Swaledale Road Runners

There are those that favour off-road and those that favour shorter distances so this route would've pleased neither, but I did want to turn the clock back with the 25th Anniversary in mind and run this route which was used in the early years of SRR as the last long run before the London Marathon.

Having spoken to a few members of that 'era', they remember hiring a bus to Keld Youth Hostel and running back to the Clubhouse in Richmond where Norman Bell would serve a three course meal to the 20 to 30 runners who completed all or part of the 24 mile route. Bearing in mind the route is largely on a main road with no footpath and I was running on a weekday, I was keen to get as many miles as possible under my belt before the traffic began and I could enjoy the scenery, peace, lack of phone signal and freedom from the Garmin. Leaving my car in Richmond, I got a lift to Keld from an early bird and set off from the hostel (now Keld Lodge) at 6.30 a.m.

Misty, chilly but dry, I trotted along a gently undulating road through Thwaite, Muker, Gunnerside, Strands, Low Row, Healaugh, Fremington and Grinton, barely concerned by any vehicles, only alarmed by a skittish, lone cow on the road at Gunnerside, which caused us both to sprint. I was surprised at how quickly the first half of the run had gone. With the temperature warming, I set about the second half of the route – a L...O...N...G stretch psychologically – back to Richmond. No villages to break up these miles and I was getting tired and having to traffic-dodge at this point and admit to a bit of walking here and there if there was even a hint of an incline. Nevertheless, I eventually ran into the welcome sight of the familiar valley leading into Richmond. Looking at the profile later, the route from Keld to Richmond is a gentle descent all the way and I can see why it proved such a good training route to the London Marathon participants, who I believe often did better than the 4+ hours it took me!

Chris Sayer