Hardmoors Goathland marathon 2018

The weather at this event can vary. In some of the previous years if has been torrential rain and it has been cold. This year we were blessed with dry weather leading up to the event. Friday night had seen heavy rain, but that just gave a surface layer of mud, it was generally firm underneath so it was fine. The temperature was good as well, a bit of a southerly breeze but not too bad at all. Definitely the best conditions I had seen in my five visits to this event.

I was running with Kath and Elly and as usual we had a great day. We started off gently through the village to the old railway line

and down to the river where we headed towards the waterfall. As usual there were small queues at some of the early gates

Sadly there had been a landslip so we couldn't go past the waterfall so we headed up some steps back into the village emerging next to the Mallyn Spout Hotel before setting off across the moors on the usual route with some lovely views.

Just after the first checkpoint were the Sports Sunday photographers

followed by the slog up to Simon Howe and then south across the moor towards Wardle Rigg

The approach to Wardle Rigg checkpoint is often very wet , but it was fine this year and I was beginning to wonder if using waterproof socks had not been required. However later sections were a bit wet so I think I made the right decision.

Down towards the railway line the autumn colours were lovely

Across the railway line and up the climb on the other side

and on to Levisham Bottoms in the direction of the Levisham Elbow. Plenty of highland cattle around here but they showed no interest in us at all.

Another climb up to the Levisham checkpoint and then gently up past the spectacular Hole of Horcum to the next checkpoint. Down the Old Wives Way with views of Blakey Topping.

On towards Fylingdales and on to Lilla Cross and down the boggy section, which we loved, to the Ellerbeck checkpoint at 23.5 miles.

5 miles to go which would take us about an hour because of the ascent up to Simon Howe. We crossed the railway line again, no trains in sight today.

One we reached Simon Howe and the cheery marshalls there, we started the last bit across the moors to Goathland Village Hall which we made before darkness fell.

2017 blog

I do love this event. As with all Hardmoors events, the marshalls and volunteers in the Village Hall were lovely and Jon and Shirley did their usual excellent job of organising the whole thing.