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Northumbrian 100 2006

May 27^th - 29^th

The morning was a bit windy and the weather looked changeable as 400 + set out from Wooller to spend up to 48 hours slogging around the beautiful fells of the North East. 101.14 miles with 14,400 feet of ascent.

2 Harriers Mick Mac and Alan Appleby  along with Chris Benson set off  Mick was running and was soon up with the leaders, last we saw of him!!

Alan had told Pete Benson a few weeks earlier that he had always wanted to have a go at a 100 so a form was put in his hand with the remit “make sure Chris gets round”!! because she had trained twice every day for 16 months to complete this objective as well as having a full time job and a part time job.

The climbs after each checkpoint were very steep and long and the wind was very strong and always seemed to be in the face.

A brisk pace was set and the first 3 checkpoints were ticked off then the long trek to checkpoint 4 Towford outdoor centre, about 30 miles was reached at about 8pm just about on track for 3mph. Alan was looking well and Chris still hadn’t a hair out of place.

Next was a steep climb onto the rugged,  remote fells of the night section over Windy Gyle (an appropriate name) to run along the perimeter of the MOD firing ranges which gives you an idea of the remoteness.

It was on this section that Alan and Chris were detoured around the prostrate body of one of the runners.

The night was freezing and a new experience for Alan and he was very relieved to rejoin civilisation at about 40 miles checkpoint 7 at Barrowburn at 3.46am Sun.

Alan was now into new territory, Chris’s hair still held its shape.

Checkpoint 8 was passed and the target now was checkpoint 10 Rothbury which was the recognized breakfast stop and around 61 miles Alan’s feet were beginning to hurt and a bit of fatigue was setting in. Don’t worry Alan your nearly there only a marathon +10 miler + a 5k to go!!! Not amused.

Breakfast stop and Alan and Chris’s feet were tended with masses of Vaseline the breakfast was served to them by head waiter Harrier, John Holland.

Right lets go, it was hard to get going and when they reached checkpoint 11, 67 miles Alan was looking very much in pain and was taking Ibuprofren he confided in me later that this was were he had had enough and thought of calling it a day., but being a hardy middle distance man he soldiered on admirably.

Only a marathon and a 10k left. Most importantly Chris’s hair was holding up and the make up was still there oh and the earrings were glinting but there was no glint in Alan’s eyes.

Checkpoint 12 about 72 miles only 28 miles just over a marathon to go and Alan was really in so much pain from his feet and now his shin but a rub of Ibuprofen gel at every other checkpoint  got him there.

Checkpoint unlucky 13 Bolton village about 76 miles and Alan managed a grimace as I again greeted him with more Vaseline, Chris was looking very strong and had absolutely no problems with her feet not even a blister.

I was now beginning to dread seeing Alan at each checkpoint I knew how he was feeling that pain and that fatigue which showed on the pictures and video Alan’s head was dropping lower and lower and his shoulders stooped more and more.

Checkpoints 14 was knocked off Chris wasn’t allowing the pace to slow.

Just over 4 miles across bleak moor land to Checkpoint 15 Quarry house farm lay ahead. I told Chris that the pace needs to be kept up to reach Chatton village checkpoint just over 5 miles.

Alan’s quote “bloody hell Chris it’s like being in the S.A.S”!!! Chatton checkpoint was reached at 10.04pm Sunday and leaving the checkpoint it was time to don the head torches again. Alan stopped, “I’m freezing” he said and we quickly took off the kag. and donned an extra layer replacing the kag. Alan was in agony  but Chris was still looking and moving well, remarkably well, but the hair well, it was beginning to drop but not as much as Alan’s spirits. I didn’t like to mention that I had just had a veg. curry and pint of bitter in the pub at Chatton.

Only 6.4 miles to go (just over a 10k) and only 2.8miles to the next checkpoint. The section was all along a country lane and it was here that Chris needed her first treatment, a blister had burst (her only one) short stop for a bit of treatment and they are on their way. It was not nice to see a great mate like Alan in so much pain, however checkpoint 17 was reached and ONLY 3.6 miles to go just before midnight .

The final section was 2 miles up the road and then about 1.5 miles up onto the fell and home to Wooller but as always there was a sting in the tale.

On and up the steep climb to reach a gate were the contestants had to find a self clip this was found comfortably but now they ventured onto the open fell to find the track down to the tantalising orange lights of Wooller below.

Its freezing and they like many others can’t find the track down. After meandering and getting colder Chris asks Alan what they are going to do and Alan says “well love I think we will have to get the bivvy bag out”. The reality of this ignited Chris similar to lighting the touch paper on a fire work, the rocket went up and she scurried like fury for the track. To Chris and Alan’s relief Head torches appeared and they joined a group down the fell.

A great achievement! Chris finished in 40 hours and 9 mins. and Alan coming very tenderly down the fell was just 11 minutes later to be greeted with applause from all other finishers and officials in the school hall.

NEVER, EVER, NEVER AGAIN said the pair.

  Meanwhile Mick Mac had been having a curry and a few pints in the pub and a few hours sleeping off the effects of the event and probably a little hangover. Supermac finished in 28 hours and 51 mins at 2.51pm Sunday afternoon.

  My tribute to Alan is that despite this being his first attempt to and without proper training for the event he showed amazing tenacity and courage that any one would be proud of to cover the last 50 miles in agony.

Chris, on her first attempt, had trained religiously twice a day but not perfect training because it was predominantly shorter yet good quality work.

Postscript.

Chris went for a walk the following day Tuesday (hair back in great shape) and was back to Great hill on the Wed.

Alan has taken longer to recover but they have got the entry forms for the Bullock Smithy 56 miles in Sept. Oh, and they are talking about the Wales 100 next year, oh and the Bob Graham has been mentioned.

CONGRATULATIONS

So much for never ever again

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Lots of fell runners break away from their original running clubs, mainly because they have no interest in track & field, fell running being their main interest. The fell running section of our club decided to have their own website, probably for the same reason. Now a V70, George Arnold is our oldest active fell runner. There are a few more of us close behind! One of our top female road runners, whilst marshalling recently at Chipping Show Fell Race commented on just how friendly fell runners are.