Hardmoors White Horse marathon 2018

This was my fourth time running this event. The route has hardly changed during the four years, so I felt confident about where we would be going. I was looking forward to it as it is my favourite Hardmoors marathon route - the scenery is just lovely. As with the other Hardmoors marathons, I was running with Elly. Kath who was supposed to be running with us is recovering from injury, but hopefully she will join us for the next one.

I was great to see so many people I knew before the start

We start by running along the escarpment with lovely views to the  west but today was quite misty early on and we didn't get the views seen in the next photo, but I have put that photo in to illustrate that soon after we start we plunge down the escarpment and run found the lake before climbing up to the escarpment again. It does not look very far down on the photo, but believe me, it is further than it looks.

It can be muddy in places round the lake, but not today most of the ground was very firm.

Finally back up to escarpment again and running along the Cleveland Way, you can see the mist in the distance. But at least the mist kept the temperature down.

We soon passed the Sports Sunday photographers

and followed the Cleveland Way through Boltby Forest and on to the moors before turning east into the lovely valley of Thorodale, where we caught up with Helen and ran with her for the next nine miles

Into Thorodale Woods

and past Arden Hall

Shortly after the checkpoint which is about half a mile from the Hall, there is sharp left hand turn and a couple of runners had carried on. However, they were in shouting distance so we called to get them back.

Across some field, through Hawnby Village before the big climb up Hawnby Hill

with some lovely views from the ridge run at the top. This is one of my favourite sections.

Soon after the descent of Hawnby Hill (about half way) the mist had burnt off and the temperature seemed to shoot upwards. It was now becoming quite warm. Across another stream and up to the east side of Easterside Hill

After climbing up Bilsdale West Moor we came to a checkpoint that had watermelon (absolute bliss) and ice to put inside our drinks bottles (heaven). Down through woods

and into the bottom part of Hawnby before we started the long tarmac climb up Murton Bank. When we were not in shade we felt we were being slowly roasted. Helen handled the climb much better than Elly and I and she disappeared off into the distance.

We got to the top to be greeted by a small band of youngsters playing music which was lovely and down to Murton Woods and over the ford.

Across a couple of fields and into the shade of woods (bliss)

and then down Birk Bank and onwards to the boardwalk near the River Rye

and to Rievalux

On to what we thought might be the last checkpoint where I filled up with water yet again, I felt I was drinking much more than usual. Next came the stepping stones

and then the beautiful Flassen Dale

Sadly we weren't there long before the long drag up to Cold Kirby where there was another check point where I could get more water. Two more miles to the finish after this and that was fine. We could hear thunder in the distance and this certainly motivated me to speed up a little !

27.5 miles which is pretty short for a Hardmoors marathon (the half marathon at this event was 17 miles....). A beautiful route and as usual the marshalls were helpful and encouraging.

I was using the new Mountain Fuel Extreme Energy Fuel which was very drinkable, I will certainly use it again.

2017 blog

Liverpool Rock and Roll marathon 2018

Melanie had never been to Liverpool and as she wanted to visit the city we entered this event. I was less keen on doing a road marathon, but the reports of it were good.

As a boy I used to live in Bromborough on the Wirral, but I didn't remember too much of Liverpool. It looks like they have done a lot of recent development work on the riverside.

I went to the Expo on the Saturday and collected my number whilst Melanie did a bit of shopping (her number had been posted). On the Sunday morning we arrived in plenty of time. The forecast was for a hot day with only a light breeze.

Once we had checked our bags into the enormous Exhibition Centre we sat down to wait for the start out of the sun.

We had already seen where the race corrals were - they weren't checking who was in each one. We started in Melanie's as I had been assigned one further forward.

We couldn't see the start but there seemed to be some delay, but finally we started to move forward. The organisers were starting each corral in minute intervals (there was a chip attached to our number) and this all worked well.

Finally twenty three minutes after the start time our corral got to the start line and off we went.

We gradually headed north and there were gentle uphills. Luckily there was more cloud than had been forecast, so although it was pretty hot and close it was not overpowering. The following photos were all taken by Melanie.

At the northern most point we went round both football grounds, I had never realised they were that close. 

There were lots of bands playing on the route which helped keep us going

Stanley Park separates both football grounds

Then on to Anfield and actually into what is apparently a new stand - we could just see the pitch and you were allowed to queue to have your picture taken with the pitch in the background, but the queue was too long.

Back into Stanley Park and we started to work our way mainly downhill back to the riverside

There was another slightly steeper drag upwards which we walked to try and preserve some energy. Then into what I think was Rupert Lane Recreation Ground where we had some good views of the city and the river

More downhill to the riverside with a detour to go past the Cavern Club (the organisers had made sure the route went past plenty of the tourist attractions)

Lots of people supporting in this area including some people we know (there were quite a few we knew who were running or spectating)

After running close to the start/finish area, which was pretty hard as it seemed to be getting warmer and it had felt a long first half, we came to Chinatown.

