Hardmoors Trail Half Marathon

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Diane Watson

Elvet Striders at the Hardmoors Trail Events, Goathland, North Yorks: Jules; Mark; Anita; Phil; Diane; Helen; LyndsayI entered this off-road half marathon, which was part of the Hardmoors 26.2 Trail Marathon series of races, with trepidation having never run a trail or fell race before. I had gone over the course on the map with a little help from my husband Scott, and felt sure I stood little chance of getting lost, but it was nice to have the reassurance of a backstop runner just in case.

After meeting up with Phil, Juliet and Anita, who were also doing the half marathon and Anita’s husband Mark together with Lyndsay and Helen Rodgers who were all doing the 10K (Dave Robson and Mel Hudson were doing the marathon but I never actually saw them), we set off on what was a chilly (six degrees) morning with a promise of rain by the afternoon.

Diane on the muddy trail over Simon Howe RiggFollowing a gentle downhill start, the steep steps of the first incline got the blood pumping ready for the action at the top. Through the woods, we passed the spectacular waterfall of Mallyan Spout then crossed the river via stepping stones that were about 6 inches below fast flowing water (I had thought at the race brief that the stepping stones had been a joke and so it seemed did the runner behind me).

Then, after a tough climb out of the woods, we were onto the fell sections which were pretty muddy (up to the knee at times) but the views were great. The two jelly babies I took from the 1st checkpoint were carefully tucked away in my pocket but they were a sorry state when I eventually took them out at home! The later sections of forest track however were not my thing at all: they were fast (I’m not) and long and not at all enjoyable as several runners caught and passed me.

Scott came with me for support on the day and was running around with the dog taking photos. He cheekily told me later that he was disappointed about his failure to get a photo of me belly down in the mud after I made a full-length ‘face plant’ courtesy of the effect of muddy, rocky paths on tired legs. However, the resulting face decorations seemed to delight many back at the village hall!

Finished with a face-pack!I was really pleased at how I went overall – particularly over the last fell section – not fast but nice and steady, catching other runners every now and then. Unfortunately, as soon as I hit the road on the run into the finish in Goathland, quite a few passed me, some of whom had overtaken me on the previous road section and who I’d then caught on the fell.

I was chuffed to get back in time for the presentations having previously laughed at how early they were (I expected to be out much longer than I was) and for the fact that I was never close enough to the back to be able to see the backstop runner (hallelujah!).

We had escaped all but the slightest sprinkle of rain, but the marathon runners including Dave and Mel were not so lucky. By the time we were chomping on well-deserved quiche and cakes (very nice!) the rain was falling heavily and it was still only one degree higher than the morning. I can see now why waterproofs were compulsory but was quietly pleased that my race had ended.

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