Beverley Clifford

The Northern Traverse - Everything I thought it would be, and more!

I was originally entered for the 2020 Northern Traverse but then Covid arrived. I finally ended up on the start line for the 2022 edition!

Getting to that day felt like an eternity because it had been my main focus race for so long. It’s not just the hours spent training, the time spent driving back and forth to recce the course, the strength training and the evenings spent faffing with kit and nutrition. It’s also the time you spend thinking about the race! BUT it’s totally worth it when you stand on the start line knowing that you’re going on one big adventure, running from one side of the country to the other with some of the best views in the North of England.

I was also stood on the start line with my brother, as we’d decided to run it together. To some, running with their sibling might not seem like a good idea, but I’ve spent a lot of time running with my brother (he got me into Ultra running) and we’d recced the course together. Not only  would it be a great adventure and we’d make great memories together, we’d also be good with the navigation between us! 

“I remember taking a few moments to look up and remember how lucky we were to have places like this to run”

The first few miles on the race along the coast of St Bees went a lot quicker than expected. It was glorious sunshine and a few miles in I was down to a t-shirt – it was lovely to feel the sunshine on my skin. The early Lake District miles ticked over nicely. We kept things steady and started trickling little bits of food in every hour. My best friend and my godson were waiting at Ennerdale to say ‘Hello’. Although they couldn’t give us anything, it’s still nice to see a friendly face. My brother went into the café at Ennerdale and grabbed us both a coffee.

The run around Ennerdale water was beautiful and I remember taking a few moments to look up, take it all in and remember how lucky we were to have places like this to run. Before I knew it, we were coming down into Honister, a quick hello from the best friend again and we carried on running to Rosthwaite, the first checkpoint. Before hitting the checkpoint, we had a plan of attack with what we need to do admin wise so we didn’t forget anything. All we needed to do was get some food in, fill water and tend to any foot issues. We were in and out pretty quickly and back into the hills for the evening with some nice remote terrain over Grasmere common, over to Grisedale, before we dropped down into the Patterdale checkpoint where we would get our drop bags. I was still feeling good, the feet were in good shape and all was going well.

The Patterdale checkpoint was heaving! We must have hit it at peak time! First job was socks off, get the feet airing and then get some food. I resupplied my snacks for the trail, filled up with water and we got back out there. It was never a plan to try and sleep at the first checkpoint. Having done plenty of partying in my youth and then a fair few ultras which went through the night, I was confident that the first night would be no problem, and I was right. I didn’t feel sleepy at all and I think the excitement of finally being out there doing the race was keeping me buzzing along!

The magical views of the Lake District were a highlight ©No Limits Photography

“Hitting Shap was a huge mental boost”

The climb out from Patterdale up Kidsty Pike is a long one, but taking a moment to look back and see all the head torches heading up behind in the dark looked ace, and was another one of those ‘moments’. At the top of Kidsty Pike, it was slightly snowing. But that was the last of the big Lake District climbs done, and it was on to Shap. Shap signalled the end of the Lake District section. We’d covered 100km, which meant we were a third of the way through. We were feeling good still, so hitting Shap was a huge mental boost.

Shap Checkpoint was a feed, water refill and quick faff. My feet were still in good shape, but my brother had started getting a few hot spots so he addressed those before we headed out towards Kirky Stephen.

The best friend and godson popped out a couple of times on this next leg. I can’t remember exactly where, but I remember that last time we saw them I sat down to address some foot issues. That done, we ploughed on to the Kirkby Stephen checkpoint. By this point it was the middle of the day on Sunday, and it was t-shirt weather again. I was struggling with eating regularly and getting a bit of nausea on and off. I knew how important it was to keep food going in though, so did my best. Why is it that whatever food you’ve trained with suddenly become the things you least want to eat?!

We arrived at Kirky Stephen feeling strong, and had made a plan to get some proper food in, sort the feet and then have a sleep. The first part of the plan went well, but the sleep just didn’t happen. The tents outside were great BUT the wind had picked up, and was blowing them about. I just couldn’t drop off. After about two hours, I spoke to my brother and said shall we just get back out there and get on with it! He agreed, so we had some more food, dressed our feet and got back on the trail. We wanted to hit Nine Standards before we had to get our head torches out!

“We seemed to breeze through the boggy section”

We got to Nine Standards before dark and just as the wind and rain was picking up! The nice weather was over. As we ran along the top heading towards the lovely bogs, we made a quick stop to get the waterproofs, gloves, hat and head torch out ready for what was to be a very blustery and wet night! We seemed to breeze through the boggy section with no nav errors and moving well. I run my best through boggy terrain. Having spent a lot of time in the Peak District, I’ve developed a soft spot for bog running!

