Hardmoors 110, Wray 10K , Marathon of the North.

So after March races I had very little in. I was in good form though with no niggles and running well.  To be honest I just wanted my 3 big races to start as soon as possible. Went over to see Kev and run in the Howgill’s with the intention of doing the Sedbergh sexy super six (six miles around Sedbergh as the name suggests) then running Hawkshead the next day. The spanner in the works of course was I didn’t know if I was free that weekend so hadn’t booked Hawkshead and now it was sold out. I toyed with the idea of just joining in from the back but then Kev mentioned the folk we were running with on the Friday in the Howgill were going to a 10K on the Saturday and I was welcome to join them. Now it’s a long time since I did a 10K some I thought why not.

WRAY 10K Scarecrow Festival.

What a lovely little 10K it turned out to be.  A small village enjoying a festival putting on a 10k to raise funds for various villages good causes.  The scarecrows ranged from traditional, to ingenious, bizarre and surreal. I love it as much as G’s kids! 

The race itself was around lovely little country roads and very hilly. I tried to keep up with G but she as too fast for me but I did give it my all which I haven’t done on a 10K for a long time, being too scared of picking up an injury by running fast. Great event the like off i should do a lot more of. I have G in my sights now for future races like this as well.

Marathon Of the North

The next day it was the Marathon of the North. I’d picked up a number a few days before as I wasn’t that fussed about a road marathon but thought I’d take it easy and enjoy the training. We parked up on the temporary grass parking area at the stadium of light, Sunderland football clubs home ground and of course my team place. Heck I can’t remember ever parking that near to the start of a marathon before. Into the stadium and all the toilets were open, tea and coffee were served and everyone could shelter till the race started. Have to say this is almost unheard of at most marathons. Toilets for all and refreshments before a marathon, crazy or what!  A few mags were prowling around grumping and looking for a horse to punch or phone box to wreck but by in large it was a great atmosphere.

Race away , heading over the wear bridge and over into Hendon which isn’t the most salubrious of neighbourhoods but was where my mum lived as a little girl until they were bombed out in the war. In fact the rest of the run was nearly all about my mum and I was getting a little emotional tbh. Barrack street (where they were bombed out), then my Aunts house, then up to Backhouse Park where mum would play , next to the  old Art department of Sunderland UNI  where sometimes I’d wait  for Alison  ( a previous girlfriend of 16 years who crazily I look upon almost like a sister now. How strange is that! )

Then past where mum was born,  Azalea Terrace North and wound our way to another of mums favourites, Barnes Park. The back to the bridge, loop the stadium and onto the North side of town. At this point I was thinking the marathon was quite flat but heck I was wrong. Not many hills I could think of and I know the place well I thought. Well I couldn’t have been more wrong. No big hills but lots of slow gradients I never knew existed! Along the sea front, down to the South Tyneside sign, then up sea road to the Mill and back (what a drag) then a loop around old Roker Park , another of mums favourites,  then back around to the Stadium.

All in all a wonderfully managed marathon and a pleasure to see a local city authority give all there support and backing for once. A pat on the back due there I think.

I crossed the line in an easy 4:16 clock time and was happy enough with that especially after the all-out 10k the day before recent long training runs like the D33 and Hardmoors 55 and a nice day out.

Then the shit hit the fan. The course was 200 odd metres short. From what I can gather and this may not be correct ,  a last minute change of start meant they had to include a zig zag of the Industrial estate next to the stadium to make up the difference. The lead car went off with Steve Cram (poor stevie , what with the keilder bus episode he must be holding his head wondering what an earth can happen next )  in and the first runner sprinted away from the field and out of sight. The poor Marshal who obviously had not been informed of the zig zag or made a mistake sent them off on the original course.

Well obviously to me this made no difference although later my time seemed to have gained 2 minutes and a club mate who I watched come in is listed as the same time as me somehow  but for some , especially those doing their first marathon they were fuming . LisaT (I know your reading this) is still having counselling and Muddy is still in the shed waiting it out .

It’s a real pity because as I said, I’ve rarely done such a well organised marathon and holding it from a stadium designed to cater for 40,000 people makes real sense. I’ve done a fair few road marathons and really some have had the most appalling organisation. I’m willing to forgive this transgression this time.

