Gibside Fruit Bowl – 17th November 2024
by Paul Smith
Delighted that Gibside Fruitbowl Run is back on the North East race calendar once more and chuffed to bits to be the first Crook AC runner back home across the finish line.
A crisp autumnal Sunday morning with a watery wintery sun high up in a clear blue sky.
Gibside, once owned by the Bowes-Lyon family, now a National Trust jewel in the County Durham crown, boasting an 18th century orangery along with its Tuscan columns, a 140 feet high Column Of Liberty built in the 1750’s looking akin to London’s Nelson’s Column, Gibside House, stables with courtyard and a Palladian architectural showpiece of the chapel nestled in the Derwent Valley boasting several acres of woodland, a mix of conifers and deciduous trees which played a part into the re-introduction of the rare bird of prey species the Red Kite.
Sadly I was unable to spot the red kite in it’s natural habitat, it was to prove a rarity as was a fellow Crook runner, no wonder I was first scarlet and gold clad athlete to complete the tricky 6+ mile course, disappointingly, I was the only one to be competing at an event that once boasted many Crook members in the past, considering the beauty and the challenge and variation of mixed terrain and elevation I found it difficult to understand the absence of my running club compatriots, maybe the pull of the holy grail of PB’s on tarmac elsewhere proved too much or God forbid “rest days” were being taken by some.
I lined up in a field of 211 runners, familiar faces, some not, as for the volunteers and marshals, I knew many, mostly Blackhill Bounders who were behind the organisation of the event, every turn and corner runners were directed around up and down the trails, just as well as it would be possible to easily lose one’s way and get lost in the woods, despite being familiar with these wood, having ran the event many times over the years and even completed two full marathons in recent years that was organised by North East Marathon Club.
There did seem to be more ups than downs, just as well as the steep down hills hammered my already hammered knees, although my Bodyprox knee support does help enormously. The highlight of the run was skirting past the huge towering Column Of Liberty after a gigantic climb and running alongside the clear running waters of the River Derwent before an equally gigantic climb up to head along a pleasant long finishing straight to be cheered by spectators and supporters which included the good lady wife Susan, who had enjoyed the Gibside sightseeing for the 1 hour 8 minutes of my running. Long gone are the days when I used to get around in 45 minutes back in the good old days when my body would allow, but to be expected I guess when Sunday’s run was day 6,531 of my current runstreak.
Rewards and celebration of 1st Crook AC runner accolade (well you can only beat who’s there haha!) after picking up a decent goodie bag was a toasted teacake with strawberry jam and a coffee in the cosy café.
Next year I hope to spot a Red Kite and another Crook AC runner.
Paul