Hardmoors Goathland marathon 2014

This was the one Hardmoors trail marathon that Melanie and I missed last year and having heard lots of good reports about the scenery, we were looking forward to it. However, the weather forecast looked a bit grim. Light rain from 11.00 and then heavy rain from 12.00 for the rest of the day. With a start time of 09.00, we needed to be ready for some heavy weather. We had already been warned that that the ground was wet and boggy in places.

The start is a lovely downhill stretch to a river which you follow (and clamber rather than run) passing a spectacular waterfall - Mallyan Spout. Then it is up on to the moors where the trails were muddy, but not too bad. After a while we ran into forest and ran close the the tracks of the steam railway from Pickering. We crossed the line and then climbed back up again and at that point (about 11m) the rain arrived. It was out with the waterproofs and hoods up as the rain started to come down more heavily.

We really felt for the marshalls who were out in those conditions. We continued on to the Hole of Horcum and then skirted past RAF Fylingdales with its strange shaped buildings. From here we were on hard packed forest road for a while, but then we veered off on the Lyke Wake path. This section was completely flooded, boggy, muddy and streams were much wider and difficult to cross. After the first mile of the race we had given up any hope of keeping our feet dry, but here there was no choice but to run down paths which were streams. Finally, having crossed the railway again and climbed out of the valley, we turned for Goathland and warmth. Phil Owen was waiting for us half way up the final descent having stood out in the pouring rain for half an hour and is was great to see him and realise we were almost back. The village hall which was the race HQ was a very welcome sight. Phil ran back with us and then veered off to a coffee shop to get us life saving cappuccinos.

It wasn't quite our slowest marathon - see the Keswick Mountain Festival marathon earlier this year, but it was pretty close. I cannot recall having such tough underfoot conditions before. But in spite of that and the weather, it is an event we enjoyed and may well do again.

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/HeMsetApPGY8YBsc6

Yorkshire marathon 2014

Neither Melanie nor I was expecting to do well at this event. We only did the Kielder marathon seven days earlier and two weeks before that we had done the very hilly Great Langdale, so the best we hoped for was to be able to get round between 4.30 and 5.00.

I did the event last year and enjoyed it more I expected and recommended it to Melanie. She wanted to do it as she loves York and she studies part-time there. We also knew there were quite a few Striders there, including three who were doing their first marathon. There were also some Striders supporting and it was good to see them around the course.

Flip (supporting) drove us down with Anna (running). There had been fog warnings and they turned out to be accurate. The fog lasted most of the morning and it only burnt off after 1.00. But this was great for running, cool and no wind. We made our way to the baggage area, which last year had been inside and there were long queues. This year there were no queues but it consisted of tents in a car park. It was a bit chilly getting ready as the tents were just for the bags. We moved on quickly to a College bar (the race started and finished at the University of York) to keep warm.

Then off to the pens which like last year weren't crowded and soon we were off with Matt Dawson talking on the PA while high fiving runners. We went through the city centre and past the minister with the bells tolling in the mist. There was lots of support which was great.

On and out of York, through a few small villages and again the vicar in his full white regalia was out high fiving runners and saying bless you. I had thought the first half was flat, but my memory wasn't accurate, it started to undulate a bit at 8m. Melanie and I started a bit quick, but we slowed it down to about 9min 30sec which was still way ahead of what we had planned. But it felt comfortable.

We made it to halfway in 2hr 6min and neither of us thought we could keep that up. The first out and back at Stamford Bridge was fine and we pulled ourselves up to the next one. The second out and back seemed longer than last year and at the turn around point (18m) Melanie started to speed up. I managed to keep running up the drag and out of the out and back and at 20m I saw Melanie about 50 meters ahead. I was happy to get to 20m in 3hr 10min. Sub 4.30 was looking good and even a performance better than last year (4hr 25min) looked a good possibility. Last year I walked a fair amount after 20m, so this year I tried to walk much less and it worked, though I was slowing. When I passed Flip at 25 and half miles, I knew that even sub 4hr 15min might be feasible. This turned out to be a bit too ambitious. I did manage to run the final hill this year and flew down to the finish, but it wasn't quite enough 4hr 15min 20sec. I was very happy with that. Later I worked out it was my 5th fastest marathon/ultra out of 110 I have completed and I haven't run faster since May 2010 at Windermere which was 90 marathons/ultras ago !

