:45   
21) 8:35 
22) 8:55 
23) 9:23 
24) 9:29 
25) 9:50 
26) 9:36 
27) 3:31 
 

I drove over early on Saturday morning and met up with Durham Dawdler and L at race HQ - the Hilton and they very kindly gave me tea as they were staying there. I then wondered into the centre in the wind, which was very strong on Saturday. Its about six years since I have been here and it wasn't as I remembered it, lots of building in a poor state of repair, lots of groups of young people looking as if they were getting ready for quite a night. 

I started to feel a bit tired, I had gone to bed early on Friday and woken early but had had a good night so I went to find the hotel and have a rest. I had the smallest double attic room I have ever seen ! Rested for a while and then Flip arrived. He and I then went down to the Pleasure Beach and looked at the 'Big One', it was terrifying even watching it ! Had a not very good meal in Yates and then I went back to get an early night. 

I slept from about 10 until 1 and then just dozed the rest of the night, so not good. Luckily the wind had dropped considerably overnight so that was good. Drove dowm to Hilton and met other Fetchies including Ultra Dunc and Chirunner who I hadn't met before. 

Race started on time and my plan was to just see how it went and not start too fast and try and keep close to 9 min miles. Basically it was a two lap course all along the front. We went south 3 and bit miles then north 7 or so miles passing the Hilton at halfway, then 3 and bit miles back to the Hilton and repeat. 

I started too fast even though it was pretty crowded as both the full and half started at the same time. So much for my plan ! however, the first 22m went much better than I expected - nothing over 9min mile pace ! 8m or so of the 26 was on concrete and when I was running on some of that at 22m the wheels started to come off, but the first 22m had taken me 3hr 11m (I had got to 20m in faster time that I had at the Trimpell 20m a few weeks ago, a bit of a mistake, too quick), so I knew that to get sub 4hr, which was my hope, I could run 12 min mile pace. 

Those last four miles were hard. At the drinks station just before 23m I walked a little and realised my legs were very, very tired. Once we had turned for home the breeze seemed to have picked up and it was undulating a bit. I had felt my calves tightening on the concrete and now as I climbed the small undulations I started to get spasms of cramp in either one leg or the other. I slowed down, but knew I had to keep running.

I almost made it like that, but 50 yards from the line, I had sudden unbelievably painful cramp in my hamstring, never saw that coming ! There was no way I could run any further and I was lucky it was only 50 yards from the line ! I walked towards the line with the commentator asking for the crowd's support and interviewing me, but I was in pain and not very talkative ! Great support from Fetchies who had done the half or just came to support all the way round and they were great at the finish. 

Tried to run the last couple of yards, but ouch, no way ! 

Crossed the line in 3hr 53min 11sec so I was very, very pleased . Strangely the pain in my hamstring went quickly, but my calves are still sore. Cheered in the rest of the Fetchies, lots of whom got pbs. Loved XB's meandering finish !   

I forget to mention that I saw Howfar a couple of times in the race and he was flying - he was coming back towards me in the opposite direction and looking great ! 

Met up with some Fetchies in the bar afterwards and then drove home slowly as I was very very tired ! 

Very happy (have I said that before?) !

South Shields Harrier League (100th anniversary, my 4th time) Route

It rained heavily, it hailed and the wind was very strong this morning. It didn't look like cross country would be much fun ! 

Luckily the rain and hail had gone by the time I got to South Shields , but the wind was very very strong so if felt freezing ! 

Once the race started I warmed up quickly. I took it pretty easy and and decided I would push on on the third and final lap. I didn't have too much left by the end of lap 2, so I just hung on and then speeded up in the last quarter of the final lap. 

I thought the time would be poor compared to other runs there, but after looking at my previous times on that course, it was a course pb ! How did that happen in that wind ?   

Lots of Fetchies there - northernrunner, nochickenstrip (both of whom flew by me as they were in faster packs which started later), mully, flip, dillthedog, rupert tb, aj74, WJVH, dizzy1981 (in her first cross country, she did great!), aminita and echo beach. 

Lots of my club members came with cakes and champagne as it was the last cross country event of the season. The men's team may be relegated, but that is not too bad. We also got a commemorative technical t-shirt as its 100 years since the first Harrier League cross country event. I find it difficult to imagine what the 1909 event must have been like.

1hr 47min 10sec

Lap 1 9:20(9:20/m)
Lap 2 9:47(9:47/m)
Lap 3 11:19(11:19/m)
Lap 4 10:09(10:09/m) 
Lap 5 10:18(10:18/m) 
Lap 6 9:30(9:30/m) 
Lap 7 9:12(9:12/m) 
Lap 8 8:36(8:36/m) 
Lap 9 9:16(9:16/m) 
Lap 10 8:57(8:57/m)
Lap 11 9:41(9:41/m) 
Lap 12 1:39(9:11/m)

I drove over to Staveley on Friday night to my usual B and B and as the run on Saturday didn't start until 12.30, I had a full English vegetarian breakfast for a change. On reflection, I think I ate a bit too much as I wasn't too comfortable later. 

Got to Cartmel Racecourse after being directed away from the village itself - I discovered the reason why later, it has very narrow streets. Met up with some of usual suspects.   

Lovely sunny day, with little wind. Having eaten too much, I didn't feel like putting in too much effort so I transferred to the Challengs. This started an hour earlier, but I thought I might beat the heat of the day, yes, it was that warm   

The course was just lovely !    Up and down all the time on lovely trails, a bit of road and one or two hills we had to walk up. Views of tarns and the North sea , just great   

The course was very dry and the first three quarters hardly contained any mud. The last quarter was a bit different, there was quite a bit    (it should be an interesting route after a few days of rain !). The first water station was after halfway which was a tad late for me. Then the second one appeared to be less than a mile before the finish (or so I thought), so I didn't stop for water or a jelly baby. After some small climbs the route descended on a road and I though, okay the finish is just round the corner. Then I remembered that it was Graham who was claiming it was 16K, so I put away all expectations about how long it would be. Finally got to the finish to find it was actually 18k !   Lol 

Pleased that I had been able to speed up in the second half, it was a great route, easily up to the standard of the Lakeland Trails. Watched other Fetchies and club mates come in. Had a beer, ate some of Happy Little Vegemites lovely Rocky Road cake and some of CumbrainAndy's great ginger cake    and then started the drive home. 

Lovely. Photos More photos

2hr 54min

09:03 08:49 08:41 08:45 08:43 08:44 09:02 08:52 08:51 09:09 08:54 08:47 08:39 08:22 08:22 08:42 08:42 08:40 08:31 07:56

Got to Draycote for my marshalling stint at the Mick'n'Phil Half. What a fantastic event ! I met loads of old Fetchie friends and put faces to many others, although there was still a lots I didn't know. Photos

The weather was sunny at first, but towards the end the wind picked up and then the rain came in horizontally, it was tough out there. 

I enjoyed helping out, putting up tables, filling goody bags, marshalling, helping clear up. Just a lovely day !

6hr 47min 41sec

Left at 7 to get to Arkholme, the start of the Lunesdale Walk. There were three routes: 6m, 17m and 28m. The last two started at the same time and the first 15m were the same. Got there in plenty of time, registered, had a lovely cup of tea. As my race number was 15, I wasn't expecting a big field - about 45 althogether with about 15 runners and 30 walkers, but it wasn't possible to tell who was doing 17m and who was doing 28m - you could make your mind up at the 15m checkpoint. 

Started at 8.30. I thought it would be good to get under 6hr for this one. It was my first run that I would have to navigate. There was a route description and a map, but with my eyes, the map was too small, so I had built a much better one, but it consisted of 22 pages ! 

I thought I might try and count the number of stiles and gates. Last week at the Belvoir Challenge 26 I reckoned there were about 27. I soon gave up. There must have been on average about 3 or 4 per mile. A different scale altogether. 

Soon after the start I was last but one of the runners, but this was great, I could just follow everybody else. The leaders made an error and those behind went another way and I reckoned they must know what they are doing and followed them. Soon after this I fell. I had just come off a stile and I was on a wooden very wet boardwalk and just lost my footing. I was lucky that I was at the end of the broadwalk and fell onto the grass as I smacked my head and banged my leg. Took a minute and decided to carry on and although my leg was a bit stiff climbing stiles, I had no after effects. 

The route was not marked at all, but we were following footpaths and there were little arrows at each stile telling you the direction (but they weren't always right). Between the stiles (and you couldn't always see the next one) there was often no path at all, you were just running across muddy fields, grassland, very rutted fields where you coudn't run or sometimes a very muddy path, where it was very hard to run at all. 

Inevitably the field spread out but there was one guy ahead of me who I kept in sight for most of the first 11m. We had a chat at one point when we weren't sure where to go, but he pulled ahead. At which point I got went off track for the first time. Managed to get back on track without too much of a diversion and approached the 15m point - decision time ! 

I was tempted, very tempted to do just 17m, but the weather was still cloudy and dry and I felt I could do more so I went on. Of course about 1m after that decision, the weather broke. It got windy and the rain started to come across horizontally ! I made my second navigational error and ended up trudging across a very muddy field, but got back. Soon after another error - I climbed a hill and then had to come back down   

After yet another minor error, I made it to checkpoint 3, 23m - Wray, the only place I had been before - to their scarecrow festival when they hold a 10K, a lovely event. The checkpoints were like last week amazing, cakes, drinks, just lovely. And they told me I was 9th (out of 19 doing the long route and of course everybody behind me was walking, although because of the weather and the even more difficult terrain in the second half, I was walking most of the time) ! I hadn't seen anybody else since 11m and I didn't see anybody before the end either. 

Finally got back. 6hr 45min ! An hour longer than I have ever been out before. Still I am glad I did it - a whole new experience having to navigate and the weather was as a fellow runner put it 'character building' 

The meal afterwards was excellent: soup, baked potato with cheese, beans and coleslaw, followed by tea and cake yummmy !   Total cost of the event was 6 pounds

4hr 36min 9 sec

Went down to the Grantham late last night and had problems finding the Travelodge which meant that I did about 30min more driving than I need have done. Not a great start !   

Travelodge was fine, although the room was very warm so I had to open windows and turn the radiator right down. Slept not to badly and left about 6.45 after I realised I didn't have Muller rice pudding with me - doh! Got to the start very early, but at least this meant that I got a parking space at the village hall which was the finishing point - I would be very pleased at the end that I didn't have to walk very far. 

Had two cups of tea whilst I was waiting and if I wasn't a vegetarian I would have been very tempted by the bacon or sausage butty. This is the 19th running of this event and the whole thing worked like a well oiled machine, it appeared as if the whole village was out helping. Both events were full - the 15m and the 26m. There looked to be slightly more walkers than runners. 

Faffed around deciding what to wear. Started in shorts, changed my mind and got into tights and stuck with that. Put a couple of packets of yoghurt coated raising in my back pocket and just one gel. I was a bit nervous about having just one gel for such a distance, but I thought I would just rely on the food and drink at the checkpoints - five of them. 

It started at the school up the road and then went through the narrow village streets. This was a bit messy as several walkers started at the front which caused a bit of a holdup, but at least my first half mile wasn't too fast   

Got out of the village onto a firm trail and the courses forked - the 15m went right and the 26m went left and suddenly I had loads of space and nothing but runners ahead of me. 

The trail got muddier and then we were into a muddy field and into the next village - all the villages we went through (must have been ten or so) were very pretty. We soon started the first climb and I decided to walk them all. Into some lovely woods and after 5m we came to the first checkpoint. 

It was just amazing !   Load and loads of cake, pizza, loads of alternative drinks including tea .   I decided to eat every other checkpoint and drink at each one, so I didn't linger too long, although it was tempting. 

And so it went on, we went past Belvoir Castle , very impressive, through muddy fields, muddy tracks, some road sections. I chatted to other runners including one couple who were training for the Comrades and doing another off road marathon tomorrow ! Great countryside. 

All the helpers at the checkpoints were very friendly and helpful. When I got to the last but one at 18.5m I was starting to feel very tired and there was part of me wished that was the end ! I had already had the gel earlier and I think I may have needed more energy. The yoghurt covered raisins I had kept in their boxes in my back pocket, but I won't do that again, the boxes had disintegrated and were a soggy mess. So the cake at this checkpoint was very welcome and I picked up a bit after this. 

Before the last checkpoint, I had just crossed an over the ankle deep muddy section and was just leaving the field when I heard somebody shouting behind me. A small group of cows had wandered on to the path behind me and the woman behind was asking me to move them as she was terrified of cows - you can guess which Fetchie I was thought of at this point .  So I ran back and shooed them away. 

Plodded on to the finish and I was pleased to get there. 4hr 36min and I was very happy with that. At the finish was soup, load of rolls, various puddings and custard, tea, coffee etc, just loads to eat and all included in the entry fee.

I had taken printed maps with me, but only once did I need them as the course was superbly marked with tape and signs - another indication of how well organised this event was. 

If you fancy a long mainly off road run, I would strongly recommend this one .

