Life's a snowy Labyrinth

The new year has started with an interesting mix of weather. It has carried with it a hint of menace which has developed (in the north east of the country) into something pretty adverse and, for some, downright hostile.  As long as you're not driving and are not elderly or otherwise disadvantaged, its only been a mild distraction hereabouts. We've had to crank the heating up, mind.  

As a confirmed chionophile (who knew?), plodding around the woods in fresh snow brings a welcome change of aspect and I've managed to get out a few times last week. 

This weeks efforts have been much less successful. We have had to deal with the snows frigid icy legacy which offers a challenge, at least in terms of staying upright.  I like to think I know my limitations, but breaking my foot last year suggests that even the most assured off-road runner can misjudge conditions.  

As a sporty type, its an expensive time of year and various club subscriptions are increasingly bloated with additional costly contributions to national bodies in order that they can fund whatever it is they do. 

Checking a website used by several clubs for membership, I noted the average club membership to be around twenty quid with an additional twenty quid 'tax' in some cases for the national body. The fell running membership (FRA) is 16 notes, but as the magazine and website are very good, I don't grudge this at all. I'm never very sure what a tenner buys you for Scottish Hill Running, but an improved website would be welcome. 

At a time when most are squeezed financially from all directions, I find myself looking very closely at value for money. As an old grimble, club membership doesn't seem all that relevant, but if you like to take in the odd race or find that you are interested in masters title races and the like, you're stuck with putting your hand in your pocket. This, coupled with rising costs of race entry, makes for an expensive hobby...and don't even get me started about cycling and the cost of kit. Bah, humbug. 

On a separate note, we arrived in Pitlochry last Tuesday for a fleeting visit in time for a huge dump of snow, but as I was driving and we were staying over in Perth, I failed to embrace the conditions and, instead, found myself stressed out and impatient to leave, lest we got stuck somewhere on the A9. The snow disappeared around Dunkeld and by the time we got to Perth it was freezing rain, which is the worst. 

We also failed to get our entry in on time for the Falkland Race spending all week languishing on a virtual waiting list. Given the fresh wet snow this morning, I doubt we would have even attempted the trip to Fife.  Corresponding races at the Lakes and North York Moors were cancelled, so today its a jog around the woods or maybe half an hour in the gym, or a wee cup of hot coffee in one of our many cafes. Shouldn't grumble really, but I'm old and that's my prerogative. I've binned 'The Go Between' (L.P. Hartley). I struggled with the book when I was 16 and it seems my reading stamina has not improved. Instead I'm giving 'Mr Pottermacks Oversight' by Austin Freeman a go. Apparently its an inverted-Mystery classic - whatever that means.          

Hogmanhoway 5k

We entered Steve Crams newest race, the above named 5k. He had secured most of the Newcastle University Estates roads and some of Newcastle City Streets for this evening affair in deepest Midwinter. 

The number of entrants had swollen to around 1800. This probably reflected the need for many folk to do something other than getting bladdered and eat stuff on Hogmanay. There was an accompanying elite race with around 15 in the mens and the same number in the womens races. I was not surprised to have been passed over this time for the elite race, what with just getting over the lurgy thats going around. It s been some time since I did sub 15 (like never). With a first prize of two grand, there was no shortage of fast lads and lassies who flew around the 3 lapper. The plebs on the other hand were asked to experience a different course. It was quite a tortuous affair involving swithchbacks, sharp turns and so on. This baffling circuitous route was countered only by the relative flatness of the terrain. Twenty quid got you a number and a medal, buff and 'goody bag' at the end. There was also alcoholic and non-alcoholic warm mulled wine which was very welcome, given that the temperature was a midgies-didgie over zero degrees with a perky biting northerly wind. Still on the recovery path, I was hoping for a sub-21, but it was going to require a bloody minded effort. The consequences of failing to do a sub-21 were that I would do a 21 something, so the vapour clouds which I exhaled probably gave off an air of algid apathy. I didn't bother to remove my tights and kept my woolly hat and gloves on. 

