Saturn Run Remembrance Day marathon 2021

I have completed a Saturn Run marathon in Durham before. I didn't really enjoy doing laps along paths I run down very regularly. However, that one had short laps so it felt there was a lot of covering the same ground. I have also watched the last couple of Saturn runs and come round to thinking maybe I should do another one. I felt that I also needed a long run to keep my fitness up at this time of year.

There are advantages, the start is only one mile from where I live, the route is very flat, there is a very friendly atmosphere with no pressure, you can run as far as you like within 6.5 hours. And then there is the Aid station at the end of each lap. There is a comprehensive choice of sweets (and some vegan ones) and today there was watermelon. I usually love events that have watermelon at checkpoints.

There was also a number of people there who I knew which always helps. My partner Melanie was going to do the half marathon (three laps) and a friend was going to do two laps (although she ended up doing a third to reach a half marathon 😀). The weather was perfect, no wind or rain, the ground was firm and the autumn colours were just lovely. Thanks to Melanie for these photos 😀

Lap 1. There must have been a couple of hundred starters and it felt quite crowded. There were also lots of folk out on the paths for a Sunday stroll so there was a bit of dodging and weaving. Also we took it very easy and got back to the aid staion and had drinks and food.

Lap 2. At 11.00 air horns sounded around the course and we all stopped in rememberance. We felt that we weren't going any faster on this lap, but somehow we were and we got back to the aid station a bit quicker. Time for more of the food I had bought with me - sandwiches and my mountain fuel drink.

Lap 3: Melanie and I set out together and this was without any doubt our fastest lap. It felt like we were going considerably faster. At the end Melanie stopped as she did not want to aggravate the niggles that she is struggling with.

Lap 4: I knew that without Melanie this was going to be harder, so I changed my shirt and gave Melanie my waist bag that was rubbing a bit. I often find changing my shirt helps me, it just feels like a fresh start. Earlier in the event I thought I would take this lap slower, but I was still buzzing from lap 3 and it was fairly fast.

Lap 5: Melanie has stayed around and I passed her several times which always helps. This lap was meant to be where I put in some effort, but I had already put some in the previous lap and there wasn't much left in the tank. There were a couple of sections I walked which is not a good sign.

Lap 6: Changed into a long sleeved top as I thought I might be walking a bit more on this lap and that happened. Not many runners left on the course at this point and those who were left were all exchanging 'Well done' as they passed.

Some vegan snacks at the end and an impressive medal

Hardmoors Fryupdale marathon 30m 2021

It has been eighteen months since I did a marathon or ultra event. The last marathon distance I did was in May and since then I have only done one twenty mile training event. This showed in today's marathon.

It was an early start which we haven't been used to either. Melanie and I left home at 6.45 as the sun rose.

The start and finish were at the Yorkshire Cycling Hub in Fryupdale (what a wonderful name). The route was already nearly 30 miles but Jon, the route organiser, thought it would be fun to send us up the zigzags of the mountain biking route on the site. To compensate we were going to take a short cut to the finish - a net gain of distance, but he said that we would get the extra distance over with early in the race.....

I started last as I knew I was going to find it tough. However, I found that I was running well and started to slowly overtake other runners. We ran down the valley and then started gently climbing out

The photo below has not come out well, but if you click on it you can see the runners in front zig zagging up the top. It was a big climb out of the valley and up onto the moors

The view from the top looking back towards the start on the hill in the distance

Over the moors, on past the Lion Inn and on to the old railway line towards Blowarth Crossing. Here the views are looking into Farndale

A descent into the lovely Westerdale and onto a section of the Hardmoors Rosedale marathon route. Most of the route was using the Esk Valley Walk which is a lovely path starting in Castleton, doing a loop to the south and then following the valley to Whitby. Highly recommended !

Soon after Castleton I was in a group of about eight or nine and they weren't sure of the way and so I was leading them, hoping I didn't make  a mistake. We ended up in the Moors National Park Centre and went past this guy

Then a big 1.5 mile climb on tarmac up to Danby Beacon where Melanie was waiting for me. 

The bottom of my left foot was sore so I changed shoes and socks applied vaseline, had some tea and sandwiches and generally had a bit of a rest. The rest of the group were long gone by the time I started again

This is where my lack of good consistent training hit me hard. I was walking much more and sometimes on the flats and downhills.... not good

My ankle was also getting sore - I had gone over it a couple of times earlier, but each time it had been fine immediately after. I met Melanie in Glaisdale and I was struggling with it. I didn't stay long there as I could feel myself getting stiffer and I was hoping it would ease as I walked up the long ascent on Glaisdale Rigg. That drag upwards seemed never ending. At one point I could see the finish in the valley but had further to climb...

Finally we turned down into the valley and it is some descent. I remember it from two years ago but I was hoping it would be easier because of the drier conditions. It wasn't. If you want a combination of grass, mud, steepness and rocks it is perfect ! I took it very carefully.

A bit of tarmac to the Cycle Hub and a steep climb up to the finish line

I was the only veteran 70 in the field and so by finishing I won a plaque !

It was good to see so many people I know. Hardmoors marathon/ultra number 51 and overall total now 205. Although the last nine miles were hard, I am glad I entered the event. It is a beautiful route. The next challenge is not to let the fitness I have gained here deteriorate, I don't want the next one to be as hard as this one !