Another Flip and Lisrun grand day out ! 

The plan today was to do the Northumberland Coastal run and return the same way, somewhere between 26 and 28 miles depending on the tide 

Flip and I started out at about 10 from Beadnell and we ran down the 2 miles of Beadnell beach into a strong wind. We chickened out of running through the steam so early in the run and went upriver to the bridge and then back to the beach. 

At the end of Beadnell beach we avoided the road section of the race and went round to the one of my favourite beaches, Football Hole, on to a track and then on to Low Newton, back on the beach, past Embleton,this time we did get our feet wet in the stream. On to the the headland where we went past a family of four and it turned out the two adults were runners and we had a bit of chat before heading off to Dunstanburgh Castle. Progress was very slow as the wind must have been 25 and it was right in our faces. It will be easier on the way back we kept saying. 

Through Craster and when the race route went on the road, we kept to the path but the path here was very muddy and we slipped and slide all over the place. Eventually reached Longhougton bridge, climbed to the headland, more wind, mud and approached Boulmer. 

As we got there I was feeling beat and there were still 11 miles to go back, so I suggested we went to the pub in Boulmer and avoid the last 3m to Alnmouth. It had taken us 2hr 45m to get this far. 

No soup at the pub and we didn't want too much to eat. I ended up having apple crumble and custard, I was starving and Flip had a bagette and chips. Perhaps not ideal before a 11m run, but hey we had to eat something !   

Set off back and progress was much better with the wind behind us. We also avoided the muddy bits when we had the option. 

The beaches were largely deserted, the waves were crashing onto the beach, it was just great. Went past a windsurfer who was flying at Low Newton. 

We didn't avoid the stream on Beadnell beach on the way back, but it turned out to be fairly deep - see pictures. 

Got back to the car pretty beat, we had taken half an hour less on the return journey which was largely down to the wind. 

Total of almost 5 hours for 22.4m, a lovely but tiring day. Photos

I went over to Kendal on Saturday, parked near the start on today's race and wondered into town. I liked Kendal, it had lovely clean river running through it and they have largely made the main street pedestrians (and buses) only. Usual shops, but an interesting seletion of outdoor shops. Luckily, I did not come across Pete Bland's shop otherwise I might have been very tempted.... 

I walked the outward first mile, a flat start and then a sharp climb. I then walked ober the last mile, downhill then flat, and followed that back to the finish, this turned out to be very useful. 

Went to my usual b and b in Stavely for the night and the owners invited me into their lounge, a first. But they were starting to snap at each other a little (as they sometimes do) and I was getting hungry so I wondered into the village and went into the Duke William which was under new management. Limited vegetarian choice, but good food. Back to b and b for an early night. 

Didn't sleep too well, but hauled myself out of bed at 6.15, light breakfast and then left at 7.00 (race was starting at 8.00). Got to the start and found Siouxsie, registed, got my checkpoinmt card, drank some free tea and chatted to Siouxsie before the start. Briefest starting speech ever 'I am not going to talk for too long, have a good run, GO'. This caught a few people by surprise.

I was a little surprised how many people were running as it was an Long Distance Walkers Association event. On the run to the first checkpoint, I learnt my first lesson, be careful where you put your checkpoint card, mine was too loose round my neck and was continually blowing up and smacking me in the face. I was running with Siouxsie and we made a slight error on the way to the first checkpoint, but we soon got back on track. It was great that Siouxsie had done this before, it saved me looking at the map and probably making multiple errors - there were no marshalls, no tape, just a a set of instructions. I did have a set of a4 maps, but I didn't need them at this stage. 

Checkpoint 1 was a little disappointing, the school was closed so we had cold drinks and jaffa cakes, but they were still appreciated. 

Off again along very muddy tracks, through puddles, across fields, through farms to second major hill, Whitbarrow. This was some climb and we walked up it and ran the flat bits. Fantastic views. 

Then we came to the descent off Whitbarrow which I hadn't been looking forward to. It was steep, but there were plenty of trees to hang on as we plunged downwards into woods. At the bottom we stopped as Siouxsie needed to put some plasters on her ankle bone which was rubbing against her shoes. 

More undulations, weather lovely, sunny, cloudy. More muddy tracks, big puddles, wet feet. Siouxsie was finding it more and more painful to run so we walked a bit and came to checkpoint 2. 

This was the business ! After having had our cards clicked, we entered the village hall to be offered the choice of hot dogs or quiche ! 

Biscuits and cakes on the tables, tea, lovely !   Siouxsie changed her socks and put on more plasters to try and improve things and we agreed to walk the rest of the way - 9.5m. Even walking was difficult, but she is determined. More muddy paths, trails through woods, lovely. There was also a long road section which was a bit dull. Made it to checkpoint 3, a private garage. More tea, cake, jaffa cakes. Siouxsie had wondered whether to stop at this point, but it was clear she would have to wait for a while for a lift so we were just about to leave when the her club support crew arrived by car and she took the right decision not to inflict more pain on herself and went back with them. 

So, I now needed to navigate myself and the other runners/walkers were pretty spread out, so I couldn't just follow them. I need glasses for reading and although the a4 maps were fine for me to read without glasses, reading the instructions meant faffing round with glasses. At one point I was a bit uncertain but saw lots of runners footprints in the mud which convinced me I was going the right way. Back to running the flat bits and the descents and I felt good, the four miles of walking meant I was still fresh. 

Got up to Scout Scar which I had run along in the opposite direction on the Gibson Grind trail race last May, so it was a bit familiar although the descent was a different route. Ran pretty fast down Scout Scar onto the road and really flew here and it was great that I knew the route from yesterday. 

Got back in 5hr 52min (for 23.7m), my longest ever run in terms of time. Great time on my feet. 

Back at race HQ, I met and chatted with Siouxsie and her clubmates and consumed soup, rice pudding and peaches, cake and more tea, hmmmmm. I have two more LDWA events booked and I am looking forward to them, they are great. I will be back to do this one again. 

A lovely run and it was great to run with Siouxsie again - thanks for stopping me getting lost and for your company Photos

1hr 42min 42sec

7.37
7.31
7.40
7.47
7.44
8.00
7.47 
7.47
7.50
7.56
7.57
8.02
7.57
1.00

Then off to the start. The plan was just to see how it goes (as it usually does), but to try and start a bit quicker than I have done recently. 1hr 50min would be fine. I have tended to start a bit slow and then get stronger at the end, so I thought I would start a bit stronger if I could and just see how long I lasted. Stronger for me meant just under 8min miles. 

Started off near to Erin and I overtook her within the first quarter of a mile and also Pudds, Santa and Ruth. Glanced at my Garmin as I approached the first mile and realised it had not started properly. Luckily I had managed to start my regular watch and that showed 7min 37sec, so a bit too quick, so I needed to ease down a bit. 

Got into Bishopthorpe and passed RooA and Flip doing a great job cheering us on. Kept looking at my time every mile and I continued with under 8min miles. Got a little bit breezy as we across the old airfield and it was relief to get into the shade of the woods at about 5m. The weather was great, only a little wind, sunny and mild and the course was very flat 

At about 6m Erin came by me and I did think I might be slowing, but only a little, it was just her going quicker and she disappeared into the distance. Got to 8m in 62min and I was beginning to think I might do really well here. I did slow a little after this but overall I only had two miles where the pace wasn't under 8min miles and they were 8.00 and 8.02. As I apprached the Fetchpoint in Bishopthorpe, I was still 50 yards away when RooA started jumping up and down and yelling Well done Fetchie. Waved at Kev who had arrived, high fived Flip and speeded up - Fetchpoints are great - thanks guys   

Go to the 1m from the finish point and realised I wouldn't get a pb, but it would be my second fastest half (the fastest was at the Brass Monkey 3 years earlier). Saw SodIron ahead of me, but he was just too far ahead to catch. I did push a bit harder in the last mile, but I did not realise how close I was to my pb. I finished 6 seconds short ! I don't mind at all, I am just very pleased to be back in that sort of form again, I was beginning to think the days of 1.42 half marathon times might have gone Photos

I thought about doing APTT this morning, but decided to see what time I woke up. 8.15 phew, no chance of getting there in time, so I pulled the duvet a little higher and dozed, bliss. It would have been very icy anyway I told myself. 

But I had to go to the cross country at lunch time as I had some race numbers to distribute to club members. This course is not particularly attractive and its normally very, very muddy. There is also a stream to cross, three times (its a three lap course). The mud and the hills normally just sap your energy. 

Today was different. It was very, very cold and the course was rock hard. The descents were slippery and a few people fell and got some awful looking grazes and cuts. If did wonder whether I should have brought my mudclaws, but with the stream I am glad I did. 

I decided to take the first two laps very easy and see how I felt on the third lap as I plan to do a LSR tomorrow and also I didn't want to risk slipping an injuring myself. It all went to plan and I did the first lap fairly in 14min 45sec, the second in 14min 55sec. I felt pretty good at the start of third lap and decided to forget about the LSR tomorrow and I speeded up (except on the decsents) and overtook a number of tiring runners and did 12min 44sec for the third and final lap ! To my surprise, I got a course pb ! I was also the sixth counter for our club, which has also only happened once before (also when a number of our club members were suffering from flu   ! ) 

Watched the women's race and played around with my new camers which arrived yesterday. When did cameras get so small ? I got a bit cold with my gloves off, so I was pleased when the race finished. 

Then cake, there was loads. It is a tradition that there is always cake for our club at these Harrier League events. I could see other clubs looking at us enviously ! 

A good, but very cold day Photos

Its not a race, just a run. There are no times or positions, but there are marshalls and fantastic cakes and tea afterwards. All proceeds to a cancer charity. 

It was one of his favourite training runs. It starts on the coast at Whitley Bay , across the road from the Spanish City . It was very cold again this year, much colder than yesterday, the wind seemed to be going straight through my two layers as I waited for the start. We got the usual speeches and then at the end of these, somebody says 'Off you go' ! No lining up, you are just off. 

You then run along the promenade and if the tide is out, on to the beach. But the tide was in this year, so it was up to the golf course and then down to the promenade which leads to St. Mary's lighthouse. Then on to the coastal path to Seaton Sluice. After about a mile I was overtaken by a very fast local runner, who was clearly just out for a gentle run and many people were chatting all the way round, it was a very laid back run. 

At Seaton Sluice we turn inland and follow Hollywell Dene. This stretch can be very muddy, but its been relatively dry in the NE recently and the ground was very firm - I ran in road shoes and it was fine. Sometimes when running through the Dene, we take the higher path, but this year we were back to the lower one again, which I prefer because its closer to the stream and more scenic. 

Then its on to the railway path which takes us back to the Race HQ and cakes and tea. Lovely

This was Flip's idea. Drive up the Northumberland coast, cross the causeway to Holy Island . Run round it and then have lunch. What a fantastic idea this was ! 

The tides were perfect for this plan. We could cross to the island from 9.30 and we had to be off by 17.00 unless we wanted a long evening in the pub. 

Got to the island about 10.30 and faffed around getting ready to run. The wind was quite strong and although it was only 2 degrees, it felt much colder than that in the wind. However, running with Flip meant that it was sunny, so it was great day for a run. Flip had not been to the island before and I hadn't been for five or so years and I had never been all the way round, so most of the route was new to both of us. 

We started at the south east corner of the village and made our way to Steel End getting a lovely view of the Priory on the way. Then it was down onto the beach where we had our photo taken by a very professional looking photographer using Flip's phone.   

Past the upturned boats which has turned into storage sheds. Then up to the castle and then down to Scar Jockey on the west side. There we found a large number of figures laid out with stones. There were dogs and other animals as well. There must have been over a hundred of them, very impressive.   

This was very much an ooooh run, we would come across an amazing view or something like these figures, we would go oooooh, stop and take pictures before plodding off to the next ooooooh point. 

The next was a strange white brick pyramid which was at the north west corner. It presumably had some navigational use at one time. We then started running along the north coast which had some spectacular beaches, just absolutely gorgeous. We came across a hut made out of stones and rubble from the beach with all sorts of ornaments, dolls and teddies inside. Another ooooooh moment ! There was very few people on this side of the island which is furthest from the village and civilisation. The last beach seemed to stretch for miles towards the mainland - we couldn't see the channel which divided the island from the mainland. 

We finally turned the corner and approached the road we had arrived on. Rather than follow that all the way back to the village, we decided to follow the Pilgrim's Path across the bay. This was well marked by large poles and the occasional rescue point on stilts. The ground started off as a mixture of grass and mud, then became sand/mud with lots of water pools which we ran through, we were really enjoying ourselves at this point. The ground did get very muddy for a small section and my new trail shoes got very muddy and my feet very wet. Flip has some waterproof socks which worked like a dream (an opportunity for me to buy some more kit here). The ground soon firmed up and we washed the mud off our shoes in a tidal stream before finishing our long run across the bay - great fun.   

