Hardmoors Princess 31m 2018

This was an event I have done four times before, but I missed out last year because of a bad back. I do enjoy the route in the summer. I have done the Hardmoors 30 (which is basically the same, but not always the same direction) several times as well, but the weather and the lack of slippery mud makes it more fun that the 30.

I was running this with Melanie and it was great to see so many people I know running this one.

There were a lot of tutus on display at this one, more than I had seen before. 

The race started with the usual road descent to the Cleveland Way and then following the Way south towards Hayburn Wyke. There was some incentive to do this reasonably quickly as there was the possibility of being held by a marshall whilst a farmer moved some cattle. There is diversion on the Way in place before Hayburn Wyke, because of a landslip I think, but it was well signposted and it went across fields, along quiet road and through woods.

Then back on to the Cleveland Way above the beach at Hayburn Wyke

I think the event a little longer but not by very much. Then there is a long drag up the Cinder Track back to Ravenscar. I think this may have been the first year I have ran all of this section of the Cinder Track. I walked a bit on the road back to the Village Hall. It was getting quite warm, but there was a cooling breeze from the west. The road section was the first bit where there was no shade.

We stopped for a bit longer than usual at the checkpoint and then back to the Cinder Track for the gentle descent to Robin Hood's Bay. There is a slight rise towards the end but we were feeling fine at the Robin Hood's Bay checkpoint where they had ice to add to our drinks 😅😅

We walked the drag on the Cinder Track out of Robin Hood's Bay

We reached 15m at 2h 55min. We knew we would slow down on the Cleveland Way after Whitby, but it was looking good - my best time at this event was 6hr 45min. I slowed a little on the descent into Whitby.

Two views from the viaduct at Whitby

Crossing the Swing Bridge

This picture doesn't really show the crowds in Whitby, it felt busier than this.

We bought an ice cream each at the bottom of the Whitby steps. This didn't work out for me, my stomach did not feel good afterwards, but it didn't last for more than about an hour. On past the lovely lighthouse.

It was slow progress back to Robin Hood's Bay, I was getting very tired and we didn't run much. Finally got there and got more ice in our drinks and on to the last four to five miles which has some significant climbs. The climb out of Robin Hood's Bay was when I became really aware of my lack of energy. I was having to pause climbing the hill whichever never usually happens (except I did notice it at Elsecar, though I was fine the following day at Rosedale). I used one pause to take this photo over the Bay towards Ravenscar.

On towards Boggle Hole

Another very slow climb out and down into Stoupe Back and yet another slow climb out. My heart was racing on these climbs and pausing seemed to help keep the rate down. Across the cliffs - walked these as I had nothing left and then onto the final big climb at Ravenscar. This seemed a little easier, probably because there were no steps. Melanie fancied a proper coffee so she went on ahead to the National Trust shop in Ravenscar and bought two take away coffees and walked to the finish in the Village Hall with them. I am sure you can imagine some of the comments she got as she crossed the line !

It took me a little while to feel normal back in the Hall. The chips and the drinks helped. 

I am not sure what happened today. It could well have been the heat and not being hydrated enough before and during the event, but I will pay a visit to the GP just to get checked out. 

We finished in about 7hr 15min so a much slowed second half !!