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28th July - I always seem to be doing Arrochar Alps every year even though it's one of the toughest AL races in the UK. There's just something about the 4 mile run out, the steep relentless climb up Ben Vorlich, the plunging descent to the dam followed by two ascents and descents over soggy, fetureless munros of Ben Vane and Ben Ime, before a long descent to the col and the last top of Beinn Narnain. To finish you descend 700m in 3km and then run for 1km along the track when your legs are all wobbly. I've had varying success as I reccied the route in 2023 so at least I know some lines and some pit falls! With there being an "early start" there was only 4 women set off at 11am and I soon found myself right at the back, and then last! I haven't been last since I first started running and it worried me a little, so I checked the cutoffs and hoped I would make them! No fear as soon as we hit the climb I managed to overtake a few runners so at least I felt better about it. My legs were tired of the weeks of supporting and reccying and I was pleased how they were climbing. Although the weather had promised sunshine and wind, some rain came across! The wind was cold but a bit of a relief from the heat of the valley. And at least we could see. I found my way down to the dam and made the cutoff with 40 minutes to spare. Up the next climb and everyone had really spread out. Often I was on my own the all of a sudden I'd be in a group. But I knew where I was going and also what was coming which helped. I overtook a few people but enjoyed the space and the time on my own. Off the last mountain I thought just be careful and it's all done. Running on the track I heard pitta patta of footsteps and Walter Henderson trotted passed me. I tried to stay with him and was pretty close at the finish. The timekeeper shouted something at me when I crossed the line and I went back to check what she had said. I was First woman!! I was amazed and very happy! My time was slower than 2024 by 5 minutes but I'll take a win! I won a couple of bottles of beer and a nice beer glass.

24th July - A very sad day as it was Ian Charlesworth's funeral. Steve and I travelled down on the morning and spent the day with Ian's family and friends in Thurlstone church and the Dog & Partridge. It was lovely to meet and catch up with everyone but so sad that it was because of Ian's passing. I have been deeply affected by Ian passing away and have been off social media as I couldn't really post about anything. Ian was such a close friend to me for 20 years and I know all his family well too. Rest in Peace Ian.

17th June - I travelled to Bellingham to do three days of Spine supporting with Bruce and Flynn. The dogs didn't support but they were practicing "being good" by the van in between twice daily runs in the cooler part of the day. I didn't envy the Spine runners at all. It was so hot that I couldn't imagine trying to race in the heat. I really love supporting and this year was the best so far. I really felt like I was helping runners do the best they could and manage stuff like eating, sleep and feet. A few photos of supporting

From Bellingham I drove to Fort William on the Saturday where I had been invited to take part in the Carnethy - Charlie Ramsay Memorial Round I had opted for the leg from Fersit to Fort William which would start at 1am. The relay had been well organised by Sasha and had different paces for different sections which was a clever idea meaning that the start and finish could be relaxed, the 2nd leg fast paced and the rest done at 24 hour pace. Graham Nash said a speech along with Fergus Ramsay and the new Charlie Ramsay bench was officially opened. The relay then started at midday and about 25 runners headed off down the road. I then had a chilled day with the dogs. I had coffee with Mary, Roger and Fiona Wild and friends. Roger had offered to take me round to Fersit and collect runners from there. It was baking hot but the forecast was for thunderstorms, wind and cooler temperatures overnight. It was really hard to decide what to wear! We drove round and met the other leg runners at Fersit. Bang on schedule we saw lights descending down to the dam and so made our way to the dam. Runners came flying in and the baton (which contained a Ben Nevis race number of Charlie's) and the trackers were handed over. We set off at quite a pace and it was warm! The dogs were loving it now having spent a grumpy day with me not doing much!