Meanwhile Melanie had not slowed at all and speeded up slightly, so in the last six miles she had been closer to 9min 15sec. She came in with 4h 7min, a great negative split and she beat her PB from Vienna by about 13min ! A fantastic run.

This is definitely an event for PBs, quite a few Striders got one. I still prefer off road events, but I still find doing the odd road event fun. It was good to see so many of my clubmates (both Striders and 100 marathoners). The first timers from the Striders, Kerry, Kirsty and Lucy all finished well and Lucy turned in an excellent 3hr 45min performance !

Maybe our preparation hadn't been too bad for this event. Maybe we both would have done better if we had tapered. Who knows ...

Kielder marathon 2014

This was to be my ninth event running round Kielder. It is a lovely place to run, its almost all off road and the surface of the Lakeside Way is designed for mobility vehicles so it is very smooth. The route itself is very undulating with roughly 2600 ft of ascent.

Melanie and I had no designs on a fast time as we have another marathon coming along shortly, so the plan was just finish and if would be good to be under 5 hours. I hadn't looked at previous times at Kielder, but I knew there was at least one event where I had been over 5hrs and one at roughly 4h 30min when Sophster had dragged me round.

As we drove there we could look down on the valleys full of cloud, a beautiful sight. This year we were told that the parking was at the far end of the reservoir, but as we drove past the start/finish area at Leaplish we were directed there and parked very close to the start/finish, so no hanging round for a bus before or after the race 😀 As usual we then enjoyed some of the home baking offered by the local village, Falstone.

The clouds burnt off and we had a bit of drizzle, but it all went away at the start. It was chip times so we started very near the back and ran up the first hill after the start. I have sometimes adopted the strategy of walking all the hills and running everything else, but this time I thought I would just run as much as I could and walk just the longer/steeper ascents.

And the miles clicked by. I took a gel from a checkpoint at one point and that seemed to help (I normally carry shot bloks, a nine bar and s-caps). At about 15m, Melanie said I was going a bit fast, so I slowed up a bit and got to the dam at 17m in pretty reasonable shape. Across the dam we were into the strengthening wind, which was harder but we were continuing to overtake people as we had done for most of the race. On to the Bull Crag promontory where I took another gel from a checkpoint. At first it seemed fine, but about two miles from the end my stomach felt pretty bad. I told Melanie to go on ahead while I took it a bit easier. I still managed to come in with my second fastest time ever at Kielder, 4hr 39min, so I was very happy with how it all went.

There were 644 finishers this year and some years there have been over 1000 so I hope this doesn't mean it is cancelled at some point.

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/EJxqLVZZLPtKVxDf9

Great Langdale marathon 2014

This was an event I have always wanted to do, but for various reasons the timing has never quite worked out. The event website has the following on its front page "And Englishmen (and women) now a'bed will think themselves cursed that they did not run with us on that day - Henry V and Rocket Rod" on a background of the lovely Langdale valley. It was also billed at the UK's toughest road marathon. They know how to sell an event ! Jane Ives had run this a couple of years ago and had also recommended it (see link at the bottom)

It was a fairly low key event, almost all on road - there was a about a mile on a very smooth track. There was a half marathon as well, which was one lap and the marathon was two laps. It was up and down almost all of the way. The one exception was the first mile which lulled you into a false sense of security. It was flat, but then you turned up the very steep climb to Blea Tarn. This was followed by a lovely descent into Little Langdale and a climb out and past the start and finish of the fell race that Danny and Mike were doing. More climbs and descents before we reached Skelworth Bridge and a very steep 25% climb out of there. Then an undulating run back to the start/finish where many people finished.

