It’d been a while since a) I ran this far and b) ran for this long so it was always going to be a bit of a suck it and see, but sometimes you just got to do these things and get a measure of where you are and whether you still enjoy it. Which is why I chose this race a combination of a cracking route around the Northumbrian hills and I used to stay this way for a few years and so was a good excuse to come down for a visit.
After observing the remembrance day silence we were herded to the main road round the corner for the start, which alleviated the potential bottle necking to some extent. The start caught me off guard as I was re-packing my camera. Initially following the St. Cuthbert way paths leads through fields and woods to Wooler common, where the views then open up across the moor and to the hills you’ll be climbing. Given the rain the last couple of days the ground wasn’t so bad and nice single track led over to the decent into Langleeford. Just so we go to enjoy the full climb up The Cheviot. It was always going to be tough given it’s the best part of 2500ft of climbing in the main on soft peaty paths. My arrival at the summit was atmospheric as brief wisps of cloud briefly rolled across, fortunately the slabs were dry otherwise these are dodgy as hell underfoot. From then on though the day improved and stayed clear with views stretching all the way up to the Eildons. From the summit we followed the roller coaster Pennine Way to meet the St. Cuthbert’s way which we then followed back to Wooler. I made sure I didn’t get carried away trying to keep up with anyone as I knew I still had a ways to go and spent the rest of the day occasionally chatting to the odd person or in my own world reminiscing, but more often than not just enjoying the day out.
Iain Twaddle made it one place better this year winning in 04 hr 09 min
Six Carnethts in evidence from the results. Some I saw, some I knew, some I didn’t. Results as I interpreted by me
Winners on the day Michelle & Stuart both 1st F50 home and respectively 2nd female & 4th male overall. Brian Kennedy, Stuart McMillan, Pamela Whittlie along with myself all getting there in the end to claim our finishers medal.
They also have a trail 1/2 marathon on Saturday and for anyone who fancies making the most of the weekend, they have a double up category bit like our Man or Mouse.
https://www.trailoutlaws.com/wooler
https://www.woolerhostel.co.uk/
Matt Davis