Monday 14 December 2015

Hardmoors Roseberry Topping marathon 2015

The day before this event, Saturday, it started to snow in the North East. The forecast was for a hard frost overnight, so it looked this was going to be a challenging run. It had been 29.3m last year and Jon had added a bit more on so we were almost going to Blowarth Crossing before leaving the Cleveland Way. At least there was very little wind this year and it was sunny for most of the first half.

Melanie was doing the half marathon and as I was getting up at 5.00 for an 8.00 start, we decided to take separate cars so that she could have a bit of extra time in bed and she wouldn't have to hang around for me at the finish.

At the pre-race briefing Jon said that there would be safety diversion on the first descent from Roseberry Topping. We would be going down the same way as we went up the second time, that is going down the steps on the north side. I don't think it made very much difference to the distance covered.

We set off soon after 8.00 and after a short section along the bottom of Guisborough Woods we started the muddy  and snowy ascent up to Highcliffe Nab.



On reaching that we had a fantastic view of cloud inversions to the south. These inversions were there all day, it was amazing.



We crossed to Roseberry Topping which looked amazing in this weather.



The descent down Little Roseberry and up Roseberry Topping wasn't too bad although the rocky steps were just a little slippy. The descent down the north side was more slippy on the steps, but that way down at least there was some grass either side which you could use. I took it very easy. It became very muddy towards the bottom. When we finally reached the checkpoint, we turned around and made our way back up again the same way and then down the west side. Whilst going down and up other runners were very encouraging and we were encouraging them, one of the things that makes trail running so enjoyable.

As I was climbing back up Little Roseberry, Melanie was coming down a path about twenty yards from mine and we managed to shout a few words to each other and she snapped this picture of me (look closely !).



I carried on to Gribdale and then it was the climb up to James Cook monument.




It was just beautiful weather, cold but much less slippy now. We came to the 'Striders' checkpoint where the routes separated and it was lovely to see Anna, Denise and Phil.


Down to Kildale and up the other side following the Cleveland Way to Tidy Brown Hill (this was the additional section). Finally at Burton Howe, not far from Blowarth Crossing, we made the turn back to last year's route. This section was fine underfoot, but one we got to Skinner Howe Cross Road that all changed. This was part of the Eskdale Eureka route which we had been run last weekend and it was a proper fell running path, wet, rocky, uneven, partly covered in heather and muddy. Far too technical for me to run given I was running out of energy at this stage (about 18m). On to the very familar Esk Valley Path that Melanie and I walked last Easter and this was muddy as well. On to tarmac at Castleside and the undulating track to Commondale.

Then the final mainly uphill 5m (with another 1.5m or so of very technical path) to Guisborough Woods which never seem to be getting closer, before the final muddy descent through the woods to the finish. I just made it back before dark.

I was very tired when I got back and quite shivery. I got changed and headed home as soon as I could. Melanie really enjoyed her 15m run