Golden Fleece 27.5m 2014

Melanie and I did this one last year and quite enjoyed it. I say 'quite' because there seemed to be a few long straights which I usually find a bit dull. However, apart from that, it was an enjoyable day out. Typical LDWA event, lots of friendly people, cheap, lots of food at the checkpoints and a basic meal at the end.

Last year I struggled a bit, I think I was just tired. I also didn't know the route and the last two or three miles surprised me (it surprised a friend this year and he has described it as like going through a portal to Switzerland!). This year, I was going to be on my own as Melanie didn't want to risk her recovery by doing too much too soon. Also my longest run since the Hardmoors 30 on 1 Jan was 15m, so with both of these things, I expected to struggle again.

It started cold and misty, but villages, attractive churches and checkpoints appeared regularly. 

There was no pain in my calf, so all was good. I managed to rescue about eight people who missed a turn and ran and chatted with them to the next checkpoint where the 17m route parted from the 27.5m route. They all went off on the 17m route and suddenly there were very few people about. In the mist this was a bit eerie, but after about two and half hours the sun had burnt off the mist and it started to warm up.

I was remembering the route well and I was enjoying it, the long straights didn't seem as long as I thought they might be. There was hardly any mud. I was walking the long uphill stretches but that had been the plan all along, I didn't want to risk doing any damage to the calf and I was after time on my feet.

Switzerland arrived and went by without too much difficulty and I was soon back in the village hall. Nowhere near as exhausted as I had been last year and much to my surprise, only a minute slower.

A lovely way to spend half a day !

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/6aRnNo3UeDpVjLg2A

Hardmoors 30 2014

I have done this route four times, three times as the Hardmoors 30 and once as the Hardmoors Princess Challenge. The Princess Challenge was run in September and I enjoyed it much more than the January version - the weather was better and there was no mud.

The route is not all mud by any means. There is a fairly flat four miles (apart from a steep descent at the end) south along the Cleveland Way followed by another four miles back to the start at Ravenscar along an old railway line. However most of that is uphill which has a draining effect. But this section has only a little mud.

From Ravenscar, you then join the mud free railway line on a mainly downhill stretch to Robin Hood's Bay, then still on the railway line a climb upwards before a lovely descent into Whitby. Then you navigate your way through the crowds at Whitby, up the steps to the abbey, join the Cleveland Way and follow this all the way back to Robin Hood's Bay and then onto Ravenscar.

It feels like a race of two halves, the first 20m to Whitby is a bit testing but nothing too serious. I usually go past the Abbey at about the four hour point. Then the difficult bit starts. The Cleveland Way undulates a lot as it follows the edge of the cliffs and in the January version there is lots of mud. This usually has an awful effect on my race time, it has often taken three and a quarter hours to cover the last 10m. I managed to shave almost 30 minutes off that in September.

Yesterday, surprisingly the mud felt different from previous years. It seemed it was more of the liquid variety and fairly hard underneath, so it was possible to make reasonable progress through it.

What made yesterday so hard was the weather. The forecast was that the wind would pick up and it would rain heavily from about 1. This started as we approached Whitby, but the wind was behind us and we were sheltered so it didn't seem so bad.

However, once we got to Abbey and were on to the cliffs, we realised how hard it was going to be. The wind was very strong and directly into our faces. The rain was stinging our faces, so it was hoods up, head down and battle onwards. Not a lot of running happened on the stretch to Robin Hood's Bay. As we got close to RHB the wind seemed to increase and there was one bit where it was particularly bad. Melanie was attempting to shelter behind me to get a break from the wind when we crested an undulation and felt the full power of the wind. I grabbed a nearby fence pole and attempted to get traction through the mud. It was hard I wasn't making much progress. I turned around to check on M and she had been blown about twenty yards backwards ! I went back for her and made her hang on to me as we made our way from fence post to fence post. Flanker and KinkyS who were just catching us at this point had similar issues and another runner had to get on all fours apparently. I am not sure what geographical features led to that point being so bad, but it didn't feel like a gust of which we had had plenty.

We got to the RHB's bay checkpoint and were told we were going back via the railway line rather than the cliffs. As we were seriously cold (in spite of a waterproof and two layers) this was a relief and we warmed up as we made our way to the finish and warmth and food In 2011 after finishing I said never again. After the 2013 race Melanie and I certainly said 'Never again' and we have done so again since finishing yesterday, so will we back next year ? Who knows ...