I wasn't doing too badly at this point, but I realised I hadn't put enough vaseline on my nipples, so I looked around for a first aider, but I couldn't see anybody, so we carried on. It was much quieter on the second lap. The roads were open but the traffic wasn't too bad. We had met a few friends from fetcheveryone at the start and one of them said that the second lap will feel shorter than the first and that this was true even when you have done the race more than once. I was hopeful this was correct, but didn't really believe it. But that is the way it worked out. We ran past the fell race presentations and got to about 18m when I felt I was tiring. I knew I was well within the 5hr 30min cut off and Melanie went on ahead to finish with two laps equal in time which was very impressive.

I bimbled along, walking all the inclines and running everything else. I got to Skelworth Bridge to find they were giving out Galaxy chocolate bars at the checkpoint (checkpoints up to here had been water and haribo). I took half a bar gratefully and as I climbed up that massive hill again, I came up with a novel and not really recommended solution to my sore nipple issue. I melted the chocolate in my mouth and then applied it. It worked !

I finally arrived at the finish where the event was winding down, collected my medal and lovely little shoe memento. I also collected a bottle of wine, all over 60s finishing the marathon got one, a lovely gesture and one which I hope will be copied by all events in future ... 

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/sw9Mqz3Fo7wt8fit6

Supporting at the Great North Run

I have run the Great North Run ten times and at the moment, I don't have any desire to run it again. I enjoyed running it, but it was always crowded. That was always compensated by the atmosphere which was special. The event is now expensive and their transfer and deferral policy is unfair in my view.

However, there is no denying it is an iconic event and it is seen as a race to do for many people who are setting out as runners. Our club, the Elvet Striders, has many relatively new runners and quite a few of them were doing their first half marathon, so it seemed like a good idea to go along and give them a cheer and some support. This blog post also serves to remind me of certain things when I do this again.

I have supported runners twice before, the first time in 2008

and again in 2010

This year I decided to do it again but instead of supporting Fetcheveryone runners, Melanie and I decided to support our club. Unlike Fetcheveryone, we didn't have a banner so we had to make one. We also decided to go for something bigger than we used in 2010. We used a double sheet and I was all for painting the writing on, but then Melanie came up with two great ideas - use duck tape for the writing and add a couple of Striders shirts. Both worked very well and we would use them again.

We decided to use the same support point, it was reasonably quiet (apart from the Hash club runners about 100 meters up the road who were giving away beer to runners ....) and the road sign was pretty visible from the road.

What we probably would not use again were balloons . They kept popping, coming off and blowing away (sometimes into the race :-( so apologies if you tripped over a balloon) They also took ages to blow up and we were on a tight schedule because of road works at Whitemare Pool had meant we didn't get there until about 9.30.

When we arrived Melanie went off to use the facilities in the Temple Park Sports Centre and I headed for the sign to get the ropes over the sign. In 2010 I did this at the second or third attempt. I had brought a spanner to attach to the ropes to and then I would throw over the sign - well that was the plan. However, my first attempts kept hitting the sign and making a large clang. This attracted a policeman who came along and asked what I was up to. I explained and he generously said that if anyone complained I would have to take it down, but for now he was turning a blind eye. I assured him the sign would not go up until the road closed. Phew ! When he had gone down the road I tried again and got the spanner over the top. However, it wasn't heavy enough to pull the rope over the sign. This wasn't looking good ....

Then a man came out of nearby house. As he came over, I didn't think he was going to be very supportive, but he started by asking what I was trying to do. I explained and he said that he lots of tools that might help including a selection of hammers which would be heavier. I went into his house and we agreed that a rubber hammer would be heavier and make less noise. It worked like a dream and we got the ropes over and down the back. Ken was a lifesaver, he not only lent us tools, he got his foot pump out when ours didn't work and lent a hand blowing up balloons, he lent us a broom when a balloon got stuck behind the sheet. He also allowed us to use his bathroom later :-) He had been a runner himself, having run the now retired Morpeth to Newcastle race. He had moved in just over a year ago, so wasn't aware of my previous supporting activities at this point.

Once we had the balloons attached to the sheet, we started to get it up the sign. The wheelchair racers were already going by so we were stopping to cheer and clap. Finally we got it up, though a balloon got trapped but after several attempts to free it with Ken's broom, we left it there.

