Hardmoors Rosedale marathon 2016

I have done this one a couple of times, but not for a couple of years. I was looking forward to doing the route again as part of the route (Blowarth Crossing to the Lion Inn) is on the Lyke Wake Challenge route and I thought it might be useful to remind myself of that section.

But the organisers, Jon and Shirley, had a nightmare when they were told on the Thursday before race day that the nesting birds would be disturbed if an event took place on the high moors. They had to come up with new routes for the 10K, the half and full marathons. They did an amazing job getting it all in place.

The new routes were all within Farndale and the marathon was roughly two laps of the half marathon course. Melanie and I visited Farndale when the daffodils were blooming in 2015 and as it turned out we covered most of the route that was devised. But that wasn't a problem, I was looking forward to seeing Farndale again.

The route itself was roughly a figure eight with the middle junction of the two circles extended into about a two mile section. Also there was a spike on top of the top circle, which has a 1.5m out and back section from Low Mill to High Mill and back (which we had to do on both laps). We started from the bottom of the figures eight and proceeded up the west side of the lower circle. Then the two mile section, then the west side of the upper circle, the out and back, the east side of the upper section, the two mile section then the east side of the lower circle. The race started and ended in Hutton-le-Hole, one of the prettiest villages in the North York Moors. At the end of the first lap we didn't go back to the Village Hall, just to the edge of the village. Knowing that the finish at that point was so close, it was so tempting just to say that's enough, lets finish. Especially as the first lap had been hard in the muggy weather. The distance for the two laps was just about 28m and the route had 1K of ascent more than the original route, so about 2400 feet in total.

The marathon started an hour late as Jon had to show the marshalls where they would now be stationed. At many events runners would be upset by this, but Hardmoors events are different, everybody understood the pressure Jon and Shirley had been under to keep the event on. I didn't hear anybody complaining or moaning about it. Everybody seemed to use it as an opportunity to have a chat, I was a bit like what happens when a train breaks down, all sorts of conversations start up.

The briefing for the marathon was held in the Village Hall and the half marathon runners were asked to wait outside to create a space for all the marathon runners.

Thanks to Chris Rice for this photo

After the briefing we started to file out to line up for the start outside on the road. Or so I thought. As I got to the door I could hear the half marathon runners clapping us and I thought that was nice of them. I got out of the door and realised they were applauding because the race had started and the people who had left before me were disappearing up the road !

Thanks to Chris Haswell for this one.

Thanks to Ann Brown for this one.

The route very quickly goes off road and through three kissing gates, following the Tabular Hills path for a short distance. The kissing gates always causes a queue and this year was no different. After that it widens out and we get our first glimpse of the hills and valleys we would be visiting.

The route goes across fields, small bridges, short sections of quiet roads, woods, streams and a very small section of moor. It was beautiful but hilly and muddy in places. I was pleased I had changed my mind about wearing Hokas and replaced them by Inov-8s which had a bit more grip.

I reached the two mile section which we were to do twice in each direction. It was a bit overgrown in places but very scenic. We then turned west to descend to the valley and then we climbed steeply out of the valley. The climb was made a bit easier by passing through some lovely buttercup meadows.

We then had about a mile on a quiet road down to Low Mill. Again there were some lovely views

Low Mill was the start of the out and back which was along a meandering, very good quality path which in daffodil season is packed. There are also lots and lots of gates. The faster half marathon runners had caught me at the start of the two mile section and they were now streaming past. One of the advantages of an out and back is that you see lots of people and it was great to exchange greeting with everyone. 

The east side of the upper circle was mainly uphill on road and then it was down to the two mile section. The east side of the low circle was mainly familiar from 2015, although there was another long climb on tarmac before we headed back downhill to Hutton-le-Hole. The dreaded decision point of going back to the finish or going round again was passed. I just told myself it won't seem too tough a second time and that time wasn't an issue. I had done the first half in 3hr 7mins and there was no danger of not making the cut off - 8hrs.

I talked to other runners and enjoyed being out in lovely countryside. I knew the sections to run on and which to walk and preserve energy. Even the out and back which I had not been looking forward to seemed to pass quickly. I felt in much better shape than last week at Coniston and I finished with some energy left. Total time was round about 6hr 30min, so the second lap was slower, but that was fine.

I came into the Village Hall and Sarah, who was doing the results, said I had won the V60 age category ! This is the fourth time I have done this at a Hardmoors marathon. There aren't many V60 competitors (there might not have been any others in this one) who do these events, but it is nice to get a trophy. 

Thanks to Phil for the photo.