2010 Messages:

Mike Hinson said: Just want to say a BIG THANKS for Sunday's run. I had a blast, and the organisers were so friendly. I've wanted to cross the bay for years, so the chance to run it was a golden opportunity, really great time.

Mal Gibb said: just writing to say the organisation of the Cross Bay Run was superb. Please pass on a big thanks to all the volunteers as they were key to it being a great event.

Gayner Blackwell said: Just wanted to say how much we enjoyed the Bay run yesterday. It was the first time for both my husband and I, and we both agree that it was a fantastic experience. The organisation and atmosphere were excellent. Fantastic job. Thank you to everyone involved

Andrew Lake said: many thanks for a fantastic day today. The organisation and enthusiasm shown was second to none. Plus a great bunch of competitors - lots of encouragement and support out on the bay.

2009 Messages:

Hugh Tooby from Ripponden said: As a fell runner this is definitely the flattest race I've ever done - it was also one of the hardest and one of the most exciting. Like many, my enduring memory will be of the wind. On the long southwards leg into the teeth of the gale runners were forming mini peletons (as in cycling) taking it turns to windbreak whilst the others slip streamed. This worked well and is something I've never encountered in 30yrs of competetive running. The other aspect that stands out was the amazing spectacle of columns of walkers and runners converging over such a wide and wild landscape. This is an unusual sight in the UK and brought to mind epic scenes a la Ridley Scott (but all without CGI). The organisation was spot on and the whole atmosphere was really positive and friendly. Thanks to all - I'll certainly be back next year.

Lisa Ardley from London said:A week after the Cross Bay Challenge and my legs are finally feeling normal again, I have never felt so stiff! I can certainly say that I have never experienced anything quite like running 13 miles across the sands of Morecambe Bay, especially against strong winds and through knee high water (not the mention the waist high Kent which on reflection would have probably been easier to swim across). Despite the weather it truly was an incredible 2 hours and fantastically organised by CancerCare and all the volunteers who put in so much work on the day to ensure we all safely made it across. Thank you so much for all the hard work that went into the event and thank you to my future mother-in-law for pursuading me to take part, I may well be back next year! Congratulations to everyone else who took part on the day, I think we all share an amazing memory and know the incredible feeling of crossing that finish line!

Peter Yates Thompson from Liverpool said: I missed last years through ill health. This year however I made the toughest race of my life. Wind Wind and more Wind I loved the walk through the water it was a welcome break for my tired legs.All in all it was an experience I will never forget. Well done to all the back room boys and girls the organisation was second to none. The goody bag and T shirt were well thought out so thanks to all involved.

Tracey Bruce from Lancaster said: OMG - what an experience. I have done several half marathons but had tried to avoid this one. After been pursuaded/bullied into it by my "friend" - I feel this could now become one of my favourite halves.
Yes it was challenging, as the title hints, but that makes crossing the finishing line even better when you have pitted yourself against the strong winds (where I lost 2 minutes per mile), the waist high water at the Kent Estuary which completely drains your legs and a horizon which at some points never seems to get any nearer.
Count me in next year and thank you to all the volunteers who helped make the day even more special with words of wisdom, great organisation and an even better cup of tea and bicky at the end!

Sharif Rajab from Blackpool wrote this account of his Cross Bay 2009:

What a day!! About 300 of us made the 1 hour coach journey from the finishing point at Hest Bank, heading back around the bay to the start at Flookborough, Grange over Sands. Imagine, there I was just little old me surrounded by running club runners all talking about running. Past events they've done and future events they are doing. I was made to feel very welcome by all, even though I had little to add as far as running talk and training goes. I was surprised by how many older people there were. And when I say older i mean 50s+60s not just older than me.

It was a blustery, overcast and slightly humid day, though at times the gusts and moisture combined made it a little chilly. After a detailed and thorough safety briefing the race started on time having been given the clearance of the RNLI coastguard. With safety tractors and quad bikes cruising the course I could tell this bay was a serious place. I couldn't help but think about the 21 chinese cockle pickers who had lost their lives there back in 2004.

I set off to a comfortable start and soon found myself following the 2 very attractive running club girls going at 8 min miles. As the pack spread out our group dropped to about 5 or 6 runners. I was shocked and amazed at how quickly the leaders seemed to disappear into the dark clouds and murky backdrop of the bay. With the girls to follow, the wind on my back and my 14 stone frame acting as a sail. I was feeling great. At the 5 mile marker, 40 mins in, we reached the main river crossing section. By this point we had already been ankle deep in water and mud several times. Still, I wasn't expecting to be then waist deep in it. As the chilly water of the River Kent hit my warm leg muscles then most notably my lower half! it took my breath. I struggled just to keep up with the group I was with and soon they were a 100m plus ahead of me. "Is there a technique to this I don't know!" The river crossing took about 3-4 mins and by the time I got to the other side that group had long gone. I was deflated. Not that I was falling behind, not so much that this would reflect on my finishing time, but rather that I no longer had the running club girls as my focus.

