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28
Jan
Harrogate teachers complete arctic half marathon
Two Harrogate teachers braved well below sub-zero temperatures during a half marathon in Norway.
Nicola Shillam and Anita Oldham, who are both teachers at Belmont Grosvenor School, this month flew to Tromsø - which is around 350km north of the Arctic Circle - to take on the Polar Night Half Marathon.
The women have been friends and running partners for 15 years, completing many half marathons and marathons together, but never one in such cold conditions.
It is currently polar night in Tromsø, which means the sun does not rise above the horizon. This meant the women ran the entire race in darkness, despite setting off at midday.
Anita and Nicola were not able to wear their usual running attire due to temperatures plummeting to minus 15 and snow and ice on the ground. Instead they had to run in thick winter clothing, a waterproof jacket, hats, a buff and spiked running shoes.
Nicola said:
The first two hours of running were fine, but after that I really started to seize up due to the low temperatures. It was hard to keep my body moving for the last three miles. But it really was an incredible experience, while we were running along the coast and you could see across the Arctic Ocean.
(L) Nicola Shillam and Anita Oldham at the start of the half marathon.
Nicola completed the 13.1-mile race is two hours and 26 minutes, while Anita crossed the finish line in two hours and seven minutes – placing her third in her age category.
Anita added:
Just being in Tromsø was a real experience, but running in an international field in the darkness lit up by oil lamps, in such bitter cold, on hard-packed ice and snow made this a real adventure.
The teachers are now planning their next adventure and have set their sights on Iceland.
Peter Baird, director of sport at Belmont Grosvenor School, said the women are an inspiration to the pupils.
He added:
Mrs Shillam and Mrs Oldham’s latest running adventure is inspiring to all our pupils here at Belmont Grosvenor School and embodies our core school values. The pair were ambitious in their desire to tackle the Polar [Night] Half Marathon and had to show extreme resilience in completing the course in the sub-zero temperatures.
We are very proud of them but were not at all surprised that they chose to take on such a challenge!
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