401 Challenge in Ripon

Ben Smith who is running 401 marathons in 401 days came to Ripon on Saturday 14 May to run his 557th marathon.
I designed a route for him that showed him all the sights of Ripon and was made up of joined up club runs.
We met in St Marygate carpark and around 50 others turned up to welcome Ben, some to run, some to cycle and others just to meet him. Ben took the time to meet everyone and have selfies with them.
We ran through Sharow along the Ure to the racecourse where Caroline had set up a drink and cake station at about 6 miles before we headed along the canal to Littlethorpe. After that we headed along the Sanctury Way to Moorside dale and up Whitcliffe Lane. We ran past the Spinny and up to Howe Hill. We then ran down Howe Hill admiring the views of Fountains Abbey and Fountains hall before heading to the Visitor Centre for lunch.
After Lunch we ran the seven Bridges to Sam's seat, into Studley Royal and though the cross roads in the field. From there we ran up Bishopton and lark Lane before running alongside the cemetary and out to Palace Road. We crossed to the golf club and passed the tennis centre before joining the Ripon Rowel route along the Ure. Next was the Clock tower and the winter route of Kings Mead anf the Tax office. Along college road to Kirkby Road and turn back to Trinity Church and past the junior schools, the rugby and cricket fields and onto malorie Park. We turned down Borrage Lane crossed at Kwikfit and ran along the river back to Fishergreen, where we crossed the Skell and ran around the base of the cathedral past the old library and up Traffic light hill. with a turn around the market Square to enjoy the tudor buildings and obelisk it was time to turn down Kirkgate to enjoy the view of the cathedral to finish the 27 miles running back to the car park.
Everyone had a great day with people running their furthest distance and a few new marathoners were made.

Harrogate District Summer Race League (HDSRL) race 1 Ilkley

Thursday 5 May

First race of the series, I love this route. Tarmac and hilly.

Weather was warm. 

All the runners gathered at Ilkley Rugby Club. There were lots of runners as always for the first race in the series, though not too many from Richmond or Swaledale as it is a long journey for them. Ripon Runners had loads of runners, it was good to see so many. 

The race started on the neighbouring park. There were nasty midges biting exposed flesh but we didn't have to wait long before the start. We ran round the field then along the road before the climb started. The route was crowded at first but the hill soon spread us out. My hill running is not great at the moment but I slogged it out, steadily passing people  as the climb went on up up up. After about a mile and a half the route flattens for a while and then turned for a long down hill, I was passed by some runners but was still catching others, Down down down. Finally we were on the flat run in, it didn't feel flat after such a long down, but now the battle for position began. (Points are awarded for position) lots of overtaking and being overtaken. Just before the turn into the rugby club there was a real push, but I had nothing left and was overtaken on the final section by 3 or 4 runners.

Timing is chipped this year. My time 45:30. My second fastest time on the course. I was 319 out of 378 gaining 16 club points and 30 ladies points.

Fastest time was 26:16 

fastest lady was 31:52

Ripon Duathlon series race 1

Friday April 29

3D Tri/Go Tri Ripon Racecourse

I entered within the last week. I figured that a short Sharp event would help my speed and transitions.

Distances 2km run, 29 km cycle, 2 km run.

The weather was pretty foul, it rained all day and there were strong winds. I got home from work later than planned, had tea, grabbed my stuff and set off. 

I had in my head that the race was 18:30, but thought I'd check on my phone. I looked and the event I saw had shorter distances and was at 17:30. Oh no! It wa 25 past now and we were 6 miles away. I continued searching on my phone, this time a link took me to a different site. This had correct distances but was an 18:00 start. At least we would make it in time. 

The rain stopped and I got registered. I went to rack but had to find Billy, he had locked the car and briefing was in 5 min. I found him racked. It was a low key race with only 22 competitors so transition was nice and small. I wrapped my kit in a plastic bag in case it rained again.

The race stArted and I set off round the lake, the ground was soft but not muddy. The small field meant that pretty soon nearly everyone was ahead of me. I got to transition and in order to get a quick transition I had put my bike jacket and rain jacket on earlier and removed them together. As I put them on, my arm went in only on armhole on the left side, but I was taking too long and just zipped the jackets up and struggled into my gloves.my hands stuck but I got my bike and jogged over the rough ground to the mount line and set off on the bike. 

There was a rider in the distance and one just behind, I started to chase. It took about 4 miles and I finally caught the rider ahead and in the next 3 miles overtook 4 riders, a little further on there were no bikes in sight but I was overtaken. Blast! I set chase again, I kept him close but could not quite catch him. The last 6 miles were into a head wind, my speed dropped but so did his, but he was slowly getting away. I pushed my burning legs harder and closed the gap again and a busy junction forced him to wait but cleared as I got there. A few yards later and we turned back into the racecourse.