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/41pNsdGZ2r2P8UUV6

Hardmoors Roseberry Topping marathon 2013

This race was listed as a marathon - it turned out to be about 29m, you certainly get value for money at a Hardmoors marathon, all of them have been over the marathon distance.

The race started and ended at Guisborough in North Yorkshire. Anna was helping out at registration and as there was also a half marathon and 10k, it was busy. There was a slight delay in the start of the marathon, we set off at 8.15. An early start, but the plan was to make maximum use of daylight (cut off was 10 hours). The half marathon and the 10k were being set off a little later.

The day was dry and there was a bit of sun, but there was a strong wind. Soon after the start we were off road and climbing steeply through Guisborough Woods to reach the top of the first hill, High Cliff Nab which has wonderful views over Guisborough. On the way up we were overtaken by Jerry who was doing the half marathon and later Danny went by. We didn't see Mark and Anita Dunseith who were doing the 10k. Aaron was also doing the marathon but he was along way ahead of us and finished with a good time.

From High Cliff Nab it was across the moors to Roseberry Topping. Rather than go up the direct route to the summit, we went round to the far side and up the steep route. It certainly was steep. Flip was marshalling at the top and I am not sure how he survived in that wind. Melanie was being blown all over the place in the short time we were up there.

Then it was down a different way, before making our way back to the Cleveland Way and up little Roseberry, across the moor and down to Gribdale. Up again to Captain Cooks monument, passing two Christmas trees which were decorated with various Christmas decorations. Then off in the direction of Kildale, but then we turned north before we got to Kildale and went down into Gribdale again and then up to the moors again and back towards Guisborough Woods. When we got there we were at 12m and it felt like we had done much more than that. The paths over the moors were muddy in places and it had been mainly uphill since Gribdale.

We then turned away from the woods (and the finish) and then headed back across the moors (downhill but into the strong wind). Finally reached Commondale at 16m and we went into the public toilets. I shut the door on my toilet and as it shut I thought that is a tight fit, the door was a bit big for the frame. When I attempted to get out I unlocked it without any problem but I couldn't get it open. I couldn't get any leverage and I could see I wasn't going to get out quickly. Reluctantly I called Melanie. I say reluctantly because I knew that this was going to cause her much amusement for many years to come.  Now Melanie is slight and she is not really designed to throw her weight against a stuck toilet door. However she did manage to get it open and we were off again, although it was a while before Melanie stopped laughing ...

We headed down a valley passing through the edge of Castleton before climbing back onto the moors again. Then it was a slog back to Guisborough Woods and down to the finish. 6hr 40min, two hours longer than last week's 16 laps round Newcastle Racecourse, but much more enjoyable.

Overall a very enjoyable experience which I am sure is going to be well remembered by Melanie.

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/fd3yXsAb2WXT11oP9

Newcastle Racecourse marathon 2013

We don't train for marathons, we just keep on doing them regularly and that avoids all the tedious (to us) building up of distance. So earlier in the year we looked around at what marathons were available within a reasonable distance in December. Not a lot. However there was one which was new and very local - the Newcastle Racecourse marathon (or half or 50k). It was organised by the North East marathon club which specialises in cheap marathons. The only downside was that it was on the ambulance road alongside the racecourse and the track is only about 1.5 miles, so that meant almost sixteen laps.

It turned out that this was some downside. A real mental challenge. I have done a track marathon so I thought this would be easy in comparison, but at the moment it felt a lot worse. It didn't help that the circuit wasn't as flat as I had hoped and there was quite a wind blowing. Neither Melanie nor I have done much mileage since our last marathon five weeks ago. We also haven't done much on tarmac.

So all in all we weren't well prepared and we paid for it. The first half we did with ease in about 2hr 5min which was fine. But in lap nine we started to walk one uphill stretch into the wind. In lap ten we took two walking breaks and that continued until the final lap when I had calf problems and I walked a bit more to ensure I didn't do any more damage. 4hr 38min overall

It was a grey day and at the start of lap fourteen it started to rain so we donned waterproofs for the last two laps.

The lap counters must have had a miserable day standing out there all day, many thanks to them. There were loads of people I knew doing all three events (all started at the same time from different start points) and it was great to see Fetchies I hadn't seen for quite a while.

Once we had entered this (another plus was that the cost was in the region of £10, a bargain for a marathon and you got a t shirt and a medal) another local marathon popped up. The Hardmoors Roseberry, which is next Sunday. We have entered, we couldn't miss that. It will be totally different, some really tough climbs in the first half and then across the moors towards Commondale. It should be fun if we can move our legs by then ! Our times will be considerably worse than today, but the scenery will be fantastic 

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/qLaoMnpCxmtJevFe7

Steppingley Step 26m 2013

Melanie and I had hoped to do the Hardmoors Goathland marathon this Saturday, but my nephew has chosen to get married that day. Some people just don't look at race listings when arranging these things ...