Past close to the Cathedral, then Princes Park 

and on to Sefton Park where we were to spend quite some time zig zagging round the park.

We did leave the park for a while for an out and back leg to Penny Lane where this truck was playing the song all day ....

There were a couple of drumming bands on the route which you could hear from a long way away.

Then it was back into Sefton Park again and finally out on to some undulating roads. Then at about mile 21 the clouds went away and we felt the temperature rise significantly. Just after this a spectator or one of the organisers, I am not sure which, was offering half an ice pop. Wow, that was lovely and we made our way down via Otterspool park to the riverside. 

This bit was familiar to me as I had completed a marathon up and down the promenade in 2011. I knew this bit would be hard and I was struggling now. I was walking as much as I was running and Melanie was having issues with her ITB band with the constant change between running and walking so she ran on (and finished five minutes ahead of me with 4hr 40min).

There were lots of crowds at the finish and I rather foolishly started to speed up. I crossed the line and had to lean on the railings for a while. Melanie was limping as well when I found her. Whilst she was getting changed, I had an attack of cramp in my left calf which was very painful - I haven't had that for a long time.

We met up with a few friends afterwards by the music concert that was taking place close to the finish. Entry to the race included a free beer afterwards and at the finish we got a medal, tee shirt, banana and crisps.

If you like well organised road marathons where the route takes in lots of the attractions and parks, then this is for you. The support is pretty good (I can only think of London and Vienna being better in my limited experience of road marathons). It isn't flat but definitely runnable. However, I do prefer quieter trail events where you are out in the countryside.

Golden Fleece Circuit 2018

It was never the plan to do this event six days after the Hardmoors Wainstones marathon. Originally, this event was to be held on March 3rd, but the there was too much snow so it was postponed. I didn't want to miss it as it a lovely event and I wanted to see the route at a different time of year. Melanie also could not make the original date but she could make the new one, so it the second time for her and the fourth time for me.

It is an LDWA type of event run very well by a local Scout Group. Everything is well organised although hardly any of the route is marked, except for a complicated section in Walkington. There is a 15 mile event as well as the 27 mile and lots of people seemed to be doing the shorter distance as there is quite a hard cut off for walkers on the long route.

The forecast has been white cloud all day with a light breeze, but when we got up in Goole there was no sign of white cloud, just lots and lots of blue sky and at that point no breeze.

We had a tally card rather than race numbers, but Melanie lost hers after the third checkpoint, but the organisers were fine with that as long as she remembered her number.

Registration was in the Church Hall in South Cave and as usual there was free tea while we waited for the start.

The start was in the year outside the church hall.

The first 7 miles are pretty flat. We went through many pretty villages and along estate roads

Checkpoint 3 at 7 miles  is where the route splits. The checkpoint is laden with home made food and we were eating small bits of quiche and granola bars. Hot tea was on offer. We seemed to be the only ones around us who were climbing up the hill on the long route. This is where the hills start, they are nothing serious but with the temperature rising and still a long way to go, there was no way we were running them. Then down into a typical Wolds valley. At the top the breeze started to pick up, which helped keep us cooler.

The food at the next checkpoint was also spectacular.

and they asked us not to forget to rate them on TripAdvisor.....

It was very quiet in this section, hardly any runners in sight. We had a lovely gentle downhill tarmac section where we managed to get under 8.5 min/miles, not something we normally do on the sorts of events we go to. Then a bit of drag upwards on tarmac, but we were surrounded by colourful oil seed rape fields

Finally we were back onto field edges and heading towards the Walkington checkpoint

The organisers had marked the route through Walkington where they were expecting the Tour de Yorkshire

Then forward on to more farm tracks. There had been a tiny bit of mud so far, but nothing along these tracks

We reached Skidby and turned in the direction of South Cave which was about 7 miles away. We soon reached the railway bridge pond which was easily passable this time.

On to the final checkpoint, I ate some carrot cake at this one and shortly after we joined the Wolds Way

More gentle drags upwards through woods

before the descent down to the lovely Brantingham Church where there was a wedding taking place

Soon after there are couple of bigger climbs before the descent to South Cave and through this spectacular field

and on to past the Cave Castle Hotel to the finish

There was a lovely vegetable stew awaiting us at the finish, together with tea and cakes but apart from the stew we didn't have very much as we were fairly full from the checkpoints. Fantastic value for £14. There was also the usual badge and certificate

Although both of us have had a couple of busy weeks and I did the Wainstones last weekend, we were very surprised and pleased to work out we had achieved a 14 minute course PB.

I hope we can make it again next year.

Thanks to Melanie for some of the photos.

2017 blog