Two mountain goats and a whippet (Liz Matthews, Maureen Medlar and Darren Hendley) took on what had been described as a 10 mile trail race through the beautiful Cheviot hills. The morning started with that nasty wet rain and drizzle that soaks you to the skin, and it didn’t bode well for a fell race in such an open and exposed place. Miraculously the organisers had arranged for it to stop just as the start gun went off! We headed off into the unknown along a rough stony track. It wasn’t long before we turned off the track and up the first of numerous ascents. A sign stating “Let the fun commence” should have warned us what to expect!
The first checkpoint at 4.5 miles was a welcome sight, and well-stocked with flapjack, jelly babies, liquorice allsorts and popcorn. It was here that the hardy marathoners turned off into goodness knows where, while we were content in the knowledge that we had almost completed the ascent and were nearly half way round.
Eventually the long descent started – too steep and stony to go too fast. We came across a ford, the first of many. Too wide and slippery to leap across, no choice but to wade through – ankle deep and chilly but refreshing. Maureen and I became perfect running partners – our feet squelching in unison! No sooner had we dried out when we came across the next one, each one seemed wider, deeper and faster flowing!
The final checkpoint was as well stocked as the first, and we realised there were just 2.5 miles to go … or so we thought.
We were about a mile from the finish when we came across another sign which said “Just as you thought you’d nearly finished” then “Ha ha, no chance!” and we were diverted off the lovely track up a narrow gorge – a perilous ascent between a steep heather clad hillside and a deep stream that we crossed umpteen times. After 10 miles our muscles weren’t prepared for leaping across streams! Once at the top though, we turned back along a grassy ridge which gave the most fantastic views, and the most welcome sight of the hotel which was the finish. There was a nasty steep descent to the track then the final sprint to the finish.
Darren had a cracking run, coming home in third place!
The race was over 11 miles long with over 400 m of ascent, but it was a brilliant – a great atmosphere and the most amazing scenery. Well worth putting in the diary for next year!