Sea to Sea 300km - 28th March 2026
The idea of running from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay began back in April 2025 when both Chris (my husband) and I volunteered to support on Northern Traverse. Our volunteering enabled us to get a sense of the start, Shap and then the finish at the beautiful Robin Hood’s Bay where we greeted the finishers and escorted them back up the hill to the Fylingdales Village Hall. Volunteering enabled us to secure a healthy amount of race credit allowing us both to enter the following year
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We had both entered Dragon’s Back for 2025 so for me my focus was that, and once DB was completed, I would see how I felt. Sadly, Dragon’s Back didn’t go as planned and due to tendonitis four days in, I eventually got timed out at the first support point on Day 5 and bussed back to camp. I dropped down to hatchling on for the final day and marched into Cardiff Castle. I was bitterly disappointed and frustrated.
Post Dragon, it took me quite some time to find that running mojo again but eventually it did come, and I was back to juggling my training along with being a mum and full-time teacher, along with my husband also training for the same race.
My excitement for the Northern Traverse wasn’t quite the same, maybe the disappointment was still there or the worry; what if I didn’t succeed again. I tried not to over think, however was not as prepared with race preparations. Three weeks before the race, one of my kids was off with an awful virus which meant I had a rare day off allowing me to sort my admin and order last minute kit and nutrition unaware of the email we were all to receive just two days later. I was at the hairdressers when my phone flashed up, I had a message from Ourea, I ignored it at the time thinking it was just final race details. Then as I left the salon, a message from a running friend came through asking if I’d seen my message and that’s when the sadness and devastation hit ... the race I’d not thought I wasn’t really bothered about was now no longer an option! It was awful, all these months of training and something beyond my control was stopping me again.
Chris and I chatted through various options of what we could do; could we run it together? Then Centurion came to the rescue! Chris immediately insisted I would run, and he would crew me from the boot of the car with a mobile aid station and that’s how this journey began. I was once again excited and the butterflies were there, I wasn’t going to let someone take the chance of this adventure away.
On Friday 27th April, we drove from Bedfordshire up to St Bees, arriving at around 7pm. We checked into The Manor, a cosy and welcoming pub with excellent food. With the race not starting until 9am, everything felt much more relaxed, and I was able to get a good night’s sleep. As it was the end of term, I was already feeling tired after a long stretch of work, so the extra rest made a real difference.
Saturday morning, we were down by James’ van around 8:30am I had my number pinned and tracker taped on. I then took a walk down to the beach, as the tradition for Northern Traverse was to carry a stone from St Bees all the way to Robin Hood’s Bay and drop it in the sea. I found my stone and put it away securely. I then joined the other 14/15 other runners who were all ready for the off.
The runners were a mix of supported and non-supported. It was easy to tell who was; by the size of the bag, they were carrying! As I had my own support, I had opted for Ultimate Direction 17 litre Adventure Vest and had all the mandatory kit, plus extra gloves, leggings and warm layers as did not want to get into any difficulty. My shoe of choice to start was La Sportiva Prodigo Pro Trails.
And just like that we were off! It was cold and windy but dry. The first 19 miles ticked away nicely; I kept a sensible pace as didn’t want to blow up early in the race. I had company and enjoyed the chatting. Around Ennerdale is when the first hale started, thankfully it didn’t last long and that was my first crew point with Chris – my first of many cuppas. Then I was at Honister and my second meeting with Chris, he was cheerfully waiting in the car park; the boot open and a cup of steaming Yorkshire tea! After guzzling down the tea, refilling my bottles and grabbing more nutrition I was off again. Running down from Honister Pass I bumped into two women and a guy. One of the women asked if I was ‘Teresa?’ It was only Hannah (one of my Dragon’s Back tent mates). Hannah had meant to be supporting on NT, so instead had decided to come out for a walk and cheer on runners. It was such a lift to see her, so much so I ran off and almost went the wrong way and had to back track half a mile!
I continued to run steadily and felt good, I was drinking and taking on fuel no problem. There were quite a few climbs but was ticking them off nicely. I had a variety of guys to chat too, most of whom were stronger so pushed on. I remember selling to everyone that Chris would be at Patterdale with his car equipped with kettle and coffee machine. I think they thought I was deluded or making it up!
Eventually I arrived in Patterdale and there in a car park I spotted my knight in shining armour ready with my cuppa! He was easy to spot in the darkness and had pimped his car up with flashy fairy lights. I was now 50 miles in and so far, so good. I drank my tea, changed to a thicker jacket and warmer gloves. The next time I saw Chris would be Shap and this was a big milestone as that was where I supported last year, so saw how runners were feeling by that point and was also an area I had familiarity with.