So we decided to look at doing something a week earlier. We toyed with doing Rivington and we had done the previous two races in that series, Girizedale and Howgills, but for some reason that I can't recall, we chose the Steppingley Step, a 26m LDWA event starting from Barton-le-Clay in Bedfordshire. A four hour drive from Durham. We decided to treat ourselves and stay the night before and after. After finding a nice new Premier Inn near Bedford, I managed to book us in a different one, south of Dunstable. What is a few more miles when you have driven that far, I told myself !

Later when looking at the race details, I realised that I had run from Barton-le-Clay two years ago when I did the Shillington Shuffle. I couldn't remember the route for that one very well, which is unusual for me as I can often run through race routes in my mind sometimes years after I have done them. There could well be a medical definition for this condition ...

I later realised that the Shillington Shuffle, the Sundon Saunter and the Steppingley Step (the LDWA has particular fun with names for its events) take turns to be held and that people who had done all three in a row got a special badge and certificate. This would have been something different, but sadly I didn't grasp this last year.

So we turn up at registration at 8.30 prepared to set off at 9.00 as instructed (walkers had left at 8.00). After asking my name, the next question was 'What time would you like to start ?'. I guess this might have happened two years ago, but I had forgotten and I stumbled, unsure of what to say, I wasn't used to having that sort of freedom of choice. Also Melanie was in a different queue as there were different desks depending on surname, so I couldn't have a chat. 'Its okay you can change your mind, just let me know' the registration official said seeing my uncertainty. I went for 8.45 and went and chatted to Melanie who opted for that time as well.

We got ourselves together and went outside at the appropriate time to find a large group of runners from MK Lakeside Runners who were all going off at the same time and off we went as a group. Melanie and I were well prepared for this unmarked route, we had the route on our Garmins, a set of very detailed race instructions and a map showing the route (all downloaded from the event website). As I need glasses for reading and for nothing much else, we adopted the approach we had successfully used at a previous event, Melanie reads out the next set of instructions and I look out for whatever we need to look out for, a road junction, a footpath, a yellow topped way marker or in more than one case, a rubbish bin. Melanie reckons she is poor at navigation, but I have no doubt she could find her way round without difficulty now, she is now fluent in LDWA abbreviations - WM, FB, FP, KG, BL etc. The other advantage of her reading the instructions is that she doesn't run as quickly, something I appreciate :-)

The course was initially pretty flat, but in about a mile we encountered the biggest hill of the day at Sharpenhoe. Lots of steps up, it felt like a Hardmoors event. Good views from the top, it was a sunny day though pretty windy. Then downhill towards the first of many lovely villages, Harlington. Many of these villages had attractive churches, some with the bells ringing, and cottages with thatched roofs. Then on to Westoning, which was equally as attractive. The next village, Steppingley, was the second and third checkpoint as the course was basically a figure 8 with Steppingley in the middle. The food here was good - lots of different wraps, jelly, tinned fruit, juice, tea. It was good to know what would be waiting for us in 8 or so miles. Steppingley is on a small hill, so we were running downhill after the checkpoint which felt good although we were aware there would be a climb to get back there. The route was very varied, sometime round the edges of fields, sometimes straight through fields, small sections of tarmac, different types of woodland with the sunlight filtering through. Nothing lasted too long and we changed direction frequently, so there was lots to see and enjoy. It was an excellent route (apparently there have been lots of changes from the route three years ago).

We made it back to Steppingley, consumed more wraps and headed off well refreshed for the last ten miles. On to Flitwick and Flitton and on to Pulloxhill with its water tower that can be seen from far away. Here was the last checkpoint. We had thought that we would not get such a spread as we had had at Steppingley, there was only just over 3 miles to go to the finish. We were expecting a few nibbles and drinks. But no, there was a feast laid out before us. Scones covered in lemon curd, jam tarts, crisps, twiglets, pancakes, chocolates .... We probably stayed longer than we should have done.

I lost a bit of motivation in the last three miles, I think I hadn't fully recovered from York two weeks ago. Melanie did Jedbugh a week ago so she hadn't found this one the easiest one for her either. She has now completed twenty marathons in sixteen months, an amazing achievement especially considering what she went through in 2011 and 2012.