HARDMOORS 110

So that was the last training run for the Hardmoors 110 my first of three targets this year which were Hardmoors 110, West Highland Way95 and Lakeland100 , the Triple crown. Ambitious all in one year but what the hell. Actually, although I’m sure someone will come out of the woodwork but I don’t know anyone who has done them all in one year. I wasn’t the only one trying this though and my mate GarryS was also in the Triple Crown.

So it was a tad annoying two weeks before while out on my usual Saturday morning 5 mile run around Waldridge fell that my calf went stiff. To be honest as it was right as the end of the run I didn’t think much of it except that thank heavens I was stopping when it went.   

Still I was now tapering so I’m sure it was all right. A week later after no running, I was up to the wonderful Cateran trail Ultra race for a spot of marshalling and as I jogged round marking some of the course with K I could feel the calf stiffen up.

Still I had a smashing time that nobodys going to forget in a hurry :-) 

Not good. Had Fizz and he identified the sheath around the Achilles but said it was only grade one pull. If I was doing a 10K, marathon or similar I’d get away with it but this was I the lap of the gods.  

So Thursday eve before the Friday race I nipped away from the job I was doing, very near to where my pal Phoenix Lesley was brought up to run  a couple of miles but the calf stiffened up again. Bugger.

That’s that I said, can’t run. Got home and went to the pub. Next morning, race day I was miserable and Anna said, run if you like –see how far you get. Now I’d thought about this but I really didn’t want another DNF. But then I started thinking is DNF worse than DNS?  What if it just doesn't get any worse?  I know loads of people who never fail because they are to shit scared to try but I’m not one of them. That said , I don’t want another long term injury so it had to be balanced.

My support crew were fine even though I said there is every possibility I may only get to Cold Kirby (6 miles).

So I stared. Cold Kirby went by and so did the first major CP at 22 miles, Osmotherly. The calf had stiffened up but I was managing. I stared to think maybe I’d get away with this. Sure I’d had a few yelps of pain when landing wrong (no jumping anything,lead with the right leg down the hills& gently does it down the hills which i hate of course.), then about 37 miles in and after most of the major hills , on the lonely high moorland that is Bloworth crossing the calf went very stiff and I was limping. The game was up. Walked the 3 miles to Kildale CP and retired. Shite. 

Saltburn Sunrise

Oh well, I never seem to have much luck with this one which is a pity as it’s my favourite race and I’m closely linked to it. I’d been  running through thick clag all night but as Dave drove me back a beautiful sunrise appeared just to piss me off more.  GarryS pulled out at the same Cp as well just to make matters worse! Only 65% finished (which is higher than usual) and only 11 under 30hours which tell you something about the race.

Never mind, other races , other days, other triumphs etc.  If the calf heals I have two major races left. Next up west highland Way race as I said if the calf heals which it should in four weeks.  

Flipper is is then-  Lots of swimming. Hope Elle's in the pool again tonight. :-) 

HARDMOORS 55, D33, LOCH KATRINE MARATHON & GLAISDALE RIG : March Fare.

HARDMOORS 55, D33, LOCH KATRINE & GLAISDALE RIG : March Fare.

I’ve been deliberately not entering races much of late and concentrating just on consistent quality miles (80% off road with hills and mud) , cross training and shifting the flab. So I don’t quite know how I end up with a race every weekend in March but I kinda liked the fact they were all progressively longer and tougher. The idea of course was to still train between and run them on weary legs building up the endurance I need for the big summer races. .

Glaisdale Rigg, Fell race North Yorks Moors, 3rd March

8.5m/1844 '

Like all good fell races the race starts at a pub in this case the Arncliffe Arms in the N. York Moors  It then takes some of the steepest roads I've ever run (well fast walked) up and out of the village before heading onto the moors.

From then on we seemed to continue climbing with only the odd descent for about 6 miles. Have to say  I have to say I was still struggling a fair bit and felt like I had legs of lead which isn’t surprising as I’d run Alnwick cross country (feeling decidedly unwell ) the day before.  It wasn't till probably the last climb I finally got things together and felt like I was running ok.

