After many cancelled races due to Covid and having run a section of the coastal path earlier in the year I looked at the route in its entirety and set running the whole path as my first long goal of the year before hopefully racing a 100km later in the year. I ran the route from North to South starting in Berwick just after 7am and finishing in the dark at Creswell just before 11pm.
I had fantastic support for the day from my friend Dan, who crewed me all day in his van and ran in the region of 30k of the route with me. Including the very slow final 12km. By 90km my stomach went and could no longer take on any calories and not even water. All I could do to stop myself vomiting and just put one foot in front of the other. I stopped to restock drinks and food at Fenwick, Belford, Seahouses, Beadnell, Boulmer, Alnmouth and Warkworth. The route would be possible if you didn’t have support along the way as most of these stops have access to shops and toilets, however it would be tricky as an unsupported run as there was very little access to fresh water to filter (most streams crossed were tidal and in places you probably wouldn’t want to drink even if you could filter) so you’d have to carry a lot.
Mainly my navigation was on point using both the gpx upload on my watch and paper maps where there was any discrepancy. A couple of wrong turns and the very slight detours to get to my crew along with recording variation using my Suunto watch account for the extra 1.7km I completed compared with the published route.
The last 12km put pay to any thought of my 14hr goal but still pleased to complete the route and learn a lot about running 100km as this was only my second time over the 100km mark and my first doing a point to point trail. Realise that it is probable that the route has been run quicker by somebody before me as I’m a middle of the packer at best, but thought this amazing route along the Northumberland coast deserved its place on the FKT website and the fastest time has to start somewhere. I would strongly recommend the route for anyone looking for a good day out in the North East of England.