That’s a wrap: It’s been the journey of a lifetime for the final finishers on the SILVA Northern Traverse
There were tears, hugs and smiles on the finish line in Robin Hood’s Bay yesterday, as the final runners came into the finish.
The field has been incredibly strong, with all the runners who were left in the race making it into the finish comfortably within the cut-off time.
While the first runners may have made it into the finish on Monday, what the back of the pack runners have had to do is arguably more difficult. They have pushed through several days and nights, battling tough terrain on tired legs and staving off sleep deprivation. They have spent over twice as long out on the course facing the elements than the leaders, but have come out the other side smiling, in the knowledge that if they can take on a challenge as tough as this, they are surely capable of anything.
The event team gather to cheer in the final runner ©No Limits Photography
“It's been a privilege to be able to do the coast to coast in this way”
The Coastal Path into Robin Hood’s Bay is a stunning finish to such a magnificent route, although the undulating cliffs are a challenge for tired legs. As runners made their way ever close to the finish, the vista of the picturesque Robin Hood’s Bay was spurring them on, the end now in sight.
Carol Bedwell and Laura Lawler were making their way over the coastal path with the end in sight. The pair had run the whole way together.
Laura said, “I've loved it – we've had good weather. It's been great – it's just the end is always hard.”
Laura and Carol were keen to tackle the Northern Traverse after completing the Lakes Traverse last year. It’s certainly a big step up. Carol said, “We really enjoyed the Lakes, it was nice to go a bit further. It's our first multi-day event.”
Carol and Laura were going well over the dramatic cliffs of Robin Hood’s Bay ©No Limits Photography
Andrew Hall Sumner was another runner who we chatted to on his way over the cliffs. He was in excellent spirits, singing loudly to himself as he rounded the cliffs on the final stretch of coast.
With the end now in sight, he was able to reflect on his experience. He said, “It's been really good. Really challenging, but then we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that. There's been great camaraderie, great atmosphere in all the aid stations, all the competitors are super friendly. It's been a great experience and it's been a privilege to be able to do the coast to coast in this way.”
With the end in sight, Andrew was also a bit emotional. “It's taken more out of me than I thought it was going to do. I've pushed on.”
“I'm also doing it in remembrance for a family member who died. He'd probably tell me off because he never liked a fuss. We raised some money for this charity, which is Sue Ryder who looked after him, so I brought two stones – one for him, one for me. The thought of that and all the other things keep me pushing on.”
Andrew had a brilliant run into the finish, arriving just after 9am on Wednesday morning. At the finish, he threw his pebbles into the ocean and celebrated the end of a long journey.
He said, “It was absolutely fantastic. I am really pleased. I'm carrying some injuries – I don't know what I'm going to do with my feet.”
“My daughter will be asking why I didn't win,” he said with a laugh.
Before tackling the journey back up the hill to the Event Centre in Fylingdales Hall, Andrew stopped to get a bacon sandwich, a can of strongbow, and bought some toys for his children.
Andrew was elated to make it to the finish! ©No Limits Photography
The stories from the finish line were truly inspiring
While up to this point, finishers have been coming in very sporadically, with the field very spread out, today, the seafront of Robin Hood’s Bay saw a thrilling atmosphere, with many groups of runners coming in quick succession.
One runner we spoke to at the finish was Pascale Mathonet. Pascale’s story has been truly inspiring.
When Pascale was passing through Reeth, just over halfway through the route, she was at the back of the pack. She was worried she wouldn’t make the cut-offs and doubted whether she would even finish.
However, in spite of her doubts, Pascale managed to keep pushing, and in an astonishing display of willpower and determination, managed to overtake 14 people plus several more who retired! She ended up finishing in less than 100 hours, 12 whole hours before the cut off time.
When we spoke to her at the finish she seemed thrilled and also a bit emotional. She said, “For these things you have to have a why, and I didn’t know what that was at first. When I was feeling a bit down, I'd look at my Whatsapp and see many messages and that would give me a boost. It was only on the coastal path I thought oh maybe I can do this.”
