From Steve Murray…
Feeling the after effects of a hilly leg on the LCW relay last week confirmed what I knew already, I needed some longer runs and hills in my legs! So when an email reminder came in from Due North, chasing entries for the inaugural Malham Trail half marathon and the last in the their 3 race series was on Saturday, it looked like a prefect opportunity. I’d not managed to download the race route in the time before the deadline but figured it would be hilly but manageable. Post entry I got a bit of fear seeing the forecast for the weekend and the amount of climbing in the first half after eventually downloading the GPX file, but too late now!!
Saturday arrived with a bit of mist and cloud which rapidly disappeared. The event has free parking for runners in the field before the village, with the start / finish and HQ all together and was great to be able to park up wander to get your number and get ready with no pressure. After a quick exchange of hello & good luck with Lynne Donohue the only other Harrier listed we were off, with an early rocky trail climb before a descent through fields onto Cove Road and the trail to Malham Cove. Soon dawned on me that the climb was going up the steps to the top of Malham Cove, which without fail everyone I saw walked up, including me! As the sun and temperature got warmer the hills kept coming and walking continued on all the larger ones. Mile 7 brought a welcome fast downhill section to mark the worst of the course over but as it got warmer I could feel the energy and enthusiasm leaving me and the planned faster finish. With 10 miles done we hit Airton and were on the stretch back to home but it became a battle to keep going to the finish. With 12 miles completed it was a relief to enter open fields and see the finish area in the distance, although I did start to worry when we went up another rocky hill by the visitor centre thinking another climb! Thankfully a quick left into the fields to the finish (no sprint!) and ½ a mile short of the 13.1 miles was a bonus.
A welcome drink and Cornish pasty at the end lying in the sun watching others finish, pleased to have hit the 2 hours target I’d set (discounting it was short!). Overall a well organised, low key trail run in a beautiful setting with stunning views and friendly fellow runners. I’d consider it again next year if the weather was a bit cooler!
1 Simon Courtney – 1:29:36
20 Steve Murray – 1:58:06
79 Lynn Donohue – 2:34:12