Special News Features

Chin-Up Beach Run 10k

Elswick Harrier, Les Williamson, reports on the running of the Seahouses to Bamburgh Castle Beach Run in aid of local charity Chin Up

Sunday 23rd October 2005
Cold, wet and windy

Chin Up is a local charity established to relieve children and young people (0-18 years) suffering from a progressive terminal illness by the provision of facilities for family breaks or respite care in the North-East & Cumbria
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The race was a celebration of the charity’s success in raising the funds necessary to purchase a suitable property in the Seahouses area, to provide a holiday home for affected families.
(See: http://www.chin-up-charity.org.uk for further details.)

Start and finish straight near Seahouses harbour and the turning point, the Castle, in the distance

Barmborough Castle

This was the first running of what would become a welcome addition to the calendar and for such a worthwhile cause. Unfortunately the awful weather and limited publicity reduced the field to 68. It’s a beautiful spot and probably on any other day the event would have been really enjoyable. The course was just like the fun wet bits of the Northumberland Coastal Run, which starts at Beadnell (three miles to the south). A dead flat and fairly straight out-and-back route on firm wet sand. It had been raining for days and the wind and fret off the sea was chilling. The only shelter on the beach was the registration tent, about 10 feet square, which immediately became very popular, a reminder of my student days "How many people can you get into a B+Q gazebo?”

The tide was right out but you’d hardly notice; plodging through ankle deep icy water most of the way. You could tell it was classy race they had nice paramedic people to direct you through the clarty rocky bits, unlike the NCR where you are allowed to fall over, all by yourself. A few hardy bobbly hats and their hardier dogs braved the blasted beach, gawping in amazement as the runners streamed past; their glances said it all “Why, Oh, Why, Oh, Why?”

Once I got going it seemed to warm up. Tony Prince’s nemesis; the Bald Avenger was present and in Tony’s absence (Marston’s Pedigree poisoning?) I felt obliged to pass him on TPs behalf. (That’s a pint you owe me)

I regretted wearing a Lifa on the way out and commented to the much muffled marshal, looking like a Black’s catalogue, at the Castle turn, that it was warmer than I thought. Then the bitter headwind and fine drizzle hit me like a slap on the face and I felt like I was running uphill, leaning on the wind, which I hadn’t notice on the way out. Then it really started to rain, as if it meant it this time.

Most people ran over the finish line and kept going for the car park for shelter. It was a good turn out from EH, who must have been the biggest club there (including those in and out of the vest). Nice to see Alan, Norma and Geoff back into their running after a long absence.

I hope the race will be run again, it really is winner; a very fast course in a beautiful spot but bring your own tent.

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