Crossbay Challenge

Last Sunday was one of my favourite events – the Crossbay Challenge. It is a 13 mile (ish) race across Morcambe Bay. The route, which changes slightly each year due to the movement of the sands takes you out into the bay, crossing the two rivers that flow into it. It involves a lot of sand and water which, depending on the height of the runner and the year can reach over your waist. The race is led by rangers on quad bikes, the tracks of which provide the principal method of marking the route. The distance varies from year to year due to the inherent variability of a course run over a tidal bay which adds a little mystery as you’re never entirely sure how far you have left to go (the mile markers are very approximate, and the organisers are fond of putting dog legs into the route!)

It is so fun and different to all the other races I have run, and the views as you run out into the bay are amazing with Heysham power station on one side of the bay, and the fells of the lake district on the other. There is a huge sense of space and your sense of distance is warped by the flatness of the sands. The runners form a great winding snake across the sands and is quite a spectacle to see, if only to be impressed by the number of loopy people wanting to take part.

Anyway, unfortunately this year the Crossbay Challenge fell the weekend before the Wall Run, my first attempt at an Ultra, and smack bang in the middle of my taper. Not ideal, though as it only ended up being 12.4 miles this year (according to my garmin) you’d have thought this shouldn’t be too much of an issue. However unlike the previous two years I have done it when it didn’t matter I’ve ended up with a nice deep blister on the inside of each foot… Hopefully it shouldn’t cause too many issues but we’ll see! Also, though I’m probably being a little hyper sensitive about it, my calfs and shins still feel a bit stiff two days later. I’m having a nice relaxing week so hopefully they’ll loosen up before Saturday!