Hardmoors 55 

23/03/2024

Guisborough to Helmsley along the Cleveland Way.

Saturday was the 15th Hardmoors 55 I have run the Hardmoors 55 six times, the race has changed direction and also had a different route for 2019 (fifty miles including High Cliff Nab and up and down Roseberry Topping twice) to celebrate 50 years of the Cleveland Way.

The race started at 8 am and competitors had 16 hours to complete. Blue skies and sunshine were the pleasant part of the weather, the biting cold fierce winds were not pleasant at all.

 

It was a bright sunny morning as Billy drove me to Guisborough for the race start.

After registration and race briefing, the race started up on the disused railway line (now cycle/footpath) near Guisborough Rugby Club. 

It was busy in the race at this point, I had started to far forward and was constantly being passed at this point.

You could literally see for miles across Guisborough to the North Sea from High Cliff Nab.

And across to the hills that were to be climbed later.

The route heads east until it meets the Cleveland Way. From this point the race more or less sticks to the National trail to Helmsley. Winding its way through Guisborough Woods over High Cliff Nab to the ascent and descent of Roseberry Topping (320m).

Across to Captain Cook’s Monument, dropping into checkpoint 1 at Kildale.

I topped up my water and had a biscuit and piece of cake to eat as I set off again.

 Then a climb up to Battersby Moor, turning at Bloworth Crossing to Clay Bank Top (269m) and dropping to the road crossing and the checkpoint along the route up White Hill and the Wainstones (398m) where I topped up my bottle and had a chocolate mini roll, up,up,up, then, down and up, Cold Moor (402m).

The runners spread out after Bloworth Crossing, heads down battling the brutal head winds. my run/walk strategy that is normally dictated by the elevation was dictated by the wind, walk the gusts and run when it died down a bit.

The strong winds had brought the clouds in, it was very cold. I was glad of my reactive sunglasses for protecting my eyes. 

Down and up Cringle Moor, down to Lordstones and up to Carlton Moor (408m) and Live Moor (312m). Another top up for my bottles and a Jaffa cake at Scugdale, I couldn’t believe how much I was drinking. The strong winds were so dehydrating.

Farmland and woods are a welcome break to Osmotherley and another Checkpoint. Here I had a tray of before climbing to Square Corner and Black Hamilton (399m). pudding, topped up my bottles, grabbed some malt loaf and carried on. This checkpoint is so inviting, “Come in” say the checkpoint staff “Take a seat, would you like tea or coffee”. Tempting to stay awhile in the warmth, but I was strong and escaped their wonderful helpful clutches. Before climbing to Square Corner and Black Hamilton (399m).

 Then a run down across the moor to High Paradise farm and a checkpoint at Sneck Yate Bank. I had wanted to get to High paradise before I needed my head torch. I made it. At the Sneck Yate check point I had a cup of cola and set off across the field. Up again to Boltby Scar (332m) as the rain started, horizontal, freezing cold rain. I had to put on my head torch now. Across the cliff tops to Sutton Bank was where I started to really feel the miles in my legs. I had set off with a sore glute and the constant climbing was making it harder and harder to ignore, walking was easier but annoyingly slower.

I love the view from Sutton Bank.

Crossing the road towards the White horse (270m), the race route Leaves the Cleveland Way briefly, sending runners via a steep muddy path descending into the muddy woods from the cliff top. I found it tricky in the dark and in the woods, the depth of the mud in the muddy patches was difficult to work out, so more walking. The trail exits into the carpark below the chalk image. Last checkpoint. I sat in a chair and took off my pack, something had been digging into my back for the last few miles, my cup, I think. I had another cola and put my cup in a different part of my pack. 

Now at 44 miles the 150 uneven steep steps back to the cliff top and the Cleveland Way, feel mountainous, but the knowledge that the worst of the climbing is done, and a hot brew in Helmsley spurs weary legs onwards. I cracked on. Something was still digging into my back, I wriggled my pack and tried to work it out, not my cup, my sunglasses. I made them more comfy. This section is less hilly, but muddier. As it descends to Cold Kirkby past the springs and fishing lakes and along the road towards Reivaulx the trail passes relatively quickly. Almost at Helmsley is the sting in the tail, an ascent up Whinny (whingy) Bank and more (howling) steps in Blackdale Howl Wood. As you exit the wood, the lights of Helmsley are so welcoming drawing you in. A final run/walk/stagger/crawl (delete as applicable) up to the Sports fields and it’s done, just like that 53.9 miles and 2837 m ascent are complete.

it was great to see Billy waiting for me at the finish.

This ultra running is definitely not glamorous.

It was good to get the tracker cut off.

It was so good to have a coffee and a cheese toastie whilst catching up with friends.

This is a no support race (although you can get someone to run with you from Sutton Bank if you wish); all runners have trackers, and the checkpoints are well stocked. Runners can have 2 nonreturnable drop bags, one at Kildale and another at Osmotherley. I choose not to bother with the drop bags as I carry extra food with me. There is a bus from the finish to the start in the morning to help with transportation. 

There is a compulsory kit list with random checks on course.

·       Race vest (backpack) or Bumbag large enough to carry all mandatory kit

  Hat (a bandana is not sufficient) and Gloves

Spare gloves

Waterproof Jacket (Must have taped seams and a hood)

 Waterproof trousers.

Full running tights (Tracksters & 3/4 tights permitted).

Minimum of 1 litre water/sports drink  (to start race with, you are allowed to use this).

 Headtorch/Torch (check your batteries or carry spare just in case).

  Cleveland Way Map or OS Maps (Not just GPS)

Whistle.

 Survival Bag 

Foil blanket

 Emergency food supply (chocolate/energy bar).

·SPARE WARM LAYER can be a Lightweight fleece eg microfleece/Polartec etc or Merino Wool base layer or Primaloft jacket/down jacket*.

A fully charged mobile phone (to be kept on at all times)

Safety pins, clips, magnets or race belt with which to attach your race bib to your body

 Suggested: ski goggles if the weather is forecast to be snowy

This year it was very windy, headwinds hampered progress and were exhausting, I wore sunglasses during the day and clear cycling glasses in the evening to protect my eyes from the wind and dust.

I completed the course this year in 14 hours 35 minutes and 42 seconds.

221/273 solo runners

49/64 female

14/18 fv50