Race Date: Saturday 7th August 2021
This race is one of a series of low key trail races organised by It’s Grim up North Running across South and West Yorkshire each year. For this particular event there was a choice of half marathon (1 lap) or the full marathon (2 laps); Sarah and I entered the half marathon.
The start was canal-side near Kirkstall north of Leeds. The course took us out along the towpath next to the picturesque Leeds Liverpool canal then on a path alongside the River Aire, through some fields, up a stiff climb through the beautiful Calverley Woods before then returning along the towpath. As with all GRIM events there are no mile markers, very few marshals and no water or feed stations – competitors are expected to carry there own water etc – but plenty of super scenery to enjoy en-route. And of course there is the GRIM trademark blingy medal, chocolate bar, can of beer and free cakes at the end of the race.
Sarah set a p.b. at 5km, 10km, 10 mile and half marathon distance all within the same race and finished 2nd female (10th overall); I was 8th male (9th overall). Oliver Martin (Unattached) won the race in 1:28:25, Emer Dudley (Roberttown Road Runners) was first female in a time of 1:48:38. The link to the full results is here. Striders results were as follows:
| Name | Club | Position | Time |
| Dave Beech | Steel City Striders | 9th (8th male) | 1:50:24 |
| Sarah Percival | Steel City Striders | 10th (2nd female) | 1:50:24 |
