Howgills Trail marathon 2016

I last did this race with Melanie in 2013

It was tough, especially the first 5.5m climbing up from Sedburgh to the Calf. Sadly, Melanie wasn't able to run the half marathon as originally planned because of her injury. Jules and Jane from my club were running the marathon, but I didn't think I would be able to keep up with them as I had had a very tiring week and my intended plan to do lots of hills in training hadn't really worked out (code for not trying enough)

We started together, but Jane and Jules gradually disappeared into the distance. It was quite sunny at the start, but by the time we had got to a reasonable height it had clouded over and it was either sunny or cloudy for the rest of the day.

The climb was not as bad as I remembered. Maybe I am more experienced than I was three years ago or maybe I had built it up to be worse than it was. I had forgotten some of the small downhill dips on the way up that provide some relief. There were some fantastic views.

The descent down into Bowderdale I took a bit too quickly and lost my balance. I thought I had recovered, but I hadn't and I landed with my face very close to a rock. No damage though and I took the descent more slowly after that. It feels like the valley goes on and on and round a bend I met up with Jules and Jane who had stopped to get food out of their bags. We ran on passing close to the Kirby Stephen to Tebay road and past an encouraging sign

Then we turned south for a while, this section was quiet country roads and trails. A farmer was taking some cattle down one road and on to the road we were running along. The cattle were behind us and they were moving at some speed. The three of us and another runner ran up that particular incline pretty quickly, but luckily they were guided off into a field !

After 14m we finally got to the first checkpoint at Ravenstonedale. Jane and Jules had pulled ahead a little and they kindly offered to slow down and run with me but I said I was just tired and I didn't think it would make me run any faster. I decided to walk most of the climb out of Ravenstonedale. This was on quiet road and it wasn't anywhere near as bad as the first 5m. I knew the last quarter was downhill and I decided to focus on running that section. I got to the top of the pass and there was another lovely view to the south.

The final quarter of the route is my favorite, gentle undulations along a trail but mainly downhill. We had a stream to cross (thanks to SportsSunday for this and the next photo)

and some lovely trails before we reached the second and last checkpoint.

We passed through some lovely bluebell woods

and wild garlic woods

We went through a farm and the farmer who had directed me to my parking place in Sedburgh was sitting out in the sunshine with his family encouraging us on.

We do a bit of a loop round Sedburgh which seemed to go on a bit more than I wanted - I was pleased to finish. Sadly they were no longer serving food when I got in which was disappointing. A time of 6hr 15min which was almost 30min faster than last time, but it was hotter and more muddy three years ago. I was happy with the time after a busy week. The route was superbly signed and the results came out quickly.

Hardmoors White Horse marathon 2016

My third marathon/ultra this year. This one was supposed to be my fourth, but I did not start the Dark Skies Kielder marathon as I had a bad back and was unable to run. I also lost about two weeks of training so I wasn't expecting very much from this event.

Last year it rained heavily until about halfway and it was pretty muddy. It was also fairly windy This year it was glorious sunshine and very little wind. Melanie, who ran it with me last year, is currently injured so she did not come down with me.

It is a fantastic route, it has a bit of everything - great views, a lake, woods, mud, a ruined abbey and some lovely streams to cross. Today I got to see it in all its glory.

There seemed to be slightly fewer runners than you normally get in a Hardmoors marathon and I guess some of them are tapering for the Hardmoors 110/160 which isn't too far away.

We started about 9.07 and I hung back a bit as I didn't expect to be going fast. I hung back a bit too much and I was slightly held up on the descent to Gormire Lake. The descent was very muddy, so that was good - it wouldn't have been good to take a tumble at this stage. We went round the lake

which again was pretty muddy and then started the long climb back up the escarpment. When we got up there were some amazing views and we could see snow on the hills in the distance. 

It had been cold at the start, but the climb up from the lake had certainly warmed me up and my waterproof, hat and gloves had all come off on the climb. We followed the Cleveland Way to High Paradise Farm

The Farm now has a cafe, we must go there some time. The first checkpoint organised by Anthony was just past the farm. Then it was  small gentle incline through the woods and onto the moors with more spectacular views to the west

I soon turned off the Cleveland Way and the same marshall as last year was at that point. We laughed about how different it was this year. Last year it was raining heavily and we tuned into a strong wind and the next bit wasn't pleasant. This year it was just beautiful and I soon started to descent into the lovely Throrodale

The it was on into the woods you can see in the distance and past the farm cottages and Arden Hall

Emily was looking after the second checkpoint and it was good to see her again. Soon after I got chatting to a fellow 100 marathon club member who was just recovering from flu and didn't have much energy. I was also overtaking and being overtaken by Dee, Jo and another runner from York. We came into the beautiful village from Hawnby and the started the sharp climb of Hawnby Hill

Then a steep descent down, cross a stream

and a long drag up Bilsdale West Moor and down the other side and back into the lower part of Hawnby - the approach to Hawnby was again very muddy. Then a long steep road climb up to the checkpoint at 18.5m. Like last year there was a Strider there, it was good to see Rachel.