We were soon at Keld and then Reeth. The wind was behind us, but it was strong and that feeling of getting pushed along became more of a battle of staying on your feet. By the time we hit Reeth, I was tired, and we took shelter in the toilets for a regroup, ready for the last bit of the leg to Richmond. It was about 2am on the Monday morning, and we said if we hit Richmond for first light, that would be great.

Getting to the Richmond checkpoint took forever! It was just gone 6am when we arrived, and the last three miles was a low part of the race for me. I just wanted to get there! I wanted a warm drink, some proper food and a sleep! I wasn’t looking forward to trying to sleep in a tent again, but I felt that tired I was hoping I’d fall asleep anyway.

Arriving at Richmond, we found that due to the winds, one of the tents had blown away and had to be rescued from a tree, so we were allowed to sleep in the rugby club changing room. After some food and faffing, I got my head down and managed about 3 hours of broken sleep. But when I decided to get up I felt much better for having some sleep. I was raring to get back out on the trail.

Some more unconventional sleeping arrangements! Photo credit: Beverley and Mick Clifford

“We managed to get a good shuffle on!”

We left Richmond knowing the next leg to Danby Wiske and then the A19 services was pretty bleak, but it had to be done! We managed some good running on this leg. There’s lots of flat road sections and easy trail, and we managed to get a good shuffle on! We made one tiny nav error which was mainly down to tiredness and getting carried away chatting!

We finally got to the A19 services at around 6pm and what a boost that was! We got a coffee and a picnic, which included ice cream, and sat inside the garage getting prepped for the night across the Moors to the Lion Inn.

We set off and I felt great. Mick was starting to get some foot issues. I knew this section, having run the Cleveland Way before. I knew that we had a few little ups and downs before Bloworth Crossing. The rocky steps in the dark, wind and rain were slow going. My brother started falling asleep, so had a little trail nap at Lordstones. I don’t think he actually slept but had a little reset.

“On to the never-ending stretch to the Lion Inn”

Then on to the never-ending stretch to the Lion Inn. This was another low moment. I knew that, as the crow flies, we were so close to the checkpoint, but the way the ridge goes round it takes you forever to get there! Mick, my brother was having some major foot issues, so we were just walking to the checkpoint. We passed a few people though and got to the checkpoint at around 2.30am. To say it was windy up there was an understatement!  

Reaching that final checkpoint was such a boost, and looking back, I felt more emotional there than I did at the finish. Our bags were there, and we were greeted  by a number of friendly, happy marshals asking what we wanted to eat, and if there was anything they could help with. We got the shoes off, had some food and then tried to get some sleep. The tents were all full so they were using the backs of vans for people to sleep in. I was happy to be going in a van and knew would be a bit quieter than a tent.

The wind blowing made it feel like when you’re on the ferry and it’s choppy! I rolled around for about three hours and maybe fell asleep once before saying to my brother, come on let’s get up and get this done! Some foot prep, more food and a fresh pair of trainers, and we were off to Robin Hood’s Bay! I think it was around 8-9am on the Tuesday morning so we knew that we’d be done before dark. As we left the checkpoint, I remember thinking, this is it, after this leg, it will all be over. All the planning, training, prepping and thinking would all have come to an end, and the Northern Traverse would be done. It was a sad feeling but I was also thankful, as I’d be glad to put that heavy rucksack away for a little while!

An important refuelling opportunity at a checkpoint ©No Limits Photography

“This leg…will stay in my mind forever as one of those running moments where it’s almost magical”

This leg from the Lion Inn to Glaisdale will stay in my mind forever as one of those running moments where it’s almost magical. It wasn’t the best scenery on the route, but the moor is pretty nice and I felt great. Running felt easy, and the wind was behind us, giving that little push. I remember thinking running shouldn’t feel this easy this late in the race! I enjoyed the easy miles as I knew that the boggy section around Fylingdales Moor would be energy sapping! After Glaisdale comes Grosmont, and then it’s the beautiful section through Falling Foss. The woods go on forever but they’re beautiful and a highlight of the last bit of the route. Once out of there, I had memorised every part of the route to Robin Hood’s Bay as I’d recced it. We ran as much as we could, even through the bog. We laughed and ran, as we knew with every step we were closer to the end.

Hitting the Cleveland Way again and the coastline path that takes you to Robin Hood’s Bay was amazing. It gave such a boost, and I think we ran pretty much every step of the way in to the finish line. I was amazed that my legs felt so good and, in a way, I was sad it was over.

“Crossing the finish line is one of the highlights of my life”

BUT crossing that finish line with my brother, after what can only be described as an epic adventure, is one of the highlights of my life. I made memories that will last a lifetime, and had a mega journey through some of the most beautiful parts of England with my brother. It doesn’t get much better than that!

I’d just like to say – what a well-organised event, with a whole host of friendly, funny and amazing people helping at all the support points along the way! Well done to everybody involved.

It’s a long journey from St Bees to the finish line in picturesque Robin Hood’s bay ©No Limits Photography