Saturday 8 November 2014

Hardmoors Goathland marathon 2014

Dave and Mel at the start of the Hardmoors Goathland MarathonThis was the one Hardmoors trail marathon that Melanie and I missed last year and having heard lots of good reports about the scenery, we were looking forward to it. However, the weather forecast looked a bit grim. Light rain from 11.00 and then heavy rain from 12.00 for the rest of the day. With a start time of 09.00, we needed to be ready for some heavy weather. We had already been warned that that the ground was wet and boggy in places.
The start is a lovely downhill stretch to a river which you follow (and clamber rather than run) passing a spectacular waterfall - Mallyan Spout. Then it is up on to the moors where the trails were muddy, but not too bad. After a while we ran into forest and ran close the the tracks of the steam railway from Pickering. We crossed the line and then climbed back up again and at that point (about 11m) the rain arrived. It was out with the waterproofs and hoods up as the rain started to come down more heavily.
We really felt for the marshalls who were out in those conditions. We continued on to the Hole of Horcum and then skirted past RAF Fylingdales with its strange shaped buildings. From here we were on hard packed forest road for a while, but then we veered off on the Lyke Wake path. This section was completely flooded, boggy, muddy and streams were much wider and difficult to cross. After the first mile of the race we had given up any hope of keeping our feet dry, but here there was no choice but to run down paths which were streams. Finally, having crossed the railway again and climbed out of the valley, we turned for Goathland and warmth. Phil Owen was waiting for us half way up the final descent having stood out in the pouring rain for half an hour and is was great to see him and realise we were almost back. The village hall which was the race HQ was a very welcome sight. Phil ran back with us and then veered off to a coffee shop to get us life saving cappuccinos.

Dave and Mel at the finish of the Hardmoors Goathland Marathon
It wasn't quite our slowest marathon - see the Keswick Mountain Festival marathon earlier this year, but it was pretty close. I cannot recall having such tough underfoot conditions before. But in spite of that and the weather, it is an event we enjoyed and may well do again.