Race Date: Sunday 13th October 2024

Race Report by Stuart Jones

This race illustrates perfectly, statistically and physically, the difference hills make.

The Darlington 10k was not long ago – back in early August – and there were many competitors in that event who also ran here. By the wonders of Power of 10, sportstimingsolutions.co.uk, and John Schofield’s results website, we can calculate the nett effect.

Darlington has a river – the Skerne – but it’s slow, sluggish and silted. The river bank is not much to speak of, and roads cross it on the level. Richmond, North Yorkshire, has the Swale, with its waterfall cascades, steep banks and keen kayakers. Darlo’s 10k route was fairly flat, with under 200 feet / 58 metres of elevation. Richmond’s course has four decent climbs, totalling 630 feet / 192 metres.

Taking the first ten finishers who completed both races this year, the average (mean) impact was a shade under 95 seconds, or 9 seconds slower per kilometre / 15 seconds slower per mile, or about 4%.

The last ten to finish both were also slower by mean average (though two were faster individually). Their average time was nearly 440 seconds slower at Richmond than Darlington, over a minute per mile / 44 seconds per kilometre, or about 10%.

From the start, on The Batts, alongside the Swale, the route climbs up the far bank, heading south towards Catterick Garrison. Within a mile there’s a drop and a second climb, for a relatively small stream called Sand Beck. There was enough angle to make walkers of several runners.

This race is part of Teesdale Athletic’s Championship, so I was running as a Strider on the entry form, but wearing a TAC vest and chasing the Club Chair who was a steady 20 yards ahead of me for both these early hills. (I caught him on the third, but he left me behind on the final climb.)

We’ve been coaching some downhill running recently, and both of us feigned confidence in our balance and coordination. We leant forward and went faster on three of the four descents. The third of the four was too steep for either of us to ‘go at’ fully and it ended with a sharp left turn on to a main road – I’m told there were runners made walkers towards the rear of the field.

The last kilometre does a lap of the castle boundary, with twisting, cobbled alleyways and at last three ‘last uphill’ bits as told by the friendly, and numerous, marshals.

There were spot prizes – I didn’t win any.

There were place prizes – I didn’t win any.

There were a few age group prizes – I didn’t win any.

It’s a decent race, with friendly runners. Ghastly t-shirt to all who entered in advance. The start was delayed by Newcastle University Canoe Club blocking the one closed road with their kayaks prior to launching!

The only downer was that the ice cream shop I hoped to visit was closed, it being Sunday and out of season.

Stuart was the sole Strider among 315 finishers at the Richmond Castle 10k. First (and first male): Lee Kemp of Esk Valley, in 35:12. First female: Georgia Campbell, Unattached, in 41:48.

Strider Results