Karl's Kielder Cruise/Jedburgh Half Marathon.

Having enjoyed the company of the Merry Men a couple of sundays ago I allowed my arm to be twisted again by Mr.Wait and enlisted for some of the miles of the epic Langlee-Kielder jaunt he was planning. Despite not feeling up to the whole 30 something miles involved I probably would've had a go if I'd been able to give over the neccessary time. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Did the surf forecast for the afternoon have anything to do with wimping out of the full whack? Merely a rumour....

An early start was order of the day and I hurriedly guzzled some porridge and coffee to get to Langlee for 7am. Alot of rain during the night had woken me up a few times but consequent thoughts of  mudbath conditions underfoot were replaced by a new environmental concern as the Cheviots loomed into view whilst I drove over toward Wooler. The higher tops were all ghostly white with snow! Karl took my text: "Have you got your snowshoes?" to be a joke since the Wooler contingent of the running party didn't see the conditions until they got up the valley. No white stuff lying at lower altitude or clogging the roads though, so our group was promptly assembled, trussed up with hydration packs and appropriate gear and ready for the off. The 'Famous Five' taking on the long haul up Cheviot, along the Pennine Way to Byrness then on to Kielder via the Forest Drive were: Karl Wait, Bruce Crombie, David Egan, Alison Wright and Sue Mitchell. I was to play a mutineering Timmy The Dog, only staying faithful to the gang until just past Cheviot summit before haring off on my own tangent to do a loop I had in mind.

Despite the rough weather conditions overnight we were blessed with a still day and, as we ascended Cheviot, the dawn put on a bit of a show for us with the sun cresting Hedgehope to our left and lighting up the snow crusted terrain. Beautiful...

Further up where it was cooler the mist enveloped eerily and moisture droplets beaded on eyebrows, eyelashes, buffs and beards. It was cold underfoot but the mud wasn't as bad as I'd expected. In fact I've run Chevy Chase in July a few times and found myself sinking deeper than I did this time! With steady walking on the steeps and then jogging again once on the flagstones we were soon at the summit.

After that it wasn't long before the parting of the ways. When I'd first thought I might do some of this mission I'd envisaged going along the Border Ridge/Pennine Way for a while with the group and then returning the same way. That plan changed though because I saw the opportunity to do a loop route and take in a bit of Cheviots territory I'd never yet visited. I was going to drop off Cheviot by Auchope Cairn then down into College Valley as far as Southernknowe, before climbing again to Goldscleugh Farm then going back across to Langlee via the Broadhope watershed and Hawsen Burn. The latter part of this cicuit, Southernknowe across to Langlee, was the unseen bit for me. So- where the Pennine Way bore off from Cheviot- we said our goodbyes and I proceeded alone in the mist with the occasional  grouse cackling as I passed.

I hadn't descended far when I passed 4 walkers trudging up the way. They didn't seem unduly surprised to see a solo frosty bearded loon running towards them but neither did they engage me in pleasant conversation or a share of mint cake or owt like that! Dropping sharply after Auchope Cairn the mist started to lift revealing perhaps the nicest view of the day for me; dappled sunlight spreading across The Schill in the foreground and a thin snowbound line of the Pentlands showing on the far horizon.

Camera batteries gave up after that though so I could concentrate on running! Before long I was in the College Valley and at Mounthooly. Karl had suggested taking a woodland track rather than the road to Southerknowe but I wasn't sure of the turn-off, or if it was a right of way. The stretch along to Goldscleugh, still on road, was a steeper and much slippier ascent than expected. There, in the shadow of Cheviot it had stayed colder and the tarmac was a bit treacherous. Up to the right Bizzle Crags were still well shrouded in mist but at Goldscleugh the sun was making an appearance again and I set about the last stretch, back on tracks through bracken and heather, up to the watershed below Broadhope Hill and then down the Hawsen Burn. Perhaps a little too quick pace for the road miles was taking it's toll. I felt well ropey and tired as I plugged away at the side of Broadhope. This was the wettest stretch too, water running down the track in a little stream. My thoughts were with the others, hoping non of them felt as dodgy as I did by then. Descending the last stretch beside the burn through the little valley was much easier though and I got back to the start point exactly 3 hours after setting out.

The others had estimated being on the go for at least 7-7.5 hours so they would still have a lot ahead of them. I let Karl's wife (Back up Crew Co-ordinator) know I was back in one piece and received a few entertaining texts through the day telling of their progress. All eventually passed off successfully for them and other blogs will tell of their progress. A fantastic effort.

Bonus extra for me came later on in the afternoon when a nice swell pushed some good waves in across the reef and beach at Bamburgh which I managed to take advantage of. Suffered a few eye-watering cramps in the calf regions though so the compression tights got an airing in the evening. Recommended!

Jedburgh Half Marathon the previous week was a very well organised and straightforward affair. My first blast at a road Half for many a year. Several WRC members along; Pauline, Nick J., Simon and Pam, as well as Mr Crombie and myself. Special mention should be given to Bruce's good lady- Leanda-setting out for her very first Half. I saw quite a few familiar faces from the Borders XC series too and Moorfoot in particular were well represented and clocked some impressive times. The day couldn't have been better really with sunshine and a light cooling breeze now and again. The course is a relatively flat out and back- near enough, with just a small ascent between 10 & 11miles. 4 water stations en-route mean no excuse for getting thirsty. Chip timing adds to the slick organisation.
I had a good race and was pleased to clock 1hr 22min 10sec, without any special prep for the event, and get inside the top 20 overall. Perhaps the first 3 miles were a little faster than I'd intended going but I didn't lose too much pace once I started to tire after 9 miles and was gaining places all the way except for one lad I'd passed with about 400m to go who just had the legs to outsprint me to the line. Full results etc at: http://www.jedburghhalfmarathon.org.uk/