We watched the elite race, which was entertaining. I tried to run along parallel with Beattie as he darted his way to a sub 14 minute win, but even at a flat out sprint effort, I was dropped. We lined up at the Civic Centre and I dumped my trackie top, tying it to a handrail. The bloke on the microphone was trying his best to keep folk jovial as they stood outside in the refrigerator and slowly turned blue, but the wait soon came to an end and it took me only 10 seconds to get over the start line. I was joined by Mike from the club and we ran together for a while, before I pushed on ahead. However, he was, I suspect, sat just behind me and not breathing quite as hard or gurgling along with a chestful of mucus, unlike me. The field went back and forth, round, up and down the streets, the super-cooled wind channeling between the buildings to give you a helpful push or an unwelcome dose of wind chill and red nose. Around 4k, Mike came past me. However, I didn't chase him as I was done in and also unsure how far into the race we were. Turns out we were just about done and he crossed the line around 10 seconds ahead of me. It was a sub-21, but only just, and after waiting for Missus Mac, who went sub 30, we repaired to a hostelry for a modest imbibement. It was a surprise that we could get served straight away on Hogmanay, and this probably shows how frail the hospitality business is presently. Either way it was a good event and one we might do again next year.

Simonside Cairns Fell Race 2025

Its pure Pixar, innit.....?!

I had a good trawl through the results from the previous 10 years or so and couldn't find any with my name on. Later, Speedy advised me that we had run a re-scheduled Simonside, meant to be run in December 2021, in March 2022. Then I was 10th, finishing in 1:40. I vaguely remember the poor field (40) and relative unease after that race - I think we were just getting back to normality after the Covid debacle. Anyway, I was surprised at how few times I've ran this 11 mile race, especially as half of it takes in my Simonside, my training ground and the nearest location that offers topography which might provide some semblance of mountain running terrain. 

Speedy is still out of sorts, but still took time to accompany me to Rothbury with 2 marginally dysfunctional dogs. 

Around 80 had turned up at the hall including some Penecuiks, a Dark Peak and a sprinkling of Norhams and Teviotdales. No Carnethys that I could see this year, but plenty of Saltwells and Elvets from south of the Tyne and, of course, loads of NFR's, the local fell running club and in the ascent, members-wise, it would seem. I said hello to Adam from Wooler whom I hadn't seen for years. 

We set off out of Rothbury and after a mile I passed Teviots Murray and the Penecuik Runner, Ball. There were plenty ahead, but unlike last weeks Hexham Hobble, I felt good. 

As we made up and over Simonside past Lordenshaws, I hopscotched between runners, trying to keep out of the stiff headwind as much as possible. After 4 miles we changed direction and it became a sidewind. It was super-mild, though and I had only a thin white Tshirt on.  I continued to catch runners, passing perhaps 4 or 5 on the moors. The terrain, between mile 4 and mile 8, was testing, with a mix of heather tracks and wet reedy grass. The duck boards over the boggy ground were lethally slippy. The greasy hummocks of grass waiting to ambush you as you tired. 

I forged ahead, feeding on a gel at 4 miles and trying to continue to track down some of the runners ahead. I was tracked closely by Duff of NFR, so had to push hard and caught the first lady around 7 miles. At that point we hit the high ground and with 4 miles to go, I was on home territory. I reached for a second gel. However, my eagerness to gel-up coupled with some inattention was rewarded by a fall early once we were onto the slabs, but that was a result of me turning on the peat which I knew had been dry all year, but with recent rain was unusually yielding. I dusted myself down and fairly hammered back along the path and down the various sets of zig-zaggy sandstone steps, my wee legs going ten to the dozen and putting taller less certain runners to the sword. I was stoked. 

I moved up the rankings well in the last few miles, almost all of it downhill and although a young Elvet lad tried to overhaul me near the finish as we re-entered Rothbury, I told myself that it was important to apply myself - at the time, all I could hear were the footsteps padding on the tarmac behind me, and for all I knew, there could have been loads of the blighters waiting to pounce. In all my excitement I realised that Adam might be in my age group and that I hadn't seen him all race. He must have been well ahead and won the M60 cat. I was happy enough with 2nd finishing in 1:41 and realising that I had enjoyed the event and had had a good run.  Thanks to all the marshalls and Speedy for the foties. 