The river crossing and 5 mile point were also the point where the direction of the course changed. We were now going directly south west and face into the trade wind that whips up off the Irish sea. The wind that had so kindly been helping me those first 5 miles. My times slowed dramatically, the sail I benefited from earlier was soon my enemy. For the next 5 miles I was plodding at around 9 min 30 miles and really labouring at that. My legs felt heavy, my spirit was dampened and I was on my own. With my head down looking straight into the mud between miles 6-8 I missed the 7 mile marker. I felt a huge sense of relief when I saw the 8 mile mark when expecting the 7. Still this didn't help much in my ability to speed up and get the legs moving at pace. Ahead of me I could see that again the course was taking a change in direction. And from what I could work out we would again benefit from the wind on our backs. This point was the 10 mile marker and final water station. When I reached it I took on a quick drink and pointed my ship in the direction of home.

Soon I was able to find my stride and into a good rhythm once again. I was cruising at 8 min miles and feeling great. I was passing people with ease that just a few minutes before had seemed so far away. I felt like I had seen an old friend when I reached and passed 1 of the running club girls who was now plodding along on her own. I cheered her on some encouragement and continued to push to the finish. I finished very strong and was happy to end on a high, completing the last section in under 25 mins.

The experience as a whole is one I will never forget and one I truly am grateful I took part in. I think its important to remember the reason and main purpose of this event in raising funds to support those affected by cancer. I strongly recommend we continue to take part in and encourage others to get involved events such as this.

The team at Cancercare did a fantastic job in the organising the event and I hope in reflection of this the fundraising was a great success. Here's to next year!

ITV reporter Keith Wilkinson took on the challenge of The Cross Bay 2008

"I am The Human Guinea Pig. By now, I’m supposed to be as tough as old boots: ready for any challenge thrown at me. So why did the prospect of running the Morecambe Bay Half Marathon turn me into a quivering jelly?

Was it the thought of failing in front of hundreds of thousands of TV viewers? Was it fear of the unknown as I looked out into the murky bay, the strong wind, the mud flats and the salt marshes? I sought solace in the portable loos. I didn’t need to go. But I did. Three or four times.

Then we were off - four hundred of us, spluttering, gasping and pounding our way towards little Hest Bank, somewhere out there beyond the threatening dark cloud.

I dodged the boulders, and carefully avoided every puddle to keep my nice new trainers dry. Until, that is, I hit the mud bath, followed by the first of the water obstacles – which not only covered my shoes, but my throbbing knees.

They’d warned us we’d get wet – very wet. But no-one, not even the ancient mariner, could have expected water, water to be everywhere.

Soon though we were bouncing on sprawling, flat sand, and going like the wind. The wind was pushing us along like a friend in a time of need. And then even the sun fought its way through the gloom to uplift us.

By now the front runners were becoming ant-like silhouettes near the horizon, which returned me to my pre-race panic. I risked a glance back, expecting to see only sand and water and sand. But there were runners. Lots of them. “Look at all those people behind me!” I yelled at my cameraman. “Yippee!”

My yoga teacher would not approve of such ungraciousness. But this was not gloating. It was sheer relief. A disbelief that I’d managed two or three miles without finishing up right at the back with limping legs and flagging lungs.

I watched then as a blind man overtook me, looking like he’d done only a few hundred yards. Hot in pursuit – the over-60s, just finding their pace, and getting into a good stride.

I was brought up in Hest Bank and know the area well. But you didn’t need to be a local, or a professor of geography, to grasp that something strange had started to happen. I knew one of the key landmarks was Heysham power station, and we were no longer going towards it. We were heading the opposite way. We were going back!

There was another clue staring us in the face. The wind that had been our cuddly pal was now our mortal enemy. We were battling with a 30 miles an hour monster which blasted our eyeballs with sand, like a million stabbing needles.

For a time, running became pointless. My legs carried on jogging as though mesmerised in remote control, but, all around me, people were walking (alarmingly at the same speed as me). So, I joined them – marching on into the sandstorm like Lawrence of Arabia.

Here, friendships were struck up, stories swapped about whether it was harder or easier than the year before. Maybe it was delirium, but many of us were clearly struck by the sheer beauty of the bay, the godlike power of nature. This is what it meant to feel alive - grateful to be sharing this moment of collective consciousness.

For five months I’d been ITV’s Human Guinea Pig – on a 200-day physical fitness challenge as a 52-year-old TV reporter, based in the Midlands at Central Tonight. Now I could put my training to the test, to see how manly or wimpish I’d become.

As I staggered towards the finish line (or was it the start?) my hips were killing me. But I’d done it, and it wasn’t that bad. I’d found it thrilling, kind of electrifying in its intensity – being out there in a wonderful natural spectacle among super-fit athletes, determined pensioners and have-a-go heroes, doing their bit for CancerCare.

By now, word was getting round about why we’d been turned back. The channel we were due to cross was in full spate - swollen by torrential rain. It was considered too risky to carry on.

