The preperation

First ultra of the year, and first in almost 16 months. Nerves started to grow in the weeks building up the event, second guessing my preperation; had I covered enough miles?, had I done enought long runs?, did I have the right pacing and fueling strategies?, and would I stick to them?, was I right in dropping my planned time to 6 1/2 hours from 7 1/2 hours?

Training miles in the weeks building up ramped up, with two half marathons covered within six days, two weeks beforfe the event. Physically, I felt pretty good, but the inevitable pre-race niggles were there. These were not helped by the fact I had a later start than I’d expected, after dropping my planned time to 6 1/2 hours, so the cut off time would be a factor, 8 1/2 hours.

This was the start of a big year, three ultras in the first half of the year, building up to the biggest challenge to date, “The Wall” in June. The Knigdom of Northumbria needed to go well.

Race Day

The upside to the second wave start time was that the day didn’t have to start quite so early, 6:54am and the journey begins. Drop off at Druridge Bay for the coach trip up the coast to Bambrugh Castle, an opportunity to chat to fellow athletes, about training and experiences that have brough us all together for a shared journey of physical and mental challenges along the Northumberland coastline.

Registration around 10am, bib numbers pinned to shorts, short briefing and then the start line. Not a mass start like many events, but a slightly informal, small group ushered to the starting line and one by one, we cross the timing mat, and the journey along the Northumberland coastal path and through history begins.

The race begins as you head off towards Seahouses, with the majestic Bamburgh Castle in thr background, arguably one of the most iconic start lines in UK ultra-running. Perched on a volcanic throne, this fortress was the capital of the Anglo-Saxon kings of Bernicia. You set off along the road to Seahouses with wide-open vista of the Farne Islands to your left.

The first few miles flowed nicely, settling in to a 9 minute per mile pace, quicker than the planned 10 minute miles, but it felt good. The weather was perfect, beautiful blue skies, cool and a gentle breeze. Around 3 miles in and the open path soon blended in to the streets of Seahouses, passing the harbour, chip shops and mid moring village bussle as the path winds out of the villange and on to the golf course, leaving Seahouses behind us as the course heads South. Still skirting the road towards Beadnell village, where the terrain shifts from the hard, grey roadside pavements to sandy, uneven, grassy coastal trail.

Beadnell village marks the 5 mile point, splits are steady at around 9 minute miles, legs feel good and the flow of the trail is nice.

Confidence is creaping up and the mind begins to think about a sub 6 hour time beging achievable. That thought continues for a while yet, but the reality of the trail will soon bring me back to the reality of my preperation and training.

As the route passes through the caravan parks as we leave Beadnell, the terrain shifts again, to sandy trails atop the sanddunes, with the trail winding its way south towards the ruins of Dunstanbrugh Castle (11 miles) and small fishing village of Craster (13 miles).

At around 9 miles, I started to feel the affects of the constant shift underfoot, an unexpected preasure on my calfs that started to introduce the niggle of impending cramps. I’d been fueling regularly, as planned up to this point, with electrolyte gels every 45 minutes and regular sips of electrolyte fueled water. My regular fueling strategy, which has been a solid plan for me previously.

Running Poles

I had considered trying running poles a few times previously and with “The Wall” planned later in 2026, I recently invested in a set of Leki Cross Trail FX Superlite, and included them in my kit for The Kingdom of Northumbria, planning on giving them a try, rather than expecting to need them.

At around 10 miles, the poles came out. First time putting them together on the move, a little fiddly but I expect that practice will make it a smooth process. I was surprised, very quickly the motion of the poles in sync with my stride felt quite natural. Which is odd, as I’ve always struggled with getting the right flow when I’ve tried poles whilse hiking. Forgetting the few times I almost tripped myself as I tangled my feet and the poles as the ground shifted from sand, to uneven and stone riddled grass beneath my feet, I could feel the benefit from the poles quickly. The strain on my calfs lifted, the flow of my pace quickened and my sholders began to feel like they were doing some of the work. I continued on with the poles for a mile or so, until Dunstanbrugh Castle, where after a rocky climb under the castle, the ground leveled out to a nice even grassy trail. This wouldn’t be the last time the poles were delpoyed.