The pace continued to be quite fast and I was feeling it. But I continued on knowing that these runners were dropping back or off at the bothy and I would then be ok on the 24 hour pace to the finish. Navigation became tricky as the clag came in but we made it to the bothy meeting point on time and runners dropped back and new runners joined in. The pace was better but still I felt like I was holding the others back. The weather had turned cold and all of a sudden rain, then hail started. It was now 3am and the thunderstorms were due at 4am. We saw lightning down the valley and then the thunder as we climbed Stob Ban. We decided to get over the top and down to the col and then make a decision. It was pretty horrid climbing against the hail but it was easing by the top and then it had stopped by the col. So we carried on into the wind. I had been told runners were meeting us at the top of the ridge and low and behold there they were! We quickly said cherry hellos and carried on. Now I was happier and feeling better. I had eaten food and thought I'd be ok to at least Spinks Ridge. That became my goal. The showers kept coming and going but it was ok in between. It was a merry bunch really and very enjoyable chatting away. I think the ascent of Spinks Ridge surprised people as it is steep and doesn't look possible from the top. I just love having this named after me! At the top I said I was dropping down to the valley and passed the baton over. I was really happy descending as the rain started again and I was glad to be out of it. I even took the only photos of the day of the dogs descending into the valley. I sent some texts to see if I could get a lift from the carpark and carried on down. Roger replied and said he would collect me. I was so happy to see his car as I ran down the road with two wet dogs! By the time the relay descended down from Ben Nevis I had showered and eaten breakfast with Roger and Fiona. I'm very grateful to them for looking after me all weekend. It was lovely to see Jon Gay and the rest of Carnethy at the YHA when the relay finished in under 24 hours at the new bench. Memorial Relay photos

17th June - Steve's birthday!! We went to Glasgow last week shopping which was very pleasant (to our delight really as we said this first trip would be a "recce"!). We made ourselves a list on the train - nail clippers, summer top, summer dress maybe, sandals, Steve's present and found everything quite easily. The train station is right near the shopping area which was quiet and spacious but with nice coffee shops and relaxing. On Steve's actual birthday we went to Logan Botanic gardens which were big and well kept. All the plants were rather exotic and we couldn't see any of them growing at Mark but it was a nice place to wander round. We then visited Port Logan which was lovely. It had a Fish pantry or it's known as a pond now which was really interesting and the keeper was so enthusiastic about the fish pantry, the victorian ladies swimming pool, fishing in general and the local history. He really was a font of all knowledge. It was great.

We then went to Port Patrick, wandered around a bit and went for tea at the pub there.  Steve Birthday photos

14th June - I entered Glen Rosa race a few weeks back as I haven't managed to do any racing this year what with Bruce's Crown being cancelled, family visits and supporting of rounds. With the late minute ferry changes on Friday I was up at 4am wondering why I was putting so much effort in to catch the ferry to Arran on a grotty weather weekend to do a race. But I set off driving, then on the ferry where I met Alasdair Meldrum and we had a great catch up, spending all our spare hours together in a cafe! Getting ready for the race I was pretty undecisive but gave myself a talking to and went with shorts and vest. I also ate what I could because it's a midday start which is a tricky one to fuel for. The weather was warm and the rain had held off mainly. It was a good set up with the marquee, toilets and a store room. Kirsty Bryan Jones and Alison Wainwright were also there and so it was great catching up with them. When the race started I set off steady as it was a long run out along tracks and paths (this is where I need improvement!). We eventually got to the climb and it was my sort of thing! Straight up a hillside through heather, bracken and rocks. I soon got into a rhythm and passed people. Reaching the ridge, we started running and the rain started coming down. I put the waterproof on and carried on. The brief was to head up to the CP then follow flags. We did this and dropped to a valley which confused me so I checked the map and looked about. It was a long contour and through heather and rocks. We reached the path and climbed up it to the col. There were a few runners coming down and I timed the split from marshal to marshal. It was a long way up to the top but we came down quickly. Down the path for a bit and then off on a bearing. I was running with a lady from Helm hill and we chatted a bit about the navigation. Again it was a rough contour with the odd path and we arrived at the path that led us up to the saddle. Then came a long, rough, sometimes scrambly ridge to Goat Fell. I didn't remember it much at all although I have only been down it and not up it. I was so glad to reach the summit of Goat fell and then have the very, very long descent down. I was just behind Helm hill runner but couldn't catch her. We finished seconds apart 2nd and 3rd ladies - which I was very surprised at in 3.33 hours. Finlay Wild did 2.15 hours!

