Race Date: Saturday 22nd July 2023

Race Report by Dave Beech

My decision to enter this race was made at the last minute. I was looking for a low key, comeback race after a period of struggling with a series of niggling injuries and this seemed to fit the bill. The event, organised by the It’s Grim up North team, was one of a series of races – ultra, marathon, 20 miler, half marathon, 10 miler, 10km and 5km – held on the same morning. All seven races started and finished on the Leeds-Liverpool canal next to the UNESCO recognised Salt’s Mills building in Saltaire. All were out and back routes along the canal towpath taking in Bingley’s famous flight of five locks, some stunning scenery and plenty of mud. In my race we certainly got our money’s worth as the course was 10.5 miles long!

Anyone who has entered a Grim up North event will be familiar with the quirkiness of their races which gives them their charm and appeal. The organisation isn’t as slick as that of one of the large city centre races rather they are low key, friendly events, and this makes them all the more enjoyable. Each finisher gets a large blingy medal, chocolates, a drink and a plentiful supply of home-made cakes and flapjacks.

I was the sole representative from Steel City Striders.

10 mile results:
James Moore (unattached) won the race in 1:23:49 and Sarita Whitely (unattached) was first female in a time of 1:25:00.

No age category results were given.

Striders Result