Pier To Pier - South Shields to Sunderland

The Race

It has been running for more than five years and has established itself as one of the area's most popular events with five to six hundred entrants. This is due to the attractive course which passes over sandy beaches and grassy paths. Another reason must be the unusually generous items received by each finisher. These have included a waterproof top, a watch, a sports bag, Thermos flask and a Coolbag in recent years.

The Start

There is parking (fee to pay and be careful not to park in the coach spaces) at the shore end of South Shields Pier and the start is on the beach just south of the pier. The first section is along the sands towards Trow Point which can be soft when the tide has just gone out.

At Trow Rocks the route leaves the beach to pass along the wide grassy area known as The Leas. Competitors will recognize the finish area of the Great North Run and older runners will remember when the Harrier League had a course here. Steve Cram could win the race and get to Roker Park before Sunderland kicked off at 3pm!

At Marsden the route passes Minchella's Ice Cream Kiosk, the Grotto Restaurant and the sadly diminished Marsden Rock.

From here the red and white hoops of the National Trust owned Souter Lighthouse come into view. After the lighthouse the route goes

behind the houses at Whitburn and runners enter the Territorial Army Rifle Ranges. Unless red flags are flying, runners shouldn't be met with a hail of bullets! By now the pier at Roker should be seen on the horizon as the course continues across areas of long grass with, on the right, houses with wonderful views across the North Sea. At South Bents car park there is a chance of stopping for an ice cream from the van!

Here runners meet the beach again and make their way through dog walkers, kite flyers and jet skiers with the smell of fish and chip shops and Italian restaurants if the wind is from the west.

Before the little white lighthouse there is a flight of steep steps where in 2004 I saw a familiar face and said, " It's not often that I can say that I came in ahead of Brian Rushworth!" He smiled and answered, "I'm not in the race - I 've just come to run the last bit with my brother!"

After a short stretch along the promenade, runners go down more steps to the beach for the last big effort along the hard sand to the finish at Roker Pier.