Hardmoors 30
Robin Hoods Bay
New Years Day 2017
I was chuffed to bits, way back in May when Billy said he would do the Hardmoors 30. Its tough to get a Scotsman to give up his Hogmanay. So I got us entered and booked digs before he could change his mind.
That was the first step. Now that I was doing the 30 I could enter the Grandslam, that is thw 30, the 55 the 110, Yes that is not a typo, the 110 and the 60, all miles of course with a bit extra for good measure.
Back in October I entered the Grandslam and that that would be my main focus of the year.
Unfortunately Billy got an injury, we both dealt with sciatica and lurgys in early December and got over them, but this calf niggle is not healing and unfortunately Billy, after waiting and hoping it would go had to resign himself to the fact that he could not compete and offered to help in the hall instead.This kind of took the shine off our New Years adventure, we were supposed to both do it, it was to be his first Hardmoors and I was hoping that he would love the event and do more of them.
I packed my kit, I wondered what trainers to wear, they would be Brooks, but would they be GTS road, ASR trail or Cascadias for mud? I read a couple of blogs and Facebook comments and decided on Cascadias, even though they were new as the last pair ripped at Roseberry topping.
Anyway New Years Eve came round, and we drove over the windy exposed moors to Robin hoods Bay and then to our digs at the Flask.
Digs were ok, quite basic but the food in the bar was lovely and the portions a decent size. There was no breakfast though. We went to the local garage and got some milk an Weetabix for the morning. We got an early night but didn't sleep well because there was annoying buzzing noise and the fire exit light kept the room lit all night.
After a long restless night morning came and we ate Weetabix out of the plastic wine glasses that we had bought for a celebratory drink and to bring in the New Year after the race.
It was a bit less windy, but it was pouring down, I put an extra merino top into my pack along with some snow grips because the forcast was for low temperatures and wind. I worried that would make it icy.
We set off in the dark for Robin Hoods Bay and arrived just after 8 am. the registration was just opened but the carpark was already full. Billy dropped me off and went off to find somewhere to park. I went in the hall and had my kit checked and registered. My number was 65, I found a chair to put my stuff under and pinned my number to my race vest. Billy had arrived and was now checking other runners kit.
The other Ripon runners arrived, Claire Matt and Jill. the hall was rammed, I didn't get to speak to Claire and only managed to exchange a few words with Matt and Jill
All too soon it was time for Jon's race brief, the hall went quiet as the crowd turned to listen.
I waved goodbye to Billy as we left the building.
We headed outside into the brisk New Years Yorkshire air. I was a bit far forwards and so moved further back, It would be a long day, I didn't want to go off too quick or to get in the way.
And we were off, across the road, up a short incline, round the corner and onto the Cinder path. I chatted with Alison who won the 26.2 series, and Gill for a while before the ran on by, the going was good underfoot and the runners passed each other by as they settled into their pace. I ran quite hard (for me). The wind was strong and permanently in my face. I had planned in my head to run all the way to Whitby as it might not be so good underfoot on the Cleveland Way cliff paths.
The last time I was on this path it was in 1984 when my friend Ruth and I stayed in a caravan at High Hawsker for a week in the summer and we had used the path, (though it was not so well surfaced) to walk to Robin Hoods Bay. We had sat in our caravan watching the most amazing lightning,
what we hadn't known then was that lightning had struck York Minster that night.It was nostalgic running past the caravans.
The field soon spread out and runners were already few and far between as I crossed the road. I looked but already I was catching people up.
Across the fields I got my first view of the Abbey at Whitby.
We soon came to crossing the River Esk, It was very high up and evidently very popular with dog walkers. I took a moment to look over the side. It was very windy so high up.
Tide was obviously out.
Soon I saw signs for Ruswarp and that brought back memories of a New years trip we took a few years ago with our youngest son, we had stayed at Ruswarp Hall and walked this part of the path into town every day.
I went down some steps and there was the first checkpoint. It was quite busy, the marshals said they didn't need numbers, I got a couple of jelly hearts and a cup of water and set off again. down into town, a very familiar route, I've never ran it though.
Past the Angel.
Over the bridge to Hippy Hippy Shake and run up the cobbled street resisting the temptation to stop and look in some of my favorite shops
Round the corner by Hammonds Jet shop and there were the steps. I have often wanted to attempt to run the 199 steps to the Abbey.
In the route description Jon said we had to run them all and I gave it a good go, But I only made about half way. I was soon at the top and running breathlessly again. I got my phone out to take a pic, but it had steamed up making the pic look as if it was foggy.
The view back over Whitby was stunning through my misted up lens.
Ah that's better.
The cliff path was not flagstones like I had hoped, but I was glad that I put my Brooks Cascadias on new or not. Anyway they didn't look new anymore. the paths were grass and mud, I was amongst a group of runners and we swapped position regularly as different people were better on different sections than others as we slid our way back towards Robin Hoods Bay.
The SportSunday photographers were along the path catching the moment. They stay out in all weathers to catch us having fun.
At a couple of points the water was coming up the cliff and spraying us. There was also a bit of hail and sleet, The wind which should have been pushing us back to Robin Hoods Bay seemed to come from all angles.
And it just got muddier,
Soon, out of nowhere houses appeared and streets, I left the mud behind and ran to the Fylingdales Village hall and checkpoint 2. That was one loop done. I ran in and got a drink and some peanuts and jelly babies. Billy asked if I was ok, I said I was and ran back out and headed behind the hall to the road and back to the Cinder path.
Now I knew how tough the cliff path was I needed to run the whle of the cinderpath out to Ravenscar and beyond to Hayburn Wyke. That was not so easy as it was a constant incline and even running I struggled to catch the walkers up. After the checkpoint at Ravenscar I was struggling to keep other runners in sight. I did see these lovely cows though.
There were runners ahead but they were a fair way off and i never seemed to gain on them. Eventually the Cinderpath crossed a road I turned left following some yellow tape and arrived at the next checkpoint. A quick drink, some peanuts and jelly babies and I set off again, past this sign.
However I didnt stop, I ran across the field and into the woods, I had caught up with some runners. We made our way downsome steps, crossed a bridge and climbed a massive flight of steps up the other side.
The cliff path was very up and down all the way back to Ravenscar and muddy. it was hard work on now tiring legs.
This short section seemed to go on and on (a sign I was tiring) but I eventually got to Ravenscar and had my bottle of Tailwind topped up. That perked me back up as I ran down towards Robin Hoods Bay. the light was starting to go and the sky was lit up with pink clouds which reflected on the sea turning it a strange shade of salmon pink.
There were a couple more flights of steps to navigate, I could see in the distance street lights pingingon, and with the last steps bringing me into Robin Hoods Bay in the last of the daylight I ran past the chip shop and to the bottom of the stepped path up to the carparks so I walked that steepest section and ran from the roundabout back up to the village hall.
30.4 miles of mud and trail. I turned to show my number and took off my trainers before being presented my medal and t shirt from Billy and going for a coffee. I always feel better after a coffee.
I then had one last flight of steps to negotiate.
Onto the stage
to recieve my award for being 3rd female in the 26.2 series of 7 Hardmoors Marathons.
The Hardmoors 30 was not one of that series, but it is the start of the Grandslam and I have now completed a quarter of that challenge, even though the races to come are all way tougher.
A great race, great organisation as always, fantastic volunteer marshals, a fab way to start the year.
Hardmoors 30 is highly recommended.
