Backyard ultra challenges have always intrigued me, especially since I got into longer ultra-distance running. The idea of running a 6.706 km (4.167-mile) loop every hour and being back on the start line before the bell rings or you’re out, seemed brutal but fascinating.
So, when I saw “The Hopper” advertised by Greener Miles Running. A 12-hour event in Hamsterley Forest, described as an introduction to backyard, doing loops but without the strict start every hour rule, I thought, “Yep, let’s give that a go.”
Pre-Race Vibes
The week leading up to it was a scorcher, and with each passing day, the 12 laps that I’d been ambitiously eyeing began to seem more and more optimistic. We (myself, Josh Duffy and another mate of mine) rolled into Hamsterley on the day to a relaxed 10am start. With time to chill, we set up the gazebo, got the camping chairs out, and just soaked in the vibe. It’s how every run should start, really.
Into the Loops
10 o’clock arrived, and off we went. The first lap kicked off with a nice flat gravel stretch over a small bridge before hitting what I can only describe as Chowdene Bank’s meaner, longer cousin. That first climb was a slap in the face but at the top, we were rewarded with a cracking view and a lovely downhill section.
Around the 3km mark, though, came the hill that would become the real nemesis. I actually enjoy a good hill climb, but under the heat, this one was a slog. However, after reaching the top, the route hit a steep downhill and then flattened out back to the start. One lap down feeling good. Quick refuel, bit of food, and out again. Lap 2 was good but by lap 3, I was beginning to questioning how I felt so done in. That was the moment I realised: this is definitely not running weather. The heat was unrelenting.
Fly Wars and Forest Gains
Lap 4 was good as we were greeted by the family dishing out ice pops (which paired with my tradition of a nice cup of tea) gave me a bit of a kick for the next lap. Lap 5, the boombox came out and Bob Marley and my reggae classics playlist got us round. However, by laps 6 and 7, the flies had returned for round two. Swarms of them. I swear I spent half that time running and half just swatting the air and by the end of lap 7, we’d done 47 km and 7.5 hours of baking in the sun. Arms sore from fly combat, legs from relentless climbing, and minds fried by the realisation that we’d climbed the equivalent of Ben Nevis it was time to ring the bell and call it a day.
I was a bit gutted not to have pushed for more laps, but honestly, the conditions made it an absolute beast of a day. And now? Eyes are set on the next challenge: the 100 mile from Bamburgh to Edinburgh in four weeks. Here’s hoping for cooler weather… and maybe next year I will give another backyard a go but on a flatter course!
