The Forum of Benfleet Running Club

Mike Mason · #7 Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 1055 Location: Hockley

I was lucky enough to be a Marshall (and not a runner) at the first running of a brand new race that covers the Cleveland Way - 110 miles from Helmsley to Filey in Yorkshire.

Race site:
http://www.hardmoors110.co.uk/

Route elevation:
http://www.life-is-an-ultramarath...2-hardmoors-110-elevation-profile

Marshalls View

What a great race! I was just glad to be a Marshall. Seeing the runners come up the 199 steps alongside the churchyard in Whitby really cheered me up! Fantastic weather...beautiful views, lovely Fish and Chips, little shops selling Jet jewellery....oh I digress. Yes the event was 'awesome....' I have to say that as we had 3 of our US cousins taking part. One had done Badwater and Rob Apple had now completed I think it was 530 Ultras!

Everyone commented on the 'relentless hardness' of the race. The cold of the first night was matched by the heat of the Saturday. The Physios at Whitby were great. Students from Hull University who needed to clock hours of actual physio work for their courses. Everyone who had the PT commented on how good it was.

Images of the event:

Whitby Abbey and the scenic beauty of the Youth Hostel Check Point

Escorting people up the steps and pointing out to one of the US runners all the 'culture and history' around him that obviously he was not used to

A text from Tomo Thompson as we drove down to Whitby in the early hours of Saturday morning that he was on way home after a bad ankle strain

Seeing the first 3 runners come up the steps - Martin Dietrich, Ian Leach and Murdo McEwan....fantastic

Being asked, and asking if people wanted their photos snapped together on the steps as I waited for the runners...should have charged for it

Chatting to Jon's (Jon Steele - race organiser and the pillock I got lost with on 2007 West Highland Way race) Mum and Dad..no Jon your Mum is not 'mad as a hatter' and your dad was great. He told me about Captain Cook being born here and I said also Leo Blair (Tony's Dad)..at which he said...'we don't talk about him in our house..

)

Julien's (Julien Pansiott) legs - everyone commented on the scratches (he had got lost and run through brambles)

Saying to Mandy Vine that 'I have to kiss you on Dario's instructions' and seeing her flinch when she heard Dario's (WHW race Director) name mentioned

Kissing Shirley Colquhoun ..because she was there

Not kissing any of the male runners even though they wanted me to....

Murdo McEwan recounting the story of his puking up after eating Jez Bragg's's recommendation of a nice 'weetabix and banana!'

Everyone else commenting about not being able to miss 'Murdo's vomit' many hours later when they came through

Mark with a strained knee soldiering on through gritted teeth

Mark Barnes recounting the story of vomiting.....inspecting it (why the hell would you do that) and finding a Tramadol painkiller he had taken 4 hours before still sitting untouched with the name clearly visible on it)

Jon keeping me posted with his and Mark's position as they descended into Whitby when all I wanted to do was finish my Fish and Chips

Me saying to Jon..'I think I will run it next year, ' before Murdo, Mark and Julien told me it was similar in hardness to the TMB...bastards.....ok I may Marshall next year..

)

Views of the bay at Ravenscar and the lovely hotel

My wife Gill driving Steve's (one of Jon's mates and the guy who supported Mark from Ravenscar) - US type Nissan pick-up...well I only drive automatics! (She loved it)

The Filey Centre - seeing Murdo run in, taking his stockings off (was that a flash of suspender), Murdo falling asleep on the massage table...classic!

Jezz arriving for the prizegiving

The US lady (Susan Donnelly) talking about US ultras and mentioning that Rob Apple the other runner had completed his 530th (?) ultra

Vangelis TMB theme and Gladiator music
The presentation of the sword to the winner
Mark showing me the new Petzl ultra headtorch....like a car headlamp on your head!

You can imagine the West Highland Way race starting off many years ago when Dario was just middle aged, and how that event has grown in stature. The Hardmoors is definitely one that will grow like that and needs to. So bloody well done Jon and all those involved in the planning and preparation...it really was AWESOME!!

It was my first time in Whitby and to be fair this part of the world. Gill and I have decided we need to see more of it.

As Dave Waterman (Subversive Runner) and I are beginning to learn..yes there are some nice places and people north of Potters Bar!

_________________
'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.