Then is was round the last part back to our starting point and back to the car park. 10.1 miles in 2hr 34min. Got changed, then into the pub for food and a pint of Blessed bitter. I remembered that when I had been to Holy Island previously, I had always met someone I knew and it happened again ! I think Flip can't believe my ability to meet people I know in far away places   

If you have never been to Holy Island , go, it is magic ! Run round it and run the Pilgrim's path, it is without doubt one of the most enjoyable runs I have ever done !     

PS I uploaded the stats from the run into the Garmin Training Centre. Their primitive mapping system showed that we had been running in the sea, the island didn't exist Photos

50min 45sec

8.45 
16.11 
9.43 
8.33 
7.31

This is a lovely race, almost all off road, through some lovely countryside and a deer park complete with deer ! Its undulating with the biggest hill just before half way. 

What made this race even better was that I was doing this race with my two children. They don't run very much and I was very happy that they agreed to run this one. This race is so popular it fills up by the end of November and I think it helped that I asked them very early if they wanted to do it - they both said yes, thinking it was a long time before they actually had to do it   

I was expecting to walk the hills, but they were both very strong going uphill. My daughter developed a very big blister, but carried on to the end and I was very proud of them both. 

It was also great to see some Fetchies: YP1, Stoxy, Linbee and Tooliliac and also some runners from my club. We all got a reflective high viz top at the finish and we enjoyed some lovely cake in the clubhouse afterwards. A perfect day.

My last and 81st race in 2008 Photos

50min 18sec

7.43
8.31
8.07
8.20
8.52
8.07

Wished a few people happy christmas, jumped into the car and drove home to get my outfit on for the club fancy dress handicap. Facepaint went on great and I was ready. Made it to the start in plenty of time. Some of the outfits were great and then as dillthedog said to me later, you then suddenly realised you had to run 4 and bit miles in your costume through some muddy woods. I made it round in about 42 minutes and it was good fun ! However, my hat went up and the facepaint drained down on to my shirt !

Lunch in our usual pub and then presentations. Fetchies did well, dillthedog deservedly won the male fancy dress prize and flip and I won spot prizes. Photos More photos

23min 1sec

4.33
4.56
4.23
4.33
4.33

Dragged myself out of bed before 7.00 to get some porridge, which I always microwave. I haven't described a slight difficulty I had with the microwave a week ago. I haven't had a jacket potato for a while and I usually work out how long to cook it by weighing the potato in pounds, dividing by two and adding a couple and that gives me the minutes to cook it - it has always worked fine. However, its been a while since I had done one and the potato weighed about 12 pounds, so 12x2 =24 +2 = 26 minutes. Yes, I multiplied by two instead of dividing. By the time 26 minutes had passed the potato was well burnt to something that was barely recognisable, smoke was pouring out of the microwave and the inside of the microwave was mainly black ! The cleanup wasn't totally successful and the smell of very badly burnt potato has lingered in the house. This morning I realised the microwave was still pouring out the smell, so I had burnt potato flavoured porridge. Hmm, I think I am going to get a new microwave. 

Anyway, after that start I got down to Albert Park with about 15 minutes to spare and had a chat with a runner I haven't seen for a couple of months. Turns out she is doing Edinburgh as well, there seems to be loads and loads of people I know doing it. I think we have about eight from our small club alone. 

Flip made it to the race early for him, that is two minutes before the start. We set off on a mild day with no wind perfect running conditions. Knowing I had another race that morning and one tomorrow, the plan was to take it easy. So much for planning, I felt much better than I have for a while and came home in 23min 1sec, much better than I have done for a while here. 

8th in the Chin-Up Beach run, but I should make it clear that there were only 12 runners ! 

My second Santa run in two days. I ran in yesterday's suit (complete with split in the trousers), it seemed a bit silly to have a second suit. I learnt some lessons from yesterday's run and made liberal use of safety pins all over the place and it held together well. 

The organisers are not runners (its a charity run) and they don't really understand that being reasonably close to the advertised distance is a good idea. I was the first runner to arrive on the beach and I saw immediately that it was going to be short of 10K (I have done it twice before so I know that even if you use all the beach, you can only just make it 10K). I measured the course as 5.4m. Also being the first runner to arrive 45 minutes before the start meant that the turn out was going to be low. 

However, it was a good day, dry, no wind, no snow and it is just a beautiful beach. We set off on time and headed north. Crossed a beach stream, but our feet warmed up pretty quickly. Then a tricky few rocks to cross and Bamburgh Castle come into view. We also had the sight of the Farne Islands just off the coast and the waves coming on to the beach, its very impressive scenery for a run. Started to see runners coming back and I was the only one who had kept the entire Santa outfit on ! Got to the half way point and stopped for a sip of water and then headed back and did a negative split. Pretty poor time for me, but running in a Santa outfit on sand has to take its toll !  

24min 18sec

4.50
4.50
5.00
4.53
4.43

Left home in very heavy rain. I think I am pleased I am not doing Round Rotherham 50 today as I planned before my injury. 

Luckily there was a break in the rain by the time I got to Middlesbrough and I got myself dressed up in my Santa outfit in the warmth of the Visitor Centre. I was having difficulty getting the trousers to be tight enough and while wondering round they fell down ! I wasn't going commando, but I had visions of taking what would be an entertaining dive in the race itself, so I tried to tighten them. 

I wasn't too successful and during the race I was conscious they were slipping... Luckily they remained in place but were a little low slung which resulted in me splitting them. They were so expensive.....

Good turn out for this one and mince pies and mulled wine afterwards and as soon as I got back in the car the heavy rain started again

Change of clothes and we then headed down to Slapewath to walk my seventh stage of the Cleveland Way or the Hardmoors 110m. This would take us to Saltburn on the coast and just half way ! 

A steep climb out of Slapewath and then into farming country, quite different from the moors in the previous section. Gradually descended to Skelton where David and I met up with Rhino and Flip on their way though the town. After Skelton we descended into a lovely Dene and made our way to the sea and Saltburn. Had lunch in the Marine Hotel which was race HQ for a race I've done in Saltburn. 

The paths had been a bit slippery with ice and there was one section up a field which had been pretty muddy, but otherwise no difficulty. 

However, not liking to go back the way we had come, I had devised another route back via another Dene and then onto Cleveland Street . This turned out to be a bit of a mudbath ! The paths were often flooded or just quagmires so progress was slow and it was a bit like skating in places. I was glad I hadn't attempted to run this. Still great to be outside in the countryside and we got back to the car at dusk.   

So a full day out, great fun !

23min 45sec

9.30
4.47
4.49
4.38

Got up before dawn and a bit late and got myself ready. Woke my son who is staying with me this weekend and after sorting out a quick breakfast for him to eat in the car - nothing changes ! We set off for the Albert Park Time Trial. Glen was marshalling as he has a sore shoulder and I was running.   

Got there to see that the course was quite slippy so during the run I was often on the grass which was very wet from the snow. I was surprised at my time in the conditions -23min 45sec, still way off my pb here, but about the same as the last few weeks.

1hr 23min 39sec

8.52
8.32
8.16
8.24
8.21
8.33
8.22
8.10
8.14
7.50

Last year it rained for the entire race, but it was flat and I ended up with a time only 2min away from my pb. 

Woke this morning to a sharp frost (no chance of rain this year) and drove down early as I was entering on the day. Arrived in plenty of time and made my way to registration. The cold hit you as soon as you left the car, it was very cold ! 

Once I had my number I hung around in the warmth and met up with lots of Yorkshire Fetchies and Anna26 from Durham and had a good chat. 

They changed the course this year. No more loop around the town, but the route we ran was in the shape of a triangle with an out and back dog leg diverson on the third side to make up the distance. The first side of the triangle was lovely, a quiet country road closed to traffic. The second side was a fairly quiet road, but it was open to traffic. The third side was a busier road and I didn't enjoy this section. The out and back dog leg section was traffic free and it was good to see other Fetchies and club members going in the other direction. 

I finished strongly 1hr 23min 39sec about 6 minutes slower than last year, but after yesterday I was very happy with that. I had warmed up running, but soon after I finished I started to get very cold very quickly. 

More chat with Fetchies and club mates, lots of pbs obtained which was great - congratulations to you all ! 

Then a slow drive home and warmth  

52min 11sec

8.40
9.03
8.14
8.36
8.41
7.22
1.36

This time the weather didn't change, it was sunny, no wind and there was snow on the Howgill hills, just beautiful. Met up with Kev Scone and had a chat with him and two new Fetchies, whose Fetch names I didn't catch. 

This is quite a hilly 10K, so I started pretty slowly. After the first hill and the 2m point, I realised I was feeling pretty good, so I speeded up and overtook quite a few people in the last 4m. 52min 11sec, my worst time here but I was happy with that. There is a lovely atmosphere at this race and its helped by soup and bread at the end and the presentations are soon after the finish

Woke up on time to a heavy frost outside and quickly had a small breakfast and then spent about 10 minutes getting the frost off the car. 

As I approached Middlesbrough the frost ended and the sun was replaced by fog. The faffing with the care meant that I had cut it pretty fine and I got to the visitor's centre with only 5 minutes to spare. Started slowly, but speeded up a bit and started to overtake people. Ended up behind the same guy as last week and again I couldn't catch him, but I was happy with 23min 39sec which is my fastest time for the last three weeks.

It was the first of the NE Harrier League cross country races today. This was was at Blaydon. Normally the mens race is about 10K, but this was was only 4.85m according to my Garmin. They had also taken out the zigzags that we do up and down the only hill on the course so it wasn't as tough as normal. 

I woke this morning to snow on the ground, but when I got to Blaydon there was basically none left and the course was reasonably soft underfoot. 

My club, Elvet Striders, isn't strong in the men's event. In the women's event however, we have won the league for two out of the last three years. Last season the men flirted with relegation to the third and bottom division  and the women didn't win the league. We needed some new fresh (and younger !) blood and it was great to see so many of our new members turning out for their initiation into cross country.   

We bring our own tent for changing and dumping bags in and it was pretty crowded today, but much better that way ! 

Met up with scrappydoo, who is running for another club and who was doing her first cross country race - she did great ! Also saw aminita, dillthedog, ha ha, aj74, flip, nochickenstrip and rupert_tb so there was lots of Fetchies there (though no Fetch vests as this is strictly local club vests only) 

My race went fine, I enjoyed it and I wasn't as tired as I thought I might be after yesterday. There was loads of encouragement from the women's team who run in a separate race after the men. 

After the women's race, we broke out the cakes - there was just loads of them and they were yummy ! I do enjoy these events as you might have gathered !

Parked at the bottom of wagonway near Guisborough. I have been there before for a 10K so I knew where I was going for a while. However, suddenly I came across a closed path and had to divert away from my original route. After 2.45 miles of climbing and 45 minutes, I finally made it back on to the Cleveland Way and the Hardmoors route!   

As I got there a group of about six runners turned on to the path in front of me. To my surprise, I realised I knew most of them as they were from Billingham Marsh Harriers and included Cat the Dog Lover and Chris ! Put on a bit of speed to catch them and had a good chat with them before they turned off on their way home. 

Turned on to the moors as the snow showers started to come down. There was already a thin covering of snow on the paths so I was taking it very easy. Turned into Guisborough woods and had a great view overlooking the town. Ran along the escarpment and then slowly started to descend (passing another shoot) to Slapewath. 

I wasn't too sure which way to go back. I had spotted an old railway line heading in the right direction but it wasn't marked as a right of way on my map. Almost stumbled across the railway line which was a bit overgrown at the start but it soon developed into a clear path. At this stage I was beat so it was run/walking mode. Finally made it back to the car

23min 56sec

4.44
4.52
4.44
9.23

Dragged myself out of bed to get to the Albert Park Time Trial. Very cold and wind coming down from the north. Had a chat with borocavalier before the start and then we were off. I realised almost straight away I wasn't feeling very fresh, but got round in 23min 56sec.

Started at Kildale and started the long climb up to James Cook Monument.

Fantastic view from the monument. Hardly a cloud in the sky, just lovely. The only other time I have been there was at the Captain Cooks fell race on New Year's Day when I didn't have time to stop and look at the view.   

Down the other side to the car park where David and I had waited for Rhino and Flip, then up the other side and along the ridge. Saw Roseberry Topping off to the left and I was surprised at how much extra it adds to the Cleveland Way . Also it meant going down quite a bit before climbing steeply up. The paths had had rock slabs inserted and I found these very difficult to negotiate so progress was very slow. Again the view from the top was amazing. Then turned round and went back the same way, but fairly slowly as I was tiring.

23min 41sec

4.38
4.45
4.51
4.49
4.38

Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to do this run after a week with a bad back, my back is now a bit worse than it was 24hr ago. 

This was another stage of the Cleveland Way that Rhino did on the Hardmoors 110m back in September. Every time Flip and I do some of this route we come back very tired and it just reminds us what a remarkable achievement completing the whole distance was. 

