I was running with Sara today and we had a great run. Sadly the other third of our running team, Kath, couldn't make this one. Melanie was doing the half marathon today and unlike last year, I didn't see her out on the course this time.
I was up before 5.00 to get to Guisborough. We started a little late, 8.10, but it was daylight by then and I took a photo of Guisborough as we started to climb up yo the hills.
The climb up to High Cliff Nab wasn't too muddy, but it did get more slippy the higher we went. We chatted to other runners as we passed them and they passed us, it was a very social race today. Then after a few miles we came to Roseberry Topping, which looked awesome.
We went up and then down the other side right to the bottom, turned round and went back up the same way and then down another side. At the second time, the marshall kindly took this photo of us
As we came back up to the top of Little Roseberry we were snapped by one of the SportsSunday team
Then it was along to Gribdale and up to the James Cook Monument. There is normally a decorated tree on the way up, but this year there were two, which was great.
Just before the monument there was another SportsSunday photographer with Roseberry Topping in the background.
Soon after the monument the half marathon runners turned for home and we plunged down a road to Kildale and dragged our way up again and on almost as far as Blowarth Crossing before turning off the Cleveland Way and heading towards Castleton.
The route over the Westerdale Moor I love. It is part of the Esk Valley path that Melanie and I ran in sections eighteen months ago. Here is a view down into the valley
Onwards to Castleton station and the steep climb up to where David Tioth was waiting at his checkpoint with drinks, food and his motivational sign.
Then it was along the undulating track to Commondale where I had an incident on the first running of this event. No problems this year, we didn't stop and climbed the hill to the final checkpoint at about 25m. In theory that should have been 1.2m to go, but it was another 5m across the moors as the sky darkened. We just about made it to Guisborough Woods without having to put on head torches, but it was getting very dark so we put them on for the muddy descent back to the finish.
We got into the hall and received our pink tee shirt and pink medal
and then much to my surprise I was awarded the v60 prize again - my sixth at Hardmoors ! Thanks to Phil for this photo
A fantastic day out :-)