Some photos from yesterdays Simonside Cairns Fell Race (catmacd) link - https://photos.app.goo.gl/PHoLmeCMmtbZVnjP6

Hexham Hobble 2025

Another weekend, another race. This time around it was the Hexham Hobble, a 10 mile trail affair held in Allendale in deepest, rolling Northumberland.  The course is relatively tame once you get the initial ascent out of the way. 

I was accompanied by Missus Mac and Speedy and two dogs. The posse took off soon after arrival to take snaps while I fannied around in the toilet queue. There was no warm up for me, which was a bit of a mistake, as the steepest bit of the course is just after the start and it took me several minutes to get the old ticker going. By that time, many of the 150 field were somewhere up the lane, and no doubt some M60's with them.  I eventually got going and clawed probably ten or so places back.  

I had a gel at 5 miles and stopped to strip off a layer and my gloves. I am terrible at being over-dressed. However, I caught two more guys in the last 2 miles on the descent and I finished with a little in reserve, which was nice. 1:27, 43rd and snaffled 1st M60 by a commodious margin of 3 minutes. 

At race HQ, there was a one-cake per runner policy, but I thought this rather dogmatic. 'If you want cake, you simply have to run faster', I mused, so I had 3 cakes; but then, feeling a bit guilty (not really) I gave the nice tea ladies a fiver as an inducement and grabbed another cuppa before fleeing. Nearly another 40 miles this week. Getting a bit sick of the rain and dark nights though. 

KB 5 Mile Road Race 2025

 

It was another crazy mini-adventure. A couple of weeks ago I got the train up to Edinburgh. I left my change of clothes in a locker at the bus station and had myself a gallus wee 10 mile jog around the place picking up the old Meadowbank Velodrome (no longer there), Duddingston, Portobello and Leith. The rain fair pelted it down as I tried to make the best of it. Somewhere along the way I came across a big roundabout with an underpass. There were a couple of gents under one of the bridge decks and you could smell the exotic baccie before you saw the figures. I elected to go around the other way, but couldn't find a way out and ended up running past them. After that, strangely, my run became much more enjoyable. Anyway, I digress. 

This time around I did the same, taking the train north and lofting my wee bag into a locker. I jogged down the 2 kilometres to the Kings Buildings somewhere on Mayfield Road. It was pretty chilly and I had a new towel which I bought at Primark (£3.50), 2 lightweight tops and my Mizuno road shoes. 

It was quite a job to find the race HQ in the myriad of buildings. Once inside the correct building, we were directed through a series of corridors and down stairs, through doors and into the bowels of the intelligentia. The wee warm room in the Maths department served as race HQ. There were a couple of young people handing out numbers. The running variety, that is. I marveled at the various equations left on the white board. Complex and murderous algebra that I never dreamt existed.  Vectors and Eigen values. You know...all THAT stuff (raising eyebrow emoji). After a short time, I grew weary of the linear transformation business and sat down to put on my shoes and pin on my number. I kept my tights on. It was a 2 layer day. 

There was a slow stream of runners appearing, and as we amassed at the start, I estimated around 40. Quite a disappointing field, size wise. I wasn't feeling the love and started slowly. After a mile or so I warmed to my task and continued over the cracked slabs, dodging cars, dogs and loose wet leaves on the pavement. I passed a couple of guys from Lothian and, at the 3 mile mark, I caught a lone Forres runner. She looked like she'd started a bit too fast. 

I careered around the Braids and was feeling o.k., but around 4 miles I heard some heavy breathing behind me and it was one of the Lothian guys tracking me down. He passed me and I couldn't respond up the final long drag back into the University complex. He took 15 seconds out of me at the end. However, I was pleased to go sub-7 for the first time since I broke my foot, finishing in around 34 minutes. The top 3 got a box of Fox's biscuits.  

I jogged part way back toward the City Centre, then dived into a cafe for salad and chips, a cuppa and a warm-up. Later, I wandered down Broughton Road for a pint - once I'd changed my clothing and warmed up. I was still wearing my towel around my shoulders. They really are effective at keeping your neck warm and the heat in, but I believe its a look that's been left in the 70's. Do I care?  Probably not.

