North Tyneside Trail 12K, 7th January 2024
Lucy Keating has sent us this report of this race that sounds so good, I must try it next year!
This was my fifth time running what has become one of my favourite North East races. Unlike some races which drag on painfully as the finish line seems to get further away (or is that just me?) this one always seems to fly by in an enjoyable hour and a bit. I think this is down to the sheer variety of the route: there can’t be many races which incorporate promenade, beach, coastal path, steps, woodland, waggonways, stiles, a running track finish, and of course, plenty of mud. When I first ran it, in pre-Claremont, pre-cross country days, I remember being taken aback by how muddy it was, but now I’ve experienced the North East Harrier League, I realise it’s just entry level mud compared to the executive, elite swamp of Temple Park. Indeed, having done the Town Moor resolution run, Temple Park cross country and now this race in the past six days, I’ve accumulated enough Tyneside mud to set up an environmental archaeology project on my shoelaces alone.
The race starts at the war memorial next to Spanish City, and heads north to St. Mary’s lighthouse. On this stretch, you are presented with your first choice: beach with steps, or coastal path? I’m not a fan of running on sand, so opted instead for the squelchy coastal path, which heads further north, with the beachcombers rejoining us as we approach Seaton Sluice. The route then turns into Holywell Dene: a testing, uneven and undulating stretch, featuring more steps and stiles. You are also faced with a second choice: hill now or hill later? I opted for hill now: a short and steep climb, as opposed to a long slow uphill drag.
The route then continues along the old waggonway, and before long you can hear the Monkseaton traffic as the runners emerge into the Churchill playing fields and finish with a half lap of the splendid track, where I was able to imagine myself being roared to (a possibly unlikely) victory in the Paris Olympics steeplechase. I ran my slowest time yet (1:05:27) but having plodged through the Temple Park cross country the day before, I was pretty pleased.
Cakes and refreshments afterwards, and a biodegradable medal, all make it an excellent event which I heartily recommend. Many thanks to the friendly folk at North Shields Poly for organising it.
The only other Claremonter I spotted was Eric Adams, a fellow survivor of the previous day’s cross country. Sincere apologies if I missed anybody!
