Durham Dales 30m 2018

This is one of my favourite events. Beautiful countryside, amazing food at the checkpoints, low key and some navigation required. This year there was an added challenge because of footpath erosion, there were some alterations to the route. Melanie was doing this one as well, her third time at the longer distance at this event.

There was quite a few familiar faces at the event, Hardmoors runners, Striders  and others from local clubs and it was good to have a chat with them before the start. The starting few miles were the same and we ran for about a mile with Mark who we haven't seen for a while and after 3m he forked off on the 14m route. We went off across the moor in the direction of Pikestone Fell.

Across Ayhope Beck

and South Grain Beck

A lovely descent followed by a long drag up to Black Hill and into Hamsterley Forest. There were a few more flies around here, but they weren't too bad.

Through the first checkpoint and on to Ever Pools

and then for our fastest mile (8:41) downhill to the River Tees. Our slowest mile today was twenty seven minutes...

On the old route we would have carried on along the river in the picture above but we turned sharp left and went along to this bridge over the Tees

After going through the lovely village of Mickleton and another checkpoint we went along the Tees Railway path and over a lovely viaduct

and through meadows on the way to Middleton-in-Teesdale

Here is one of the best checkpoints I have ever come across. Just loads of food and as Melanie wanted to give her some feet some care and attention, we spent a while here.

As we left the marshalls wished us good luck and that made me wonder what was in store for us for the next section which was new. Pretty soon we were climbing steeply uphill and going over stile after stile. We came across this lovely little tunnel which made a nice change from the stiles.

As we got near the top the fields became wild flower meadows which I just love

We descended down to the road at Snaisgill before the ascent of Monk's Moor. This bit was tough and I think there were three false summits. Here was the view looking back before the first summit,

The path was pretty non-existent here and we were relying on the gpx provided by the organisers. There were some runners following us who were also relying on us knowing where we were going !

We joined up with the old route again at Great Eggles Hope and climbed up past the old mine workings

and up to the reservoir

On the way down we came across a small female adder which we kept well away from

Finally with 8m to go we climbed the last big hill before we started the long descent down to Bollihope. We were now on the old shorter 17m route back to the finish. That route has all also been changed this year and reduced to 14m

Bollihope is also a well stocked checkpoint and it passes through an old mining area

and we come to the lovely Forgotten Quarry

and the old Harehope Quarry

and across the old railway line

which had a train on it

and back to the Race HQ where there was pie and peas, followed by rice pudding and fruit salad. The catering is amazing for the entry price (£14). A certificate and a badge for finishers

Sadly this event is not being held in 2019 as the organisers are concentrating on the LDWA 100m event which is being held in the North-East.

Hardmoors White Horse marathon 2018

This was my fourth time running this event. The route has hardly changed during the four years, so I felt confident about where we would be going. I was looking forward to it as it is my favourite Hardmoors marathon route - the scenery is just lovely. As with the other Hardmoors marathons, I was running with Elly. Kath who was supposed to be running with us is recovering from injury, but hopefully she will join us for the next one.

I was great to see so many people I knew before the start

We start by running along the escarpment with lovely views to the  west but today was quite misty early on and we didn't get the views seen in the next photo, but I have put that photo in to illustrate that soon after we start we plunge down the escarpment and run found the lake before climbing up to the escarpment again. It does not look very far down on the photo, but believe me, it is further than it looks.

It can be muddy in places round the lake, but not today most of the ground was very firm.

Finally back up to escarpment again and running along the Cleveland Way, you can see the mist in the distance. But at least the mist kept the temperature down.

We soon passed the Sports Sunday photographers

and followed the Cleveland Way through Boltby Forest and on to the moors before turning east into the lovely valley of Thorodale, where we caught up with Helen and ran with her for the next nine miles

Into Thorodale Woods

and past Arden Hall

Shortly after the checkpoint which is about half a mile from the Hall, there is sharp left hand turn and a couple of runners had carried on. However, they were in shouting distance so we called to get them back.

Across some field, through Hawnby Village before the big climb up Hawnby Hill

with some lovely views from the ridge run at the top. This is one of my favourite sections.

Soon after the descent of Hawnby Hill (about half way) the mist had burnt off and the temperature seemed to shoot upwards. It was now becoming quite warm. Across another stream and up to the east side of Easterside Hill

After climbing up Bilsdale West Moor we came to a checkpoint that had watermelon (absolute bliss) and ice to put inside our drinks bottles (heaven). Down through woods

and into the bottom part of Hawnby before we started the long tarmac climb up Murton Bank. When we were not in shade we felt we were being slowly roasted. Helen handled the climb much better than Elly and I and she disappeared off into the distance.

We got to the top to be greeted by a small band of youngsters playing music which was lovely and down to Murton Woods and over the ford.

Across a couple of fields and into the shade of woods (bliss)

and then down Birk Bank and onwards to the boardwalk near the River Rye

and to Rievalux

On to what we thought might be the last checkpoint where I filled up with water yet again, I felt I was drinking much more than usual. Next came the stepping stones

and then the beautiful Flassen Dale

Sadly we weren't there long before the long drag up to Cold Kirby where there was another check point where I could get more water. Two more miles to the finish after this and that was fine. We could hear thunder in the distance and this certainly motivated me to speed up a little !

27.5 miles which is pretty short for a Hardmoors marathon (the half marathon at this event was 17 miles....). A beautiful route and as usual the marshalls were helpful and encouraging.

I was using the new Mountain Fuel Extreme Energy Fuel which was very drinkable, I will certainly use it again.