7th June - Another week of unsettled weather and Jean was trying to decide whether to attempt the Ramsay or call it off. She bravely decided to move the start to 6pm on Saturday to avoid the worse of the weather and go for it. All the support travelled up to Fort William with me arriving on Saturday morning. The weather had been rough on the drive up but was forecast to stop raining by 4pm. I was booked into the campsite next to the YHA and got settled in with the dogs. We saw Jean off at 6pm and then watched the tracker and went to bed early as it was going to be an early start to head round to Kinlocheven and walk in. Jean's husband Andy was also supporting on Leg 3 (the Mamores) which I was very glad of and so we sorted out the food etc before we set off. Jean was a little down on her schedule by Fersit but going well. The walk in was done in pleasant weather and we arrived at 7.30am at the ruin by Loch Elide Mor. We pitched a tent but there was a strong wind to keep the midges at bay. Bruce and Flynn were happy as they just played for an hour while we waited for Jean. Jean arrived about 25 minutes down on her 23.45 schedule and looked a bit wiped. A quick stop and we set off up Sgurr Elide Mor with Bridget who carried on from Leg 2.

The plan was to get some more energy into Jean and then pick up the pace to make some time back. Jean was going well but the earlier weather and slippy rocks had taken their toll on her. For quite a few hours we just kept trying to make time and as soon as we did, we lost it again. I missed out the first out and back and while Andy and Jean were gone I studied various schedules to see where / if we could make the time back. I realised that it would be in the last 3 hours but that we had to speed up too. We all set off up Am Bodach and I just increased the pace, looking back at Jean. I didn't say anything but I think she knew what I was doing as she was really trying to keep with me. We still didn't make any time up and we continued onto the next top and the one after that. I thought then that we had made a few minutes. We then had the long out and back to Sgurr Mhaim and when we reached that top, I knew we were gaining time as we were now only 5 minutes off Jean's schedule. The dogs were being amazing and actually started playing on the way back along the ridge. Lisa Watson was waiting on the ridge and that boosted us all with her cheery chat. Up Stob Ban we went at the same hard pace and when we got there we were back on Jean's schedule. No-one was relaxing though, least of all Jean. She was really going for it now and by the time we got to  Mullach nan Coirean we were comfortably inside 24 hours. I said to Jean "we have 1.40 hours to do a leg which should take 1.20 hours". Still she kept pushing though and I know why. It's not over till it's over. We headed down and down, through the forest and along the track, eventually finding the path to the Youth Hostel and letting Jean run onto touch the sign in 23.37 hours. What a wonderful end to the weekend. Well done Jean - that was a very gutsy, determined performance you put in and you so deserved that reward. Jean Brown June 2025 Ramsay photos

31st May - I supported Kirsty Hewitson on her 50 at 50 Bob Graham. I called in on Friday evening as I passed by on my way to the campsite and wishes her good luck and that I would see her at Wasdale for Legs 4 and 5. The weather looked pretty good with the chance of showers. Kirsty set off at 6pm and following the tracker she was doing well and got 45 minutes up on the schedule. There was a rush of texts as we needed to set off early from Keswick at about 6am to make sure we were ready on time. Helen Elmore and I met Flora along with Carol Morgan. As we drove round the rain and wind came down and we thought about poor Kirsty up on Scafell in the horrid weather. We arrived at Wasdale and didn't want to get out of the car!! Flora emerged and got stuff ready for Kirsty. Kirsty arrived looking remarkably fresh and happy. Helen and I set off with the dogs and Kirsty / Carol followed us about ten minutes later. The skies looked to be clearing but it was only a break before more rain came down.

Over Leg 4 the clag was down until we came off Green Gable and the rocks were slippery but we stayed pretty much on the schedule. Kirsty was strong but just wanting to get finished. We arrived at Honister and I decided to carry on. I scrounged some food for me and the dogs and it was a merry party that set off up Dale Head. There was a real celebration atmosphere now and there was much laughter and conversation. The rain had stopped and we even got a view or two so I took the first photos of the weekend. Running on the road was tedious but Keswick was even worse. It was so busy with people and cars. Right on the approach to the Moot Hall I tripped over something and landed right on the kerb. I was very lucky not to get run over. We all ran up to the Moot Hall letting Kirsty go first and finish her round in 23.32 hours. What a strong performance she put in for a very well deserved finish. Kirsty 50 at 50 BG photos

30th May - A mixed month.

