Gateshead Trail 10k, 12th August 2023
11 Claremont Road Runners forsook parkrun this week, to take on the Gateshead Trail.
Situated in the Derwent Walk Country Park, the organisers describe it as ‘a great introduction to the world of trail running’ which sounds about right, as the majority of the route is on well-maintained paths, not necessarily what seasoned runners would consider a ‘trail’.
The weather was overcast and not too warm, giving us decent conditions to run in, with the odd spots of teasing rain. After the obligatory pre-race photos, we gathered at the start, waiting for the pumping music to stop.
The first 4km or so were steady, level running, winding through the leafy country park, over the occasional bridge, onlookers cheering us along. Then came the first of the ‘mildly challenging inclines’. While this is probably a fair description, they were still just challenging enough to take a bit of wind out of the sails! The incline continued up and onto a short out-and-back across the Nine Arches Viaduct. The views are probably pretty good from this vantage point if you care to look, but I have to admit to being in tunnel-vision mode as we neared the half-way mark.
Running back across the viaduct, we got a bit of respite on an extended downhill section, entering the woods and the most trail-y part of the run. Thanks to the lack of rain this week, the mud was compact and pretty dry. A little loop took us off at a tangent, up into denser woodland, and back down under a stone arch. Emerging from the trees, the route then briefly merged back with an earlier section, allowing us to run alongside those still tackling the first half of the race.
A quick sojourn (literally only a few hundred metres or so) across an open grassy plain, and we were back onto the paths, and soon attacking the second of the ‘mild’ inclines. At this point, around 7km in, this was an energy-sapper, and the fact that it was then pretty much downhill all the way to the end didn’t really register until I was in the final kilometre, such was the arduousness of the climb.
The last few hundred metres take you back around the outside of the pitches at Blaydon Rugby Club, re-crossing the start line to finish the race. Seeing I was potentially on for a sub-41 time as the inflatable arch appeared, I dug deep, and was chuffed to beat my 10k PB by well over a minute (and my previous Gateshead Trail time from 2021 by almost 10 minutes!).
Despite having flown back from Italy (via Germany) the previous evening, admitting to feeling ‘knackered’, and actually jogging in the wrong direction for a brief period, Sarah Kerr still took 3rd in her age category. Just missing out on a PB, an impressive run from Maria Dueñas saw her finish inside the top 10 as 9th female.
Special mention to Julie Dumpleton and Mary Martin, who elected to run from/to the west end of Newcastle either side of the race, adding approximately 14km/8.5 miles onto their overall distance. An amazing effort!
| Position | Runner | Time |
| 21 | Mark Anderson | 39:13 |
| 35 | Laurie Johnson | 40:49 |
| 95 | Maria Dueñas | 44:53 |
| 125 | Kimberley Metson | 45:58 |
| 133 | Sarah Kerr (3rd V40) | 46:15 |
| 143 | Izzy Neatrour | 46:33 |
| 279 | Lynne Cornell | 50:34 |
| 471 | Michael Teasdale | 55:14 |
| 490 | Nicki O’Brien | 55:42 |
| 1231 | Julie Dumpleton | 77:49 |
| 1234 | Mary Martin | 77:57 |
