In 2021 I took the brave step of signing up for my first fell race, the Hexhamshire Hobble, a ‘reasonably straightforward’ 10.4 ish mile race marketed as a good first fell race for the road runner who can get round a half marathon. I still needed other members of the club to tell me I would manage this, but I did indeed manage it.
In December 2024 I managed it for a third time and having knocked a chunk of time off my previous ‘Hobbles’ I was feeling pretty good about my running.
I have been known to do silly things off the back of a decent run and soon the thought of doing another challenging race popped into my head. Simonside Cairns was coming up, but the thought of entering was temporarily blown away (along with the Simonside Christmas tree decorations) by Storm Darragh. I did feel a mild sense of relief when the race was cancelled due to a forecast for strong winds and rain. Procrastination is one of my special skills, but the seed had been planted so when I read the race was rescheduled for the following Sunday, I put it out there that I hoped to do it and asked about the possibility of a car share. No going back now. The countdown began and by midweek I was checking the weather forecast, which was for gusty winds, but apart from that that it was looking ok.
I arranged to travel to Rothbury with Saltwell fell race pro, Andy, who guessed he had walked or ran this route about 50 times before. I had actually ran/walked both the full route and parts of it before with my fell run/walk buddy and ex Saltwell Harrier Hilary, who had 100% faith in me despite being very aware I lack confidence with navigation (although I can sort of follow a map!) I do not underestimate the importance of being able to read a map and use a compass to aid navigation and I do plan to attend a course so I can feel confident, be more independent.
Winter conditions can make fell running quite hazardous and despite conditions on the day being decent – dry and mild – the ground was still pretty saturated and boggy and we were warned the wooden boards covering parts of the route would be slippery. When we arrived Andy talked me through each part of the route which helped me mentally revisit the Simonside hills and calmed my nerves.
We made our way from the riverside car park over to the Jubilee Hall to register, where the atmosphere was relaxed. I had a 5 litre running vest which had worked well for me to carry my kit for the Hobble. If the forecast had not been good a bigger pack might have been needed. The FRA guidance is that as a minimum you need to have with you full body cover waterproofs (with taped seams), hat and gloves, a map of the course, a compass, a whistle and some food. Mandatory kit checks vary from race to race, so you never know if someone will ask to check what’s in your bag (it has happened to me before) and if you don’t have what they state you need, you risk being disqualified.
Once we’d registered, we went outside where the temperature still felt quite pleasant despite the strong breeze and Andy suggested a warm up run to prepare for the physical exertion we were about to undertake. Fell races are categorised as S M L (short, medium, long) in terms of distance and A B C in terms of ascent (A being the hardest/steepest). Simonside is 11 miles (17.7 km) and 1772 ft (540m) of elevation, and it is categorised as MB. Back at the start we congregated in a small lane and after a few words from the race director, right on time at 1100 we set off.
The race leaves Rothbury, over a little foot bridge and within moments we’re headed uphill, firstly on road, which then becomes a gravel track which takes runners up towards the fell. Interesting that the first mile has about the same elevation as Gateshead Parkrun which many of us are familiar with. Things levelled off a bit after crossing Whitton Burn but it was the second mile that really packed a punch. I don’t mind running on grass, but this was a steep hill and I soon realised I could keep up with the runner directly in front of me by striding up rather than running, which seemed a bit less energy sapping, for me at least. I was glad when we got to a short downhill section, and then on to Lordenshaw car park because at least that’s flat, before it was back to a steady stepped climb.
Eventually, the climb diverged into two paths… we took the St. Oswald’s Way path which led us round the back of the hills and onto some flat paving flags – great in today’s weather, but lethal on ice so I was thankful we’d avoided that this year.
The ground was very wet however and I was concentrating hard, and a little further on, where there were slippery wooden boards to cross, I stomped flat footed to try and stay on my feet. I did well to avoid my first ankle deep boggy puddle until about mile 4!
The St Oswald’s Way trail led to a wooded area which was great fun and it was really up to chance as to whether your chosen foot spot was sound, or if not your feet would be squelching for the next few paces. Just away from that section, and there was a water station which I wasn’t expecting. I thought I heard the marshal shout he had jelly babies, but I was already away, minus any jelly babies, as a male runner had caught me up and I wanted to try and stick with him. I had a couple of energy gummies instead and sipped some water. I struggled a bit on the next downhill section as the tube from my water bladder was rubbing the back of my neck and I kept slowing to a stop to try and push it back down. As it was mild, although I had gloves with me, I had opted to run without them and my cold hands weren’t able to do much, so I had to leave it and the tube continued to irritate me. The gap between me and the male runner who passed me became bigger and bigger until I couldn’t see him. But I also couldn’t see anyone behind me, which I was both glad of and scared of in equal measure.
