GETTING up at 4.30am to drive to a race 270 miles away is not a bright idea.

Originally, I had planned to head over to Kent this weekend to run in the Deal 5. After all the long distance races I have been clocking up lately, this run would be a spot of light relief.

However, work commitments meant I had to be in Manchester on Sunday evening, so not fancying a long haul up from Deal on a Sunday afternoon, I chose a race in the north.

And so it was that in the early hours of the morning, I was driving up the M1 bound for Leeds and then onto Harrogate for the Guy Fawkes 10. The race takes place just north of the pretty market town in Ripley which is a delightful village set in this glorious part of North Yorkshire.

The road through Ripley winds gently passed traditional butchers and market stores, and old stone houses. In the centre of Ripley lies Ripley Castle, a place steeped in history. The Ingilby family have owned the castle for more than 700 years, and it is the Gunpowder Plot in 1605 which has become synonymous with the family for 11 of the known conspirators with Guy Fawkes were close relations or associates.

It is on that basis that Nidd Valley Runners host this gentle 10-miler through the rugged and very hilly countryside around Ripley. The bell from the church tolled as we set out on a beautiful November morning, sunny yet fresh, with not a breath of wind.

A fella dressed as Guy Fawkes waved us off as we set out on the run. I was very tired and lethargic for the start, and that sluggishness didn't pass as I ran around eight minute mile pace for most of the run.

The hills, four of them in all, were very tough. Two in particular were steep gradients which reduced many to walking pace. I stuck at the task determined not to stop. I ran well within myself, determined to enjoy the run and to savour the gorgeous countryside. It was a backdrop of greenery as we ran along quiet country lanes, beside dry stone walls and fields with sheep, dropping off the hills into pretty Yorkshire villages.

It was a lovely day for running and after the hard races of recent weeks, it was nice to run without too much pressure with a time of 1hr 18min for 262nd place.