Gatliff Reports

The Gatliff started from a new venue this year; Edenbridge Cricket Ground. The 50km route did two loops; one to the North going as far as Westerham and one to the South taking in Dry Hill and Cowden. The 25km route just covered the southern loop. The weather was good with a fair…

This year we have reports on both the 50k and 25k routes for the first time as well as updated "Gatistics" 50k route A first for the Gatliff with a mid-October date with an appreciable advantage for daylight and ground conditions compared to an end of November date.The forecast was very promising and…

The Gatliff Marathon (GM) was postponed from November 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, becoming a well-ventilated summer event and also giving participants and organisers extra time to prepare. The weather forecast was good. On the day the morning was overcast, with sunny spells in the early afternoon followed by isolated heavy showers;…

The weather forecast was dry and overcast warming to a degree above average. On the day there were short spells of a fine rain and an occassional glimpse of blue sky. With higher than average autumn rainfall field ditches were overflowing and mud was expected. Gatliffteers progress was hindered by waterlogged fields and…

It was foggy driving down over the North Downs to the start. It looked like it was going to be a murky day. I was expecting a couple of brief showers but the rain was heavy and persistent in the early part of the Marathon and some light showers returned in the late…

What a cracking day out! I hope you all agree. The conditions were almost perfect, dry and bright with a chill in the air to encourage you not to dally too long. Setting off at day break over the crunchy and frosty ground in the pale, pink light, accompanied by the excited chatter…

It's been a very sad year for the Gatliff Marathon community and I hope you will understand if I dedicate the opening remarks to pay tribute to four long standing associates of the Gatliff that passed away. John Munday, who completed his first Gatliff in our second year, 1985, and went on to…

The weather forecast was mild but windy with the threat of showers. Most of the day, although cloudy with dingy light, it was dry with just the occasional spots of rain. However, for those who finished after dark there were some major down pours to test the resolve to finish! With rain prior…

I crawled out of bed at 4:30am and took a look down the deserted street. A habit on Gatliff day. There was a faint hallo of mist around the street lamp. I went down stairs, opened the front door and sniffed the air. Mild too. Looks like the recent weather forecasts were right.…

I achieved a “first” this year. I returned to Edenbridge with only my toes slightly damp! Normally my feet are soaked through within a mile or two of the start. However some things never change; looks like I will lose about 4 toe nails. They’ve only just grown back from last year! This…