It was pretty windy and some of the stone slabs which have been laid on the path were fairly sleepy. We climbed up from Clay Bank and trotted along on the ridge until we got to a junction. It should have been a cross roads, but it wasn't and we weren't convinced that going south was right, so we went north. We soon discovered our error when confronted by a steep descent. Rather than go back we went up the ridge and found the right path, I think we made the route shorter by that error ! 

This section was again ridge running at its best. It also helped that we running downhill with the wind behind us ! 

Descended to Kildale and then started the 6m slow plod back along roads to Clay Bank. It was made more attractive by a couple of attractive villages.

Helvellyan Trail (my first time and teh first time it has been run) Route Profile

Helped at Fetchpoint

It was great fun !! Not the most populated Fetchpoint you have ever seen (CB, RuthB2, Mrs Peachy, me and someone Mrs Peachy met on the bus! ), but we went a bit mad with the ballons and made loads of noise. 

Saw loads of Fetchies, but maybe not 285 ! 

Fantastic weather and a lovely atmosphere 

We made it on the live TVshow, but not the highlights Photos

Hardmoors 110m. It follows the Cleveland Way from Helmsley north onto the moors, then east to the coast at Satlburn and then south through Whitby and Scarborough and ending in Filey. Twenty four starters. Rhino finished seventh in 31hours 39minutes. 

The bald facts don't really convey what a difficult event this is. The route has 9000 ft of accumulated ascent, not enormous hills but there are just lots and lots of climbs and descents. Even on the coast, where a lot of the time you are running on the cliffs, you have to descend to the beach every time you cross a stream. It also starts at 17:00 which means that for most runners there are two sections that have to be run in the dark. It's the first time it has been run and the winner is the new record holder for the time taken to complete the Cleveland Way. 

The omens didn't look good for Rhino earlier this week. She has difficulties with one of her knees for a while and she limped home from a short run earlier this week. There seemed every chance that she would not make it past the first checkpoint at 7m. To finish all 110m is a staggering achievement and I feel honoured to have seen it. 

Hipplcl!ck, me, D met up with Rhino and left my car at her house and drove down to Helmsley. Registration and kit check in the Town Hall and the runners gathered round the Market Cross for the walk to the start. At this stage, feelings of ‘Oh this looks fun, can you enter on the day ?' crossed my mind, but only briefly ! 

The race started at 17:09 on Friday evening. Rhino did the first section to Sutton Bank on her own and set off at a good pace. We waited for her at Cold Kirby and she arrived there much earlier than expected and looking very strong. At Sutton Bank it was clear it would be dark before long. Hippcl!ck ran the next section to Osmotherley with her. D and I drove there to the support car waiting area to the north and met up with Flip. We got a phone call from Rhino to meet her south of Osmotherley as she needed more drink. Drove there and there were several other support cars waiting and the lights from head torches bobbing down the hill towards us. Refilled, she and Hippycl!ck carried on to noth of Osmortherley where I took over. Hippycl!ck got a lift home and D and Flip were on support. D knew the route very well and where all the access points were, without him we would have struggled. 

It was soon fairly clear that my head torch was pretty dim compared to Rhino's, but it didn't appear too much of a problem at that stage. However, on the moors, the Cleveland Way has lots of small ditches to keep the water off the path. These small ditches are just about big enough to put your foot into and you have to concentrate very hard not to do this as they occur sometimes about every ten to fifteen yards. I didn't concentrate enough and put my left foot into one and went over. It was of course the ankle I have been having problems with the last few weeks. It appeared to recover fairly well and I seemed to be climbing okay, but it was clear when it came to the descents that I was in trouble. I made it to the next support point, but I couldn't keep up and it was painful every time I put my left foot down. The plan had been for me and Flip to alternate 10m stretches with Rhino over night, but this wasn't now possible. Flip, as usual, stepped up to the mark and ran the next twenty eight miles which took over eight hours. This was much further and much longer than he has ever ran before (and this was after a weekend of sleep deprivation at the RNR last week) – the man is made of strong stuff !

So Flip was running with Rhino and D and I were in the car. The basic scenario was that D drove expertly without any errors to an access point or checkpoint and then he and I tried to catch some sleep. Rhino and Flip would arrive, check in if it was a checkpoint, get refuelled, D and Rhino would chat about the next bit – their recces of the route helped enormously. This basic scenario was repeated several times during the night. 

In one small road section D led them in the car to make sure they didn't go wrong. They emerged at dawn at Skelton near the coast and they reached the coast at Saltburn, where it was still pretty cold. The weather during the night had been very good, clear sky with fantastic views of the stars, but cold. Only a little wind on the tops of the moors. Saturday was promised to be blue skies and not much wind and it lived up to that. 

At the coast, Flip took a break from running and came into the car – he had done a fantastic job, he hadn't expected to be running that long. Rhino and Flip had spent a lot of the night running with another woman runner and she and Rhino stuck together for a while along the ascending and descending coast. 

The next section would take them well over an hour so Flip, D and I found a café in Loftus where we were joined by another support crew and we had a very welcome breakfast ! 

So the morning passed with us driving down the coast. Flip tried to sleep wherever he could, in the car, on benches – see pictures (link lower down). 

At lunchtime, we reached Sandsend, to the north of Whitby. This was the point where D was leaving us and for J and M to take over in their car. We didn't have enough space in their car for everything, so I went back to base and collected my car and drove back. I managed to snatch some sleep on the drive back and got there and back in just over two hours. During that time, Rhino got through Whitby and I met up with the support team before she reached Robin Hoods Bay. Hippycl!ck was also back and Flip and her and I had some fun while we waited - see photos (link at bottom) 

J had run with Rhino since Sandsend and it was clear Rhino had had a tougher time in the approach to Robin Hood's Bay. J is an experienced runner and cajoled her into making sure that she ate enough regularly and it helped. 

The Ravenscar to Scarborough section was long with no access points so the support crew descended on to the bright lights of the south end of Scarborough for fish and chips (or chips and curry sauce for me). We were heading back to the car to try and recce the Scarborough checkpoint where we had a call from Rhino for Flip to go and run form the north end of meet them, it seemed fairly urgent so we got ourselves sorted and then got another call to say that it was okay now. Apparently, J and Rhino (both women) had been followed by a man which had made them very worried – this was miles from anywhere and not an area you might expect such problems ! The support crew took the decision to send out Flip from the northern most part of Scarborough anyway, so we made our way to Scalby Mills. We now had three cars – Rhino's Mum had joined us. We managed to get separated and ended up in three different places. Once we sorted that out, it was dark and Flip set out and got to them fairly quickly. 

We then had to get to the checkpoint. The three cars and the four supprt crew drove there, but it wasn't easy to find even with M's sat nav. It was even harder to find for the three runners. Cue various phone calls of 

‘where are you ?' 
‘At the checkpoint, where are you ?' 

with neither end understanding where the other was. Hippycl!ick ran out to meet them along the route in the hope of finding them. A marshall ran out towards them and I and another marshall set out in two cars to find them. The running marshall found them and guided them in. 

At this point J and M set off for home and Flip and Hippcl!ck took over running support and my car became the support vehicle. At this point Rhino was very tired, but we were now only about twelve miles from the finish in Filey. The Cleveland Way finishes outside of Filey and in order to complete 110m the runners has a small additional section followed by the run into Filey. This was the only section Rhino hadn't covered in her recces, so it was agreed I would meet them at the end of the Cleveland Way and guide them in. 

Rhino's Mum and I drove our cars to Filey and after having some fun with the one way system we managed to locate the finish – a pretty empty hall. The first three runners were already home. After some welcome coffee, I sent off with plenty of warm clothing to Filey Butt. Found my way fairly easily, luckily I had visited Filey a few years ago and had I remembered parts of it. On the Butt I came across the next three runners who were not far apart. They and Rhino had been close throughout the race and there had been no sign of anybody behind since the moors. I directed them to the finish and then waited at the point where the Cleveland Way finishes and the Wold Way starts. 

I heard them first and then the three head torches emerged, they were looking good, but naturally tired. They ran to the end of the Butt and back (a bit cruel to have to do that at the end !) and then I led them back to the finish. It was a low key finish, there was probably about ten people in the hall and there was round of applause as she entered. 

We sat and chilled and chatted to other runners and support crew. The presentation was at midday, but it wasn't even 1.00 in the morning and so we headed off, dropping off people to pick up cars that were scattered at various places on the route. I got home at 4.00 and fell into bed. 

Even at the RNR I had had more sleep, but I wouldn't have missed this weekend. It was a fantastic achievement by Rhino, the furthest distance she had done before this was 50m, so this was a big step up. She had had injuries so her training hadn't been as she would have liked and she had been advised that her knee would probably mean that she would not get very far. Her knee was sore, but not bad but with sheer guts and determination, she made it to the end. She is an absolute star ! Photos

I normally sleep only in bed. I have been known to take a few moments kip at my desk but this is rare. I never sleep when travelling - on trains, planes, buses or anything else. I have never stopped driving, pulled into a service station only 30 minutes drive from home and fallen asleep in the driver's seat for two hours ! I did this tonight and the reason ? RNR . 

I left work about 12 on Friday and made good time to King's Lynn, apart from being slowed by farmers and their tractors taking advantage of the lovely weather which lasted all weekend. Met Making Tracks and JJ Flash at the campsite and set up my new tent, which was somewhat larger than I expected. Met a few more Fetchies as they arrived and then I thought I should go out on my bike and check out the first part of my 16.3m stage, which was the first one. I would be setting out at 5.30 in the morning and I wanted to make sure I knew where I was going in case anything went wrong with the car and bike support. I managed to get to about 5m when the route went onto a busy road. It was also starting to get a bit dark and I had no lights so I turned round and went back to base and then to the bar where I met more and more Fetchies from the three teams. It was great to see some old familiar faces and to meet new ones.

I didn't stay too long as I wanted to be up by 4.30 to get something to eat. Two alarms set to make sure I didn't oversleep. As usual, I woke up before the alarm and I think I got maybe five hours of reasonable sleep - less then I usually get, but not bad at all. Got my number from Flanker who was going to be doing bike support and then running support on the off road section of my stage. 

Got to the start and got my batton. There were only five other teams at this first start - some teams were not starting until 13.30 ! There was lots of people who had got up to wave us off - the Fetcheveryone Else team was starting at the same time. The Fetcheveryone team was starting at 7.00 and I was in the Fetcheveryone Too team. I had feared I might be at the front at the start, but this certainly didn't happen. The first two runners shot off quickly followed by the third and they were all out of sight within about two miles, so I was out on my own after all. I could hear the fifth team a bit behind me, but I didn't look round. Flanker was with me on a bike and after about two miles the car slotted in behind me with its orange flashing light and it was great to hear them shounting encouragement and to be able to switch off my head torch and run in the beam of the headlights. Flip and RuthB2 from the FE Else team came leapfrogging by every now and then so it was great to see them. After about 5m it was reasonable light I was able to give my head torch up and give it to Flanker to be put in the car. 

When we got to about 7m, Flanker stopped for a comfort break and before he could catch me up I had turned onto the off road section on the way to the sea. At this point I couldn't be followed by the car or bike. I was aware Flanker had my drink and I hadn't drunk anything yet, but I had had a gel and had two more and I knew there were access point to the beach I would be running along so I wasn't worried. 

I had been asking Flanker for my splits as I was finding it hard to read my Garmin in the dark and I seemed to be averaging 8.15 for the road section. My aim had been 9min miles overall so I was a bit concerned I was going a bit fast. The start of the off road section was largely on a concrete track on land close to Sandringham and was fine. Then I could see a dyke we were going to be running along the top off. Also I caught sight of the third runner way off in the distance going what looked to be the wrong way along the dyke. I climbed up to the grass topped dyke and ran along and to the point where I thought I should turn off and it was clearly signed so I went on, now certain that the third runner had gone the wrong way, but it looked like it might be a short cut so I did not hold out any hope of being ahead of him. I could also hear the runner behind me getting closer. There were some shingle sections and I could work out how far he was behind by the noise of the shingle. I got to the sea and was running along looking at the sea to the west and the sun to the east when I heard a runner approaching quickly and I thought it was the fifth runner coming by, but he did seem to catching me quickly. As he drew level I realised it was Flanker ! He had run at least two miles flat out to catch me and give me my drink ! What a star ! He said something like 'go on, I won't keep up' which was not suprising given he must have been running very hard for the last two miles and he had 19m coming up late that night. I assumed he turned round and went back, but I realised later he carried on and ran the remaining 7m, he is just amazing ! 