On to the half way point

With Cratser and Dunsanbrugh fading in to the distance, we treck on towards Boulmer anf the half way feed station, with the North Sea on our left to guide us along the costal pathwhich continues to challenge with small, continious undulations and suttle unevenness underfoot. 13 miles and it feels like 20 have passed, as the route takes in Cullernose Point, a spectacular, rugged cliff streaching out to sea.

The follwoing few miles towards Boulmer pass with a flowing pace, encouraged by the milestone of the half way point and an opportunity to refresh supplies, top up on some needed fuel and get the half way split time on the board. 3 hours in and the feed station is in sight, with it though that earlier confidence of a sub 6 hour time fades and focus shifts towards crossing the line.

A short refuel stop, water bottles topped up, a few packets of Squashies stuffed in to the pockets and it is time to continue, on towards Druridge bay and the finish, with a few more miles to travel on the way.

Onwards to the finish

On from Boulmer, the next milestone is Alnmouth. A picturesque coastal fishing village at the mouth of the river Aln. The three or so miles from Boulmer towards Alnmouth shift towards more compact trail, with flowing dips and inclines and on to open grass along the cliff tops, weaving in amongst the holiday cabins over lookng the beaches below.

As the trail reaches the outskirts of Alnmouth, it weaves through the grounds of the Alnmouth Golf club, skirting the edge of the course, as you drop down in to the village. With a two thrids of the course behind me, the feeling of the home streach begining to creap in, as we skirt along the river banks and over the bridge, leaving Alnmouth behind and back on to tarmac paths and a slight incline, opportune time to take in the next electrolyt jell and a pack of those Squashies stashed at the half way point. The legs definately calling out for extra engergy.

Soon the trail reverts back to the sandy, grassy trail as it follows the beach and coastline towards Warkworth. The second time the poles are deployed, for around two miles, they become a focus point, managing the rhythm of my stride and the strike of the poles to the ground, trying to avoid the earlier trip events. Though there wasn’t any real climbs or decents along the route, the experience of using the poles and the impact they had on my legs, at points I was battling the early signs of cramps, made me a believer in their benefit and gald I’d made the investment.

Feed station three in view, after a slight climb away from Warkworth Beach a refueling stop, the essential cup of coke and a bannana, and then on towards the river Coquet Warkworth village and the magnificent castle which overlooks the village.

Entering the village, across the bridge spanning the River Coquet, tourists wandering the small shops, the climb towards the castle comes in to sight. Only 100ft or so not a significant assent, though after 25 1/2 miles, it has a feel of dread hanging over it. As you climb, the castle becomes more visible, towering over you and the village.

Home Stretch

Once Warkworth is fading in to the distance, the pathed trail drops down back towards the River Coquet as it flows in to Amble marina, passing the tidal wear which separates the river and the sea at low tide. Amble becomes the next milestone and the marker for the last few miles to the finish at Druridge Bay.

Entering Amble through the marina, waving in and out of the visitors to the marina and the harbor shops and coffee shops, the beginning of a sense of achievement starts to creep in as the marathon distance is passed and the thought of ‘its just another 10km’ becomes a reality. The route crosses the harbor, onto the pier and begins to head out of the village, through the sand dunes. A test of navigation skills, which path to take to avoid as many of the small inclines the dunes has to throw at you as possible, to avoid more of the calf twinges and burning thighs.

The final few miles are a mixture of sandy, grass trails and coastal road as Druridge Bay comes ever closer. In these closing miles, the encouragement, applause and ‘we did it’ moments with fellow participants elevate the energy and determination to push on and cross the finish line. Then that final shift of the trail as it bends left away from the coastal path and on to the soft, gravel path of Druridge Bay and towards the lake. The final mile, finish line in sight, a last push, digging deep in to the reserves of energy. 6 hours and 15 minutes since the start line was crossed all those miles ago, in the shadow of Bamburgh Castle, is there enough in the tank for a sub 6 hour 30 time?

Finish time: 6 hours 24 minutes

Final thoughts

The Kingdom of Northumbria is an amazing experience, but don’t underestimate the terrain along the Northumberland Coastal path, with around 2000ft of assent over all through the 31 miles it will zap those leg muscles.

An experience that will live with me forever, would I do it again? I plan on it!