T2, I was determined to leave a tidy area putting everything back in my bag. Helmet off last then ran out chasing the rider that had passed me. I felt OK for such a hard ride and soon caught and passed the man an ran my hardest around the lake to the finish.

1 hour 28 minutes. I have no splits as I messed my garmin up.

Great event. I think it will grow as the series continues.

Hardmoor's White Horse Marathon

10/04/2016
The Hardmoors White Horse Marathon is the second in a series of 7 over the year.
I marked up my map in advance in case it was needed. and went through the route description, I made parts I was familiar with font 12, and unknown parts in font 14 so I could read it without glasses. I then went through and put important points in bold.

Race day

It was a cool bright day with little wind, perfect for running. 

Registration was at 8:00 at the visitor center on the top of Sutton Bank and as usual there was also a half marathon and a 10 km race too (all distances are a minimum)

I ummed and ahhed about trainers, Brooks Cascadia, good grip for the mud and any wet grass, but sadly the tops have split, or Brooks ASR, less grip for the mud but more cushioning and in better nick than the Cascadias and they got me round the Hardmoors 55. I decided not to risk the split Cascadias and go for the ASRs

I met up with Clare, Jono, Mike and Dave, to chat before the race, Jono and Dave were doing the half.

It was a bit chilly to start and I needed to make a decision as to what layers to wear, I went for my Icebreaker merino long sleeve under my Ripon Runner vest, with my gloves in the pockets of my compulsory waterproof jacket which was folded up in my pack.

I also had chosen to run in 3/4 tights, unusual for me as I normally do these long trail events in my 2XU long compression tights. So I was dressed for a spring day, complete with sunglasses.

Andy arrived just before the marathon briefing, he was sweeping the 10 km ish race. I met Gill and Alison in the loos before the race. Hardmoors runners are a great group, lots of friendships are made on the journeys of a Hardmoors race.

The briefing was in the courtyard of the visitor centre, then Jon (the organiser with his wife Shirley) walked us to the carpark entrance for the start, Shirley came too to start the clock. Jon advised good descenders to be at the front and poor descender to the back. I had been in the middle talking to a fellow Outlaw, but I moved to the back, being a wimpy descended and with my less grippy shoes on. I knew the almost immediate descent to Lake Gormire would be steep and the area around the lake would no doubt be muddy.

Wow the descent was not just steep, it was also a wide swathe of mud and the footprints of the people who went before showed how slippy it was. I took care and although people ahead slipped I made it to the bottom without incident. After such a long time of watching carefully every foot placement I looked up to see Lake Gormire shimmering in the morning sun.

Beatiful and clean as the water looked, it was the banks around the lake where we were running and beautiful and clean did not describe the track, it was a churned up mud pit all the way round and didnt get any better for the steep climb back out of the valley.

Finally I reached the top, with stunning views and very open to the elements, the track was dryer than down by the lake, making for a good bit of running.

The blue skies, lack of a breeze and good running surface soon had me feeling a bit warm, I took the opportunity to remove my base layer as I walked up to High Paradise farm (I am strict with myself about walking ups and running flats and downs) I was following Gill and Alyson, A dejavu moment as I was with them at this point on the HM55 too.

This fab little pony was enjoying the attention from the runners as they passed by.

Just passed High Paradise Tearooms there was the first checkpoint. cake, sweets, drinks, it was like a mini restaurant. I topped up my bottle, and took a piece of cake to eat along the way. The track was very runnable and I felt good, steady away. soon there was a marshal out on the moor to make sure that we all made the right turn. I was now on unfamiliar ground. there was a runner ahead, I aimed to keep him in sight in the hope that he knew where he was going, to save me time from navigating and reading the route description.

There was still more mud to tackle.

The track turned sharply downwards into a very pretty valley. We ran along the valley floor towards more runners ahead, I was gaining slowly. After crossing a gurgling stream, the climb out of the valley was on a muddy forest track,

the man I was followed joined the group of runners and I was just a short way behind as we ran down along the track and through a farm to a road and Checkpoint 2.

the man I was followed joined the group of runners and I was just a short way behind as we ran down along the track and through a farm to a road and a checkpoint

 I filled my bottle, Hmm! I was sure it was leaking somehow, I dont normally drink so much. I took a few jelly babies and sett of up another track through the trees before the majority of the group. I followed a lady up through

I passed the lady and a man ran with me a while before passing me, He said we would be running along the ridge in the distance.

I followed the man down the field and over the stone bridge onto a road. As I walked up the road as it was a hill, I passed the man and now had no one to follow. The daffys were pretty on the roadside.