16th to 26th May - I travelled to firstly Yorkshire to see Ian Charlesworth, who has been suffering with a brain tumour since autumn 2024. This was very sad as he is in End of Life care at home and today (30th May) I can very sadly tell the news that he passed away yesterday morning. Ian was a very special friend to me. I met him when I joined Penistone Footpath runners in 2001 and he helped me gain confidence on the fells, supported me in many of my rounds, shared days and days of reccies and was in my Watershed teams many years. We also both coached juniors at PFR. Never one for a lot of words Ian conveyed friendship without the need for words. He was a great companion on and off the hills. I know his family meant the world to him and I feel so saddened that he will never get to see his grandchildren grow up and they will not have their wonderful grandad. My thoughts go to Sue and the family.

After Yorkshire I went to the Odyssey 30th dinner celebrations in Bicester https://www.odyssey.org.uk/ and had a wonderful evening with everyone there, meeting old and new friends. Then I travelled down to Devon to spend a few days with my aunt before heading to Berkhamsted to see Carol, Lottie and Charlie. So I was glad to be home on Bank holiday Monday to Steve with the peace and quiet of Mark!

15th May - I went to South Ayrshire Council planning meeting where the council had been recommended to Object to the Knockodhar wind power station application and I nervously listened to the debate and then the voting. This is the link to the report as part of the Agenda items. I didn't realise that I could have spoken but I am very glad to report that all the councillors that were in attendance voted to Object. This means that the application will go to a Public Enquiry. Images/Wind Power stations/Agenda_Item_4_2300472DEEM_-_Panel_Report_(002).pdf

11th/12th May I had a couple more days up in the Highlands with the dogs which was really good.

7th May - At the end of April I felt like I hadn't been in any proper mountains for months and so I arranged to go to Fort William and stay with Helen Rennard for a few days. I had a lovely, hard couple of days getting Munros in on Thursday and Friday and enjoying the evenings with Helen, who is enjoying a more relaxed way of life after her three months of Munro round (see below). I had Bruce and Flynn with me and it's the first time they have done big climbs but they loved it. There were times when I thought they were tired and then they would show me they weren't by playing up and down the steep hillside.

Helen and I then hiked to the CIC hut on Saturday for the weekend as there was a work party there which we had volunteered at. Helen being a member of the Scottish Mountaineering club. When we got to the CIC hut we were given pointing as our task which I had offered to do, since I know how to do this. It was a good task as it was dry and outside. Bruce and Flynn just galloped around playing and being stroked by passing walkers / climbers, and then sleeping! They were really good and I was proud of them. Flynn made friends with everyone as usual. We did two days of "work" with great food and drink provided and a lot of banter. I was made very welcome and it was an amazing place to stay.

Overall it was a wonderful weekend with great company and weather. It has re-inspired me to go to the mountains more often as I have missed the big mountain days out. Gallery - May 2025

26th April - Well that's the longest I think I've ever been without an update. I think firstly because I was busy with the Bruce's Crown race organising, which if you're read that website you'll know we had to postpone at the very last minute because of the forest fire in the Galloway Forest Park. This was April 4th and since then we have contacted various parties and arranged to reschedule the races (there's the Heart of Granite too) to September 13th 2025.

April 12th - Rosie and Kia flew in from Australia for Annie's 70th birthday and we all descended on Tom and Alison's house in Leeds to see them for an evening and morning of the 13th. We spent an absolutely wonderful evening having a meal and then on Sunday we went to watch the Junior Park Run and walk round Roundhay Park. It was so good to see them both and the rest of the Burgess family. Just a lovely way to all catch up and enjoy the weather which was brilliant for the occasion.

April 10th - After the fires when the weather was still amazing I had a run round the Galloway Hills with the dogs and took some photos, as best as I could of the extent of the fire. It was great to be out on the Galloway hills again. The conditions were perfect as it was still very dry and actually the fire had managed to miss the path and so in many places it was easier to find it. Just typical that we couldn't run the race but I hope the photos also show how stunning this area is.  Gallery April 2025 after the Fire 

March 26th to 28th - I was in touch with Helen Rennard in February, a friend who lives in Fort William and she told me that she was halfway through attempting the Winter Munro record. I offered to help and together we planned a version of the Rigby round in the Cairngorms at the end of March. I followed her progress throughout March and was getting quite worried about how close it was becoming to the Bruce's Crown race, in which I had a team entered as well! After studying the weather and her time constraints Helen settled on 26th and 27th March as the dates. I drove up and collected her from the Orchy train on route as she had just completed two days on the munro's in the Corrour area. We planned our days ahead and jointly packed bags back at her house. Helen looked physically very strong however the lack of sleep and the constant organisation of routes/weather/people was wearing her down. Also as the end of March loomed the pressure to finish the round in time was mounting.