Soon after the fifth runner caught me and we chatted about Flanker's amazing effort and the route, it was his fourth time on that stage and I could see why he continued to do it - a little night running on quiet roads, the sun rising over the fields, running along by the sea in the early morning, it was just fantastic. There were shingle, soft sand and grass sections and it was slower going than road, but not bad at all. Eventually after 13.5m we turned onto a concrete promenade and that continued almost to the end. The runner in front had obviously been saving something for this last 3m section and tore away. I realised I didn't have a lot left in the tank at this point, I hadn't run over 13m for two months and it was starting to tell. I got to the end of the the prom and got encouragemoent from Tboytoo and started to climb the zigzag path up to the top of the cliff. As I climbed I saw a runner not far behind me climbing the hill, but the only person who should have been there was Gunner from the FE Else team. I worked out afterwards, this had been the runner who had gone the wrong way, it hadn't been a short cut, it had taken him longer to get back onto the route. As I climbed I started to get cramps in my legs, so I took it easy, then as I ran along the top of the cliff towards the finish, the cramps started again and the runner behind passed me just before the finish. I handed over to Siouxsie who shot after the new runner for the other team. 

Overall I had finished in 2hr 20min 10sec for the 16.3m so ahead of my 9mm pace I had aimed for (8min 35sec per mile) so I was very pleased with that. Its a while since I have run that pace for that distance, I think it was probably back at Trimpell in March when Siouxsie and I ran at that pace for 20m. 

Rapidly got changed, while we waited for Flanker and then jumped into the car with Tboytoo and Making Tracks who was doing a great job with the timekeeping and we drove ahead to the point where Siouxsie came back onto the road (where it was great to see her ahead of the other runner). Flanker supported her on the bike for a while (this man is just a machine) and then we picked him and the bike up and drove to the end of Stage 2, which was a just picture postcard village with a river with lots of sailing dinghies and families going out for a sail. I used to sail a lot and it brought back happy memories. Met up with RuthB2, Flip, Nightjar, Silvershadow and LilBB who was running Stage 3 for us. Siouxsie came in looking great to lots of cheers and then she, Tboytoo, Flanker and I headed back to the campsite whilst Making Tracks, her timekeeping equipment, the bike, the bike rack and the boxes of support equipment were transferred to another car - the logistics of all this are just mindboggling. 

Showered and tried to sleep without much success, it was now very hot, so I chatted away with other Fetchies who were waiting their turn to support or run. At 5.00 Boingy and I left for Great Yarmouth, a 90 minute drive away. At that point Boingy was due to run 15m, I was going to drive his two week old car (very nervous about this !) and pick up JJFlash and the current timekeeper - LLL No1. We also had to move all the material and boxes from one car to Boingy's car and put a bike on to the back of Boingy's car. Boingy shot off in the direction of the illuminations, it was just about to get dark and we started the transfer. It took longer then I thought, it took me longer than I thought to work out the bike rack, ended up getting my hands covered in oil, had to wash them to avoid getting oil all over Boingy's steering wheel.... Luckily, we knew that Boingy would be running on pavements in well lit Yarmouth for a while. However, when we were all sorted and started out to catch him up, we were starting to get worried that we had gone the wrong way or he had and what we were going to do next when finally we caught him, flying along making great time. The footpaths soon disappeared and Boingy was running on the road signaling to us when he wanted drinks. At this stage team FE Too was the fourth team on the road, which was apparently so much better than last year. As Boingy flew along a very hilly stage, we saw the flashing light of another car and runner in front of us. Boingy speeded up and past the other runner and we turned into the change over at Geldeston (a Macdonalds) where Flanker was the runner and KinkyS was doing the support on her bike. They were both there waiting, but we had to give them high viz vests with their numbers on, move some boxes into the boot to make room for Boingy, swap drivers. Result - a bit of chaos. Flanker and KinkyS got away okay, but we were a little slow, not helped by a marshall shouting at us for not being out behind our runner ! Caught them pretty quickly and soon after the team we had overtaken came flying by with a very fast runner who by the end of the stage had also overtaken the other two teams ahead. We watched Flanker smoothly cover the 19m stage in round about 3 hours. The time went quickly watching Flanker and KinkyS ahead of us in the headlights. At the next checkpoint, Scole, JJFlash, Boingy and I jumped out of the car and Woodley and Tboytoo took over and LLL No 1 carried on her timekeeping duties. Flanker and KinkyS swapped over so Flanker biked and KinkyS ran. This handover went much better ! 

We met up with Phal and Matt who were to drive us back to the campsite. They had parked in what looked like something a mobile service station in a field which was a changeover car park. There must have been forty or so cars waiting for their teams, there were toilets, a mobile café, tents for for the officals, lots of lights, marshalls directing cars, just a staggering amount of organization. Apparently we had been the last team to leave this changeover last year, but this year we were only the fourth out of forty eight ! As we headed home we passed the teams ahead and we reckoned that KinkyS could catch at least two of them and she did (it may have been three, I have lost track). 

Got back to base at 1.30 and I managed to get some sleep. Up at 7.00 and had a cooked breakfast and waited for the Fetch teams to come in. Phal for FE Too came steaming in ahead of Fetch himself (although the Fetcheveryone team did start 90min after our team) followed by Princess Purple Bubbles for the FE Else team. Team photos, presentations, striking camp, hugs, goodbyes. Start drive home, sleep in service station, washing, blog, bed. 

A fantastic weekend !! If you ever get the chance to run the RNR or go along and help with the supporting timekeeping, biking etc. do it ! It's a Fetch experience not to be missed ! Photos More photos More photosSlideshow

1hr 25min 26sec

8.47
8.38
8.31
9.06
8.51
8.21
8.22
8.23
8.04
7.57
0.22

I have done this twice before and both times it was windy. Its multi terrain in lovely countryside, but it has some long drags upwards and then a steep plunge downards towards the finish. But when you get to the bottom of this hill, you still have about about 500m to go. This morning there was no wind at all, but the humidity made it hard going and the climbs seemed to drag. I was conscious of the 12m training run afterwards and tried to take it easy, but inevitably, I was swept along at too fast a pace and did the 6.4m in 54min 32sec.

The following day I woke up with a swollen ankle, so no running or race for me for a while :-( 

25min 18sec

5.00
4.51
4.50
4.51
4.44

13min 30sec

6.43 
6.47

6min 26sec

3.07
3.19

Got to South Shields just before 7.00 for the fourth NE mile. There was a runner there waiting who I didn't recognise, but I walked up to him and asked if he was there for the Fetch mile. He wasn't he was waiting for other runners, but he said he would joining us if they didn't show. They did show up so we didn't get out extra runner. 

Debbie turned up shortly after me, then Jeff, Vicki and Phil. The route included most of the last mile of the Great North Run and Jeff had done a great job marking out the course with chalk lines. I had been expecting that there would be quite a bit of downhill on the course, it was definitely downhill but not that significant. But it was very straight which was great ! There was a bit of wind, but it was laregly coming across us. 

The path we were running along was divided into two lanes, one lane for walkers and the other for cyclists and there were a few cyclists about as it was a lovely warm evening. We decided to set off in groups. Debbie set off first, followed by Jeff and then Vicki, Phil and I set off together. I had about 3000 credits bet on me beating my 7min 0sec pb from Sunday in the Fetch Yorkshire mile. I had found that quite hard so I wasn't sure I was going to do it. 

Phil set off quickly and I followed. Vicki overtook both of us within a few minutes as she is much faster than both of us, although she wasn't at her best tonight and she had been training with her club earlier this evening. I overtook Phil before we had done a quarter mile and at that point I thought I should stick as long as I could to aminita. I slowly got closer to her and then just hung on as best as I could. At half way (thanks for chalking that Jeff) I glanced at my watch 3min 7sec - wow ! I wondered whether I had gone off a bit too fast, but my focus was now just to hang on to aminita as long as I could. In the end I crossed the line just behind her, stopped my watch and I could see it was 6 something and I asked Vicki to read it for me as my eyes are not as good as they used to be - 6min 26sec, a 34sec improvement over Sunday !! Running close to Vicki had made all the difference, she had pulled me along the course - thanks ! 

It turned out we had all done pbs and she runs for cake was first home followed by Jeff. It was a great course ! 

Jeff produced some water and mars bar from his car which he parked illegally so that we could see the end of the course when racing - what a star ! 

A very enjoyable race. Photo

23min 15sec

50min 46sec

8.50
8.18
7.57
7.51
8.18
7.45
1.44

59min 35sec

8.45
8.06 
8.17
8.34
8.44 
9.32
8.54 
7.26

24min 37sec

1hr 59min 49sec

9.58
10.06 
11.00 
9.18 
9.16 (5m)
9.35
11.43 
8.16
8.33 
8.44 (10m) 
9.19 
9.41
6.26 

1hr 25min 12sec

11.29
13.21
10.11
8.41
10.51
7.41
8.38
8.26
5.49

22min 28sec

4.26 (1K) 
4.20 (2K) 
4.37 (3K) 
4.36 (4K) 
4.27 (5K) 

22min 34sec

6min 56sec (1m)

1hr 58min 38sec

8.43
8.51
8.45 
8.37
9.41
8.53
9.01
9.25
9.26
8.52
9.22
9.04
8.17
1.35

2hr 0min 4sec

8.34
8.55
9.00
9.42
10.55
9.47
8.07
8.14
9.13
9.48
9.01
10.29
7.36
0.36

4hr 42min 25sec

10min 18sec(1m) 
12min 46sec(2m) 
10min 31sec(3m)
11min 54sec(4m) 
15min 01sec(5m) 
15min 44sec(6m)
19min 29sec(7m) 
17min 21sec(8m) 
19min 44sec(9m) 
22min 59sec(10m)
10min 27sec(11m) 
18min 40sec(11m) 
12min 25sec(12m)
16min 21sec(13m) 
9min 04sec(14m)
12min 02sec(15m)
14min 25sec(16m) 
16min 45sec(17m)
11min 44sec(18m) 
10min 03sec(19m) 
5min 24sec(Finish)

4hr 42min 25sec

12min 11sec(1m) 
10min 32sec(2m) 
9min 07sec(3m)
9min 04sec(4m) 
10min 58sec(5m) 
12min 39sec(6m)
0min 44sec(Finish)

53min 04sec

7min 54sec(1m) 
7min 48sec(2m) 
8min 11sec(3m)
8min 46sec(4m) 
10min 11sec(5m) 
9min 09sec(6m)
1min 04sec(Finish)

I got up in plenty of time to do this one, but faffing meant I had to rush and in the rush I forgot Bob (my Garmin) - Doh ! 

Left home at 8.05 for a 9.00 start and I have never been to that part of Middlebrough before ! Not great organisation. I found the park without to much trouble and I was lucky enough to see another runner walking towards the start so I followed him, caught up with him and he told me how it all worked. 

Got there and everybody was very friendly. Bumped into one Caitlin, Martin and Heather who were also running. We were soon off, two big laps and one small lap round the attractive Albert Park. I could see Caitlin not too far ahead of me, but I knew there was no hope of catching her and I wanted to take it easy because of the next race later today. 24min 17sec, about 90sec off my pb, but that was fine. 

I enjoyed it and I will do it again. Set off almost immediately on my way to Kendal for the next one Photos

47min 54sec

7min 18sec(1m) 
7min 31sec(2m) 
8min 27sec(3m)
7min 40sec(4m) 
7min 48sec(5m) 
7min 34sec(6m)
1min 33sec(Finish)

2hr 32min 14sec

9min 49sec(1m) 
9min 33sec(2m) 
9min 46sec(3m)
9min 21sec(4m) 
9min 19sec(5m) 
9min 27sec(6m)
14min 36sec(7m) 
14min 25sec(8m) 
9min 11sec(9m) 
8min 27sec(10m)
10min 11sec(11m) 
9min 26sec(12m) 
10min 32sec(13m)
10min 15sec(14m) 
7min 50sec(Finish)

49min 57sec

8min 34sec(1m) 
7min 06sec(2m) 
8min 11sec(3m)
8min 52sec(4m) 
7min 30sec(5m) 
8min 18sec(6m)
1min 24sec(Finish)

4hr 26min 29sec

9min 46sec(1m) 
10min 03sec(2m) 
10min 38sec(3m)
9min 45sec(4m) 
10min 02sec(5m) 
10min 13sec(6m)
10min 15sec(7m) 
11min 47sec(8m) 
9min 54sec(9m) 
9min 25sec(10m)
10min 27sec(11m) 
9min 47sec(12m) 
9min 51sec(13m)
10min 47sec(14m) 
10min 53sec(15m)
10min 49sec(16m)
10min 23sec(17m) 
9min 23sec(18m)
9min 33sec(19m) 
10min 03sec(20m) 
10min 10sec(21m) 
11min 01sec(22m) 
9min 26sec(23m)
10min 22sec(24m) 
9min 30sec(25m) 
9min 39sec(26m) 
2min 25sec(finish)

4hr 19min 0sec

9min 38sec(1m) 
10min 15sec(2m) 
9min 58sec(3m)
9min 59sec(4m) 
10min 23sec(5m) 
10min 38sec(6m)
10min 13sec(7m) 
9min 31sec(8m) 
9min 41sec(9m) 
10min 02sec(10m)
9min 12sec(11m) 
9min 30sec(12m) 
9min 58sec(13m)
9min 33sec(14m) 
9min 44sec(15m)
9min 52sec(16m)
10min 01sec(17m) 
9min 59sec(18m)
10min 09sec(19m) 
10min 09sec(20m) 
9min 44sec(21m) 
9min 25sec(22m) 
10min 09sec(23m)
9min 39sec(24m) 
9min 41sec(25m) 
9min 42sec(26m) 
1min 50sec(finish)