It was disappointing, I suppose. But it all added to the drama of the day. We hadn’t done an official half marathon, more like 11 miles. It had effectively become an abandoned race. But I didn’t care. I’d done battle with the elements. And I judged the score to be a draw."

More 2009 Messages:

Stewart Nicholson from Carnforth said: Approaching 50 this year and I was looking for a challenge, and boy did I find it. I too am a total novice and although I've always done the odd two mile jog I've never done anything like this. However seven weeks of intense training and 11 pounds lighter, I felt up to the task. I felt more nervous on Sunday morning than ever before, but it was well worth it and the sense of achievement when I crossed the line was overwhelming. To anyone out there who's thinking of having a go, think no longer and fill in the form. I assure you, you won't regret it.
Finally, if I hadn't got boxed in at the start I'm sure I would have been on the podium !!!! Maybe next year.

Colin Lambert from Preston said: Great experience, a bit like Lawrence of Arabia without the heat!

Sapphira Lilley from Ambleside said: I just had to comment on what an absolutely 'awesome' experience it was to complete my first ever half marathon across the bay for Cancer Care. It was amazing from start to finish and the scenery was spectacular. I'm a total novice but I thought the organisation was second to none and I will definitely sign up to do it again next year.

Richard Thackeray from Wakefield said: "An excellent event!!! My congratulations & compliments to the entire organising team, & the volunteers, but especially the Bay guides who ensured we were all on a safe route.
This was my first ever half-marathon, & what a choice to make!! I think (until official results are released) that I finished in about 1.42:55, so I'm 'well-chuffed' with that time.
I hope to be back next August, but one thing........Please make sure you cancel that head-wind

Jogging Jon reviews the Crossbay 2007

"The real highlight of my week was on Sunday and the Cancer Care Morecambe Cross Bay Challenge Half Marathon. I had to leave home at just after 8 am for the two and half hour drive to Hest Back just north of Morecambe. Here I parked the car and waited with a couple hundred other runners for a fleet of coaches that took us on the three quarters of an hour journey to start of the race at the Lakeland Leisure Park, Flookburgh which is a few miles from Grange over Sands. The race started at about 13:40 we had been held up a while whilst the sand dried, which I found a bit odd as it was pouring with rain. The first part of the route was about half a mile along a tarmac lane through a golf course and then up and over a small bank, which I guess is manmade to act as a windbreak and onto the salt flats here the going was a bit tricky as amongst the grass were channels that needed to be carefully negotiated in order to avoid twisted ankles. I think the measurement of the mile markers was a bit out as I ran the first two miles in 10 minutes (I have never run anywhere near that speed).

After the first couple of miles we were out onto the sand of the bay, the sand although wet was fairly firm to run on. Out in front of me was a long line of runners, the course was marked out with sticks pushed into the sand onto the tops of which were tied brightly coloured pieces of cloth. The course was also well defined as a quad bike led the runners across the bay. People riding tractors or quad bikes marshalled the course and the water stations were on trailers towed by tractors. I got to 5,6 and 7 miles in times faster than I had ever run those sorts of distances, I knew that the mile markers had been placed incorrectly, but I was having a great time.

The views to the mountains of the Lake District behind me, to the hills of Lancashire to my left and over to Morecambe on the other side of the bay were amazing and all around me a vast expanse of sand. The race was really well marshalled the and was monitored by the coast guard and the Queens Guide to Morecambe Bay, the route carefully planned to avoid quicksand. Every runner was issued with a wristband on which their race number was written the wristbands had to be removed by race officials at the end so that all runners were accounted for. All the way I felt really safe and well looked after, I did spend a few minutes however reflecting upon the plight of the 21 Chinese cockle pickers who died on Morecambe in February 2004. Whilst for me this race was an amazing experience and real adventure it is easy to imagine how terrifying it must have been to be out in the dark with the tide coming in.

After passing the 7-mile marker and drinks station the River Kent had to be crossed. It was a few hundred meters wide and at its deepest up to mid thigh high. It was impossible to run across so a steady wade was order of the day. Once crossed the course turned right and headed out towards Morecambe, after about a mile I passes a second 7-mile marker, I have no idea why there were two 7 mile markers on the route but given my time as I got to the second I suspected this one to be in the right place. The course then proceeded to zigzag its way towards the finish, partly I suspect to avoid the dangerous areas and partly to make up the distance. Along the way I chatted to some great people from all over the country, the sense of camaraderie between the runners really added to the occasion.

I felt good throughout the race but never really tried to race it, I was there for the experience and adventure. As the race neared the end we had to run through 200 metres of slippery stick mud to get off the sand and onto the bay side path for the last quarter mile to the finish line. I crossed the line in 2:04:08 the second slowest half marathon I have run. This race however currently however rates as my favourite half marathon. Next year is Cancer Care’s 25th anniversary and they are planning to make the event even bigger and better. If you get the chance give it a go it is really great, and you get a nice t-shirt, goody bag free tea and a bar of Kendal mint cake."