Swaledale Road Runners

As I drove down the A1 to Boroughbridge on a very windy Sunday morning it got darker and darker, I had to switch lights on.  After arriving and parking up it did brightern up, but the wind never eased.

11 o'clock: we lined up and off we went, the rain just about keeping off (it had been pouring down for all the night before), up through the farm and off down the field track (loads of puddles!) on the first 3 mile loop. Then it was onto footpaths, round the field, through the ditch (bit deep eh Ronnie), back onto a track and through the farm yard. We did a loop of the farm buildings and then we were off down the link path to the loop going through Minskip and the only real stretch of road on the route. Then we were back off road and round down the link path to the farm, past the back of the finish at the 7 mile marker before reversing the first 3 mile loop through Ronnie's ditch before returning down the puddly track and back to the farm and finish. I had a good run  and picked up 4 places in the 2nd half of the race to finish 1.08.38, 7th overall and 1st vet. Jackie Keavney was 3rd lady 1.17.08, Ronnie Cassar 1.23.12, Claire Stewart 1.23.37, John Hunter 1.33.27. This is a great off road course and a really good cause so I will be back to do it again. Hope some more of you join me next year!!

John Wilson