Hull marathon 2018

Road marathons are not our favourite thing to do, but Melanie was born in Hull and wanted to run across the bridge. I lived in Hull for four years and grew to love the city so we decided to enter. I had done a marathon in Hull before, but this was a different route which I was happy about.

After our rather painful experiences at the end of the Liverpool Rock and Roll road marathon, we decided to adopt a different approach this time. At Liverpool the approach was to walk until we came to a band and then run after that, but it was way too vague as a strategy. This time we decided to adopt a run to a mile marker and then walk for a minute and repeat. If felt a bit weird early on and we kept to it until we got to the Humber Bridge area which was a bit more hilly and windy.

We picked up our numbers on the day, the race started from the KCOM stadium and we we were going to get a stadium finish 😀 We came across a few people we know from previous marathons and ultras which was lovely.

We were a bit cold at the start so I was running in a long sleeve top with a tee shirt on top, gloves and shorts. Melanie was also similarly wrapped up and she was running with a backpack.

It took us about a minute to get through the start which was fine. Besides the marathon there were relay runners, some a two person team and others a four person team and they had signs on their backs indicating they were relay runners. The change over points were well organised and no problem for us going through. Overall the event was very well organised. The number of marshalls was just amazing, they were on every single road junction and they were incredibly supportive and encouraging. Lots of them were offering jelly babies, which we don't eat, but we could have eaten our body weight if we had wanted to.

After a run round the outside of the stadium we headed off to the centre of Hull, past the main hospital and the railway station. Hull is very flat which meant that the first 16m or so there were no hills. The drags started as we approached the bridge.

After coming through the centre we headed for the Humber.

Flood protection on the River Hull.

Looking towards the mouth of the Humber.

Then route headed north east through various residential street and then turned to head back to the centre a different way and through East Park.

We came back into the centre of Hull again and crossed the River Hull.

This street brought back memories for me, I used to regularly go to a pub down here and it is such a wonderful name for a street.

There were quite a few music groups on the route. We passed this group of pipers twice and the route crossed itself at about 4m and 9m

After leaving the centre we used a road through the docks which I guess the public don't usually have access to.

and then inland. There was regularly something to look at. Also there was quite a number of pieces of artwork stuck to the ground that we ran over.

Through the lovely Pickering Park.

We came to a dual carriageway which we were to come back on and it was good to see the faster runners go apparently effortlessly by. There was a definite drag up at this point. At this point Melanie was in pain from various parts of her legs so we changed our strategy a bit and walked some of the hills when we came to them.

We came to the bridge and went south which felt good. There was a good reason for this, we had quite a breeze behind us, so coming back north into a strong breeze was pretty tough and we decided that as we didn't care about the time and Melanie was finding it a bit easier to walk, we walked until we got halfway over when the drag upwards finished.

Back down the dual carriageway was easier and then we turned off and went into the Costello stadium where a bit bizarrely, there was a 100m sprint section on the track. I haven'y encountered this before but it was a welcome distraction to see a few people going for it. We were way to beat to try !

A few more residential streets and then half way round the stadium and them into it and another half lap to the finish. A nice touch to finish in an impressive stadium.

Bananas, flapjack and water at the end. A slightly bizarre collection of things in the goody bag...

Overall we enjoyed this one more than Liverpool. It could be a fast route if it wasn't for the bumps on and around the Humber Bridge. It did not affect us but those looking for a personal best it may not be the perfect route. 

Hopefully Melanie will get over her injuries quickly, she is hopeful !

Hardmoors Princess 31m 2018

This was an event I have done four times before, but I missed out last year because of a bad back. I do enjoy the route in the summer. I have done the Hardmoors 30 (which is basically the same, but not always the same direction) several times as well, but the weather and the lack of slippery mud makes it more fun that the 30.

I was running this with Melanie and it was great to see so many people I know running this one.

There were a lot of tutus on display at this one, more than I had seen before. 

The race started with the usual road descent to the Cleveland Way and then following the Way south towards Hayburn Wyke. There was some incentive to do this reasonably quickly as there was the possibility of being held by a marshall whilst a farmer moved some cattle. There is diversion on the Way in place before Hayburn Wyke, because of a landslip I think, but it was well signposted and it went across fields, along quiet road and through woods.

Then back on to the Cleveland Way above the beach at Hayburn Wyke

I think the event a little longer but not by very much. Then there is a long drag up the Cinder Track back to Ravenscar. I think this may have been the first year I have ran all of this section of the Cinder Track. I walked a bit on the road back to the Village Hall. It was getting quite warm, but there was a cooling breeze from the west. The road section was the first bit where there was no shade.

We stopped for a bit longer than usual at the checkpoint and then back to the Cinder Track for the gentle descent to Robin Hood's Bay. There is a slight rise towards the end but we were feeling fine at the Robin Hood's Bay checkpoint where they had ice to add to our drinks 😅😅

We walked the drag on the Cinder Track out of Robin Hood's Bay

We reached 15m at 2h 55min. We knew we would slow down on the Cleveland Way after Whitby, but it was looking good - my best time at this event was 6hr 45min. I slowed a little on the descent into Whitby.

Two views from the viaduct at Whitby

Crossing the Swing Bridge

This picture doesn't really show the crowds in Whitby, it felt busier than this.

We bought an ice cream each at the bottom of the Whitby steps. This didn't work out for me, my stomach did not feel good afterwards, but it didn't last for more than about an hour. On past the lovely lighthouse.

