This Matrix quote popped up on my Facebook memories this morning "... in the end, while I can show you where the road leads, to know, to really know, will require you to take to the road yourself..." I've been thinking a lot recently about why I run - what am I trying to achieve? … Continue reading “Don’t just think you are, know you are”
Kielder lap on a school night
When I'm looking for a long run with little in the way of navigation - trail but not technical, and quiet... it's tough to beat a lap of Kielder Reservoir in deepest, darkest Northumberland. I'd been looking for something to kickstart my 2020 training (immediate objective being The Highland Fling in late April) and for … Continue reading Kielder lap on a school night
Spinetime 2020
So it's just after Christmas and New Year has come and gone... this can mean only one thing it's time for the annual Montane Spine Race extravaganza. The week-long trail running/endurance event consists of two races: the Spine Challenger, started on Sat 11 Jan at 08:00, following the Pennine Way National Trail for 108 miles between Edale … Continue reading Spinetime 2020
Bimbling round Low Barns
On Monday this week I had a meeting at The Victoria Inn in Witton-le-Wear - a recently refurbished pub with rooms just to the East of the North Pennines AONB (well worth a look if you're looking for a place to stay nearby, it's even dog-friendly). We finished up just around lunch time and as … Continue reading Bimbling round Low Barns
Up, up and away…
Over the last few weeks I've been locked away in a darkened room working away on this year's North Pennines Stargazing Festival - I'm pleased to say that it's reached the light of day and we've started to take bookings for events already... Last week saw the launch of the programme for the festival - … Continue reading Up, up and away…
2019’s ‘A’ Race
So it's Midnight on Friday 28 June and I'm on the start line for the ultra I've been training for since 31 December last year. The Lakeland Trails Ultra 100 - starting and finishing in Rothay Park in Ambleside. A midnight start is a first for me! Atmospheric 🙂 It's an inauspicious start - exciting … Continue reading 2019’s ‘A’ Race
Hush
Steve Messam's latest ephemeral art installation - 'Hush' - has had over 1,000 visits since it opened to the public last Friday (19 July). It's one of the biggest outdoor artworks ever created in the UK - longer than four football pitches and dwarfing the Turbine Gallery at the Tate Modern. Hush by internationally-renowned environmental … Continue reading Hush
Let the (Spine) race begin!
It's almost time for the summer editions of the Spine Race to kick off! The Montane Spine Fusion is a 268-mile, non-top, 7-day, 168 hour race following the entire Pennine Way National Trail from Edale in the Peak District National Park to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders. It starts June 22 2019 (0800) and … Continue reading Let the (Spine) race begin!
In search of the White Horse
Back in the day I worked in the North York Moors developing walks, cycle trails and the like... Last Sunday (9 June) saw me on the start line for the White Horse Trail Marathon starting from the Sutton Bank National Park Centre - part of the Hardmoors 26.2 (ish) Series. It was good to be … Continue reading In search of the White Horse
CP3 to CP4 in the footsteps of ‘Spiners’
In January this year I volunteered in the Checkpoint Teams at Middleton (CP3) and Alston (CP4) for the Spine Race. This epic endurance challenge follows the entire length of the Pennine Way National Trail (268 miles) from Edale in the Peak District to the end at Kirk Yetholm in Scotland in Winter. It's run non-stop … Continue reading CP3 to CP4 in the footsteps of ‘Spiners’
North Pennines Shane 