Sunday 1 January 2017

Hardmoors 30m 2017

2016 had been a good year for running for me - 18 marathons/ultras and no injuries. It can't get much better than that. In January 2016 I decided that I would set myself a target to keep my motivation up. Normally, I react against targets, I prefer to just enjoy myself, but it was just me setting this one so I have enjoyed planning and working towards it.

The aim was to have completed 150 marathons/ultras within ten years of my first marathon in May 2007. But I was only going to do events which took my fancy and pace it steadily. It has worked, I enjoyed all eighteen events last year, which leaves me 6 more to do, so the Hardmoors 30 would the first of the 6 and would be number 145.

I have done the Hardmoors 30 three times and the Hardmoors Princess four times - the Princess is the same route, but run in the summer. I haven't done the Hardmoors 30 since the start moved to Robin Hood's Bay, so although I would be running over the same ground, it would be starting further round the route and a large part would be running the route in the opposite direction to what I was used to.

I was up at 5.30, left home at 6.30 and arrived in Robin Hood's Bay at 8.00. I had my kit checked, collected my number, had a cup of coffee, sorted myself out and chatted to a few people before the race briefing. Then it was outside and ready for the start.



As you can see it was cloudy and at this point there was little wind. The route started on the cinder track and there is a 3m gentle climb up to Hawkser before a lovely descent into Whitby. On the old route, this climb is usually at about 15m so I usually walk most of it. As it was the start, I ran it for the first time. As we went along the route, we were more exposed to the wind, so out came the waterproof top to put over two long sleeve layers. Every 30min or so it would rain briefly and a couple of times it was hailstones, but it was dry apart from that. It was a bit harder running into the wind, but once on the descent it was fine.

Whitby was much quieter than it usually is, but with this version of the route we were much earlier in the day. We came to the 199 steps up to the abbey


The views over Whitby are great


Finally we pass by the abbey itself


and follow the Cleveland Way along the cliff tops back to Robin Hood's Bay


Up to the lighthouse at Ling Hill, the path wasn't too muddy


There was a photographer just after this point and I thought I would try a leap but it didn't quite work out...


After this the mud started in earnest, it was thick and clung to the bottom of my shoes so I felt I didn't have as much grip as I would like. I felt I was running well though and making better time than I usually do on the section. The wind helped to blow us back to Robin Hood's Bay


I was very surprised to get back to Robin Hood's Bay in 2hr 40min, I would normally have taken much longer. I even started to dream of a sub 6 hour finish. However that soon went out of the window.

After leaving Robin Hood's Bay we went south on the cinder track. This descends gently for a mile or so, then there is a long ascent to Ravenscar. I decided to walk that section 



James caught me shortly after this and he and I chatted to a walker who was out for a stroll. On these Hardmoors events people just chat and it is lovely.

At Ravenscar the route was slightly kinder, we didn't need to go up to the Village Hall, we just carried on along the cinder track after a short road section. However, the cinder track now descended all the way to Hayburn Wyke, the southernmost point of the route. I ran this section, not fast but steady.

Came in to checkpoint and we were greeted by the usual 'encouraging' sign as we left


and descended into the Wyke


before being faced with the many steps out and back to the Cleveland Way


The steps seem to go on forever and I had pain in both feet when I got to the top. I have never had this before and I was struggling to walk let alone run and there was 8 miles to go ! It wasn't looking good at this point but the sun came out and coast looked lovely


The path here was muddy and slippy and again the wind was in our faces. I hadn't realised how much uphill this section was back to Ravenscar - I am used to going in the opposite direction.

It was starting to get a little darker as I finally reached the Ravenscar checkpoint to be greeted by Lorna who was doing a second shift as a marshall, she had also been at Whitby. The marshalls at Ravenscar looked very cold, it was windy and getting cold. We descended from Ravenscar back onto the Cleveland Way and passed Gareth and Lesley marshalling and jumping up and down to keep warm.

Only about 4m to go now but there were three sharp descents and ascents in that section. I managed to get through them without any more foot pain. The last climb was up from the bottom of Robin Hood's Bay itself and it was now getting quite dark by then, but there was street lighting so I didn't need to get my head torch out.

I huffed and puffed my way up the hill and turned into the car park and ran into the Village Hall to finish. 6hr 45min which was faster than any of my previous Hardmoors 30 times and equalled my fastest Hardmoors Princess time (there is much less mud in early September when the Princess is run). I was very happy with that, the change in the start point really helped me.


There was some lovely vegetarian chilli to eat before I started the drive home. Another lovely day out :-)