Got a busy train back at five in the evening.  No results yet. My pet hate; but we live in hope.          

North East Harrier XC League Wrekenton

 

There was slight concern expressed by the Club hierarchy that the turnout at the Wrekenton Harrier League Cross Country fixture today might be less than adequate. In the 1960’s if this had been Gotham City running club, a yellow image of a bat would appear in the night sky. These days its more a case of a message appearing on the Club group chat of Whatsup. As it was, I needed 6 miles to achieve my 40 miles for the week, so it was no effort to combine a bit of work on the Sunday Morning with an appearance in the Gateshead badlands to ensure the club men didn’t fall short of the 6 counters needed to finish a team. 

After a site visit to Sunderland, I arrived at the race field in good time as the rain began to stop. The course is a large swathe of rough grass and shrubs dominated in one corner by a poorly concealed colliery pit heap. Dog walking country.

There is plenty of parking in the estate nearby, although I percieved a slight air of menace never far away, the loud throaty growl of cross motor bikes being ridden by a few of the locals echoing off the houses and shuttered shops from time to time. 

After a park run the day before, and seeing that we had probably eight runners in attendance, I was happy to start toward the back of the slow group and plod around the 8k mile course. It’s a 3 lapper and a run around the grass would do me no harm at all. 

The women, who had run earlier, recommended spikes and I was pleased I had taken their advice on board. There was no particular dramas to report other than my lace came loose at the start of the 2^nd lap and I had then to spend another 5 minutes re-catching the runners I had spent 10 minutes, previously, passing.   

I was predictably passed by 4 or 5 on the finishing straight.  This included a south shields or sedgefield runner who was clearly vintage and had no place trying to beat me to the line. If I see him again, I shall attempt a reversal. As it was, I happily met my 40 miles for the week and nipped into the Ridley Arms for a Guiness with my laptop by the fire to record my thoughts  before the images of the days visual spectacle began to fade. 

Gibside Fruitbowl

 

I spent the weekend considering doing the Brampton to Carlisle 10 miler. There were nearly 900 already entered. The forecast looked increasingly promising, dry with a slight tailwind for this point to point and slightly above average temperatures for November. However, by the time I had made up my mind and got on the site to enter, it was full. This left me at a loose end. 

In my efforts to cram in as much plodding as I can manage (I’m not capable of running sufficiently fast these days that there’s any reasonable risk of me injuring myself), I scanned the race websites to see what the options were. 

Gibside Fruitbowl. Located around 40 minutes drive from me, it’s a seven miler around a Country Estate on tarmac and gravel tracks. Speedy is out injured at the moment, but she said she’d come along and we were nearly first to arrive armed with 2 dogs.  

I picked up my number and spotted Redman of Sunderland Harriers as I pinned on my number. He nodded acknowledgment. We’ve had some good ding-dongs in the past years and I thought he wouldn’t be far from me at some point in the race. 

Around 200 lined up for the race and we set off, the day calm and the sky a heavy grey. The tarmac was heavily pitted and rutted in places so I had to watch where I was placing my feet. ‘Feet, feet’ I repeated to myself. I was wearing the Asics trail shoes I had worn when I broke my foot in late April, so I was wary. Suspecting the carbon plate and thickened sole for exacerbating a foot rotation that bit worse, I had to ensure there was no repeat. /

After around a mile, the field thinned out and I found the Sunderland runner about 50 metres in front. I was feeling good and decided to sit behind him. On one or two of the inclines (and, on this course, they certainly were proper uppy-downy affairs) the gap reduced to a few seconds, but he was effective on the descents and I knew I had a race on my hands. He picked off a few runners. I picked off a few runners. I was still behind him at 6 miles and fancied my chances with a final sprint, but at the top of a short, sharp incline, I heaved and had to slow to regain my composure. He had looked back a few times and so there was no chance of the element of surprise.  He pulled a good few metres out of me after 'heavegate'. Ever the competitor, I had half a mile to make an impression, and it was 10 seconds on the line, but still 5 seconds behind by chip timing. An excellent race and nice shoe bag and sweeties at the end.