Lewis Burn Run – Preview

Saturday 2th Jan sees race 4 of the Shadowlands Winter Trail Series take place as we move into the second half of the overall series.  The Lewis Burn Run marks itself out as a little different from the other races by being the shortest one of the six.  Each race has had its own distinct character with some favouring climbers, others distance runners or snow specialists and so on.  Here is the turn of short distance speed merchants because the overall ascent is only 246m and the return leg n particular is going to be very fast.  Let’s take a closer look at the course as set out below.

The run starts where the flag is on the right hand side.  This is Matthews Linn car park which has ample parking but is best suited to regular size cars/vans.  I do take my XL Mercedes Sprinter there so they are fine if that’s all you have but I do take up several parking spaces.  The registration marquee will be set up near the northern exit on to the Lakeside Way.  It’s from here you will set off on the race and follow the Lakeside Way over the bridge and a short climb up to point A.  Point A is somewhere runners will hit twice and it’s important to remember what’s happening.  We will have a marshal there to guide people in the right direction.  The first time you hit here, running from the south, you’ll hook a left to enter the Lewis Burn mountain bike trail and begin tracking westward on the run.

The Lewis Burn mountain bike trail is an absolute gem and one little used by the regular crowd up at Kielder castle.  It’s shifts up, down, left and right with trees passing by closely on either side.  There are small punchy kickers to go with some switchbacks and leaning berms.  In the middle and the end and a couple of short but steep climbs that will get your heart rate up but if you can handle short bursts of effort then they are worth attacking because they don’t last long.

Soon enough runners are popping out at point B and this is the beginning of a relatively flat and long forest track that extends nearly 2km which gives people a chance to get the heart rate back to where they want it to be and find that rhythm which suits them best.  Save some juice in the batteries though because at the end of this track there is a forty five degree hook right and the beginning of the climb up to point C.  It starts as a steep forest track which appears to terminate to nothing but it actually leads you to the foot of a multiple switchback climb known as Simons Tester.  And a test it sure is and represents the only real sustained ascent of the day.  Once you’re through here and popped out the top to see the marshal it’s all gravy to the finish.

From point C it’s literally around 4km of forest road descent which you can attack as fast or slow as you like.  I suspect the race positions will be determined here by who can sustain the longest constant high speed to dig in and make it happen.  There is going to be a lot of people pushing hard but if you want a good spot and these quicker trails are more suitable for you then this is the time to go for it.  In no time at all you’ll be down at point D where a marshal will bring your rapid progress to a halt with a sharp right turn and a hop back onto the Lakeside Way only this time you’ll be heading south in a last push to the finish.  Passing back through point A the marshal will usher you straight on the same track and you reverse the start by going back over the foot bridge, under the road and back to the finish where your number will be taken and the time recorded.