Hardmoors Rosedale 2017

"Welcome to the Hardmoors Rosedale marathon. There are two things wrong there, you won't be going into Rosedale and it's not a marathon". This was how Jon, the race director, started the race briefing. Hardmoors events are famous for giving you 'extra miles' at no extra cost....

I have done this event three times before. The first two years the route didn't change too much and it was the easiest of the Hardmoors marathons in my view. In 2016 Jon had to make a radical change to the route just a few days before the event and for the marathon this meant two laps of a route round Farndale which was a tougher route.

This year there was a more radical change and it is now longer than the original (most people measured it as 29.1m) with significantly more ascent (4500 feet approximately). The weather was hot, up to about 20 degrees at times. There was also some mud.

I was running this one with Sara and we started at the back as we knew there would be hold up at the first gate - the first 1.5m was the same as it always had been. Once through the three gates, we ran down the side of a wheat field.

and up into the lovely village of Gillamoor

where there was a lovely surprise view

We ran past the SportsSunday photographers

A few field edges and woods

The bracken was high in places (thanks to Sara for this photo)

and then onto some moors

Churches in the middle of nowhere

We were making reasonable progress, walking the many hills trying to preserve our energy in the heat. We had mainly be heading west, but finally we turned west with lovely views of the purple heather

There was a lot of steep descents into attractive dales (the route was very well marked with tape)

but inevitably there were steep ascents out of these dales. We past an interesting abandoned farm

We had a bit of a long road section with a descent into Bransdale, 

 before a climb and a descent into the lovely Farndale

Then onto the popular daffodil walk between High Mill and Low Mill, which was relatively quiet, before a big climb out of Farndale

and the inevitable descent back into Farndale. There were some lovely woods and this photo doesn't really do it justice

Then it was a relatively simple, but hilly section to the finish. At the start Ashley had taken a photo of the Elvet Striders running the marathon (thanks for the photo Ashley)

Suffice to say, I didn't look quite so happy at the end. It had been a hot, tough day on a beautiful route. Thanks to Sara for her company 😀

2016 blog

Elsecar Skelter 27m 2017

My approach to running is different to most runners. I don't care much about times and I  don't aim to get a personal best time. It would be nice if one came along, but I am not interested in doing the training to achieve a personal best. As long as I am fit enough to complete any event I enter, that is all I care about.

The Elsecar Skelter event suits me very well. It is mainly off-road, we run by many follies, country houses, there are hills and views and the route is complex enough to keep me thinking about which way to go rather than thinking about how many miles to go. The checkpoints are very good, lots of sandwiches to eat and there is a meal at the end, all for £12 if you enter early enough. It rises to £13 if you enter on the day ! I find it a relaxing run (well at least as relaxing as a run can ever be).

Melanie was doing this one with me and this would be her first marathon for over two years. Before the start we met up with a couple from the fetcheveryone website who I haven't seen for a number of years and chatted with Gary who I had seen at other events, but not spoken to before. The day before the event Eric decided to run it and he accompanied us round the route. We grew as a group as we ran round which was a bit of surprise given the low number of runners, so overall it was a very social event.

It starts at the Market Hotel in Elsecar right next door to the Elsecar Heritage Centre, which has cafes, art and craft shops and a steam engine railway. An interesting place to visit after the event.

The weather on the Friday had been wet, but today it was perfect running weather, a slight breeze to keep us cool and the sun making the an occasional appearance from behind white clouds.

The briefing was short, to the point and full of South Yorkshire humour. It reminded me of my seven years in Sheffield and Rotherham, three of which I spent working at Wentworth Woodhouse which is on the route.

The route started with a climb through woods and fields with the first views soon appearing

past the first folly, the Needle's Eye and on to Hoober Stand where we had the first self clip checkpoint.

On through the village of Hoober, across fields to Higher Stubbin and Nether Haugh (lovely names). More fields and past a mausoleum (largely hidden in trees but you can just see it in the distance in the photo below)

and on to the private road through the Wentworth Woodhouse estate. Again there are follies

before the main house appears - it has the largest frontage in the UK apparently

Working there when it was Lady Mabel College of Education has lots of memories for me. On to Wentworth Church

and the second checkpoint which had drinks and flapjack.

A mixture of off-road and road for a while and we came out through the woods to one of the main checkpoints in Westwood Country Park which is at the centre of the figure of eight route we were covering. There was plenty of hot and cold drinks and sandwiches. It was good to know we were going through here again later.

Through West Wood and round the edge and then through fields

and on to a section where the farmer had ploughed over the path. Fortunately, the organisers had taped a few trees in this section which made it easier. Shortly after came the next checkpoint where runners could decide to take the 21m route back (there was also a 15m route on offer from the previous checkpoint). It was good to have the flexibility to change as we went round.

Another hill to climb with lovely views from the top.

Then it's my favourite section Wharncliffe Edge

And on via the Wortley Hall checkpoint, back to Westwood Country Park checkpoint (more lovely sandwiches) and the last four or five miles across more fields

Into the Market Hotel, taking our shoes off before finishing

and eating quiche and mushy peas and collecting our badge and certificates

before having a drink from the bar. A perfect day. Well done to Melanie for completing her first marathon for a while and it was great to have Eric's company 😃

2016 blog

Durham Dales 30m 2017

I do love this event. I have done the 17m route twice and this was to be fourth go at the 30m route. There were four Striders doing the 30m route and the rest were running the 17m route

Melanie was running the 17m route and I was running the 30m route with Kath who was doing it for the first time. Melanie loved her route and was the second female finisher on the 17m route.

There was just one minor change to the route from last year and that appeared straightforward. There was tea, cake and quiche available before the start. The food available at this event is just awesome and includes a basic meal at the end, all for a cost of £14.

