Mother Ludlam's Cave

I'm lucky enough to live in the Surrey hills near Farnham, close to the North Downs Way and many other great trails. One of my favourite places to run is along the Greensands Way running south towards Tilbury. Along the way are various landmarks including old World War II pillboxes where Canadian troops were stationed in order to protect the Hogs back in case of invasion. However, the reason this route is so special to me is Mother Ludlam's Cave. This is a great picture which I took on one of my runs along this trail.

The cave is now home to several species of bat and has an ancient spring running through it. There are also many local legends attributed to it including the one below:

"As recorded in 1937 the legend is that one day the devil, in disguise, had visited Mother Ludlam and asked to borrow the cauldron she used for mixing her potions. Recognising the Devil from his hoof-prints in the sand, she refused, so the Devil stole the cauldron, with the witch in pursuit. Making great leaps, the Devil created a series of hills where he touched the ground, these now being the sandstone hills near Churt known as the Devil's Jumps. The Devil dropped the cauldron - or kettle - on the last of these hills, "Kettle Bury", or "Kettlebury Hill". Mother Ludlam recovered the cauldron and placed it in Frensham Church, where it would be safe from the Devil."

Everyone has their favourite local running routes and this is certainly one of mine. One of the many gems to find when you throw the road running shoes away and hit the trails.

Gary

Comrades 2013

The Biggest road ultra in the world has come and gone again with over 19,000 runners taking part on the 87km course from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. This year's race saw the runners taking on the Big Five of Cowies Hill, Fields Hill, Botha’s Hill, Inchanga and Polly Shorts.

This year saw South Africa's Claude Moshiywa take the win in 5.32:09. Moshiywa took the lead from his countryman Johannesburg Kakana after the four hour mark and led until the end to become the first South African to win the Comrades 'up' race since 1992. The Swedish runner Jonas Buud finished second to make 2013 his fourth second place finish. Mpesela Ntlosoeu took the final place on the podium.

The ladies race saw the Russian twins Elena and Olesya Nurgalieva take the top two places in 6.27:09 and 6.28:07 respectively.

The pair have dominated the race over the past ten years with Elena winning seven times and Olesya taking the title twice. 

Zegama - Aizkorri 2013

This weekend saw the second race in the 2013 Skyrunning series run over the classic course at Zegama in the basque region of Spain.

Just two weeks after an impressive win and course record at Transvulcania La Palma, Kilian Jornet would once again be the one to watch. After Tofol Castanyer's withdrawal, Kilian's main threat would come from Luis Alberto Hernando, a seasoned performer at the marathon distance and after pushing Kilian close at Transvulcania (Luis Alberto's first attempt at the ultra distance), this really would be round two for the spaniards. 

The ladies race would see the Transvulcania top two of Emilie Forsberg and Nuria Picas squaring off once again. 

Also toeing the line would be long course mountain running champion Stevie Kremer as well as Oihana Kortazar and Silvia Serafini. 

The early leader in the men's race was Marco De Gasperi however the ankle injury he brought into the race caught up with him after 21km resulting in a drop. Kilian then lead for the majority of the race while Luis Alberto quietly made his way through the field eventually catching Kilian. The two then battled supremely on the long final descent with Kilan finally pulling away in the final moments. Kilian crossed the line in 3.54:48 just 20 seconds behind the course record with Luis Alberto finishing seconds later.

In the ladies race, Emily Forsberg lead from the early moments and dominated the race, backing up her win at Transvulcania to cross the line in 4.48:12. Nuria Picas worked her way up through the field to take second place from Stevie Kremer on the final long downhill.

The next race in the Skyrunning series is a race particularly close to my heart having completed the 2012 edition of the Mont Blanc Marathon with this year's edition taking place on June 30th.

Join The Resistance

Why do we run? Is it just a means to an end? For fitness and well being? To get that flat stomach or toned body? If so, then why running instead of other forms of exercise? Why can't we just run for fun? Forget the treadmill, leave the watch at home, just put on some trainers and head outside?

Do we have to listen to the gym instructors and the Nike adverts who constant drill the 'No Pain, No Gain' attitude into us? 

Running can be so much more. A connection to ourselves, the outside world and to each other.

Change your thinking. Join the resistance.

Gary