Shortly after we got on to the private land and started a long descent to the valley. The muddy ascent on the other side wasn't as muddy as last year. However, the next section which last year was a mass of branches across the path was pretty similar to last year

We descended on muddy paths to the River Rye

and onto Rievaulx

before a road section and back onto the Cleveland Way

I was struggling at this point, just lack of fitness, so it was mainly walking on the many long inclines. I walked into the last checkpoint

past the lovely lakes and over stepping stones

and onto Flassen Dale

followed by the long drag up to Cold Kirby

Progress was again fairly slow on the last couple of miles. I could see I was going to be about 10 minutes faster than last year, so that was pleasing (although the wind had quite an effect last year). I came into the finish 6hr 43min after starting and was surprised to hear that I might have won my age category (I may have been the only person in my age category !). This was confirmed in a few minutes and I was awarded by trophy by Jon

It had a lovely route and I had really enjoyed it. Jon and Shirley had done a great job organising it and all the helpers and marshals had been wonderful. If you have never done a Hardmoors event, I can't recommend them highly enough !

2015 blog

Belvoir Challenge 26.4m 2016

This was my sixth time running this event. They vary the course, but this was the third time I had run this particular route. However, the last time I ran it was 2013 so I could not picture the exact route. I find having different routes appealing, you never know what is coming next.

We were both expecting lots of mud as this is fairly normal for this event. However, there was very little and you could mostly avoid it. There was a bit of a breeze in the second third, but nothing very strong. Plenty of gates and stiles, especially on the 16m route that Melanie did. As usual the start and finish was in Harby and all proceeds went to the local primary school.

This year they had chip timing so the start moved back from the road into a field so everyone crossed crossed detection device. It also finished there which meant that the route was a little longer than in previous years. There was less parking this year, so we got there about an hour and half before the start. Melanie and I were starting at the same time and we would follow the same route for the first 4m

I had my new gaiters on to stop any grit getting into my shoes and they to worked well. We climbed up the escarpment for the first time and ran alongside fields and on farm tracks - the vast majority of this route was off road with just the odd short road section. To our surprise the sun was coming out through the clouds and we were warming up quickly - it had only been about 2 degrees when we started. 

After Melanie and I parted, I went through the first of many pretty villages. This church was in Goadby Marwood

The next village, Scalford, contained the first checkpoint which was laden with cakes and sandwiches

A bit of a climb out of the village, along attractive paths across fields

through Waltham on the Wolds. 

Shortly after this I caught up with Darren and we chatted a away for a while before I pushed on a bit to the next checkpoint at Croxton Kerrial

There is a lovely descent down the escarpment after the village and it usually ends in a very muddy field. This year it was fine

Then on Harleston where there was blossom on the trees

I was starting to tire at this point which was disappointing as there was still 10m to go. I had been eating cheese sandwiches and maybe I needed a sugar boost. The third checkpoint had as much food and drink as the first two

This was followed by the long pull up to Belvoir Castle

Another climb up the escarpment and into the woods whether I started to catch some of the 16m walkers. However, there didn't seem to be so many of them this year. Then I arrived at the last checkpoint and it like a party. There must have been about twenty walkers there chatting away. Apparently they had cheese biscuits and stilton on offer, but it was so busy I didn't spot it

The last four miles and pretty easy, more paths through the woods with lovely views to the north and then a lovely downhill into Stathern and then across fields towards Harby. This section normally has a pond where you cannot avoid wet feet, but it basically wasn't there this year it was so dry. I made it back in just under five hours thirty minutes which was pleasing. As usual, there was soup and roll followed by bread and butter pudding and custard waiting for me at the finish - there are lots of opportunities to eat at this event !

Melanie enjoyed her run though she was a bit frustrated by some of the queues at some of the stiles, ten minutes at one stile ! She had time to go back to the hotel in Melton Mowbray, shower, change, have some coffee before returning to pick me up in Harby.

Photos

2013 blog