Today was a great run, tough though. 13 of us started the Tour of Ripon Marathon, it wasn’t a race, it was a social run. The route is designed so that people can do all or some, it has lots of places where runners can join in or complete their effort depending on their own needs.
The youngest member of the group ran with her mum, she made the fab banner for Ben Smith’s run of this route, way back in May 2016.
Joining me at the start were George, Dave, Martin, Paul, Nicola, Claire Jane, Jackie, Fiona, Fiona, Hayley and Eloise.
We started in the dark 13 runners of differing pace and abilities and ran through Sharow and along the river Ure and Skell to Fishergreen. As the sun rose we then ran the other side of the Skell and Ure to Hewick Bridge and crossed to the racecourse with a quick visit from Ripon Runners on route to the Brass Monkey half marathon in York.
From their we ran to the canal where Fiona, Fiona and Eloise left us. The rest of us ran down the canal to the last lock, crossed the canal and headed for Littlethorpe. We were behind predicted Tina as I hadn’t accounted for regroups. I let Kelly and Lesley know.
The pace picked up on the road section and we were soon crossing the bypass where Jane left us. I was a little confused with the actual route but Kelly and Claire Met is on Gallows Hill and we set off along the Sanctuary Way.
We altered the route slightly by missing out Moorside Dale to go to Martin and Hayley’s house for comfort breaks, and bottle fills. Hayley and Martin has provided flapjack and brownies. We then set off up Lead Lane. Nicola and Paul only needed to do 13 miles and set off back as we got to Whitcliffe Lane and the rest of us continued upwards into a headwind, Jackie left us at the farm after running 11+ miles, she will have completed 13 by the time she got home.
Soon we were at the top of Whitcliffe Lane, the highest point of the course and we could enjoy the long run down to Fountains Abbey enjoying the clear views and sunny springlike weather.
We regrouped at the top of Studley Drive by the church for a breather. I let Lesley know we would’ve with her at about 11 am and off we went, half way down the drive we turned to the lake and ran 6 of the 7 bridges. Hayley decided to leave us there, heading up Mackershaw as the rest of us ran up to Sam’s Seat and one of the best views in the area, looking over Ripon to the Cleveland Hills.
We were spread out as we had been most of the day with the faster runners having the option of running back to the back of the group.
When we got back to Ripon, Kelly and Martin headed home as the last 5 of us headed up Bishopton to meat Lesley as Claire left us, so the five of us ran up Lark Lane to the cemetery and crossed the fields to the golf club and back to the River Ure where we rank back to North Bridge for the 3rd time today.
We headed to the clock tower and up Kingsmead. Had another stop at Lesley’s and then set off for the last few miles, the miles were taking their toll on us, as we wound round the streets back to the River Skell, Claire who had run many miles already this week including a 26 mile race yesterday had clocked up 26 miles from doing run backs, so left us to see her son’s football match. The four of us carried on back to Fishergreen, then back around the cathedral where Dave set off home too, he had run 26 and by the time he got home had completed 26.2. And then there were 3 George was still running strong and was running laps of the market square waiting for Lesley and I to get up traffic light hill.
Round the market square and down Kirkgate brought us to the cathedral, the official route end. The route is 26.5 miles. George had clocked up 26.6 and had finished feeling strong. I was worn out.
Lesley set of home to complete her 10 miles and George and I set off back to our cars, I left George at his and jogged back to St Marygate carpark.
Less than 6 hours ago I had left with 12 friends and now I returned alone, after a fab social run with 15 friends.
I hope to run this route again in the future and would love even more people to join in.
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