58min 6sec

8min 44sec(1m)
9min 48sec(2m)
9min 40sec(3m)
9min 53sec(4m)
9min 27sec(5m)
7min 55sec(6m)
2min 37sec(finish)

1hr 34m 37sec

10min 10sec(1m)
11min 12sec(2m)
8min 50sec(3m)
10min 03sec(4m)
10min 28sec(5m)
9min 03sec(6m)
10min 02sec(7m)
8min 39sec(8m)
8min 19sec(9m)
7min 55sec(finish)

51min 51sec

4hr 26m 08sec

8min 28sec(1m) 
8min 28sec(2m) 
8min 36sec(3m)
8min 20sec(4m) 
8min 40sec(5m) 
8min 38sec(6m)
8min 41sec(7m) 
8min 47sec(8m) 
8min 42sec(9m) 
8min 48sec(10m)
8min 49sec(11m) 
8min 45sec(12m) 
8min 43sec(13m)
8min 43sec(14m) 
8min 51sec(15m)
8min 55sec(16m)
9min 14sec(17m) 
9min 24sec(18m)
9min 30sec(19m) 
10min 03sec(20m) 
12min 17sec(21m) 
14min 11sec(22m) 
15min 18sec(23m)
14min 23sec(24m) 
15min 05sec(25m) 
14min 52sec(26m) 
2min 44sec(finish)

This appeared to go great for a while, got to half way in 1hr 53m, way ahead of schedule for a sub-4hr attempt. Go to 20m in 2hr 57m which meant I could do 10m/miles and still get under 4 hours, but then the wheels came off big time. Bad cramp in both legs. Stopped to stretch and jogged on but it came on again and I decided that I didn't want to aggravate anything so I walked the last five miles or so.

I started out much too fast, I should have stuck to no more than 9min/miles for a sub-4 attempt. Even that would have been a step up from the average at London of 9m 17sec. I could not maintain the starting pace and I was starting to slow by 16m.. This was probably a combination of too fast a start, not recovered from FLM and the heat. It had been overcast until just after the start and I got a bit burnt.

Lots of Fetchies there and it was good to see some I know and to meet lots of new ones. A meal the night before and after. Lots of Fetchie support on the course too. A great weekend and I have learnt more about how to run a marathon. Tee shirt and medal to finishers. Photos More photos

1h 44m 40s

12:16:16(1m)
12:28:18(2m)
12:41:27(3m)
12:51:18(4m)
12:59:20(5m)
13:11:19(6m)
13:21:08(7m) 
13:32:03(8m)
13:46:55(9m)
13:55:39(Finish)

4hr 2m 11sec

9min 58sec(1m) 
9min 06sec(2m) 
8min 45sec(3m)
8min 26sec(4m) 
8min 39sec(5m) 
8min 56sec(6m)
9min 13sec(7m) 
8min 47sec(8m) 
8min 40sec(9m) 
9min 00sec(10m)
8min 47sec(11m) 
8min 49sec(12m) 
8min 57sec(13m) 
8min 47sec(14m)
9min 02sec(15m)
9min 25sec(16m) 
9min 07sec(17m)
9min 08sec(18m) 
10min 17sec(19m) 
10min 06sec(20m) 
9min 31sec(21m) 
9min 48sec(22m)
9min 56sec(23m) 
9min 48sec(24m) 
9min 39sec(25m) 
9min 23sec(26m)
2min 00sec(26.2m)

Montage of Fetchpoint, General Photos Photos of me

2hr 11min 13sec

9min 50sec(1m) 
10min 21sec(2m) 
9min 43sec(3m) 
10min 03sec(4m) 
10min 13sec(5m) 
9min 59sec(6m) 
9min 05sec(7m) 
9min 26sec(8m) 
11min 29sec(9m) 
12min 15sec(10m) 
10min 52sec(11m) 
8min 53sec(12m) 
8min 58sec(Finish)

2hr 15min 18sec

10min 17sec(1m) 
9min 28sec(2m) 
9min 20sec(3m) 
9min 11sec(4m) 
10min 02sec(5m) 
9min 57sec(6m) 
10min 06sec(7m) 
9min 57sec(8m) 
10min 04sec(9m) 
10min 15sec(10m) 
9min 51sec(11m) 
10min 11sec(12m) 
8min 21sec(13m) 
8min 13sec(Finish)

Stayed Friday night in my usual B and B in Staveley. It was good to see Joan and Tony and to wander round the village again. Didn't sleep very well, I don't seem to when I go away. Got to the school where the race started very early and wandered round. Met a few clubmates and some fetchies (some I didn't meet until afterwards, there were lots of people there): John, Phil, Lesley, Cumbrian Andy and another one who did very well, but I didn't catch his name. 

I was determined to stick to ten minute miles and I was pleased that I managed this for most of the race. The course was undulating, the views were amazing and the route reminded me of Windermere. There was a bit of a hill an 11.5m but either it didn't feel very much after some of my recent races or I had enough energy left for it not to bother me. As I was climbing I was overtaking quite a few people and I just kept going strongly and my ten minute miles becoming just over eight minute miles. Got a slight pain in my hamstring about half mile from the finish so eased off. 

Had a good pint with F*B*R (who did a great time) and cupcoffee before starting the long drive to my overnight accommodation near Leeds. Slate coaster to all finishers.

1hr 4min 54sec

10min 08sec(1m) 
10min 48sec(2m) 
10min 51sec(3m) 
7min 47sec(4m) 
8min 28sec(5m) 
10min 52sec(6m) 
5min 58sec(Finish)

46min 54sec

7min 04sec(1m) 
7min 21sec(2m) 
7min 54sec(3m) 
7min 26sec(4m) 
7min 37sec(5m) 
7min 42sec(6m) 
1min 49sec(Finish)

47min 30sec

4min 38sec(1K) 
4min 46sec(2K) 
5min 14sec(3K) 
5min 12sec(4K) 
5min 03sec(5K) 
14min 07sec(8K) 
4min 14sec(9K) 
4min 13sec(10K)

2hr 55min 52sec

8min 31sec(1m) 
8min 22sec(2m) 
8min 38sec(3m) 
9min 08sec(4m) 
10min 55sec(5m) 
10min 20sec(6m) 
8min 01sec(7m) 
8min 13sec(8m) 
8min 49sec(9m) 
8min 49sec(10m) 
8min 56sec(11m) 
8min 10sec(12m) 
8min 03sec(13m) 
9min 09sec(14m) 
8min 52sec(15m) 
8min 40sec(16m) 
8min 28sec(17m) 
8min 10sec(18m) 
8min 59sec(19m) 
8min 27sec(20m)

Got there in plenty of time and as I waited for the start it started to rain, so this brought up the inevitable question of what to wear. After some faffing (which you might have gathered by now, I do a lot of), I finally decided on base layer, fetch top, windproof top and shorts rather than running tights. 

We started with two laps round the village and by the time we had run twice round the village, I was feeling a bit hot and the rain had stopped, so I very nearly handed my windproof top to my son. I am glad I didn't. We started a gentle climb and then just before 4m we started a serious climb (800ft I heard later), I hadn't realised how long it was going to be and there were a few false summits. It wasn't helped by the fact that we ascended into the clouds and visibility was down to about 50 meters. It finally finished after 6m and then there was great descent to the first of the three (or was it four ?) reservoirs with spectacular dams and the course became undulating until the finish. The wind started to become more noticeable and the rain seemed to suddenly get much harder (I was grateful I had kept my top) 

I had roughly aimed for 3hr 10min, thinking this might be optimistic on a hilly course. As the miles ticked away and I started to catch people, I began to realise there was a chance of a sub 3. I kept pushing on and got home in 2hr 55m, so I was over the moon !!!

Tried to find my son in the pouring rain, but couldn't and watched other runners come in, including KinkyS and Flanker. It was good to see them again and I am full of admiration of them doing another 20m tomorrow after today's tough race.

A very scenic, tough run and I am very glad to have got back to my son's house, had a bath, got warm and eaten loads !

73rd race in last 12 months.

3hr 10min

9min 14sec(1m) 
9min 03sec(2m) 
9min 04sec(3m) 
9min 13sec(4m) 
9min 12sec(5m) 
9min 12sec(6m) 
9min 44sec(7m) 
9min 22sec(8m) 
9min 26sec(9m) 
9min 24sec(10m) 
9min 39sec(11m) 
9min 17sec(12m) 
9min 34sec(13m) 
9min 52sec(14m) 
9min 47sec(15m) 
9min 48sec(16m) 
10min 43sec(17m) 
9min 43sec(18m) 
9min 31sec(19m) 
9min 01sec(20m)

2hr 0min 15sec

9min 06sec(1m) 
8min 57sec(2m) 
8min 16sec(3m) 
8min 17sec(4m) 
8min 09sec(5m) 
7min 50sec(6m) 
8min 14sec(7m) 
8min 04sec(8m) 
9min 11sec(9m) 
8min 43sec(10m) 
8min 40sec(11m) 
8min 33sec(12m) 
8min 34sec(13m) 
8min 11sec(14m) 
1min 38sec(Finish)

Fetcheveryone Mile Challenge, Quayside, Newcastle (my 2nd time and 2nd time it has been run) Route

2hr 50min 04sec

5min 30sec(1K) 
5min 20sec(2K) 
5min 25sec(3K) 
5min 29sec(4K) 
5min 31sec(5K) 
5min 20sec(6K) 
5min 22sec(7K) 
5min 23sec(8K) 
5min 17sec(9K) 
5min 21sec(10K) 
5min 26sec(11K) 
5min 32sec(12K) 
5min 24sec(14K) 
5min 25sec(15K) 
5min 26sec(16K) 
5min 17sec(17K) 
5min 09sec(18K) 
5min 12sec(19K) 
5min 30sec(20K) 
5min 29sec(21K) 
5min 31sec(22K) 
5min 18sec(23K) 
5min 27sec(24K) 
5min 27sec(25K) 
5min 19sec(26K) 
5min 21sec(27K) 
5min 23sec(28K) 
5min 19sec(29K) 
5min 22sec(30K) 
5min 23sec(31K) 
3min 01sec(Finish)

43min 14sec

5min 03sec(1K)
4min 39sec(2K)
5min 04sec(3K)
6min 53sec(4K)
5min 19sec(5K)
5min 20sec(6K)
7min 35sec (7K)
3min 21sec(Finish)

1hr 9min 29sec

6min 01sec(1K) 
6min 20sec(2K) 
6min 17sec(3K) 
6min 57sec(4K) 
7min 04sec(5K) 
7min 03sec(6K) 
6min 35sec(7K) 
7min 07sec(8K) 
6min 37sec(9K) 
6min 47sec(10K) 
2min 39sec(finish)

3hr 24min 20sec

5min 26sec(1K) 
5min 12sec(2K) 
5min 14sec(3K) 
5min 13sec(4K) 
5min 28sec(5K) 
5min 15sec(6K) 
5min 21sec(7K) 
5min 23sec(8K) 
5min 16sec(9K) 
5min 35sec(11K) 
5min 41sec(12K) 
10min 00sec(13K) 
5min 33sec(15K) 
5min 02sec(18K) 
5min 41sec(19K) 
5min 53sec(20K) 
7min 41sec(21K) 
8min 50sec(22K) 
9min 24sec(23K) 
5min 40sec(24K) 
7min 15sec(25K) 
5min 48sec(26K) 
5min 20sec(27K) 
5min 13sec(28K) 
4min 43sec(29K) 
5min 40sec(30K) 
6min 01sec(31K) 
5min 36sec(32K) 
5min 40sec(33K) 
5min 39sec(34K) 
1min 30sec(Finish)

47min 17sec

5min 06sec(1K) 
5min 02sec(2K) 
5min 10sec(3K) 
5min 19sec(4K) 
5min 00sec(5K) 
5min 18sec(6K) 
5min 27sec(7K) 
4min 58sec(8K) 
5min 07sec(9K) 
0min 49sec(Finish)

1hr 49min 34sec

7min 40sec (1m) 
8min 24sec (2m) 
8min 53sec (3m) 
8min 24sec (4m) 
8min 16sec (5m) 
7min 24sec (6m) 
8min 43sec (7m) 
8min 54sec (8m) 
8min 58sec (9m) 
9min 02sec (10m) 
7min 48sec (11m) 
8min 20sec (12m) 
8min 15sec (13m) 
0min 25sec (finish)

44min 04 sec

14min 13sec(lap1) 
14min 53sec(lap2) 
14min 58sec(lap3)

46min 31sec

5min 24sec(1K) 
4min 56sec(2K) 
5min 26sec(3K)

