Hardmoors 54
I had been poorly for 10 days with a horrid head cold -sore throat, deaf ear and headache.
Ran Wuthering Hike last Saturday and really was not race ready for Hardmoors but wanted to do it anyway.
Rog dropped me off at 6am at the cricket club in Helmsley and I assisted with registrations and met up withe lots of old friends from various races, then we set off at 8am.
I felt ok so set off well, chatting to Andy Cole as we approached the White Horse.
A quick water top up and up through the woods and on to the track which wends its way to Black Hambleton. Ususally fabulous views were obliterated due to the fog and mist which was a real shame.
I ran into Osmotherley with Martin, Andy and others far behind me. I was feeling quite cold by then and needed a cup of hot water to warm me.
From there Iwent the true Cleveleland Way route, past the TV mast and then down to the road, before going through the woods and up on to the moors.
I kept expecting people to be catching me but I was running alone most of the time and it got a bit lonely, so it was good to see Dave walking down from the moors.
Up on the tops it was really nasty - cold, wet and windy and my hands were getting ever so numb so I had to keep on moving to keep the warmth in them.
Just after Carlton Bank I caught Mat who was lost in the fog. Luckily the Hardmoors is one race that I know the route for, so I was able to tell him which path to take and we climbed up and up. over the three peaks to the Wainstones and then down to Clay Bank where he stopped to sort out his feet.
I ran on and up to Bloworth Crossing where John was sitting in his tent, just about keeping warm.
Further on and on and i was tiring and my legs were aching. I kept on counting the miles down and telling myself that I just had to get to Kildale then it would only be 3 hours to the finish.
So - down to Kildale - by now the mist had lifted and I could see the fabulous sight of the fabulous route I had covered. Into the village hall and a cup of tea served by Mike M and Lee who told me that Sharon had hypothermia and was trying to get warm in a sleeping bag by a radiator.
A sit down and some pasta out of a pot and on I went. Mat came in and went out and I never caught him again. He told me at the finish that he had drunk some magic potion that gave him a kick start - I NEED some!
On to Captain Cooks Monument and the light was fading but the sunset was a lovely sight. Onwards to Roseberry Topping and I walked up the hill, texting as I went to Elaine and Roger.
Contact with them helped me along. It was dark as I went up the steps to RT but I didnt put my head torch on until the top. I saw the two guys who had been in Kildale Hall and as I came down also saw Martin and Andy who finished 10 mins behind me.
I ran on over the bogs in pitch black, up towards Flip at Highcliff Nab. Mandy texted me and I wanted to answer and tell her about the owls being my only company, but I decided I needed to crack on.
I had told myself that once I was down from RT I only had the woods to do and I would be finished. However, they seemed to drag on and on and my knee was hurting and I was dead on my feet. I waited for the couple of guys who somehow had got behind me and then they left me as they powered on through the woods, whilst I dragged myself along!
Finally I got to the end and all I had to do was find Dave at the end of the railway line. There he was calling out and I turned along the track, looking out for the rugby club.
Suddenly it was there and I found new energy to run down the field and into the finish. Sue and Yvonne were there to meet me with a smile and a cup of tea.
Fabulous!
Nice shower, massage and chat to Hannah and then it was all over.
Now it's Sunday and it has been a lovely Spring day with sunshine!
If only it had been like that yesterday- what a difference it would have made.
However, now the pain is fading, thanks go to Jon for a great event, where I saw so many old and new friends.
Maybe next week the weather will be better.
Time?? Oh yes. 12.45 which was about what I expected.