We set off at 6am and drove to the Cairngorms to start around 8am. As soon as we set off I realised that although Helen only walks, her walking speed is far faster than mine and she doesn't slow down when going uphill. With the big pack I was just finding it hard to keep up. We had a quick chat about this and decided to carry on going. I had already made a few backup plans and with the route being not so much of a circular but a lot of zigzagging with out and backs, I knew I could miss bits out and still be useful. It was a long way to the first one Braeriach and as we headed to the next one we decided that I could miss a few out so I headed across to the col and waited for Helen. The weather was perfect, with clear skies and a little wind which was very cold if you were directly in it. I was happy with my clothes choice and glad that I had packed some extra for overnight. I was able to reorganise my pack and sort myself out and looked at the maps until Helen appeared. The next one Mullach Clach a Bhlair was a long out and back so we found a place where I could wait and Helen set off once again. I waited for what seemed a long time and then started to worry. I hadn't noticed what time she had gone, we hadn't got a back up plan and I didn't have signal on my phone. After pacing up and down a bit I was just about to leave the packs and set off uphill to get signal, when she appeared.

After that we always made a plan of how long I was to wait before leaving her bag where I had been, and coming to find her. This worked really well and was very reassuring. As we tramped across the Cairngorms on that first day it became very clear that it was going to be an extremely long day as it's pretty runnable terrain and we weren't running. Hence the schedule was way too fast. We really had to keep going though otherwise we would be out a second night which we couldn't do. I was very impressed at how Helen just got on with things and was very adaptable. We eventually got round onto Cairn Toul around 7pm and I suggested I dropped to the Corrour bothy and made our food while Helen did The Devils Point. This worked really well although on arriving at the bothy I found people in there and I didn't think Helen wanted anyone to know so it did seem a bit odd to be cooking up two meals and not settling down for the night with them. Helen arrived and her meal / coffee was ready. Now I felt properly useful! We ate and chatted to the bothy occupants. It was nice and companable. I knew Helen really wanted to stay but we had to keep going. We left there about 9pm and began the really awful long, steep and rough ascent straight up the side of Carn a'Mhaim. That went on forever and we were both glad to reach the top and summit! It was cold not with a strong wind. We had discussed our options for sleep with the original plan being to go to the Hutchinson Hut however since I had brought my Spine kit of a warm sleeping bag, sleeping bag cover and mat, and Helen had her warm sleeping bag and an Alpkit mat we decided to try a bivvy.

We stopped near Loch Etchachan at about 1am, had some food and then slept (sort of) until 5am when Helen got up and went and did Derry Cairngorm while I made breakfast and packed up. I had been surprisingly warm in my sleeping bag in all my clothes overnight and I'm really pleased that the purchases have paid off and given me confidence to do more bivvies with them. It was a wonderful sunrise and we both set off in good spirits. I was hoping we would be finished about dusk so that we could get back to Helen's in good time. It was hard tramping back and forth across the plateau and I can't say I'm going to rush back to try a proper Rigby. The route just doesn't seem like a proper round more like a collection of Munro's that you have to dodge back and forth to pick off the tops. We made the decision to do a long out and back to Beinn a Bhuird and I managed to get a bit of sleep under the bothy bag, then cook up some meals for us. It was cold and blowy now with the wind forecast to get stronger. We dropped into the valley at the Fords of Avon and had a peak in the tiny refuge there before making our way up to the col where it got extremely windy to the summit of Bynack More. We were both tired now and I was leading up the climbs. Helen needs more sleep than me but also she has been going for months so it was hard seeing her struggling so. But we pushed on, down to the col and then up the path, which then disappeared to the summit of Cairngorm. It was now dark and claggy. Not pleasant to finish in. We found the summit and quickly headed off down and down the man made path, against the wind to the ski centre. Then down the road to the van. Whew! I did 85km and 5000m, Helen did 116km and more like 6000m. Gallery - Helen Munro round