48min 03sec

5min 24sec(1K) 
4min 56sec(2K) 
5min 26sec(3K) 
4min 22sec(4K) 
5min 51sec(5K) 
4min 33sec(6K)
4min 28sec(7K) 
4min 33sec(8K) 
4min 57sec(9K)
4min 43sec(Finish)

48min 57sec

14min 18sec(lap 1) 
14min 25sec(lap 2) 
14min 36sec(lap 3) 
5min 36sec(finish)

1hr 2min 48sec

5min 18sec(1K) 
5min 16sec(2K) 
5min 23sec(3K) 
4min 49sec(4K) 
4min 39sec(5K) 
5min 20sec(6K)
5min 35sec(7K) 
5min 34sec(8K) 
4min 32sec(9K)
4min 34sec(10K)
4min 18sec(11K) 
4min 20sec(12K) 
3min 10sec(finish) 

47min 06sec

4min 46sec(1K) 
4min 52sec(2K) 
4min 59sec(3K) 
4min 52sec(4K) 
5min 02sec(5K) 
5min 11sec(6K)
4min 54sec(7K) 
5min 06sec(8K) 
5min 00sec(9K)
4min 53sec(finish)

57min 36sec

5min 30sec(1K) 
5min 41sec(2K) 
5min 42sec(3K) 
4min 35sec(4K) 
6min 13sec(5K) 
5min 48sec(6K)
5min 48sec(7K) 
6min 09sec(8K) 
5min 59sec(9K)
6min 08sec(10K)

77min 47sec

5min 06sec(1K) 
4min 33sec(2K) 
4min 40sec(3K) 
4min 37sec(4K) 
4min 40sec(5K) 
4min 41sec(6K)
4min 51sec(7K) 
4min 53sec(8K) 
4min 52sec(9K)
4min 54sec(10K)
4min 49sec(11K) 
4min 56sec(12K) 
4min 54sec(13K) 
5min 00sec(14K) 
5min 00sec(15K)
4min 50sec(16K) 
0min 33sec(finish)

37min 40sec(5m)

50min 50sec

8min 21sec(1K) 
5min 42sec(2K) 
6min 03sec(3K) 
9min 40sec(4K) 
10min 05sec(5K) 
7min 07sec(6K)
3min 50sec(Finish)

48min 44sec

5min 03sec(1K) 
4min 57sec(2K) 
5min 12sec(3K) 
4min 41sec(4K) 
5min 03sec(5K) 
5min 00sec(6K)
4min 58sec(7K) 
5min 03sec(8K) 
4min 24sec(9K)
4min 30sec(10K)

49min 52sec

5min 01sec(1K) 
5min 06sec(2K) 
5min 00sec(3K) 
4min 52sec(4K) 
4min 56sec(5K) 
5min 16sec(6K)
5min 36sec(7K) 
4min 47sec(8K) 
4min 36sec(9K)
4min 36sec(10K)

58min 44sec

4min 45sec(1K) 
4min 49sec(2K) 
6min 45sec(3K) 
5min 03sec(4K) 
4min 50sec(5K) 
4min 53sec(6K)
6min 44sec(7K) 
6min 50sec(8K) 
4min 50sec(9K)
4min 33sec(10K)
4min 29sec(11K) 
0min 08sec(Finish)

1hr 21min 26sec

6min 15sec(1K) 
6min 10sec(2K) 
5min 21sec(3K) 
7min 17sec(4K) 
6min 32sec(5K) 
6min 19sec(6K)
6min 20sec(7K) 
8min 16sec(8K) 
8min 30sec(9K)
6min 02sec(10K)
5min 23sec(11K) 
4min 46sec(12K) 
4min 34sec(finish)

50min 14sec

5min 30sec(1K) 
5min 41sec(2K) 
5min 26sec(3K) 
4min 31sec(4K) 
5min 45sec(5K) 
5min 46sec(6K)
4min 35sec(7K) 
4min 39sec(8K) 
4min 56sec(9K)
3min 21sec(finish)

Sherman Cup, Temple Park, Sound Shields (my 1st time) Route

44min 26sec

4min 42sec(1K) 
4min 56sec(2K) 
4min 58sec(3K) 
4min 55sec(4K) 
5min 02sec(5K) 
5min 06sec(6K)
5min 06sec(7K) 
5min 06sec(8K) 
4min 32sec(9K)
0min 06sec(finish)

48min 49sec

5min 07sec(1K) 
5min 00sec(2K) 
4min 36sec(3K) 
4min 34sec(4K) 
5min 01sec(5K) 
5min 57sec(6K)
5min 48sec(7K) 
4min 49sec(8K) 
4min 42sec(9K)
3min 09sec(finish)

Lovely route which started on the playing fields of Tanfield School then went along old railway lines towards Beamish, then into the Hellhole woods, which felt very similar to Gibside. Very cold when I set out from home with ice on the windscreen, but it warmed up and when we were running it was a cloudless sky and a lovely autumn day. Some hills but no really big ones. Socks, water, soup, roll and running diary to all finishers. Magbag from fetch ran together with quite a few Striders. The women won the women's team prize. Pictures

1hr 06min 13sec

4min 31sec(1K) 
4min 48sec(2K) 
5min 03sec(3K) 
7min 13sec(4K) 
7min 35sec(5K) 
5min 06sec(6K)
5min 10sec(7K) 
4min 55sec(8K) 
7min 43sec(9K)
6min 57sec(10K)
4min 15sec(11K) 
2min 53sec(finish)

A grey day with light drizzle falling at the start, we went along the promenade and then started to climb Pin Dinas. It was steep and I walked quite a bit of it. The descent was better than I thought it would be. Then back to the promenade, past the start, then a shorther but even steeper climb up Constituition Hill followed by a long descent back to the promenade. I enjoyed it. Mars bar, orange, banana, cereal bar, water bottle and isotonic drink to all finishers. G was going to run with me but he twisted his ankle.

Coniston Trail Race (my 1st time and the 3rd time it has been run) Route
Slideshow of route

14K (14.61K)

1625ft ascent

1hr 29min 38sec

5min 30sec(1K) 
5min 20sec(2K) 
7min 25sec(3K) 
7min 35sec(4K) 
10min 35sec(5K) 
7min 17sec(6K)
4min 46sec(7K) 
6min 26sec(8K) 
5min 23sec(9K)
5min 13sec(10K)
4min 49sec(11K) 
5min 34sec(12K) 
5min 17sec(13K) 
5min 08sec(14K) 
2min 55sec(finish)

1hr 59min 10sec

4min 57sec(1K) 
4min 34sec(2K) 
5min 07sec(3K) 
5min 19sec(4K) 
5min 12sec(5K) 
5min 32sec(6K)
5min 46sec(7K) 
5min 49sec(8K) 
5min 30sec(9K)
5min 42sec(10K)
5min 26sec(11K) 
5min 32sec(12K) 
5min 38sec(13K) 
6min 12sec(14K) 
5min 56sec(15K)
5min 58sec(16K) 
6min 14sec(17K) 
6min 07sec(18K) 
6min 07sec(19K) 
5min 57sec(20K)
5min 38sec(21K) 
0min 56sec(finish)

53min 45sec

4min 40sec(1K) 
4min 40sec(2K) 
4min 42sec(3K) 
4min 56sec(4K) 
4min 52sec(5K) 
5min 24sec(6K)
5min 29sec(7K) 
5min 36sec(8K) 
5min 46sec(9K)
7min 21sec(10K)
0min 15sec(finish)

Intended to just trot round this but I started a bit too quick. After 3K I started to feel my right calf so I thought I should slow down. It all went fine until 9.5K when it got a lot more painful so I had to walk the last 0.5K in front of a crowd and announcer who all wanted me to run the last bit ! I think my calf found yesterday a bit hard, maybe it wasn't the best idea to do this race. Louise, Mandy, John and Ann ran from the Striders. John, Jamie, Mick Jason and Helene also ran (except Jamie who didn't feel good after the warm up). Tee shirt, Lucozade and lipsol to all finishers

79min 36sec

4min 46sec(1K) 
4min 48sec(2K) 
4min 50sec(3K) 
4min 51sec(4K) 
4min 45sec(5K) 
5min 24sec(6K)
5min 07sec(7K) 
5min 20sec(8K) 
5min 00sec(9K)
4min 46sec(10K)
4min 45sec(11K) 
5min 06sec(12K) 
4min 48sec(13K) 
4min 43sec(14K) 
4min 58sec(15K)
4min 47sec(16K) 
0min 44sec(finish)

170

10K (9.62K)

53min 07sec

5min 29sec (1K) 
6min 37sec(2K) 
5min 55sec(3K)
4min 56sec(4K) 
6min 47sec(5K)
5min 04sec(6K) 
5min 14sec(7K) 
5min 11sec(8K) 
5min 15sec(9K) 
2min 35sec(finish)

10K (10.44K)

54min 03sec

5min 09sec (1K) 
5min 12sec(2K) 
5min 08sec(3K)
4min 59sec(4K) 
4min 56sec(5K)
5min 32sec(6K) 
5min 42sec(7K) 
5min 34sec(8K) 
5min 00sec(9K) 
4min 34sec(10K)
2min 12sec (finish)

14K (14.67K)

1hr 26min 24sec

5min 23sec (1K) 
5min 32sec(2K) 
5min 19sec(3K)
5min 34sec(4K) 
7min 20sec(5K)
6min 34sec(6K) 
8min 24sec(7K) 
7min 52sec(8K) 
7min 14sec(9K) 
5min 21sec(10K)
4min 30sec (11K) 
5min 11sec(12K) 
4min 18sec(13K)
4min 25sec(14K) 
3min 18sec(finish)

6min 46sec (1.5K)
7min 00sec (3K)

10K (9.75K) 

50min 06sec

5min 33sec (1K) 
5min 32sec(2K) 
5min 18sec(3K)
5min 10sec(4K) 
4min 52sec(5K)
5min 22sec(6K) 
5min 33sec(7K) 
4min 56sec(8K) 
4min 27sec(9K) 
3min 19sec(10K)

10K

47min 55sec

4min 52sec (1K) 
4min 43sec(2K) 
4min 48sec(3K)
4min 47sec(4K) 
4min 51sec(5K)
5min 12sec(6K) 
4min 50sec(7K) 
4min 50sec(8K) 
4min 37sec(9K) 
4min 20sec(10K)

3.5K

18min 32sec

7min 06sec (1K) 
4min 11sec(2K) 
4min 43sec(3K)
2min 31sec(4K)

10K

49min 48sec

4min 50sec (1K) 
4min 51sec(2K) 
5min 03sec(3K)
4min 49sec(4K) 
5min 02sec(5K)
4min 58sec(6K) 
5min 00sec(7K) 
4min 52sec(8K) 
5min 01sec(9K) 
4min 48sec(10K)
0 min 34sec(finish)

10K

47min 52sec

4min 39sec (1K) 
4min 46sec(2K) 
4min 47sec(3K)
4min 53sec(4K) 
5min 00sec(5K)
4min 55sec(6K) 
4min 44sec(7K) 
5min 02sec(8K) 
4min 56sec(9K) 
4min 06sec(10K)

5K

23min 01sec

4min 27sec (1K) 
4min 40sec(2K) 
4min 52sec(3K)
4min 24sec(4K) 
4min 37sec(5K)

10K

49min 17sec

5min 08sec (1K) 
4min 41sec(2K) 
4min 53sec(3K)
4min 50sec(4K) 
4min 54sec(5K)
4min 52sec(6K) 
5min 05sec(7K) 
5min 11sec(8K) 
4min 56sec(9K) 
4min 38sec(10K)

1hr 2min 5sec

5min 39sec (1K) 
5min 56sec(2K) 
6min 25sec(3K)
6min 48sec(4K) 
6min 50sec(5K)
6min 11sec(6K) 
6min 33sec(7K) 
6min 25sec(8K) 
6min 15sec(9K) 
5min 08sec(10K)

Half marathon

1hr 53min 03sec

7min 49sec(1m) 
8min 12sec(2m) 
8min 19sec(3m)
9min 28sec(4m) 
10min 16sec(5m)
9min 13sec(6m) 
7min 56sec(7m) 
7min 49sec(8m) 
8min 19sec(9m)
9min 00sec(10m) 
8min 01sec(11m) 
10min 33sec(12m) 
7min 39sec(13m) 
0min 25sec(Finish)

1hr 58min 58sec

7min 51sec(1m) 
8min 40sec(2m) 
8min 28sec(3m)
8min 37sec(4m) 
9min 33sec(5m)
8min 44sec(6m) 
10min 59sec(7m) 
8min 59sec(8m) 
9min 17sec(9m)
9min 04sec(10m) 
9min 08sec(11m) 
8min 57sec(12m) 
9min 02sec(13m) 
1min 32sec(Finish)

1hr 00min 56sec

8min 24sec(1m) 
8min 43sec(2m) 
8min 37sec(3m) 
9min 05sec(4m) 
8min 22sec(5m) 
8min 46sec(6m)
7min 58sec(7m) 
0min 57sec(Finish)