Fair flew down the track barely keeping myself upright and managed to pass a half a dozen runner (like I do when a race is over!). I was hoping the clarty track came out at the pub finish as I couldn't keep that pace up much longer but these always have a sting in the tail and it came out at a small bridge over a stream with the finish a short sharp steep muddy uphill climb away.
Great race taking in a part of the moors I've never seen before and a nice pint of black sheep in the pub after.

Loch Katrine Marathon March 10^th
I’ve blogged about this in the last blog but in brief I used fairly new shoes. Come 15 miles my feet started to hurt and then slowly go worse over the next two miles till not only could I not run but I could not even stand up. The pain was incredible and I could not even walk a few hundred metres to a marshal point, had to be collected and helped in and out of the car. My feet were swollen and sore but I had no blisters. Everything pointed to the shoes being the culprit as incredulous as it may seem. Of course I had to run the D33 to find out.
However as I said, it’s in the previous blog so a bit about the race.

Well what a marathon!  Probably the hilliest and most beautiful road marathons I’ve ever taken part in. An out and back race heading out along the North side of the loch and half way round to the south side wasn’t really expecting the hill as I hadn’t done any research into the race but i loved them. Very well organised and marshalled race.

 Should have guess from this sign it wasn't going ot be flat !

Unfortunately this was a one of race to raise funds for to Alzheimer’s research but I know everyone who was involved would love to see it on again.


A friend posted a comment that I take all these knocks in my stride. It’s not that, it’s that I just don’t see it as a knock. Shit happens as they say and it’s how you deal with it that matters. It was still a nice 17 miles hilly training run.

D33, 33 miles 0 '  :-)   March 16^th

When this race was first put together a few years ago I still had a broken foot so I marshalled, riding a bike as sweeper. It was a fairly small affair then with 96 runners. I said at the time, I’d hate the course (really don’t like flat and straight) and I’d never run it. Now in 2013 it’s grown too its limit if 350 runners and George Reid and Karen Doughnut have turned it into a very slick no nonsense race with a very real community feel.

Never is a long time though and with George and his good lady Karen (race Director of the Cateran trail) both injured I hadn’t been catching up with them at races lately and it did fit in well with the training. I had Loch Katrine marathon the week before, this then Hardmoors 55 a week later so decent 3 weeks of runs for the summer hundreds. Stayed at Georges and as per usual drank way too much down the pub catching up also as per usual. I’ll never learn.

Decided more or less on the start line that I’d run 3 hours out and 3hrs back. My thinking was that would be a reasonably pace to have my legs in good condition for next week’s Hardmoors 55 (that will take 3 times as long). I always find this flat hard packed surface wrecks my legs much more than the hills and fells so I also wanted to be fairly careful with them.

Last four years finishes beers bottles.

The race itself was uneventful. I chatted to loads of old friends for most of the first 10 -12 miles probably a bit too fast. Then it was me either passing friends or them passing me. I don’t normally like out and backs either but coming into the turn around half way point it is fun to see how the fast lads and my faster friends are doing. This was also the mile last week at Loch Katrine mara that the foot issues stared. Luckily no sign of them so i guess it was the shoes after all. That's a relief as i've had enough foot issues in recent years.

Have to say I enjoyed the course far more than I thought I would as well. The Deeside way was put back together by the local authority but some has been built on so here and there it takes a turn or country road to join everything back up. This is much better for my head as I really have a problem with long straight stuff and it’s why I rarely train on our railway paths.

I’d settled into 10 minute mile pace and was happy with that as I felt I could run forever that way. The rain started to come down but it wasn’t too bad and was soon nearing the end. The last 6 miles are brand new tarmac path and although I hadn’t really noticed it on the way out as I was too busy chatting, now on my own it seemed to go on and on.

Had to laugh at the sign post that says 3 miles to Duthie Park (the start and finish), then a mile along the path is another still saying 3 miles and yep you guessed it so does the third one further down. Into the park and finish about 30 minutes quicker than I intended but job done and legs in fine fettle. A good days racing and it’s nice to have a good one in the bag after a few poor ones just recently.

