Hardmoors Saltburn marathon 2016

I last did this event in 2013 when it was held in August. I managed to win my age category that time, but I haven't won my age category in a Hardmoors event since, so I had no hope that my return to this event would result in a trophy (spoiler - I didn't win this time either). This was the first time the event had been held in winter, so I knew it would be tougher than in 2013, but I had it in my mind that it was one of the easier Hardmoors events. This meant that I underestimated it.

I had a copy of Melanie's route from the 2014 event to follow and this seemed to work pretty well apart from an extra hill that Jon had thrown in since then !

I arrived at about 7.50 and had plenty of time to relax, register and get ready for the 9.00 start. I also met up with Sara, who I ran with on the Hardmoors 60 and was marshalling with Kerry at the second Skinningrove checkpoint and Garth who I first met many years ago at a Fetch mile event in Leeds. I also had time to browse the pop up Ultra Runners store and chat to the Striders who were running the marathon.

Melanie was doing the half and going on to a retreat so she arrived as Jon's briefing was taking place and had time to come down to the start to see me off which was lovely.

I started slowly and comfortably and we went down into Valley Gardens and along a muddy path beside the stream I had not covered before. Along the prom, stopping for a quick photo

The sun was out at this point, there wasn't too much wind, it was all lovely. A climb out on to the cliffs and the chance to look back.

The cliffs rise gently upwards and on the way there was one of SportsSunday photographers

Then down on to the beach before Skinningrove

There is a steep climb out of Skinningrove and I think this is where we had the first snow coming down. It didn't seem to last too long and we were soon back to sunshine and this is how it went all day. The Cleveland Way just keeps going up for a while and this section was extremely muddy. Just as we got to the top we turned 

and headed via a few fields to the road we ran down on the Loftus Poultry run. Then down across fields to Skinningrove and Sara, Kerry and John's checkpoint. I stopped for a brief chat and then started the steep climb to Carlin Howe where Jonathan from the Striders was waiting to cheer us on. Up and out of Carlin Howe and soon after the half marathon runners started to overtake us.

I remembered quite a bit of the route from the 2013 event although we had been going in the opposite direction in 2013. This nearly led to my downfall. I came to a road crossing where Dennis (marshalling) and David (running) were chatting. I remembered the route from 2013 went straight across so that was what I did. I didn't check my watch and got about twenty yards into the next field before Denis and David had seen what I had done and called me back. I am glad they were there !

I walked up the next hill with David who was not feeling well and at the top of the hill he took the half marathon route back to Saltburn. The marathon runners rejoined the Cleveland Way and into a heavy snow flurry. This stopped just as suddenly as it started as we started the descent into Slapewath

Guisborough Woods had quite a covering as can be seen. As we came out of the Slapewath motorcycle woods, I was expecting to keep along the bottom of the woods as Melanie had done. But no, we followed the Cleveland Way and went up for quite a while before descending back down again and following muddy forest trails before we hit the familiar route across fields that leads to the long climb up to High Cliff Nab. I had always done this descent very early in other races. Doing it at 18m in was pretty tough and the first third was very muddy. There was no view from High Cliff Nab as the cloud was down which was a shame. We then then ran along more muddy forest road through the woods. Jo caught me up at this point, I had passed her at a checkpoint, and we chatted before she headed off and this is how it went for the rest of the event, I would spend less time in the checkpoints and then she would catch me and go on.

We came out of the woods together and on to the boggy moor (my feet got very wet here) and reached the turning point where two marshalls were waiting with tangerines and a camera (thanks to Joel Tiffney for this one. 

The tangerines tasted so good ! Then it was on to the busy road crossing where I photobombed a marshall and the two runners ahead (thanks to Hippie Lee Nixon for this one)

The next section down to Booseberry was really muddy, there was often no way round you just had to dive into it and get mud everywhere. Jo caught me again as we came to Flip's checkpoint in Skelton and with about 2m to go I couldn't keep up with her, but I could see her and I tried to keep her in view. As I turned into the Race HQ at the Leisure Centre a car full of Striders went by and gave me lots of cheers which was lovely. I had calculated at Booseberry I might just get a sub 7 hour finish and I reckoned I had just about done it, but we must have started a little late and I came in with 6hr 38min which was pleasing. I missed the age category by just ten minutes, but I wasn't too disappointed, it was good to have finished.

It is great to have showers at the end of this event. Overall the event was great, well organised by Jon and Shirley with very friendly and supportive marshalls who must have been very cold.

Things I learned from this event. 

1) Make sure you bring the right hat, I brought an old one of mine which I had given to Melanie (who had been looking for it !) so I had to wear a buff to keep my ears warm. 

2) Get some running gaiters, I had to stop three times to get stones and grit out of my shoes. It isn't easy to bend down and fiddle with your shoes when you are stiff near the end of a race. 

3) Make sure you bring socks to change into, I thought I had.

There was a new design for the tee shirt and medal this year