By Susan Chambers

Back in 2023 I had a notion to enter the 300k – or @188miles in old money – race (a term used loosely) the Northern Traverse. This little trot out takes you from one coast to another coast following Alfred Wainwright s footsteps, across the lakes, Richmond and the Moors with a rather boring section including a A19 service station as a highlight.

Big gulp and I was entered! The plan was to run with Jamie and our friend Helen, the three amigos. 

Three became two due to injury, 2 became 0 so everything transferred to 2025. For me I fractured my tibia which had taken an age (or am I a runner with little patience?!?!). By 5th April it was me on the start line, as injury prevented my two amigos stepping out alongside me.

Fail to prepare , prepare to fail is a gentle mantra so from January I teamed up with a good friend who had achieved this race last year through storm Kathryn . We had recce days, trying everything from kit , shoes to most favourite sarnies on route. 

I got up at 5am to meet up and explore sections from Patterdale to the finish, really enjoyed the process but you can’t turn up without doing all the hard work, respect the distance.

Race day or as I refer to the start of my spring break arrived, and you have from Saturday 08.30 to midnight the following Wednesday to complete this adventure. Meaning there are four nights to endure, four check points where you can access your 80 litre drop bag and if you can catch up with a bit sleep 

Starting out on Saturday morning in what was looking like hot conditions was fantastic! Picking up a stone, quick goodbye hug from Jamie and Helen and the cliff top beckoned. Leading the pack not that I saw him, was Damo smashing it in @42 hours .. not leisurely at all ! 

The route lead you through villages to the Lakes and the tasty section including several undulating climbs, Kidsty Pike being the mark in my mind of departing the lakes and heading to Shap . Night one ticked off 

Shap to Kirkby Stephen and a welcome plan to sleep , access my drop bag and refuel. This was a great pitstop but sleep not that great .

Next section and night two was a wonderful if not Baltic night out over Nine Standards, navigating up through Keld , used mines and another glorious sunrise leading to breakfast in Reeth .. magical .

Lovely to see Jamie here and a brief hi how’s it going and we were off to Richmond. On this event there is strictly no support of any kind so no support running, extra food or water top ups if you receive any it is disqualification, so not going to risk that! 

Day time Monday was hot! So it was warm and welcoming at Richmond so more drop bag goodies and a sleep in the sunshine… not as easy as you think, but we fuelled up and packed up for night number 3 .. whoohoo ! 

Richmond to the Moores includes a section of road , A19 services and I can only think Alfred took his eye off the route and accidentally included the A19 , a fence with rats stuck on and the witch of the wizard of oz speaking at you in the dark .. bizarre and not a hallucination lol.

Once I experienced a 1am service station cuppa it was at last stepping onto the Cleveland Way .. home turf after so many Hardmoor everts, lovely . 

The next goal was Lordstones and oh yes the three sisters .. no problem ha ha 

Another night another minus 3 temperature drop absolutely freezing going over Carlton Bank delivered another spectacular sunrise with Roseberry Topping on the left .. beautiful.

Lordstones was another high point as I saw my friend Helen who was marshalling so a great boost . Now I cannot convey the difference in a usual checkpoint compared to a multi day .. there are bewildered runners, confused and even the simplest tasks take forever . The Marshalls were tremendous, kind , patient and simply lovely definitely making a difference.

All was going great, ahead of my schedule and expectations, the knee was holding out .. hurray !

Three sisters negotiated and next stop was the Lion Inn and this is where the gremlins popped up at mile 160 every thing was going great then I started to lean. No matter what I did I just leaned and by the time I reached the pit stop I resembled a crooked old woman whose head was lower than the shoulders .. ridiculous! 

I felt a huge sense of accomplishment and achievement as I have never ran 165 miles and stopping was not easy but it was the correct decision. Those trails are not going anywhere so within 24 hours yessss next year entry submitted and look forward to the whole journey again .

What did I learn – just go for it stepping out of your comfort zone only leads to fun and adventure, you never know until you try .

Distance is irrelevant as it’s a personal goal so whatever you do just do it and keep moving.

The support from Jamie and my friends has been amazing and that’s what matters – the running community is fab and there is something special about navigating in the middle of nowhere.