Hardmoors Farndale marathon 2019

I was running this one with Melanie who is new to this route although she had covered quite a bit of it on other runs we had done when on holidays. We had picked up from Facebook that the route was very overgrown this year and it certainly was compared to the previous two years (when it was called the Hardmoors Rosedale marathon, but the same route). In spite of this I managed to pick up a 25 minute course PB (thanks to Melanie for this). But was hard, it was very humid and warm. There was a nice breeze which helped, but there were times in the valleys when we couldn't feel it.

The start was from the Village Hall in the lovely Hutton-le-Hole.

The route undulates almost immediately. I think of the route as roughly triangular. The first time I did the route, it seemed to take for ever to get to the point where we change onto the second side of the triangle (about 11 miles in). There are lots of twists and turns, but the compensation is that the scenery is just outstanding and very varied - woods, moors, fields. Thanks to Melanie for many of these photos

It did not seem too long before we got to the corner of the triangle and out onto the moors. I was feeling pretty good at this point.

This is the side of the triangle where the hills kick in and by about 15 miles in I started to tire. It was warm and I was struggling. But the compensation was the scenery

The abandoned Stork House

After Stork House the bracken became a bit overwhelming !

Thanks to Nicky Jenkins for these photos (where I looked happier than I was...)

This was followed by what felt a long road section and then we turned on to the third side of the triangle and climbed towards Dickon Howe

Then down the other side towards High Mill where we stopped for an ice cream at the cafe. This was a real bonus ! Along to Low Mill and the start of the very big climb, which was overgrown and a bit muddy. Lovely views from the top

The last checkpoint had cut up oranges and lots and lots of them. Just lovely ! As we left it started to rain a bit which was lovely and cooling. Through the woods and the final tarmac climb and the run down into Hutton-le-Hole to applause from runners sitting outside the pub.

As usual Jon and Shirley had the whole event very well organised and the marshalls and helpers in the Village Hall did a great job !