On Sunday 13th September, Newport & District Running Club’s Ellen Deighton took on the Gritstone Grind, a 34-mile ultramarathon across Cheshire. Starting at Kidsgrove, runners set out for a few miles along the canal, before leaving the towpath and starting the first of many climbs on the route, this one towards Mow Cop. They passed the folly and the Old Man of Mow, then kept going to join the Biddulph Valley Line, a former railway line.
After replenishing at the first checkpoint, participants went up and over The Cloud, with views across the Cheshire countryside. A few more undulations followed, including Hawkslee and Wincle Min, then a climb up Croker Hill and past a large transmitter – thankfully there was no lightning this time, unlike last year! Passing through another checkpoint, runners continued to Tegg’s Nose country park, with another steep climb through the former quarry, then carried on to climb Kerridge Hill and pass the White Nancy monument.
After going through the last checkpoint, participants had a final big climb which eventually summits Sponds Hill. For the final stretch, runners descend into Lyme Park (the location where Colin Firth notably emerged from a lake in Pride and Prejudice!), and this year a diversion took runners past The Cage, a former hunting lodge in the grounds which featured on this year’s medal. After leaving Lyme Park, the runners entered Disley and reached the end of the Gritstone Trail and the finish line.
Conditions this year were very tough, with a number of runners withdrawing from the race. The rain the previous day had left the ground rather muddy in places, and the high temperatures meant the day was warm and very humid, with very little breeze even on the tops of the hills to offer any respite. Given this, Ellen was pleased to finish in 11 hours, 24 minutes and 39 seconds, completing her 40th ultramarathon.
Newport & District Running Club 