Sunday 8th October 2023

Last Sunday our beautiful coach, Annette,  took on the Kielder Marathon in Northumberland 💚

Battling through a soaking wet terrain, Annette joined more than 3500 runners for the 13th Anniversary event weekend which saw a Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, Duathlon and Junior races unfold, making it the best attended event since 2019.

The weekend took place at Northumbrian Water’s Kielder Waterside Park 🌊, with the backdrop of the beautiful Kielder Reservoir.  For those who have never been to this part of the world, Kielder is a small, remote village in Western Northumberland. Located at the head of Kielder Water and in the north West of Kielder Forest 🌳, the village sits within 3 miles of the Scottish Border 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 and is absolutely stunning 😍

The official Marathon starter for Kielder was Arthur Scott, a 100-year-old former Forester working for Forestry England.  Arthur turned 💯 on the day of the marathon (8th October) and celebrated his special birthday by ringing the start bell 🛎️ for Kielder’s 13th Marathon.

Annette 💚travelled the long miles up North to celebrate her buddy’s BIG birthday🎉, by running this trail marathon, and why not?!!!  Seems the running genes are in the family as Annette’s nephew, Ruairi, took part in his first Half Marathon before seeing his fabulous Auntie across the line in the marathon.

These were Annettes words………………..

‘Wow, marathons are mighty!! 😬😬 Spent a wonderful weekend celebrating a fabulous buddies big birthday in the best way possible – running the awesome Kielder trail marathon in Northumberland!! 🎉 🎉

The hills were unrelenting but weather conditions were perfect and views utterly stunning – runners amongst you, I highly recommend this one, if you like a challenging (we slightly underestimated that bit!) 😂 and a very remote course…..Completed in 4.08 and happy to be in the top 20 woman-just 😉. However, huge respect to my nephew Ruairi Feakes on finishing his first half marathon on minimal training in 1.55 and my fabulous buddy for her performance on that roller coaster marathon experience 🌲😉, a wonderful birthday weekend with lovely folk in the North East!

Thanks for all the support and encouragement everyone, that and the tree energy 🌳 certainly helped when the legs protested muchly! 🙏’

Huge congratulations Annette 💚 We know you love a challenge and this is amazing 👏🏻 We are all so immensely proud of you 🖤❤️

The Marathon winner was Russell Maddams from Keswick, who crossed the finish line in just 2h 49m 05s and in doing so he became the Marathon’s most decorated winner winning his fourth Kielder Marathon after winning in 2017, 2018 and 2021. Lucie Custance from North Shields Polytechnic Club was the first female through, in 3h 18m and 37s.

Entries are already open for 2024 🤩