The medals for this race are always very special always different every year, handmade from natural materials by craftrocks ( www.craftrocks.co.uk ), run by friend of the race and also the race photography Annette.

 Rockcrafts beautiful medals
except the first one-thats was a chocolate medal :-)

Her Husband Mike was fifth in the race and a dark horse for a placing at the West Highland Way race this year. In the goody bag is another bottle of D33 beer made by the local brew dog brewery, another great tradition of this race and a lovely beer.


Wonderful get together after seeing loads of mates and fish and chip for breakfast down Stonehaven harbour in the morning.


Hardmoors 55 , North York Moors 53 miles (slighly shortened course due to not being able to get a marshal onto the white horse bank. )

I’ve run this race before  but even so  going into a  55 mile , 6000ft ascent hill race with weary legs is tough even under normal circumstances but I reckoned I’d get around with the minimum of fuss and log the miles into my big races day legs. This year the race was run from Guisborough to Helmsley (ie the opposite way round to normal)

It wasn’t normal circumstances though. Not by a very long way. 

As the race approached so did the severe weather warnings. The forecast for heavy snow kept changing to being right on top of the race to just skirting it. The high winds were a given though. Wanting to be nearer the start as I was bus marshal, someone to keep the RD Jon informed what was happening I booked into Osmotherly YH. Met up with some other runners who had mentioned they’d bring the beer. I’d really not paid that much attention and was keen not to repeat the pre D33 night with George. However Charlotte and Alison had other ideas. Charlotte is would seem has her own microbrewery in her cellar and heck her beer would be the envy of a lot of master brewers. Armed with a dozen bottles of the most excellent beer I was held captive and forced to try a variety of her stock. ;-)  .Then we talked about running and tits. That’s beer, running and breasts with the footy on in the background and England scoring goals for fun. Sometimes the gods just smile upon you.   I don’t know how this stuff happens to me. You couldn’t make it up!  

So slightly groggy we head for the start and Sutton bank is closed due to snow. Slow journey and some frantic phone calls I manage to get someone else to hold the buses. Amazingly just down the road at the finish there is no snow at all! It’s more or less the same at the start.
Strict kit checks and pre-race no nonsense inspiring talk form RD Jon Steele about the hard time we would undoubtedly have in the coming hours and we were off.

Well the rest were. I dropped an inner glove I’d just bought the day before and went back for it. Unfortunately it had disappeared but running food owner Tim had another pair that he offered and I am so glad I took them. so had a fair while to catch the others up but nice chat with our amazing sweeper David. So the race:

Easy enough 13 miles to Kildale as we were still in the east but looking out to our path to the west the sky looked like Mordor. On roseberry toping , the only out and back I took the opportunity to take as many photos of the runners as possible for the FB group and website. Probably lost a fair bit of time but time wasn’t really important just the miles. 

From Kildale the fun started. Slow climb to one of the highest moorlands in the UK , Bloworth crossing

The only word to describe this 5-6 mile section was brutal. 

It was already sub-zero temperatures down in the village. Up here on the moor with 30 -40 miles per hour winds bring the wind-chill temp down to estimates of -15/20. The trail is deep snow in places and the wind constantly blowing the snow from  moors onto us made very tough going. My weary legs are feeling this already and that’s not good so early in a race. 

I’d bought a balaclava the day before and so glad I did. However at one point I couldn’t tuck it into my jacket and couldn’t understand why until I realised it was completely frozen to my neck and rock solid.  Unzipped the jacket and tucked it in along with my bladder pipe which was also frozen and had to keep it there for the whole race. I took the odd photo for the website but these were the last. It was just too dangerous to have un-gloved hands

What seemed like an age and we were finally off. Dave and Darren were at the next Marshal station and I told Dave just how weary my legs felt.

Long climb up clay bank followed by a series of steep long climbs and descents. The wind was still biting hard but the running was easier. Where the trail was stone slabs the ice made them lethal and the slabs steps more so. 

However I was soon over and heading to Scarth moor and Osmotherly. Here Dave and Darren popped up again and I’m not sure how weary I must have looked but Dave asked me if I would finish.