1hr 55min 16sec

8min 01sec(1m) 
8min 46sec(2m) 
8min 44sec(3m) 
9min 33sec(4m) 
9min 09sec(5m) 
9min 50sec(6m)
9min 42sec(7m) 
9min 09sec(8m)
7min 57sec(9m)
8min 47sec(10m) 
7min 53sec(11m) 
8min 54sec(12m) 
8min 26sec(13m)
0min 17sec(Finish)

49min 22sec

4min 53sec (1K) 
4min 41sec(2K) 
4min 37sec(3K)
4min 51sec(4K) 
4min 47sec(5K)
4min 50sec(6K) 
5min 01sec(7K) 
5min 06sec(8K) 
5min 06sec(9K) 
4min 43sec(10K)
0min 43sec(Finish)

50min 52sec

4min 36sec (1K) 
4min 41sec(2K) 
4min 39sec(3K) 
5min 13sec(4K) 
4min 40sec(5K) 
5min 28sec(6K) 
5min 30sec(7K) 
5min 54sec(8K) 
5min 22sec(9K) 
4min 52sec(10K)

Newburn River Run (my 1st time) Route

51min 39sec

7min 43sec(1m) 
7min 43sec(2m) 
8min 03sec(3m)
7min 46sec(4m) 
7min 50sec(5m)
8min 01sec(6m) 
4min 30sec(Finish)

48min 25sec

7min 22sec(1m) 
7min 31sec(2m) 
8min 11sec(3m)
7min 46sec(4m) 
8min 18sec(5m)
7min 48sec(6m) 
1min 27sec(Finish)

43min 44sec

7min 02sec(1m) 
7min 11sec(2m)
7min 27sec(3m)
8min 06sec(4m)
8min 18sec(5m)
5min 40sec (Finish)

Garburn Trail Race (my 1st time and 4th time it has been run) Rough route (had to guess quite a bit of this)  Elevation map
Slideshow of route

2hr 18min 56sec

10min 26sec(1K) 
26min 18sec(5K) 
6min 24sec(6K)
6min 30sec(7K) 
6min 02sec(8K)
5min 55sec(9K) 
9min 30sec(10K) 
14min 02sec(11K) 
6min 52sec(12K)
5min 58sec(13K) 
3min 55sec(14K) 
6min 05sec(15K) 
4min 10sec(16K)
4min 26sec(17K) 
5min 22sec(18K)
7min 34sec(19K) 
5min 42sec(20K) 
3min 37sec(21K)

1hr 6min 27sec

8min 14sec(1m) 
8min 18sec(2m) 
7min 54sec(3m) 
9min 58sec(4m)
8min 47sec(5m) 
8min 37sec(6m)
7min 56sec(7m) 
6min 39sec(8m) 

4hr 13min 59sec

9min 59sec(1m) 
9min 19sec(2m) 
9min 09sec(3m)
17min 34sec(5m) 
8min 46sec(6m)
9min 25sec(7m) 
10min 04sec(8m) 
8min 42sec(9m) 
8min 54sec(10m)
9min 20sec(11m) 
9min 22sec(12m) 
18min 48sec(14m) 
9min 49sec(15m)
9min 15sec(16m) 
9min 33sec(17m)
9min 19sec(18m) 
9min 22sec(19m) 
9min 01sec(20m) 
9min 48sec(21m)
11min 02sec(22m) 
10min 30sec(23m) 
11min 37sec(24m) 
11min 13sec(25m)
13min 56sec(26.2m) 

1hr 23min 04sec

8min 15sec(1m) 
8min 24sec(2m) 
9min 08sec(3m)
8min 42sec(4m) 
7min 46sec(5m)
9min 20sec(6m) 
8min 11sec(7m) 
7min 30sec(8m) 
8min 42sec(9m)
7min 00sec(10m)

47min 46sec

4min 49sec(1K) 
4min 34sec(2K) 
4min 52sec(3K) 
4min 43sec(4K) 
4min 56sec(5K)
5min 09sec(6K) 
4min 47sec(7K) 
9min 28sec(9K)
4min 28sec(10K)

45min 29sec

23min 48sec (1st half) 
21min 41sec (2nd half)

48min 32sec

8min 00sec(1m) 
7min 41ec(2m) 
8min 00sec(3m) 
7min 41sec(4m)
8min 01sec(5m) 
7min 34sec(6m) 
1min 30sec(10K)

1hr 39min 54sec

14min 38sec(2K) 
6min 37sec(3K) 
7min 50sec(4K) 
6min 02sec(5K)
4min 55sec(6K) 
8min 14sec(7K) 
6min 50sec(8K)
4min 27sec(9K)
6min 19sec(10K)
7min 05sec(11K)
16min 02sec(13K)
10min50sec(15K)

Cloudy at home all day, but once over the Pennines the sun was out and it was a lovely warm day. Took about 2h 10m to get to Hawkshead. Race started with steel band and I started with Liz. Managed the first hill okay, but by the time I got to the second I had to walk and Liz went on. Steep descent from second hill to Lake Windermere and a lovely run alongside the lake. Then we turned to climb the third big hill and at that point the  organisers had left a skeleton with a race number ! That hill was very tough. Course was often wet underfoot and loose stones, hard to get any pace going. Could only see a bit of the scenery as I had to concentrate on where I was putting my feet. Tee shirt to all finishers. Video Pictures

47min 03sec

6min 52sec(1m) 
7min 37sec(2m) 
8min 02sec(3m) 
7min 30sec(4m) 
7min 52sec(5m)
7min 32sec(6m)
1min 34sec(10K) 

46min 37sec

9min 05sec(2K) 
4min 44sec(3K) 
4min 34sec(4K) 
4min 42sec(5K)
4min 31sec(6K) 
5min 03sec(7K) 
4min 45sec(8K)
4min 28sec(9K)
4min 40sec(10K)

3hr 17min 7sec

8min 39sec(1m) 
8min 41sec(2m) 
8min 58sec(3m) 
8min 47sec(4m) 
8min 47sec(5m) 
8min 30sec(6m)
9min 10sec(7m) 
8min 38sec(8m) 
8min 06sec(9m)
8min 45sec(10m)
9min 22sec(11m) 
9min 02sec(12m) 
9min 50sec(13m)
8min 16sec(14m)
9min 07sec(15m) 
9min 06sec(16m) 
10min 14sec(17m)
13min 01sec(18m) 
15min 07sec(19m)
16min 51sec(20m)

2hr 3min 9sec

9min 26sec(1m) 
7min 45sec(2m) 
8min 13sec(3m) 
8min 52sec(4m) 
8min 04sec(5m) 
8min 32sec(6m)
8min 28sec(7m) 
8min 27sec(8m) 
9min 35sec(9m)
8min 22sec(10m)
9min 00sec(11m) 
9min 01sec(12m) 
8min 26sec(13m)
1min 01sec(half mar - 
1hr 53min 41sec) 
7min 51sec(14m)
1min 59sec(finish)

44min 00sec

10min 52sec(Lap 1) 
11min 08sec(Lap 2) 
11min 07sec(Lap 3) 
10min 51sec(Finish)

1hr 19min 36sec

8min 05sec(1m) 
8min 09sec(2m) 
7min 55sec(3m) 
8min 31sec(4m) 
7min 27sec(5m)
7min 27sec(6m) 
7min 54sec(7m) 
8min 15sec(8m) 
8min 10sec(9m)
7min 38sec(10m)

3hr 15m 42sec

28min 28sec (Byers Green Junc)
28min 20sec (leaving Bracks Farm)
10min 16sec (Bishop A centre)
32min 49sec (south Willington)
33min 21sec (Stanley Crook road junction)
10min 28sec (A690)
28min 44sec (Croxdale bridge)
23min 12sec(home)

48min 33sec

1 hr 48 min 01 sec

8min 00sec(1m) 
7min 42sec(2m) 
16min 01sec(4m) 
7min 44sec(5m) 
8min 05sec(6m)
8min 21sec(7m) 
8min 13sec(8m) 
8min 30sec(9m)
8min 22sec(10m)
8min 37sec(11m) 
8min 46sec(12m) 
9min 34sec(end)

Jolly Holly Jog, Ripon (my 2nd time) Route

48min 37sec

7min 34sec(1m) 
8min 09sec(2m) 
6min 38sec(3m) 
9min 27sec(4m) 
9min 06sec(5m) 
7min 40sec(10K)

Woodlawn Christmas Pudding Run, Whitley Bay (my 3rd time and 21st time it has been run) New route

49min 25 sec

14min 19sec(lap1) 
14min 53sec(lap2) 
14min 33sec(lap3) 
5min 38sec(finish)

1hr 5min

5min 21sec(just after start of lap1) 
18min 15sec(just after start of lap 2) 
19min 36sec(just after start lap 3) 
19min 30sec(end of lap 3) 
2min 41sec(finish)

44min 01 sec

14min 00sec(lap1) 
14min 52sec(lap2) 
14min 54sec(lap3) 
0min 14sec(finish)

50min 07sec

7min 44sec(1m) 
8min 33sec(2m) 
7min 50sec(3m) 
8min 14sec(4m) 
8min 25sec(5m) 
7min 48sec(6m) 
1min 30sec(10K) 

48min 11sec

9min 40sec(2K) 
4min 43sec(3K) 
9min 22sec(5K) 
5min 00sec(6K) 
5min 06sec(7K) 
5min 19sec(8K) 
4min 15sec(9K) 
4min 46sec(10K) 

3 hrs 7 min 14 sec

14min 24sec(1m) 
14min 54sec(2m) 
14min 14sec(3m) 
14min 22sec(4m) 
14min 25sec(5m) 
14min 10sec(6m)
28min 14sec(8m) 
14min 51sec(9m) 
13min 41sec(10m)
14min 20sec(11m)
14min 15sec(12m) 
15min 17sec(end) 

Great North Mile for women
Great North Mile for men
Great North 3K for women 
Great North 3K for men

46min 40sec (total)
45min 35sec (10K)

4min 12sec(1K) 
4min 20sec(2K) 
4min 46sec(3K) 
9min 11sec(5K) 
5min 06sec(6K) 
4min 01sec(7K) 
4min 24sec(8K) 
4min 43sec(9K) 
4min 51sec(10K) 
1min 01sec(last bit)

80min 20sec

7min 44sec(1m) 
7min 40sec(2m) 
7min 31sec(3m) 
8min 34sec(4m) 
8min 23sec(5m) 
7min 56sec(6m)
7min 39sec(7m) 
8min 07sec(8m) 
8min 17sec(9m)
8min 30sec(10m)

51min 24sec

25min 36sec(after long straight) 
12min 55sec(turn at windmills) 
12min 53sec(end)

13min 18sec

6min 31sec(1.5K)
6min 46sec(3K)

48min 20sec

13min 27sec(3K) 
5min 03sec(4K) 
4min 49sec(5K) 
4min 53sec(6K) 
4min 56sec(7K) 
5min 01sec(8K) 
5min 09sec(9K) 
4min 59sec(10K)

46min 17sec

9min 54sec(top of hill 1) 
13min 14sec(3m) 
15min 20sec(top of hill 1) 
7min 49sec(finish) 

47min 03sec

4min 40sec(1K) 
4min 26sec(2K) 
4min 42sec(3K) 
4min 40sec(4K) 
4min 43sec(5K) 
4min 53sec(6K) 
4min 40sec(7K) 
4min 52sec(8K) 
4min 57sec(9K) 
4min 25sec(10K)

47min 40sec

7min 51sec(1m) 
7min 35sec(2m) 
7min 16sec(3m) 
8min 30sec(4m) 
8min 09sec(5m) 
7min 04sec(6m) 
1min 12sec(finish)

Bishop Wilton (my 1st time) Route

1hr 56min 58sec

7min 53sec(1m) 
8min 42sec(2m) 
8min 23sec(3m) 
10min 15sec(4m) 
9min 59sec(5m) 
9min 42sec(6m) 
8min 02sec(7m) 
7min 57sec(8m) 
9min 02sec(9m) 
9min 16sec(10m)
8min 15sec(11m) 
11min 17sec(12m) 
7min 34sec(13m) 
0min 34sec(finish)

55min 24sec

9min 11sec(1m) 
8min 39sec(2m) 
7min 49sec(3m) 
9min 00sec(4m) 
9min 17sec(5m) 11min 25sec(finish)

49 min 18 sec

4min 47sec(1K) 
5min 03sec(2K) 
4min 25sec(3K) 
4min 35sec(4K) 
5min 33sec(5K) 
5min 58sec(6K)
4min 54sec(7K) 
4min 20sec(8K) 
5min 03sec(9K)
4min 36sec(10K)

47 min 17 sec

4min 36sec(1K) 
5min 00sec(2K) 
4min 46sec(3K) 
4min 23sec(4K) 
4min 37sec(5K) 
4min 57sec(6K)
5min 12sec(7K) 
4min 51sec(8K) 
4min 25sec(9K)
4min 25sec(10K)