Getting to Shap was long as I had to navigate Kidsty Pike, it was dark, and I was tired. However, it was amazing as there was snow! It was crunchy and a moment of magic. I was totally alone; the night was peaceful, and I loved it! I had just ticked off one of the big climbs solo and navigated all by myself.
The last few miles across the fields to Shap felt like eternity and I now wasn’t feeling so good. I was struggling to eat or take gels so was relying on just liquid fuel. Eventually I hit the road and found Chris waiting in the car park of the village hall. He forced me to eat some porridge and drink some tea. I wondered into the hall looking for loos and was warmly greeted by the Community Traverse Group. When I came out, Chris had my pack ready for me and was rushing me along. At this point I wasn’t feeling well. Chris suggested I take an extra fluid bottle of electrolyte, maybe I had taken on too many carbs? He also thrusted me a 50g caffeine gel and insisted I take that too.
Off I went, less than a mile up the road I had to stop to be sick. A chap ahead of me, heard me throwing up and stopped to ask if I wanted him to stay with me. I declined, thanked him and said I’d be okay. Five minutes later I was off again, sipping my electrolyte and the caffeine gel and this time it was staying down. My sleep plan agreed with my coach was to try and go through the first 24hours without sleep so that’s what I did.
Around 8am the next day, think it must have been around Sunbiggin tarn was when I hit an all time low. The weather was awful, it was wet, and the wind was blowing. I was struggling to keep food in, I remember being in a huge field and Trish called me to see how I was, and I was a total grump. Trish was full of her usual positivity telling me I was through the toughest part and that this would end. I was struggling to hear her with all the wind but grunted back at her and kept on trudging. Not long after that, I had a chap run past who lifted my spirits a little as he congratulated on how I was doing and told me he’d been trying to chase me down for ages.
I eventually got to Kirkby Stephen, again a place I was familiar with as we had spent a week here last half term. Seeing Mountain Rescue was like a big hug, my first indoor warm place. I could finally get out of the awful weather. I was literally drenched through. Here I changed into a whole new set of layers, waterproofs, even waterproof socks, dry shoes (Salomon Ultra Gide) and gloves.
Rhys from Mountain Rescue was just so kind and immediately fetched me a cup of tea and some soup. The soup was lovely, but my stomach was not up for anything, so instead opted for a second cup of tea. It was nice to be around a buzz of people and some very cute dogs (I could quite easily have stayed, or even had a sneaky nap but knew this wasn’t on the plan.) Here I also had another chat with Trish, and she suggested trying some Imodium. Her message was to get warm but not spend too long there. I managed to get some Imodium from another crew and that thankfully fixed me. At this point, I had secretly hoped that bad weather would come into force, and I wouldn’t have to do nine standards but no such luck!
So off I went back out into the wind and rain. At least I knew what I was in for as had walked this with the kids in the October Half Term. Going up the wind was behind me, but as I hit the Nine Standards cairns you turn, and the wind is full in your face! The flagstones are great but how the wind didn’t blow me away, I’m not sure! It was such hard work, I kept thinking I’ll drop down soon, and the wind will ease off but did it hell!
Then down into Keld was just a mud bog, no easy path. I was constantly stop / starting. Chris had instructed that I fill one of my water bottles from the river as will need more water. I stopped by the bridge to do it, but the water was brown! No way was I going to dare drink that. I emptied it and continued, eventually came to Sinnergill Mines and that’s where I found Community Traverse with their aid station. They kindly allowed me to fill my bottle, and I continued. The next section is probably my least favourite; again, it was wet, boggy and slippery underfoot. I was on my own and not enjoying it.
Then the hale started, thankfully it was blowing from behind, but it was full on hard pelting which seemed to go on for ages. The last few miles I ran with a guy called Keiron, we were chatting away and he started telling me about how as he left Shap, he’d seen a poor lady throwing up – Kieron was my kind guy who had offered to stay with me!! We finally made it to Dales Bike Station, it felt like an age since I had seen Chris. More tea, refills and was back fuelling properly again. I was little deflated as thought it was going to be a warm inside space, but NO just the back of the car. I was cold and needed to change layers, shoes (Hoka Mafate X Trail) and waterproofs again. Thankfully, Chris had dried the previous lot from Kirby Stephen. I sat in the driver’s seat for 10/15 minutes with the heating on full and ate a pot noodle. One more section and I could have a nap … I had this!
The section to Richmond was through lots of fields and was slippery, I went over a couple of times, but think it was mainly because I was tired. I eventually made the car park, handed Chris my pack, climbed into my sleeping bag on the front seat (which was already down as horizontal as it could go) and was out like a light! 90minutes of pure sleep. I woke myself up just before the end, as had since developed the chesty runner’s cough! I had a cuppa and a mars bar.