She also experienced some interesting sleep hallucinations, saying, “I was seeing things, but I knew it was not real. I was seeing runners, and they were all going different directions and I was thinking 'that's not the way - where are you going?' Nothing made sense anymore. At one point, I was thinking ‘What am I doing here? Where am I?’”
Pascale’s impressive comeback goes to show the power of mental strength. Pascale’s resilience and determination to keep pushing on clearly paid off.
Pascale (centre) at the finish with two fellow participants who are also from Belgium ©No Limits Photography
Married couple Shaneen and Steve Platten have completed the whole journey with their friends Janet Kay and Adrian Kamis.
The pair have helped each other through a difficult journey but were all smiles at the finish line, where they had gone down to meet Janet and Adrian, having themselves finished a few hours before.
Shaneen joked, "We had one domestic. ‘I want three and a half hours sleep - we're having two and half - I want three and a half hours sleep - we're having two and a half!’ But we work well together and we check in with each other."
Steve said, "The event itself is brilliant. The marshalls and the medics have been the best I've ever come across. Absolutely incredible. It's been grand from everybody, from weighing the bags, to the photographers!"
We asked Steve and Shaneen what motivated them to sign up. Steve said, "It was the actual route. We're walkers as well so we've done the coast to coast together twice. It was the route and we like running long distances."
Shaneen and Steve crossed the whole width of the country together ©No Limits Photography
Richard Beard was the oldest participant at the SILVA Northern Traverse. At age 71, his achievement is even more impressive. He was moving well through the course, until he got a sore back which slowed his progress, forcing him to have to lie down flat at intervals. However, he didn't let this stop him, and he came hobbling down to the finish with a look of sheer determination on his face, where he was met by his wife. It was certainly a spectacular achievement!
It was an inspirational journey for Richard, aged 71! ©No Limits Photography
Steve Bownds was the last finisher
Steve Bownds was the last runner into the finish at 17:19 yesterday. Steve's journey has been absolutely remarkable, and despite being the last over the line, he was still many hours within the cut-off times.
It was an emotional yet joyous scene. He was met by a crowd at the finish, including his family, the event team, members of the public, and his friend who encouraged him to enter, having completed the race himself last year. It also so happened that it was Steve's birthday, so the crowd all sang him 'Happy Birthday' once he reached the finish.
As is tradition, Steve had carried a pebble all the way from St Bees, but rather than throwing it in the ocean, he presented it to his mother, who gave him a big hug.
Steve was met at the finish by his parents ©No Limits Photography
He said, "That was so hard! Saturday was quite nice, then it was so difficult. The support crew have been amazing - honestly amazing - everyone's been talking about it."
Steve celebrated his finish with a half pint of cider brought to him from the local pub.
“There’s a story about a guy who went to one of the Olympics as a marathon runner. He finished miles and miles behind the winner and they interviewed him and they asked him what kept you going, and he said my nation didn’t send me here to start the race, they sent me here to finish the race. I've been remembering that, and I'm raising money for International Justice Mission, who are an amazing charity, and people who sponsored me, they didn't send me here to just start it, they sent me here to finish it. I think God's given me a body to try and test it. And lots of people have been so encouraging."
"I'm really pleased to sit down. This is mind-blowing. I've never had anything like this in my life, all this attention. It's incredible."
Steve was out on course for just under 105 hours in a superhuman display of strength and endurance. He didn’t let the fact he was near the back deter him and kept pushing through – it was certainly awe-inspiring to witness.
It’s been an incredible week, full of inspirational stories of resilience and camaraderie. All of our runners, whether at the front of the pack of the back of the pack have achieved something extraordinary, and I’m sure they will treasure memories of this journey for a lifetime.
Steve had an incredible run ©No Limits Photography
Follow in our participants’ footsteps in 2024
Are you yearning for an adventure of your own? Entries are now open for the 2024 SILVA Northern Traverse and Lakes Traverse. Take on this incredible journey and see what you can achieve!
We can’t wait to see you for a spectacular journey ©No Limits Photography