When you think of Benidorm, running probably isn’t the first thing that springs to mind. Sunburned holidaymakers in mobility scooters, maybe. Full English breakfasts in pubs called the Red Lion, perhaps. But every November Benidorm hosts both a 10k and a half marathon, and so when the opportunity of a bit of late autumn sun […]
The famous Brampton to Carlisle 10-mile… It’s officially the oldest 10-mile road race in the UK and the Border Harriers Athletics Club website proudly boasts this fact. I had been eyeing up this one ever since joining the oldest running club in Gateshead at the start of the year. You see, it’s not just the […]
Speaking once with some fellow runners, I was asked what was my running obsession, that thing, that once achieved, would give me the full satisfaction, even if it was the last running thing I could do. The answer to that question at the time was: a sub 3-hour marathon. At the time I could not […]
Stood in my friend’s kitchen in December 2022, my phone alerted me to a new email announcing a very unexpected successful ballot place in the Berlin Marathon. Truth be told, I’d forgotten I’d entered! Training started and it was going well up until the Great North 10K, where I not only came away with a […]
After hearing a lot of “Thornley is brutal” from others in the club, I wasn’t sure what I’d let myself in for when I signed up to this year’s cross country season. Thornley Farm has a reputation as one of the hardest NEHL cross country fixtures, but I’d never done cross country before and was […]
Saltwell Harriers have been competing in the Hodgson Brothers relay since 1988. The History This mountain relay covering 25 miles of Lake District fells was inaugurated by the Hodgson family in 1986 as a memorial to their son and brother Ian, who was killed in a cycling accident, aged 25 the day after competing in the […]
Earlier this year myself, Barry, Rav and Aaron decided to enter the 2024 Moy Park Belfast Half Marathon. We also thought it would be fun to sign up Graham for his 40th birthday so with encouragement from Lyndsey and without Graham knowing, race places were confirmed, accommodation found and cheap flights booked, well in advance […]
So cross country season is here again… if you’re new to Saltwell and are considering trying it this winter I would highly recommend it! And if you have signed up already, well done. When i first signed up for cross country about six years ago I wasn’t sure what to expect as I hadn’t done […]
Muddy cross country races may feel along way away but the North East Harrier League have released their fixture list for the 2024/25 season — including a brand new course! Saltwell Harriers are always proud to put out men’s and ladies’ teams in this cracking annual competition. See our cross country page for more information […]
If the truth be told I’ve never really had much ambition to run anything more than a half marathon. I’ve always thought that a couple of hours pounding the tarmac is more than enough punishment. My immediate thoughts whenever I have completed the Great North Run are always the same, ‘imagine if this was a […]
Well done to everyone who won awards and prizes at presentation night last Saturday for the 2023/24 season of running. Spring Series Male 1st: PAUL SMITH 2nd: JAMES YOUNG 3rd: MATT O’BRIEN Female 1st: JOANNA MCNEILL 2nd: NICOLA DYSON 3rd: NICOLA WHITMAN 3 Mile Handicap 1st: PRIYA RUTHERFORD 2nd: CLARE ROBSON 3rd: CLAIRE GODFREY 4 […]
Background I entered Brighton marathon in the spring of 2023 after, shocking to no-one, I was unsuccessful in the London marathon ballot. My first marathon the year prior was Edinburgh, which I had run with a group of friends, all of us in the dawn of our love affairs with running. Edinburgh had left me […]
After what’s felt like a particularly long and wet winter, Spring is finally around the corner and that means the arrival of the Saltwell parkrun Spring Series! For six Saturdays around April each year, there’s the opportunity to enjoy some local parkrun tourism and friendly club competition. Spring Series competition rules Anyone taking part in […]
Rob Brooks is at it again. Back doing Spine races, and this time it’s in the Arctic! The Montane Arctic Spine Race is a 293 mile foot-race along the Kungsleden Trail in Sweden, where temperatures drop to -35C. You can read the full story from Saltwell’s king of ultras on his own blog: Arctic Spine Race […]
So, in 2020 I thought I am 52, running well and the Joss Naylor challenge in under 12 hrs seems very feasible! Then came Covid and scuppered that. I thought I would try again in 2021 then Covid and lockdowns continued so going to have to wait another year. So come 2022, helping on two […]
Running is a fantastic way to improve your cardiovascular fitness, boost your mood, and maintain overall health. Whether you’re new to running or looking to get back into it, here’s a beginner’s guide to help you start and stay motivated: 1. Get the Right Gear Invest in a good pair of running shoes that provide […]