Into the warm village hall where Anna was helping out there and she was quick to give coffee. On the race the normal way round the first 20 miles are considered relatively easy and i was thinking even though my legs were knackered this section (now the last 20 ) would at least help. I could not have been more wrong again.

Slow slog climb out of Osmotherly joined by two other runners Gwyn and Paul. Paul had a bit of an injury but we all climbed up together.  I was asked the way a few times but I really could not remember due to running it the other way round. Once I got to a point it usually came back and it is usually straight forward and well signed. 

Then we hit he snow and high winds again. If anything it was worse than Bloworth crossing and a real battle. I felt a little guilty moving on a bit now as I knew the lads I was with would have liked my course knowledge with them but I was simply getting too cold and as night  descended it felt even colder. In fact I doubt I’ve ever been that cold even with 3 layers on and a thick jacket I bought for UTMB. For a good section my double gloved hands were very cold and I had them in my pockets head down against the wind.

For the first time I thought about my micro fleece in the backpack along with some hand warmers which I’ve had years and never used but putting them on would have meant stopping and taking he jacket off so I didn’t. Came across another runner who was heading onto the moors but managed to grab him and put him on the right track. Now huge snowdrifts filed the trail and I was forced to climb higher into the exposed wind and along the edge of a field at black Hambleton heading towards Sutton bank. The snow had obliterated the landmarks but I knew just to stay on the edge of the escapement and I had to come to Sutton bank.

Once there Tim form race sponsor running foods had some chia charge drink made up and I drank deep. Fair play to Tim and John Vernon who popped up helping out all over the place. Much appreciated. I heard later their 4 wheel drive truck had to be dug out.

From Sutton Bank I knew we’d be out the wind and headed off quick. Met another runner Steve (lakeland 100 finisher) who’s knee was playing up and ran in with him. I think I said I’ve never wanted to finish a race so much in my life!.

As I arrived at the finish Jon was in the car park and I said, you Bastard, that wasn’t a race, that was a full on battle!.

Still that’s how memories are made and the extra effort on already tired legs should do me some good. 

Few days later i ran 19.5 miles with matt from I'm premier league to well and truely  finish the legs off  but it's been a good month.Now it's back to consitant training with only a few fells to run. Now only 9 weeks to the first race that matters.

Loch Katrine Bizzare DNF

Bizzare Marathon DNF  Call me lazy but i've just cut and pasted this from my fetch blog and that was copied form my FB  I thought i'd put it here for my future records and in case anyone has any further idea on possible causes. Many think some form of severe cramp but i'm more or less ruling that out . I suppose i won't really know till next week and i do a long run again (no it in the same shoes i hasten to add)

Bizzare happenings at race to day . sunday 10th March

Got to 14 -15 mile and thought my feet were hurting a bit. Well i've not done much road in a fair while so no real suprise there- then it got worse. By 16 miles it was pretty bad and by 17 i couldn't actually walk or even stand up!

The pain was across both feet mainly on the inner arch but all over reallly.

I'm guessing it was the fairly new shoes shoes (only a few miles run in them) as it's the only real expalnation but i've run marathons in loads of different shoes including a £7.50 Aldi pair at edinbugh when i forgot my good shoes with no problems and if it is the shoes i'm surprised they could cause such a severe reaction after only a few miles.

Feet just a bit tender now and much better btw.
......................................................................
I put that on my FB yesterday but i thought i'd put it out here and see if anyone has any thoughts on this. I wasn't over egging the pudding here , i really could not walk -even to the marshal points 5 minutes up the road and had to be helped into and out the car. I could barely stand.

To be frank if it hadn't happened to me pesonally , i'd find it hard to believe.

I wasn't running the marathon hard at all either ( not that that matters ) but was trying to run it a a pace where there would be no reaction in my legs. I've only 3 races this year that matter and any races i do are there as training and coming out of them in good shape and injury free. Getting ot the three start lines that matter fit and healthy is my main priority.

