Since I moved to Teesside earlier this year, I’ve been wanting to run up Roseberry Topping. It’s one of the highest peaks in the North York Moors, and is iconic for people in the area. I was lucky enough to get some new trail shoes this week, and wanted to give them a proper outing. The stars were aligned – Roseberry Topping Dash was ON.
At the beginning of the week, the forecast for the weekend was for warm weather. Then the forecast was for hot weather, then it was “No, seriously, it’s going to be scorching, I’m not joking”. As it turned out, it was the hottest day of the year so far. And we faffed about in the house so long that I arrived at the bottom of the hill just after noon. It was sweltering – the air was still and the sun was pounding down.
So, in the heat the run turned into more of a stagger up the hill. I didn’t even turn my Strava GPS on – the pace would have been absolutely tragic. Trail staggering: they’ll all be doing it soon.
My new shoes, the Salomon XR Crossmax Women’s have a heck of a lot of impressive technology that I don’t understand. What I DID understand was that the grip was fantastic both going up and pounding back down, even on steep, shingly forest paths. And I also get that they have one pull lacing with a clever little pocket for the toggle. I’ve swapped the laces out of my road shoes too for triathalon elastics – I love the ease of no tying, and feel like the support is a bit more consistent across the foot. My feet were warm by the end of the run, but I think that was more a weather thing than a shoe thing.
I didn’t time myself at all on the journey – just making it to the summit was good enough for me, given the circumstances. The view from the top is incredible – a 360 eagle-eye view of the North York Moors, Cleveland, all the way to the sea. I’ll definitely do the run again – hopefully in easier weather. I might even enter the next Roseberry Topping Fell Race (though I think I’d need to do quite a few training runs before I attempted that).
What are your favourite trail runs? Do you prefer running on the road or off?
Thanks to Salomon Running for giving me the chance to try these new trail shoes. All opinions are honest and my own.
Wow what a beautiful run! It looks so good and you had an amazing day for it! You must be so burnt today! I worked out in garden yesterday for 45 minutes and my shoulders are raw! Not good! Great blog and recipes!
Thank you Claire. It was wonderful, I can’t wait to do it on a more normal day!!
I’ve got a ridiculous racerback tan today – and I bet it only gets worse through marathon training over summer.
I grew up in Teesside, it’s lovely to see a picture of Roseberry Topping! I did a few hikes up there with my family when I was young and found it fairly hard going – can’t imagine running up to the top! Very impressive.
Much more running happened on the way down than on the way up, I have to say! Ever since I moved here, Roseberry Topping has been so iconic that I’ve been desperate to run it.
Can you think of any other Teesside trails I ought to give a go?
I used to do a bit of hiking with my family when I lived in the area, but I really can’t remember where we went now, or if it would be suitable for running. I know we used to walk through New Marske woods quite a bit, possibly climbing uphill?
I at first thought Roseberry Topping was the name of a tasty dessert and that you were offering a recipe. However, this is just a suggestion, if you like doing things like this, why not make them sponsored runs? That way, you could be doing some good for others at the same time as getting fitter!
Oooh, you’re giving me ideas. Rose (water) Berry Topping… sounds yum.
Good thinking, We’re doing the Great North Run and the Yorkshire Marathon later in the year and will definitely be schilling for donations by that point!
Love the blog,did ”the lurig run“ this year (6k of torturous mountain)and I am still laughing at the madness of it. So much I have now got a pair of washes!
OMG the Lurig looks horrendous/amazing! Well done.
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