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This sell out event run by and for the North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team is in its 24th year. A popular challenge walk it also welcomes runners to a later start. This year the weather in the weeks leading up to the race provided an additional challenge with deep snow drifts on the hills leading to a modified course of c.23.5 miles including about 3200ft of ascent. The weather for race day was superb, a frosty start with a cloudless blue sky and just a light breeze, time to pick up a suntan. The field of just over 100 runners quickly spread out on the road section out of the village but after an hour or so started to catch up with the 700 or so walkers. This provided an advantage where they had flattened a path through the snow but as their numbers built up overtaking involved less welcome excursions into the soft snow either side of the single track. Towards the end of the race the snow was thawing so there was a good stretch of slush and bog to enjoy before the short steep road descent back to the finish! Post race the Pie & Peas laid on for competitors at the local pub was most welcome, washed down by Allendale Challenge Ale.
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