The elite women then started to arrive and the leader was flying and well clear. Then the main race led by the elite men. Mo was also looking great, closely following the leader. Then we started to look out for runners we know. The first person we saw was an ex Strider, Michael Mawby, who ended up 77th overall. He was nowhere near that fast when he was running with the Striders. His improvement has been amazing. The first Strider was Stephen Jackson who exchanged a high five and flew off down the road.

The Striders then came along pretty regularly and there were a few runners from Fetcheveryone. We were also cheering any other runners from clubs where we could read the club name quickly. We also became avid race vest readers searching for runners who had their names on their vests so we could give them a shout. None of the Striders who wanted to limit their running to the shortest time possible wanted jelly babies, but they were very popular with runners who were expecting to run for longer :-) We also offered them to those who were walking, it was a hot day. This often seemed to spur them into running - magic !

There were lots and lots of people in fancy dress and of course they got a shout as well. We had great fun, but by 2.30 we reckoned all the Striders had gone by and the runners were thinning out. We had also given away a ton of jelly babies by that point (point for the future - they were cheapest at the Pound Shop). So we packed up, thanked Ken for all his help and went back to the car in King George Road. This was parked south of the race, so we were home soon after 3.00 and had no delays. We then chilled as it had been a great but tiring day :-)

More photos here 

Hardmoors Princess Challenge 30m 2014

This event is organised by Fetch's very own Princess Purple Bubbles ably assisted today by another well know Fetchie, Flip. They and the other volunteers did a great job  

The route is the same as the Hardmoors 30 which is run on New Year's Day. I have done that event three times and the Prncess Challenge once. They two different events because of the time of year they are held.


The section from Whitby to Ravenscar (about 11m) is very tough in winter. It is very muddy, it is cold and often the wind is very strong. It was so strong in January this year, they diverted the route away from the cliffs.

On the Princess Challenge, that section is so different. It is still tough, there are lots of undulations which you don't need after 20m, but at least the ground is firm. There was a bit of a breeze today, but that helped cool us down on a reasonably hot day.



I had some calf problems at about 10m after pushing a little too hard, so I had to take the next 21m a bit easier than I hoped. I still managed to come in under 7hrs which I have never done on the Hardmoors 30. Melanie went on ahead after Whitby and did an excellent time 6hr 20min.

My calf problems were mainly in my left one. It didn't actually seize up but it was painful on both sides for the rest of thr run. Later on I had a twinge in my right calf but unlike last Sunday it didn't seize either. MelanieLH has suggested drinking much more water regularly and foam rolling. I do both only very occasionally.

There were quite a few of our clubmates doing this event and two of them were doing their first ultra. They did great and they seemed to love the event and the atmosphere. They were particularly impressed with the round of applause that every runner received as the entered the finish in the village hall.


The event is for an excellent charity, the Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team and hopefully lots of money was raised 

Photos : https://photos.app.goo.gl/cYP9zSHhfZkYab3C6

Northumberland Coast marathon 2014

This is a special race. It is out and back from Alnmouth along the Northumberland coast until the route does small loop south of Beadnell and returns the same way. It keeps to the coastal path and there is very little road, probably about a quarter of a mile. A lot of the route is on beach.

It is not the same route as the Northumberland Coast Run (14m) which goes from Beadnell to Alnmouth as the road sections have been taken out of that route.

The weather conditions were perfect, cool at the start, but hardly any wind. It warmed up when the sun came out later, but it felt fine, nothing like some of very hot races we did in July.

I love running alongside the sea and seeing the beautiful beaches, the sea breaking on rocks, the attractive dunes and the attractive castles.

I ran fine in the first half, but I struggled in the second half. I haven't done a marathon for four weeks and I have only done short runs in that time. So no surprise there, poor training, poor run. But the views when walking were sensational and I got round and that is the most important thing. Also I only had calf twinge which went away, so that is the first time for a long time that I haven't had a major calf issue in a race !

Nice food and a drink in the pub with MelanieLH and two other clubmates afterwards. They all had a better run than me, but none of us had a great run.

So all things considered, it was a lovely day out