25th February - I haven't got a huge amount of news. My recovery is going well now and this week I've been feeling more back to normal. I had a couple of massages in Newton Stewart at my new lady there which has helped a lot. I had a weekend in the Lakes with Kirsty and Flora and we met up with Emma and Helen Elmore too. Steve and I spent a weekend in Alston with Amanda and Andrew Heading which was lovely. The running around there takes some navigating with a lot of unused paths made more difficult by snow on the ground. Alston was a lively town and a really great atmosphere. Last weekend I had a couple of talks in the North East and then Edinburgh so we stayed out around that area and Steve finished off the Southern Upland Way over two and a half days. Photos of the Lakes trip, Alston and Southern Upland Way support (well me running in between dropping off and picking up!) Gallery - February 2025

Bruce's Crown isn't getting the entries we would like and so I've come up with a fell race to be held on the Saturday. We'll get this up and running this coming weekend - it's a tough one but then they all are in Scotland!

2nd February - I have written up my Spine Northern report and it's here for everyone to read Spine Northern Race 2025

Such a nice feeling to be recovering well and hopefully on top of the niggles as they appear. I've had a couple of longer runs and hikes now and some days I feel great and others I feel so heavy legged. But no injuries or toe problems as yet. We're back on with organising the Bruce's Crown race and we've opened it up to Teams of two to encourage more people to enter.

The National Running show as busy and I felt more zonked after that than I did the Northern Spine! It was great to catch up with so many people like Fi and Matt, Emma and James, Damian, Allie, Jasmin and David Miller. I spent time with the Inov-8 staff on their stand and bought a later Christmas present (a bobble hat!). I had a great time but was glad to get out into the fresh air and back up north.

22nd January - Well I had a fantastic race overall and I'm on Cloud 9 with it all. I will write up a longer report next week as I'm just trying to catch up with everything this week and then I'm down at the National Running Show this coming weekend, talking on Saturday morning with Emma Stuart and then on the Inov-8 stand at 14.30 on Saturday for a Meet and Greet.

I set off on the race having not slept that well for two nights and just not really knowing what effect that would have. I've had a niggly knee for a while and so I was just determined to finish the race with the main goal of being proud of my self management. I seem to have messed up a little on a couple of races last year and it annoys me afterwards. And from the moment at Tan Hill that I broke away from a big pack of runners I was with, to head inside and get soup and coffee, emerging feeling warm and revived, the trend continued. I made all the right decisions and looked after my feet, my food and my clothing. I teamed up with Joe Farnell but both of with the understanding that we could split whenever we wanted. However we worked so well together and had the same aims that we continued on, checkpoint after checkpoint, mile after mile just helping each other and making the whole race so much more enjoyable than it would have otherwise been.

When the time came to be competitive we both had a position to defend and worked together so that we got through two nights without sleep, round hundreds of bogs without falling in, ate well and were in great spirits across the Cheviots at the end. I honestly could not have hoped for a better race. Photo credit @Willbaldygo

10th January - I'm all packed and ready to set off to Hawes / Hardraw for registration on Sunday 12th and then the start at 8am on Monday 13th January! I'm so glad I'm not setting off on Sunday on the full Spine but good luck to all those intrepid runners and I'll be looking out for the winners catching me later next week. It will be interesting to see how far I can get before they do.

This is the tracking link fore anyone that wants to follow me along the way https://live.opentracking.co.uk/spinechallnorth25/

1st January 2025 - Happy New Year!

I've been busy creating the pages for a new Girls on Hills Remote Running Series. Since moving to Galloway I've not been able to race as much as I used to and I've found a lot of people are in the same boat, not wanting to spend hours travelling to races. So along with Girls on Hills we've come up with a new series which we are trialing  at the moment. Anyone who has done any of the other Series with me are welcome to join in. Anyone else please email me before you start running so I can confirm you understand how it works etc. All the details are here  Remote Racing Series.htm and I hope to get the Hilly 3 miles done before I do the Northern Spine in 10 days time!