The race is named after the giant Simonside Cairns located in the hills, prehistoric stone structures thought to date back to the Bronze Age which were used as burial mounds or markers. The climb up to Simonside Hill is challenging, but once you reach the top, on a good day you might be rewarded with 360 degrees of stunning views – Cheviot Hills and North Sea coastline. Today, with strong gusts of wind, blowing in your face, I wasn’t hanging about for the views, and the cloud cover meant visibility was not that good.
At this time of year, the Northumberland Fell Runners decorate a Christmas tree on the route and, after Storm Darragh the previous week, the baubles and decorations had been replaced – a welcome sight on a challenging route!
Photos: Peter Reed (Northumberland Fell Runners)
After an undulating run along the top – clambering up and down steps and rough, boggy ground, it was time to head back down but somewhere around mile 8 – my water bladder tube really did become a problem. Despite it having been positioned neatly in the vest pocket and being physically tethered to the vest with a little clip, it managed to bounce all the way out and my only option was to hold onto it at shoulder level. Not great to be without the use of my left arm, arms being very helpful with speed, balance, stability and support, especially on challenging terrain. I was so happy to see a dog walker and asked for his assistance to just shove the water bladder back into the vest and pull the drawstring tight. The water bladder issue probably lost me several minutes but now resolved I could crack on with the business of enjoying having both my arms free for a great downhill section.
The downhill run was intense and exhilarating, and I found it hard to balance the desire to stride out and speed up with the need to negotiate changes in terrain with loose rocks, gravel and a generally uneven surface. I’d say there’s a lot of thought that goes into choosing your path, and even when the path does level out, you need to remain mindful. This part of the run was a chance to mentally relax a bit, but as the stones and gaps between them vary in size you still need your wits about you. Back onto a grassy section, the part I had fast walked on the way up, much more fun to run down!
I tried to pick up the pace a bit more on the final downhill section heading back to Rothbury and managed to get a little closer to a NFR female whose name I later learned was Nina. I don’t think Nina realised this until we were back on the gravel path at which point my noisy footsteps gave me away. I managed to stay close but couldn’t close the gap. Down the steep road and back through the riverside car park with very heavy legs, still close but unable to make up any ground, then over the narrow foot bridge and back towards the lane where we started.
In my head I must have thought I was somewhere else entirely because I almost gave up and walked, and I don’t mean in the planned way you might tackle certain uphill sections of a fell race, I mean in the genuinely ready to give up because you can’t run any more sense. It was only when I saw someone with a clipboard checking Nina’s number that I realised this was the finish. The races I’m more familiar with, have big mats you run over, and they clock your finish time, they have big flags, sometimes they even an inflatable arch you run through to confirm your glory as a finisher. Not today, just a couple of race officials, a guy who I think had completed the race, and Nina, who had finished 8 seconds in front of me and kindly removed the lid from my water when my hands were too cold to do this!
It was then back to the Jubilee Hall, where the finishers were enjoying hot soup and waiting for the presentation. Andy came 3rd which is awesome, and stepped up to claim his prize of a bottle of beer. I managed to win a category prize too. Actually, there were so many prizes and spot prizes, you were in the unlucky minority if you didn’t come away with something!
I do love a prize, so if this write up hasn’t tempted you to consider a first fell race, then maybe think about the Cockfield Chase in 2025. Organised by Durham Fell Runners, this little April midweek evening race is a great way to try a fell race. It’s 2 x 3.5k laps, the first lap being a group run to recce the route, the second lap being the race. You bring a prize – anything will do – if you bring a prize you will win a prize. There was all sorts… alcohol, don’t mind if I do, chocolates, you’ve earned them, fancy a pamper, you’re sorted, enjoy a read, lots of running related books, fancy some new running socks, they’ve got you covered, how about a grow bag, er, yes you’ll probably be catered for!
Back to race day! Being a Sunday, later in the day the Saltwell Harriers weekly newsletter was emailed out. There was even a special ‘shoutout to Sara’ in the newsletter too… 3rd in the F50 category, which as there was only 3 of us could also be classed as last in the F50 category. I’m taking the former. 3rd or last, it won me a box of After Eights, which was all the incentive I needed to sign up for my next race!
