I am getting very concerned about the free roaming wildlife we will encounter on this run. I was once caught on a Tyrolean hillside facing a herd of cows with bells aound their necks when they decided to stampede down for a drink of water from a tin bath. Do these Town Moor beasts wear cow bells and do they behave erraticly? I used to run round Primrose Hill and Regents Park about forty years ago (football training as I had not discovered running in those days) but I recall no cows - mad or otherwise!
Divven't worry man! I run regularly on the Town Moor and am no great fan of big farm animals unless there's a handy fence to jump over but the cows there don't bother anyone as far as I know. Certainly I've never had a problem. Usually they're away from the paths anyway.
Good article for anyone who doesn't know the area Ian. A couple of quotes from it sum it up for me.
"I think most people just cross it or run on it and you never see kids playing on it or using it for a picnic," she said.
"No one really stays there because it's not particularly inviting."
It's nice having the open space and I'd hate to see it built on but it's so bleak and I think a chance has been missed historically to have drained at least part of it away from rough pasture and then plant it with trees etc so it was a true city park.
Sorry, but the thought of running a marathon on it just doesn't appeal.
Good point Ian. Exhibition Park's nice and was even better before the new roads decimated parts of it in the late 60s. I just visit other cities and think what might have been.
I'm sure everyone will enjoy the marathon, it's just that I run on the Moor so much it would be too much of a busman's holiday. That and the fact I couldn't run a marathon anyway of course!! I hope to be there to cheer people on.
Well, not only do we have wild beasts but a real wilderness with which to conetend - devoid of all beauty it seems. All we need now is a cold drizzly, foggy November day and we can really have fun.
I'd hate to paint too poor a picture. Without knowing the route I'm sure a good part of it will be on the perimeter of the Moor and that's mostly quite a nice path with avenues of mature trees next to the roads. The area where races usually start from is good too, with a convenient cafe. That part of the route is more like a conventional park.
Plus there's the view in the distance of our cathedral, St James Park!
A small race like this is going to have a good atmosphere I'm sure.
If the moo cows are anything like the hairy orange moo cows in the park in Carlisle, I'm sure they will just look on at the 'spectacle' that is us lot in mild bemusement.
I'm not expecting to be able to make the start of this now.
I am suffering with horrible shin splints on my left leg at the moment and I am supposed to have two marathons before this one - one in Fleetwood in September and Beijing in October. I don't think I'll be in a fit state by November!
can anyone remember how much this was to enter ?? seem to have written loads of cheques out recently for races and not sure if this one been cashed yet !!
just had a physio session. I have been told that I don't have shin splints but I have been suffering, unknowingly, with a stress fracture since the beginning of April. She basicallysaid that I have had a broken bone in leg for the last 2 months!
The good news is that it has pretty much healed itself and should be almost fully healed within about a mont. I was also told that I'm not being over ambitious in aiming to run the Beijing marathon in October.
I now have a painfully slow exercise program to follow (first week is walk 3 minutes, jog 3 minutes and walk 3 minutes!) to see how much I can do without damaging myself any more.
I think I should have sought physio advice sooner!
Comments
I am getting very concerned about the free roaming wildlife we will encounter on this run. I was once caught on a Tyrolean hillside facing a herd of cows with bells aound their necks when they decided to stampede down for a drink of water from a tin bath. Do these Town Moor beasts wear cow bells and do they behave erraticly? I used to run round Primrose Hill and Regents Park about forty years ago (football training as I had not discovered running in those days) but I recall no cows - mad or otherwise!
Divven't worry man! I run regularly on the Town Moor and am no great fan of big farm animals unless there's a handy fence to jump over but the cows there don't bother anyone as far as I know. Certainly I've never had a problem. Usually they're away from the paths anyway.
This will give you a bit of info on the Moor and our lovely moo cows
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/articles/2008/08/27/town_moor_feature.shtml
Good article for anyone who doesn't know the area Ian. A couple of quotes from it sum it up for me.
"I think most people just cross it or run on it and you never see kids playing on it or using it for a picnic," she said.
"No one really stays there because it's not particularly inviting."
It's nice having the open space and I'd hate to see it built on but it's so bleak and I think a chance has been missed historically to have drained at least part of it away from rough pasture and then plant it with trees etc so it was a true city park.
Sorry, but the thought of running a marathon on it just doesn't appeal.
In fairness Graham, Exhibition Park used to be part of the Moor, and has been made into an excellent resource.
I'm not sure it appeals that much to me either, but as I can walk to the start, it seemed like a good idea when I entered it
Good point Ian. Exhibition Park's nice and was even better before the new roads decimated parts of it in the late 60s. I just visit other cities and think what might have been.
I'm sure everyone will enjoy the marathon, it's just that I run on the Moor so much it would be too much of a busman's holiday. That and the fact I couldn't run a marathon anyway of course!! I hope to be there to cheer people on.
Well, not only do we have wild beasts but a real wilderness with which to conetend - devoid of all beauty it seems. All we need now is a cold drizzly, foggy November day and we can really have fun.
I'd hate to paint too poor a picture. Without knowing the route I'm sure a good part of it will be on the perimeter of the Moor and that's mostly quite a nice path with avenues of mature trees next to the roads. The area where races usually start from is good too, with a convenient cafe. That part of the route is more like a conventional park.
Plus there's the view in the distance of our cathedral, St James Park!
A small race like this is going to have a good atmosphere I'm sure.
Too right Peter!
But it's not over just yet.......
Just bring a tent and pitch it on the Moor. That way you've only a short walk to the start.
Oitch it away from the cows though
I'm not expecting to be able to make the start of this now.
I am suffering with horrible shin splints on my left leg at the moment and I am supposed to have two marathons before this one - one in Fleetwood in September and Beijing in October. I don't think I'll be in a fit state by November!
thanks eastham,
I'm used to injury now lol
I've now officially pulled out of the Northumberland Coastal run as well.
I'm aiming for the Derwentwater trail race as my comeback race as it's on my 40th birthday
just had a physio session. I have been told that I don't have shin splints but I have been suffering, unknowingly, with a stress fracture since the beginning of April. She basicallysaid that I have had a broken bone in leg for the last 2 months!
The good news is that it has pretty much healed itself and should be almost fully healed within about a mont. I was also told that I'm not being over ambitious in aiming to run the Beijing marathon in October.
I now have a painfully slow exercise program to follow (first week is walk 3 minutes, jog 3 minutes and walk 3 minutes!) to see how much I can do without damaging myself any more.
I think I should have sought physio advice sooner!