Obviously i'll be binning the shoes as it would seem thats the only explanation . I have a 33 mile flat hard surface event next week( i know , i said i'd never do it as it's everything i don't like but i have a lot of mates up in Aberdeen and it is good miles in the legs after all )  if my feet recover and i'l be wearing my old shoes or some worn down trail shoes (a bit of it is muddy trail here and there)

Oh and the marathon was the brilliantly organised Loch Katrine marathon , a one of to raise money for Alzheimers research. Very hilly (wouldn't be surprised if its the hillist road one around) and probably the most beautiful road marathon i've ever done (not that i do many). I'm hoping they try and put it on again sometime.

Yours, an incredulous and bemused flip
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Next day on Monday 11th march :i wrote

So a little after 24 hours since i couldn't walk and barely stand up i went out and did 6.7 miles with club in my trail shoes. My feet were still a little tender but there was no sign of any problems. That said it was only 6.7 miles so untill i do a long run at the weekend i really won't know.

A fair few comments on the last blog said they find it hard to believe the shoes were at fault mainly because it came on so quick (between mile 16 -17 ) and that it could cause such a severe problem. I'm in full agrement with that. As i said , if it hadn't happened to me i really wouldn't have believed it either.

A lot of folk are saying , maybe a severe cramp. Thats possible but it didn't feel like it. I did do a hard tri swim session on the friday night and did have a little cramp in one foot. I'm lucky in i hardly ever get cramp except when swimming but i have to say it didn't feel like cramp on sunday and would it leave my feet tender and would the pain be all over the feet in the same places? Anna thinks the shoes haven't been aggravating my feet but my calves and that has caused the foot problems. I really don't know what to think.

So the shoes are still the main suspect still despite my own and others disbelief. I probably won't know now till the D33 and at least i will have something to think (will i be crippled or not , what mile will i be crippled if i do and so on. Maybe i should have a sweepstake ! about because i really really hate flat and straight runs ! (yes i really am just going for the good friends and beer ).

The running is the same brief. Run it as easy as i feel able without being a stupid amount of time, enjoy the day out and don't wreck the legs as i have Hardmoors 55 the week after and an intensive April planned. Probably use my old trail shoes or my older road shoes.

-------------------------------------------------------

Add  last night , wednesday 13th march was an easy 5.7 with club with a couple of nice hills . A lovely run out actually -thanks greta.

Feet only a little tender and again no signs of anything wrong. We've been having a clear out at Anna towers and i found my brooks T6 brooks racers(with sparkly laces ! )  I worked out i only wore these once and that was when i broke my foot the first time. Always one ot tempt fate i wore them last night for the afore mentioned run and guess what -they were lovely. Am i becoming a barefoot runner i wonder (with a strip of rubber to protect th soles ) , because essentially they are a very low profile shoe. I'm tempted ot run the D33 in them but i'll probably not.
as i said, this weekend will be interesting. 

Hardmoors Osmotherly Marathon 2013 (not)

Hardmoors 26.2 Osmotherley Marathon-  27.5 miles, 4000ft ascent

Well not the Hardmoors marathon really as I was marshalling. I would have dearly loved to have run the race and for that matter possibly one of the best road races in England, the Keswick/Buttermere round, a 34K  on the same day. (and lets face it i rarely do road so it must be good). However ,with some luck on the injury side of things and a fair wind I’ll be I’m doing all the Hardmoors Ultra series this year and I’ll be relying on the volunteers for them so I thought it only right I do my time so to speak. Mind, not that I haven’t before; I’ve helped marshal loads of races and even been a stand in Race Director for the Hardmoors 55. But as I said I thought it only right to help Marshal this one.

26.2 (well actually 27.5 but nobody was charged for the extra). Oh and this was taken on the course the day before ) 

That said, I did still want to run the course at some point if I could and I’d originally said I’d help mark the course the day before with Jon and Garry. I’d told Jon to put me where it was tough to get to and I’ll mountain bike or hike to the point. I’d done the same to marshal the North east marathon club Kielder marathon a couple of years ago. As it happened Jon had decided to start marking the course with Steve W on the Wednesday and I had the day off. He’d told me where my marshal point was but I really wasn’t sure so this would be an ideal way to suss it out and get some lovely moors miles in.

