DISTANCE: 112 MILES.
ORGANISER: HARDMOORS.
ROUTE: FILEY TO HELMSLEY (CLEVELAND WAY).
ASCENT: C6000M (C19,500FT).
RACE TYPE: SINGLE STAGE, NON-STOP.
May 2017, this weekend I completed one of the UK’s most challenging endurance events, the 112-mile footrace between Filey and Helmsley, called simply and inaccurately the Hardmoors 110. Conceived by my friend, Jon Steele, the beautiful Cleveland way is used to create a now infamous footrace, that takes in both the stunning coastline and moorlands of North Yorkshire.
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Ten years old, this year, the event is known for its’ difficulty, camaraderie, and the race organisers ambivalence to reporting accurate distances.
There is something of a fondly dispensed sadism woven into the event, not least the requirement to ascend and descend Roseberry Topping, at mile sixty-three, for no discernible reason other than it’s there and makes the route longer and harder. Jon’s acerbic wit, adds to the charm of the event; a favourite sign declares that “if you quit now, you could be in the pub in just a few minutes.”
What started as a very low key, almost counter-culture event, has followed the explosion in long distance running and grown from just sixteen participants in its inaugural year to closer to two hundred in the 2017 edition.
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I won’t win this race or any other for that matter if I did, which I won’t, there’d be no prize money, perhaps a small plaque and a big box of running gels; why enter ultra-marathons then? The training helps keep me healthy; I enjoy the physical and mental challenge, I find it intoxicating to toe the start line of a race where I can’t know until I try if I can finish it. I have made many awesome friendships and seen some of the most beautiful scenery in the world running, at home and abroad.
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While I didn’t win the race or even an age category, I am extremely pleased with the result. My time of 30 hours and 26 minutes, placed me around thirtieth in a field approaching two hundred. I experienced that oft spoken of, but trust me rare beyond belief, runners high. A storming run through the hilliest section of the race between miles eighty and ninety could only be endorphin fuelled.
There is necessarily a huge retinue of volunteers, support crew, friends, supporters and families involved. The Hardmoors race series is famed for the spirit and generosity of the ‘Hardmoors Family’. I was supported by Tim Bateson and Phil Turton, both of whom I had crewed in previous editions of the race; my turn this year saw us complete a three HM110 racing and crewing trilogy together. I am/we are rather proud to report a perfect record, each of us completing this race at our first attempt. A successful weekend, with a great result and a neat conclusion to Tim, Phil and I’s Hardmoors 110 trilogy.
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My race calendar is clear now through to September when I run my local hundred mile race the Robin Hood 100; the focus between now and then is getting leaner and faster so that I can set a hundred mile PB.
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