We started by the usual climb out of Wolsingham which provided some lovely views of the Wear valley.

On the way we passed through the wonderfully named Towdy Potts Farm. We came to the point where the two routes parted after about 3m. It had taken over 40min to reach this point because of the hills.

We then had a bit if drag upwards before a lovely descent through heather with Steel Beck to the right

There were a few tape signs in this section but once we crossed the beck they disappeared. We climbed a little higher than we should have done, but we descended and found the right path before crossing the next beck. Then it was a lovely grassy descent to the wonderfully named Meeting of the Grains.

Another long climb and into Hamsterley Forest. We made our way downhill to Sharnnerry Beck and after a tricky descent we turned onto a grassy section whereupon I tripped over something and went flying. I think I executed a nice roll onto my shoulder and only slightly grazed my knee, so everything was fine and I was able to continue straight away.

We walked up the forest road to the checkpoint where we refilled with water (and cake !). Climbed out of Hamsterley 

and back onto to moorland and up another climb I had forgotten about (i got teased by Kath about this for the rest of the day...) before we had a good descent to the River Tees. 

We ran and walked alongside the river for two miles or so - it is not easy running, but it is beautiful. I do like the variety of countryside in this route.

We turned off the riverside path towards Middleton-in Teesdale through a lovey wild meadow

Into the famous checkpoint at Middleton which has an amazing reputation for the food and drink on offer. It did not disappoint

and it was hard to leave.

Another climb out of Middleton to get back onto the moors and there was a checkpoint about halfway up with a great view back along the valley we had just run.

A descent into the valley containing Great Egglesthorpe Beck

with more beck crossings, before the climb out of the valley and the descent down to Little Egglesthorpe Beck and the next checkpoint. It had been windy on the way to Middleton, but now the wind was behind us, but it was string enough that all the food was in two car boots. There were just loads, I had quiche, cake and orange slices, just perfect.

Up on the moor again, (but only a gentle climb this time) but there was an amazing view, we could see as far as Saltburn

and across to the final checkpoint above Surrender House. As with all the other checkpoints the marshalls were lovely and friendly - they are out there for a long time as there are quite a few walkers doing this event.

A lovely descent down to the River Wear and we followed the railway back to Wolsingham where one of the trains went by

Into the Hall which was serving as Race HQ and I was pleased to see the bar was open 😀 The meal was cheese pasty and mushy peas followed by rice pudding and with a pint, that all was consumed very quickly.

I will be back !

2016 blog

Hardmoors Wainstones marathon 2017

A mainly sunny day, but with quite a strong wind which slowed me down but also kept me cool. 26.79 miles (a bit short for a Hardmoors marathon 😉), just under 4000ft of climb with ten climbs.

Climb 1 - Out of Chop Gate and the hardest climb. It's not all marathons that you do the first mile in about 22 minutes, but at least you get the hardest climb out of the way early on.

Sometimes your attempts at taking pictures of the view don't quite work out...

James had a fantastic run today. Once we reached the top of the hill he flew off and I didn't see him again until the finish.

Once at the top, there is nice flat section with the wind behind us, so that was fun,

Photo by Dave Parker. This was followed by a lovely run down into Scugdale.

Climb 2 Carlton Bank. There is a small down section in this climb, but apart from that it is a long drag upwards, but with some great views

Then there is tricky descent down to Lordstones where we were joined by the half marathon runners. Last year, the half runners around me were about my pace, but not this year, we joined the front runners.

Climb 3 First sister (Cringle Moor) I was being passed by loads of half marathon runners, which was strange, but otherwise it was good.

Climb 4 Second sister (Cold Moor) Still being passed, but pleased to get up and over.

Climb 5 Third sister (Wainstones) I was getting a bit tired by this one. I passed the 10k tail runners. This has the most technical bit, but it is only short

Along the top of Hasty Bank and down to Clay Bank passing some of the 10k runners (which made a change from being passed by crowds of runners).

In the checkpoint I saw Eric who had sadly had to pull out because of injury.

Climb 6 Up to Urra Moor. Plodded up this this conscious that we were now approaching halfway and the worst climbs were behind us. But you always wonder how much you have left.

Once up we go down for a short while along the edge of the escarpment, looking down on the valley below. The strong wind was in our faces so once it levelled out I struggled to run for very long. Then at the next checkpoint where Dave was stationed we parted from the 10K and half runners and turn east towards Round Hill, the highest point on the moors.

Climb 7 Up to Round Hill. If this was at the start I would have run it, but after those last six climbs, there was no chance that would happen.

There were a few puddles on the route, but hardly any mud

This was followed by nice run down to Blowarth Crossing.

Climb 8 Climb up from Blowath Crossing. Again not a steep climb, but the wind was in our faces, so I walked it. Luckily I had some company - I got talking to Martin from Susses who was doing his first Hardmoors event.

Finally we got to the top and had a lovely run down to Bransdale.

Climb 9 Climb out of Bransdale. This is all on tarmac and it gets a bit steep towards the end. Pleased to get it over and there is the final checkpoint (22m) at the top.

We turned onto trail which climbed for a while and then flattened out. It started to rain a little so our waterproofs came out. We started to run and gradually Martin fell behind and I was finding I had still had some energy. I was overtaking quite a few runners and I enjoyed the descent into Tripsdale, but inevitably there was

Climb 10 Climb out of Tripsdale. Long and a slog, but there is they joy that once at the top there is nothing but downhill to the finish.

And that descent was lovely. Into the Village Hall and received my medal and tee shirt

6hr 36 min and I was very happy with that especially the last 4m when I usually have nothing left. No age category win this year - I have won my age category the other times I have done this event, but there must have been a speedier runners this year.

2016 blog