It was slow progress back to Robin Hood's Bay, I was getting very tired and we didn't run much. Finally got there and got more ice in our drinks and on to the last four to five miles which has some significant climbs. The climb out of Robin Hood's Bay was when I became really aware of my lack of energy. I was having to pause climbing the hill whichever never usually happens (except I did notice it at Elsecar, though I was fine the following day at Rosedale). I used one pause to take this photo over the Bay towards Ravenscar.

On towards Boggle Hole

Another very slow climb out and down into Stoupe Back and yet another slow climb out. My heart was racing on these climbs and pausing seemed to help keep the rate down. Across the cliffs - walked these as I had nothing left and then onto the final big climb at Ravenscar. This seemed a little easier, probably because there were no steps. Melanie fancied a proper coffee so she went on ahead to the National Trust shop in Ravenscar and bought two take away coffees and walked to the finish in the Village Hall with them. I am sure you can imagine some of the comments she got as she crossed the line !

It took me a little while to feel normal back in the Hall. The chips and the drinks helped. 

I am not sure what happened today. It could well have been the heat and not being hydrated enough before and during the event, but I will pay a visit to the GP just to get checked out. 

We finished in about 7hr 15min so a much slowed second half !!

2016 blog

Hardmoors Rosedale marathon 2018

I was running this one with Elly, Kath and Sara. John on his first marathon was also going to run with us, but he ran on ahead quite early on. It was good to see so many people I know through Hardmoors, several of them were marshalls which must have been a tough job in the heat.

The forecast was for the temperature to be warmer than yesterday and that is the way it turned out. It was very hot when we were out on the moors where there was no shade. However, the wind was a little stronger which was nice when we weren't sheltered from it. It did cloud over for about half an hour very late on which was a relief. But it did come out again on the final climb.

The route was the same as in 2017 which had been very different (and much harder) than earlier routes for this event.

It was the usual running start - by the time we got out of the Village Hall in Hutton-le-Hole, the race had already started. We knew there was no rush as there a always a queue at the first gate. Then along field edges

and on to the first climb you can see in the distance above

Last year the field above had been potatoes, but this was much easier.

On to a short road section where the Sports Sunday photographer was waiting

and then off into the remote part of the North York Moors, Otterhill Common, which Melanie and I covered in much cooler conditions at Easter. In the middle of nowhere, with no access that I could see, was this sign:

Across the moor to the following two buildings

and on over a stream, which didn't have much water in it,

 towards Roppa Wood which when we went round it, has some lovely views

There were a couple of descents into quiet dales with the inevitable climbs out. As we went down into Bransdale we passed the deserted Stork House

We climbed out of Bransdale and inevitable went back down again on a road section before another long climb in the direction of Farndate. Near the top we came to something that looked like a duck as we approached. It was a duck.

and as we got to it we could see the party checkpoint come into view. This is not an official checkpoint but the party checkpoint is usually there at Hardmoors events. They had water pistols and were happy to soak you if it helped 😀

Finally we came down into Farndale. I was still feeling pretty good. I was drinking much more than yesterday which I think helped. There was also plenty of walking happening. We ran the tourist route between High Mill and Low Mill which was very quiet as it is not daffodil season. Then another climb which resulted in lovely views of Farndale

This path upwards was a bit overgrown

About four miles to go from the top and a nice descent down into woods before a final road climb before the run down to Hutton-le-Hole.

This is a lovely event, great views but some tough climbs. The heat made a tough event even tougher, but overall I am glad I did yesterday and today.

2017 blog

Elsecar Skelter 27m 2018

It was not part of our plan for Melanie and I to do this event. However, there was a two month gap between Melanie's marathons/ultras and she wanted a long event to keep herself marathon fit. We had done this event before (five time for me, twice for Melanie) and we do love it. It is a twisty route with lots of follies to look at and some hills and lovely views.

The only disadvantage to doing it was that I had a place in the Hardmoors Rosedale marathon the following day. It is four years since I had done two in a row and we both did those two and we did some training for it. The first one had been a very hilly one through Lakeland Passes followed by an undulating road marathon (Windermere) and it had worked out well. This pair was the other way round with the much tougher Rosedale coming second and I didn't have any time for any specific training for back to back long events.

We stayed near Elsecar but we didn't get as much sleep as we would have liked as there was a lorry depot close by. We made it to The Market which is the Race HQ in plenty of time

This is a very cheap event, you can get coffee or tea at the start, there a basic meal at the end and some of the checkpoints are very well stocked with cakes, sandwiches and orange slices. All for £15. There is a GPX supplied together with a route description.

We started probably a little quickly. We soon reached Hoober Stand

and on to the village of Hoober. Lots of field crossings

and on to Wentworth Woodhouse (thanks to Melanie for some of these photos)

The farmer in one area had ploughed over the path so there was a little choice but to go directly through a hay field.

It was getting very warm - we think it got up to about 27 or degrees. There was some shade in the woods and a little breeze, but I was finding it hard going which felt a bit ominous for the following day.

It was great to reach Whancliffe Crags, this is a lovely section with great views and it is mainly downhill

I slowed a bit more after that, the sun seemed to be sucking all my energy away. On a couple of hills I had to pause for breath which is unusual for me. I think this may have been caused by a lack of hydration in the days leading up to the event. 

We made it round in under six hours and we were only a bit slower than last year when it had not been as hot. So overall it had gone well, but I was a bit concerned how tomorrow would go when the temperature was forecast to be higher and there would be a lot more hills and overgrown paths.