Durham Dales 30m 2017

I do love this event. I have done the 17m route twice and this was to be fourth go at the 30m route. There were four Striders doing the 30m route and the rest were running the 17m route

Melanie was running the 17m route and I was running the 30m route with Kath who was doing it for the first time. Melanie loved her route and was the second female finisher on the 17m route.

There was just one minor change to the route from last year and that appeared straightforward. There was tea, cake and quiche available before the start. The food available at this event is just awesome and includes a basic meal at the end, all for a cost of £14.

We started by the usual climb out of Wolsingham which provided some lovely views of the Wear valley.

On the way we passed through the wonderfully named Towdy Potts Farm. We came to the point where the two routes parted after about 3m. It had taken over 40min to reach this point because of the hills.

We then had a bit if drag upwards before a lovely descent through heather with Steel Beck to the right

There were a few tape signs in this section but once we crossed the beck they disappeared. We climbed a little higher than we should have done, but we descended and found the right path before crossing the next beck. Then it was a lovely grassy descent to the wonderfully named Meeting of the Grains.

Another long climb and into Hamsterley Forest. We made our way downhill to Sharnnerry Beck and after a tricky descent we turned onto a grassy section whereupon I tripped over something and went flying. I think I executed a nice roll onto my shoulder and only slightly grazed my knee, so everything was fine and I was able to continue straight away.

We walked up the forest road to the checkpoint where we refilled with water (and cake !). Climbed out of Hamsterley 

and back onto to moorland and up another climb I had forgotten about (i got teased by Kath about this for the rest of the day...) before we had a good descent to the River Tees. 

We ran and walked alongside the river for two miles or so - it is not easy running, but it is beautiful. I do like the variety of countryside in this route.

We turned off the riverside path towards Middleton-in Teesdale through a lovey wild meadow

Into the famous checkpoint at Middleton which has an amazing reputation for the food and drink on offer. It did not disappoint

and it was hard to leave.

Another climb out of Middleton to get back onto the moors and there was a checkpoint about halfway up with a great view back along the valley we had just run.

A descent into the valley containing Great Egglesthorpe Beck

with more beck crossings, before the climb out of the valley and the descent down to Little Egglesthorpe Beck and the next checkpoint. It had been windy on the way to Middleton, but now the wind was behind us, but it was string enough that all the food was in two car boots. There were just loads, I had quiche, cake and orange slices, just perfect.

Up on the moor again, (but only a gentle climb this time) but there was an amazing view, we could see as far as Saltburn

and across to the final checkpoint above Surrender House. As with all the other checkpoints the marshalls were lovely and friendly - they are out there for a long time as there are quite a few walkers doing this event.

A lovely descent down to the River Wear and we followed the railway back to Wolsingham where one of the trains went by

Into the Hall which was serving as Race HQ and I was pleased to see the bar was open 😀 The meal was cheese pasty and mushy peas followed by rice pudding and with a pint, that all was consumed very quickly.

I will be back !

Hardmoors Wainstones marathon 2017

A mainly sunny day, but with quite a strong wind which slowed me down but also kept me cool. 26.79 miles (a bit short for a Hardmoors marathon 😉), just under 4000ft of climb with ten climbs.

Climb 1 - Out of Chop Gate and the hardest climb. It's not all marathons that you do the first mile in about 22 minutes, but at least you get the hardest climb out of the way early on.

Sometimes your attempts at taking pictures of the view don't quite work out...

James had a fantastic run today. Once we reached the top of the hill he flew off and I didn't see him again until the finish.

Once at the top, there is nice flat section with the wind behind us, so that was fun,

Photo by Dave Parker. This was followed by a lovely run down into Scugdale.

Climb 2 Carlton Bank. There is a small down section in this climb, but apart from that it is a long drag upwards, but with some great views

Then there is tricky descent down to Lordstones where we were joined by the half marathon runners. Last year, the half runners around me were about my pace, but not this year, we joined the front runners.

Climb 3 First sister (Cringle Moor) I was being passed by loads of half marathon runners, which was strange, but otherwise it was good.

Climb 4 Second sister (Cold Moor) Still being passed, but pleased to get up and over.

Climb 5 Third sister (Wainstones) I was getting a bit tired by this one. I passed the 10k tail runners. This has the most technical bit, but it is only short

Along the top of Hasty Bank and down to Clay Bank passing some of the 10k runners (which made a change from being passed by crowds of runners).

In the checkpoint I saw Eric who had sadly had to pull out because of injury.

Climb 6 Up to Urra Moor. Plodded up this this conscious that we were now approaching halfway and the worst climbs were behind us. But you always wonder how much you have left.

Once up we go down for a short while along the edge of the escarpment, looking down on the valley below. The strong wind was in our faces so once it levelled out I struggled to run for very long. Then at the next checkpoint where Dave was stationed we parted from the 10K and half runners and turn east towards Round Hill, the highest point on the moors.

Climb 7 Up to Round Hill. If this was at the start I would have run it, but after those last six climbs, there was no chance that would happen.

There were a few puddles on the route, but hardly any mud

This was followed by nice run down to Blowarth Crossing.

Climb 8 Climb up from Blowath Crossing. Again not a steep climb, but the wind was in our faces, so I walked it. Luckily I had some company - I got talking to Martin from Susses who was doing his first Hardmoors event.

Finally we got to the top and had a lovely run down to Bransdale.

Climb 9 Climb out of Bransdale. This is all on tarmac and it gets a bit steep towards the end. Pleased to get it over and there is the final checkpoint (22m) at the top.

We turned onto trail which climbed for a while and then flattened out. It started to rain a little so our waterproofs came out. We started to run and gradually Martin fell behind and I was finding I had still had some energy. I was overtaking quite a few runners and I enjoyed the descent into Tripsdale, but inevitably there was

Climb 10 Climb out of Tripsdale. Long and a slog, but there is they joy that once at the top there is nothing but downhill to the finish.

And that descent was lovely. Into the Village Hall and received my medal and tee shirt

6hr 36 min and I was very happy with that especially the last 4m when I usually have nothing left. No age category win this year - I have won my age category the other times I have done this event, but there must have been a speedier runners this year.