The Cycle Hub is a new facility, but there wasn't much space in the Registration Hall so we had to store our bags back in Dawn's car - Melanie wasn't running this one as she has a niggle in her foot so I was running with Dawn.
Jon announced a few changes in the route at the briefing and we started uphill
As you can see we weren't going to get many views today because of the low cloud. Once at the top there was a gentle road incline up to the first checkpoint. It started to rain at this point and basically hardly stopped all day. The intensity changed a bit, sometime light drizzle but other times pretty heavy.
A couple of muddy sections across the moor, past the Sports Sunday photographers who took these two photos
and we headed for the Lion Inn. Although we passed very close to it, we could not see it because of the cloud.
On to the railway line heading towards Blowarth Crossing and we got some views
Before we reached Blowarth we turned out down the lovely Westerdale
where the route was a bit boggy in places. On to part of the Roseberry Topping route towards Castleton
On through Danby and on to the Moors National Park Centre near Danby
Then a long road climb up to Danby Beacon with the rain getting a bit heavy. There was a checkpoint at the top and we both got a bit cold after that so we ran most of the way down and through Leaholm. The weather got a bit easier for a short while at this point
On to Glaisdale and then a very, very long climb up the Glaisdale Rigg, before a steep, muddy descent off the Rigg - we both slipped and fell in this section. Then some road sections back to the Cycle Hub where we were greeted with lots of flags showing us the way to the finish !
The Cycle Hub has showers and a cafe and we both needed showers and warm drinks to heat us up a bit. We had been told that this 'marathon' was at least 32 miles, but because of the various route changes I measured it as just under 29 miles, so that was good !