We made it back in 5hr 22min which we were happy with. The finishing meal was basic, but the event was amazingly cheap to enter and one of the advantages of doing a race in the south was that it was good to meet up with some old friends from the marathon circuit that we hadn't seen for a while.

A long way to travel, but a lovely way to spend the weekend. 

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/9Tkqwh17Dy37k4FZ8

Yorkshire marathon 2013

I wasn't really looking forward to this one. Flat and fast is not something I train for, I prefer to have some hills that I can walk up and take a break. Melanie had decided this wasn't for her so she did all the driving and spent the day in coffee houses and shops in York.

The drive down was fine and I was dropped off as planned at the John Lloyd gym about 75min before the start and walked from there. As I approached the baggage area I realised there was a very long queue. Eventually got there and dropped my bag only to join another queue over a bridge on the York Uni campus which was hosting the event. The Uni had opened several of their buildings too so there were plenty of toilet facilities. Finally, I got to pen 4 about 7 minutes before the start.

It took me about 6 minutes to cross the line and then we turned towards the centre of the city and then going through one of the gates in the walls. Onward towards the shopping area and it got a bit narrower and headed towards the minster. Passed Melanie who seemed to be standing above the crowds on something precarious and then out through another gate in the walls and into the suburbs. Still lots of people about, some with megaphones, people had also put bunting outside their home and were offering jelly babies to the runners. We had our first names on our race numbers so the spectators were encouraging us by name. I heard some spectators making plans for next year, suggestion they would bring out gazebos 

When running through Stockton on the Forest I was surprised to see a vicar in full regalia high fiving runners and saying 'God Bless you' to everyone she connected with.

My plan for this one was to do 10min miles and just see how it went. I had to start a little ahead of the pacer in the pen because of the crowds, but I seemed to be knocking off sub 10 min miles without too much effort. I wondered how long it would last and I could feel my calves tightening ominously ...

By about halfway I realised I was enjoying this more than I expected. Soon after halfway there were two out and back legs which gave me the opportunity to see people I knew and there were loads, Fetchies, clubmates and friends from other clubs. Looking for other runners distracted me from the gentle inclines that had started to appear.

I got to 20m in 3hr 16min which was pleasing. Things started to go wrong at about mile 22, the first real walking started and I started to put in 10min, 11min miles... But I knew I had enough time to get under 4hr 30min so I just walked when I felt I needed to, but always started up again as quickly as I could.

Lots of crowds at the finish, a reasonable goody bag, with a pink and white t shirt and a pink and white medal 

I think I might enter again next year and MelanieLH is tempted as well 

Some photos from Melanie : https://photos.app.goo.gl/BcnzBQZZ2mQNnkWy9

Kielder marathon 2013

We got up early to get to Kielder for MelanieLH's first race round Kielder. It was to be my eighth. The forecast was light rain from 12 and cloudy before that.

Arrived in plenty of time and parked in the official car park (a field) at Falstone and got on the bus to take us to the start. No delays and we were dropped off at the top of the hill and made our way down to the starting area. Sadly as we approached the start one of the barriers blew over onto MelanieLH's ankle. It went red, but she had it checked out and it didn't seem to cause her any problems when running. Relaxed and ate some of the wonderful food being sold by a group from Falstone. All home cooked and lovely.

The announcer warned that the start might be late (which seems to have happened most years), but we went off just about on time. It had started drizzling and it kept on doing that all race. It was cooling at first, but it did get a bit more windy and chilly towards the end.

Melanie and I decided to run this one separately as I wanted to walk most if not all the hills and then speed up towards the end. This strategy has worked well the last couple of times. So I started fairly near the back. However, once I got started, I found I was bouncing along quite rapidly. I was surprised, it had been a tiring week and I hadn't slept too well the previous night. To my surprise I started to catch MelanieLH and two clubmates and caught them after about 4m. This was probably a mistake ...

One of the other two clubmates rapidly slowed after 6m and limped round the rest, so then the three of us ran on. I was walking more than the other two, but then catching them on the descents. However after a while I found myself unable to catch them. But I was still going reasonably well and did the first half in 2h13min

I was hoping that I would still be able to either speed up or at least continue that pace after 17m, but inevitably going too fast early on had taken its toll and I slowed. Still I got round in my third fastest time out of eight, so I was very happy with that 

I do love running at Kielder and there was a lovely atmosphere. Apart from a falling barrier, the organisation was very good and it was an excellent goody bag 

I will be back again next year