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Harrogate teachers brave sub-zero temperatures for iconic half marathon

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 07:23

Belmont Grosvenor teachers Nicola Shillam and Anita Oldham.

Two intrepid teachers from a school in Harrogate have braved sub-zero temperatures to tackle an iconic running race in northern Norway. 

Belmont Grosvenor’s Year 1 and 2 teachers Nicola Shillam and Anita Oldham flew to Tromso in northern Norway earlier this month to join 2,000 runners from across the world for the PolarNight Half Marathon. 

The teachers, both members of Ripon Runners, have been friends and running partners for the past 15 years and have completed dozens of marathons and half marathons together.

But their Arctic Circle 13.1-mile race was their most unusual - and challenging - to date. 

Setting off in the middle of the day, the pair were running on snow and ice and in complete darkness because the sun never rises above the horizon in January in the Arctic Circle. 

 Temperatures dipped as low as -15C during the race - so instead of their usual lightweight running gear, Mrs Shillam and Mrs Oldham were wearing full winter kit including thick waterproof jackets, gloves, buffs and spiked running shoes. 

The freezing temperatures meant the teachers didn’t beat their personal bests, but Mrs Shillam completed the route in an impressive 2 hours and 26 mins, while Mrs Oldham was delighted to finish in 2 hours and 7 minutes, which placed her 3rd in her age category. 

Mrs Shillam 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.”

Mrs Oldham added:

“Just being in Tromso 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 duo are now planning their next adventure – and have Iceland in their sights.

Peter Baird, Director of Sport at Belmont Grosvenor School, said the two Pre-Prep teachers were a real inspiration to pupils. 

He said:

“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 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!” 

Pupils at BGS take part in a wide range of sports through both curricular games lessons or extra-curricular clubs. 

BGS hosts an annual cross-country inter-school race every March, and pupils compete in weekly sporting fixtures with other schools across the area and have opportunities to take part in regional and national sporting evens. 

Belmont Grosvenor School, based at Swarcliffe Hall in Birstwith, is an independent prep school and nursery that welcomes children from three months to 11 years. 

For more information or to book a tour, visit www.belmontgrosvenor.co.uk 

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