Marathon 32: Run the Raid — Northumberland

Northumberland felt like a big hurdle to get over.

Not because of the marathon itself, but because of the logistics. It’s a long way from home, and with fewer than ten counties left, there are still a couple of biggies before we can truly say we’re on the home stretch. Northumberland being one of them! 

That said, it was a weekend that reminded us just how much there is to love about this challenge.

Driving north on Saturday evening, the landscape changed almost as soon as we passed the Angel of the North and turned off the A1. Beautiful countryside, huge skies and a landscape that felt both majestic and bleak, but wonderfully so. Another reminder that England really does have some incredible corners.

The next morning was every bit as spectacular.

We started at Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island, a place steeped in history, religion and some pretty brutal Viking tales. Our event, Run the Raid, takes its name from the first Viking invasion of England in 793, when Viking raiders landed on Lindisfarne before making their way along the coast towards Berwick.

Organised by Lancashire Trail Runners, the marathon followed that coastline, taking us through dunes, along cliffs and past some incredible views. The weather was once again kind to us, with the breeze proving particularly welcome and keeping what could have been a hot day much more comfortable.

For Bex, this was a particularly big day. Her first marathon.

She'd trained brilliantly around the joys of motherhood and having a little one at home, and despite understandably feeling a little nervous, she arrived well prepared. We had a plan, settled into a steady pace and got stuck in.

We also met Terry and Verity at the start, who became our unofficial marathon companions for the day. We spent much of the route leapfrogging each other — one of us finding a burst of energy while another was dealing with cramp — and they were fantastic company throughout.

We reached halfway almost bang on two and a half hours, enjoying the scenery, the conversations and the encouragement from the half marathon runners heading towards us. There was plenty of waving and cheering in both directions, which made for a really enjoyable first half.

Bex's family were also out supporting us, complete with snacks, fantastic signs and, increasingly importantly, cans of Coke. Huge thanks to them for making the effort to come out and keep us going.

The second half was where things got tougher.

With Bex heading into completely uncharted territory, the inevitable aches and pains started to creep in. A sore knee meant some paracetamol and a slight reduction in pace, and the chat became a little quieter. But she kept going, kept smiling and did an absolutely brilliant job.

Even the causeway back onto Holy Island seemed to have changed character. It felt like two minutes on the way out and approximately 400 miles on the way back.

But, as ever, we got it done.

5 hours 20 minutes. First marathon for Bex. Another county completed. And what an achievement it was. Not just getting around the marathon, but doing it while navigating motherhood and raising an incredible amount of money for Tommy's.

Northumberland wasn't just another county ticked off the list. It was a weekend we thoroughly enjoyed, in a part of the country we'd been very excited to visit.

It was also a good example of why this challenge isn't always about the running. The marathon took 5 hours 20 minutes. The entire trip took around 12 and a half hours in the car. Sometimes the logistics are the real endurance event...

It felt good to get home, get back to the family, sleep in my own bed, and get ready to do it all again.

Suffolk next for number 33. Racing through the single figures remaining!