Hamsterley Forest Marathon

Sunday, July 1, 2012

John Hutchinson

David Catterick picked me up from the Duke at 8:15, then Kathryn from Meadowfield. Looked like it was going to be just nice conditions for running – cool and a bit cloudy. Arrived at Hamsterley Forest and met up with Dave Robson. Also met my old friend Liz who ran the Kielder Marathon, but this time she was marshalling. Then met Yvonne Jones who was also marshalling – nice to see her again after so long. Then a lady caught sight of our Striders tops and came over and introduced herself as Claire Readey’s aunty.

So at 9:30 we set off, me with David Catterick and Kathryn with Dave Robson. Flat along the road to the Grove then it started to climb. David and I takled the first long hill at a jog and passed another chap walking up, but by the time we reached the top he came sailing past us. Said this was his tactic for the hills, so we made a mental note of that for the second lap. After that a nice level bit then the slow descent back down to the Grove. Second lap we needed to walk the hill a bit and it certainly did seem to be working. By the third lap I had to walk even more of the hill and David pressed on ahead. By the top I was all done and even the final descent I couldn’t manage to pick up speed. Back and feet hurting and barely walking the last bit of road back from the Grove to the finish at the visitor centre. Finally limped home in 4hrs 23 mins. Never saw Claire’s aunty after the first lap, but there she was at the finish with Claire ( and Gem), having done it in 3hrs 58. Kathryn was next Strider back, then Dave Robson.

Then it was off home – thanks for driving David, there was no way I could have managed! I’ll leave the others to give their version of events. I think they actually enjoyed it!

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