It didn’t quite work out like that.

Steve and Jon 

The snow and winds hit halfway into our run and the freezing temperature was soon many degrees below in with the wind-chill. After 21 miles and getting blown off the tops we called it a day completely missing the out and back section that was my marshal point!  

Me on a lower section (Scarth Moor)  you can't really tell what a blizzard and cutting wind it was. 

If that weather had hit on the Sunday the race would have been cancelled so we were a bit lucky there.

So back on the Saturday to do the rest and a few more besides (Jon ,Garry & Dave C were out till very late making sure it was all marked) .

The out and back is about 6-7 miles starts coming off the heights of Carlton Bank down the twisting turning rocky path , up  and down Green bank  and up Kirkby bank. This is where I was stationed, in a saddle if you like between Kirkby and Clay banks (wainstones). Once at the far end (clay bank) where  David H & his better half were marshalling  the runners come all the way back (past me again at mile 14 & 19 appprox) ) but taking the low path.(imagine two parallel lines up ,outward over the tops and back on the low track.) You’d think this low track was easier but I had more folk saying how tough it was due to the snow melt and deep mud than anything else. So even the easy route was tough!

I got to the Village Hall start early on the sunday and chatted with Dave & Mel and loads of other runners. I do wonder about my memory though. So many runners seem to know me and I’m quite offer at a loss to place them ! The registration went well and well over 180 runners for the 10 K, Half and Marathon. Pretty good I think for a tough race in its first year.  Kelly Jackson was in attendance as well and she’s become a godsend with the results at these races, not to mention her local knowledge in the 110M and 60M
Start 

On the midweek runs the question of the fastest runner came up.  Jon reckoned that 3:45 would be the fastest possible and we all more or less agreed. Truth is we didn’t expect anyone to break 4 hours. With this in mind I was able to see them all of and then drove the half hour journey to the nearest bit of road I could find. Got parked up about I guess half a mile away and picked up my rucksack. Although there was meant to be no refreshments at my point I’d popped to Tesco and bought three two litre bottles of coke and another three 2l of water along with a load of flapjacks and Biscuits. Heck it was heavy and as I was in the saddle between two good hills I hadn’t quite realised how long it would take me to get up there.  Anyway I tried to pick a place I could see the runners coming of Kirby bank and the returning runners could also see me.

My point. The runners come down that ridge behind . 

Just about as soon as I’d put my pack down I couldn’t believe my eyes and a runner was flying down the bank! The winner won in 3:34 . Heck i can't do that on a flat road marathon never mind a rocky trail marathon with 4000ft of tough climbing ! Some amazing folk out there.

View from Kirby bank. I'm about where you see the snow drift against the wall bend round twards the woods. This is the bank the runners come down towards me.

2nd runner through Daves checkpoint at the furthest out point of the out and back. 

From that moment I hardly had any time (and there was me thinking I’d be a bit bored when waiting for the slower runners to pass!)   

Anyway to cut a long story short, (I know it’s not but this is for my records not your enjoyment so shut it:-) ) it all went very well with lots of happy smiling and exhausted runners coming past and very few DNF’s. The coke and water that wasn’t meant to be there was drank to the last drop and my coffee I’d brought in a flask to boot!  Something we will have to think about next year.  
Hell we were lucky with the weather as well. Cold but with beautiful sunshine. 
Race T 

By all accounts the 10k and half went just as well (with my friend Mel taking third lady prize in the half ) which bodes well for the other 4 in the series which are :
 

Hardmoors 26.2 Osmotherley Trail Marathon	Sunday 17th February
Hardmoors 26.2 Wainstones Trail Marathon	Sunday 14th April
Hardmoors 26.2 Rosedale Trail Marathon	Sunday 16th June
Hardmoors 26.2 Saltburn Trail Marathon	Sunday 11th August
Hardmoors 26.2 Goathland Trail Marathon	Saturday 9th November
Race Medal Hopefully I’ll get to run one of them but I’m not really a counter of Marathons so I’ll probably help out again and make do with running it the previous day if possible.It's also nice to have another 15 races around the beautiful North York moors and not to far form home. :-)