Back out in the cold dark and feeling so much better. I was moving better, probably helped that it was a nice runnable section following the river and then onto the road. However, I tried to take on a gel and almost gagged so was the end of the gels for me. I managed to eat sweets, nuts and crisps. My main fuelling was liquid carbs. By the time I got to Danby Wiske, the sun was coming up and I now had the confidence the worst was done, I was now telling myself that I was going to do it.
I stared to get warmer now, so I had to stop and take off the waterproofs. It was all a lot more runnable so was able to keep moving well. Eventually I made the service station on the A19. I ducked into use the loo and grabbed a coke and a warm sausage bap to then attempt to cross the road. OMG I was so relieved to see Kitty from Community Traverse who kindly offered to help me safely across. I’m not sure I would have managed it alone. Safely across and another mile down the road and found Chris waiting with another cuppa.
From here it was onto Lordstones, which was a scenic section. Sun was out but there was still quite a wind so not warm enough to take off a layer. I met lots of walkers here, who stopped to ask what I was doing. They couldn’t quite comprehend that I was doing it in one go. They kept asking where I had stayed along the route! Just before the climb up to Lordstones, Chris appeared he had run out to meet me and join for a few miles to get me to the café at Lordstones. It was lovely to have the company, and I also received a call from Trish. This time I was on much better form and not the grumpy bag she’s had to try and coax 28hours previously! At the top of Lordstones, I was greeted by other crew who had been tracking and met previously at other points. Chris rewarded me with a double pot of tea and chips at the café.
The next section to the Lion Inn was long and boring. The weather started to turn again. I stopped to put on waterproofs and ended up ripping my foot through one of the trouser legs! This section consisted of running to a point, then walking for 5 minutes and running again. It felt like it went on for ever. My watch eventually said 3miles from the pub, but it felt 10. Getting to the pub I was broken again. I was hoping for an inside space but no! Another fill up of bottles and a quick cuppa from the boot. I did venture in the pub for the loo and the warmth hit me hard, but it was uncomfortable … I was relieved to get out. Chris then told me daylight was disappearing and I really needed to get a shifty on.
Not sure what Chris put in my tea, but something happened. Lion Inn to Glaisdale was so runnable and once I got going, I felt like I was flying. It was runnable undulating track, and I loved it. I did not stop and walk once. I was so chuffed with myself to get to Glaisale and it was still light. I was ready for Chris to tell me how amazing I had done but all I got was ‘it was okay – you just need to keep this up now!’
Glaisdale to Grosmont was a weird section and now it was dark. I almost felt like I was going around in a circle. It was only 4 miles but was on my own again and it felt double the distance. Then I was at Grosmont and I was touching distance. I was now on a high and knew I was going to do it. I knew I would finally be sleeping in about 6 hours if I could keep pushing. I was still only able to do liquid carbs. Chris suggested a caffeine gel but I wasn’t going to take my chances so opted for a double espresso – BOOM!
From here it was all up hill, 8 miles until my last checkpoint with Chris. It started positive but then it became a drag. It was so dull; I did not enjoy the section through Falling Foss (I felt like I was going around in circles and trapped). Eventually I got out and then it was through fields but all uneven underfoot. It was a drag, my eyes were now getting heavy, and trees were starting to look like dinosaurs! It dragged on and on. What felt like eternity I eventually made it to Hawsker. My last aid station, Chris told me to take a gel, but I couldn’t so opted for sugar (mars bar) and another tea.
Now I just had the coast path. Chris told me 4 miles and the average was about 1hr 20mins to go. One last push. Coast path was better than imagined and I just kept moving. At one point I had a badger run out in front of me, which made me smile as last year when supporting there was a resident badger we use to see on the high street. Eventually I hit the road, and I knew where I was, adrenalin filled me again. I hit the down and knew where I was going. It was silence everywhere. I could only hear my feet tapping and see my torchlight reflecting off the shop windows. Then I turned the corner and there was Chris standing by giant iron cod (donation box for RNLI). Just him and one other lady waiting for her runner. At first, I felt a little sad there was no real finish line but then I though back to being there last year similar time welcoming in a runner and again it would only be one or two of us. Chris walked me to the sea, and I threw in my stone. A sense of relief I had done it, but sadness that the journey had come to an end and also incredible sadness that Chris had not got to experience it. He had been the selfless one and insisted that I ran. I had just run 64:51:18 for a mum that is pure bliss ... the things you do to have some time away for the kids.
Sea to Sea what an adventure … an adventure that was better than I ever dreamt it would be. So many special memories.