I was aproacing a sign, I got out my instructions and ignored the right fork to Helmsley.

I continued ahead up the hill to Hawnby.

There was tape on the hedge to make sure.

High on the ridge in the distance I spotted a lone figure on the distant ridge.

The wild primroses were brightening up the verge.

Ah! Hawnby. Pass by pub (Hawnby Inn) on right. Look for the wooden bus shelter and take the stone steps to the left. My eye was drawn to a set of steps, I went to them, but they were to a house, I turned and noticed a small flight of stone steps by the bus shelter. I went up them, between the houses and through a gate.

This was a steep section up, up up for ages, through gates, over stiles and finally up an even steeper grass path to the top of the ridge.

The views were amazing. I was so glad it was not windy, foggy, snowy or raining. It would not be pleasant up here in that weather. as it was the views were stunning, I just didn't look down.

Other runners had caught up with me at this point. I could see someone ahead and set off after them.

The person on the top was checking numbers off, he said I was 75th. I thought that was an ok position, but there was also runners ahead for me to follow.

The path down was muddy and narrow, it was also quite steep in places.

In the distance I could see the next checkpoint. the descent was very muddy and boggy

I needed to refill my bottle again. It was definitely leaking. I set of down the lane to a farm then turned along a path, more gates and stiles as I crossed fields and eventually I was out on the moor following runners on narrow muddy tracks through the heather winding between the rocks. I went to take a drink and the mouthpiece flew off my bottle hit me in the face amongst a fountain of Tailwind. I rubbed my eyes and looked around for thr teat from my bottle. I couldn't see it, my drink was sloshing out of my bottle with every step. I stopped and took a big swig of my remaining drink, then twisted and folded it to contain what was left.

I set back off, I didnt try to make up the lost time, Steady away I slowly caught up the runners one by one. I have a good walking pace and hills like this allow me to gain others. Even when I keep stopping to capture the view (catch my breath)

and this view was worth stopping for.

It was quite a long hill

But soon it turned downwards and I ran with runner 122 for a while, We crossed muddy boggy fields until hitting the road near Hawnby again. We turned left and headed up hill, it had great views.

There was a bloke cycling up it. I didn't envy him, Id rather run/walk a 25% hill like that any day.

At the top of the hill was another checkpoint, with a group of youngsters encouraging us along. I asked Paul at the checkpoint to get my spare bottle from my backpack to save me taking it off. It was already loaded with Tailwind powder, I thanked him very much, took a couple of marshmallows and set off again.
I turned off the track to run along a bridalway and then onto more forestry tracks, more mud and puddles. As I was about to turn onto a steep descent I spotted runners coming towards me from straight on, I carried on down the hill and the runners passed , I asked If i had gone wrong, they said they had. Phew, I dreaded having to go back. Down the hill to the yellow tape, up the other side.

The next section was tough on tired legs, the track was difficult to spot.

At the top of the path there was another lane and lots more mud. Then through some fields and over duckboards before emerging onto a road.I had runners around me now. We crossed a bridge and then went through a gate and crossed some wet muddy fields, running towards Rievaulx Abbey. The faster runners took off, I remained steady away, there was a fair way to go yet.

I left the fields for a road section, it was quite busy with cars. Soon I crossed a bridge and was back on the Cleveland Way. I was familiar with this section from the HM55. I ran with confidence along the road and soon was at the final checkpoint. Tony and Paul were manning it. It was great to see them. I had a drink and a couple of marshmallows and sett off before the others at the checkpoint. I ran through the woods and there was a lot of swapping positions with other runners.

As we were crossing the stepping stones I didn't lift my foot enough and found myself face down in the mud. I quickly rolled over and got back up assuring the others that I was ok. My knees hurt but I would investigate that later. There was soon another uphill section to walk before getting to Cold Kirkby. In cold Kirkby there was a left turn, more mud and more runners. I jogged along untill I got to the cycle path, This meant the end was close, but trees hid everything. The path by the cyclepath was very muddy and slippy under tired legs.

Finally I emerged from the wood, and there were the event flags. Yey nearly finished.
And there it was, just outside the visitor center at Sutton Bank where Shirley waited to record numbers. She said I was 65th. I had made up another 10 places.

Th Brooks ASRs held up to the challenge, grip for mud but flexible and cushioned for the harder surfaces.

The difference in grip of the ASR and the Cascadia

I checked my knees. no real damage a little scratch and the start of some bruising. I was very lucky.

I got a t shirt and medal for my ever growing collection.

I finished 65/107
I really enjoyed this race, the weather was fantastic although that is beyond anyone's control. The route had a bit of everything, hills flats, mud, grass, road and trail.
Would I do it again? YES