North East Marathon Club

REPORTS

A really pleasant low key event that has given me confidence for stuff a bit longer than a marathon. The course itself was quite varied and mostly followed the nearby river. Conditions under foot went from tarmac to gravel and some muddy bits. It was all perfectly suited to road shoes. The most awkward part was the camber, or lean, on parts of the course, which had runners looking for the least inclined part each time we reached such a section.

The Meadows by Paul Blakey

14 laps of the Meadows in Edinburgh seemed a reasonable enough ask, but the wind and rain didn’t lend itself to running or spectating. Nor did the cobbles, and tight turns into and out of George Square which had to be negotiated at the end of each lap. Personally I’d rather have done 15 (or however many) pure laps of the Meadows than put up with the unnecessary climb up to George Square and those cobbles.

To my surprise I find myself entering into George Square with the opportunity to knock over a minute off my Maltese time. Mission accomplished...bring on Edinburgh (again)!

Malta Marathon By Paul Blakey

Would I do it again? This is the 30^th Malta Marathon, The actual number of runners in the marathon was in the hundred’s rather than the thousands, so it probably needs the half to make it viable. I like the split start, which doesn’t impede the marathon runners…. Or at least it doesn’t impede the slower marathon runners. However, unless I return to my former fitness, I wouldn’t do it whilst the walkathon was on.

2014 REPORTS

Orrell by Ian Richardson

It was a long drive there and then back the following day, but well worth it in my view, to support an event in a good cause and organised at a time when others shy away from organising events due to weather concerns. I shall be watching out for future events by these people, as their low key and friendly nature very much appeals to me.

Ho Ho Hell on the Humber  - 6 December 2014 – Ian Richardson

Regular readers may recall that I did an evening version of this event in August 2013 and did not enjoy it one little bit. I swore to myself that I would never do it again. That seemed unfair on a well organised event that was dominated on that occasion by storm force winds, so I decided to give it another try. After all, if the weather was awful in August, surely it would be lovely in December?

Maravan Double by Ian Richardson.

"The splendid goody bag contained beer, crisps, a stick of Cleethorpes rock, and some embrocation packets. A good haul, complemented by a decent medal. I left with very good memories of a well organised first event for Darren, and the thought that I would be very happy to do it again."

A20 Paths N Downs Marathon – Maidstone – 16 Nov 2014 by Ian Richardson

Palma by Ian Richardson

Northumberland Coastal Marathon by Ian Richardson

Western Sydney by Jim Manford

Sydney by Jim Manford

Osmotherley Phoenix (A long hot day in the Hambleton Hills) by Louis Coles.

Part of the Osmotherley Games this is a great race with 17/26/33 mile options. The route is well signed and there is plenty of company on the way round. Although this unsurprisingly thins out the further you go. The checkpoints are enthusiastically volunteered with a good array of snacks and drinks. All in all a great do that I would thoroughly recommend for any club member, it is great value for money! However, at this point the organisers are looking for someone else to take on the organisation of this great run. 33m in 6h16m

The bus picked us up at 5 in Craster for the 7 am start in the gloom. The route takes you inland before hitting the coast (using the route of the Northumberland Coastal Marathon®) down to Warkworth. Then heading inland along the Coquet to Rothbury. Next over Simonside and south to the Tyne Valley and Hadrians Wall, before the final downhill from Heavenfield to Chollerford.

2012 REPORTS

Jan to April 2012 Reports: includes Gran Canaria, Marrakesh, Northampton, Belvoir, Meadows, Blackpool, Grantham Ultra, Paris Eco Trail, Lakeside Way, Hull, Caythorpe & Linz 

April to July 2012 Reports: includes Shakespeare, Madrid, Manchester, Geneva, Belfast, Druridge Bay, Dukeries, Edinburgh, Wales, Karrimor Trail, The Wall Ultra 

July to September 2012 Reports: includes Hamsterley, Osmotherley, Fairlands, Dundee, N/Land Ultra, Elsecar, N/Land Coast, Sandwell, Boston Ultra, Highland, Ponton, Langdale, JW Ultra, Loch Ness

October to December 2012 Reports: includes Budapest, Kielder, Liverpool, Spires & Steeples, Leicester, Great Yarmouth, Town Moor, Enigma, Rutland 

2011 REPORTS

RACE REPORTS 2011: UK MARATHONS (A to L) and (L to Z)  Last entry Liverbird Marathon Jan 4th. Including: Calderdale, Druridge Bay, Edinburgh, Fat Ass 50k, Great Langdale, Green Chain, Kielder, Lakeland Trails, Lakeside Way, Liverpool in (A to L)  Liverbird, Luton, Newcastle TMM, Northumberland Coastal Challenge, Northumberland Coast, Portsmouth, Shakespeare and Smugglers Trod in (L to Z)