Hardmoors 110 / 160
Two lady members took part in this weekend’s Hardmoors ultra marathon races, with Jill Holt attempting the 160 mile race and Lena Conlin the 110 mile distance. Starting at 5pm on Friday evening, 17 competitors left Sutton Bank visitors centre for 160 mile race, which headed east to Scarborough, where the route would join the Cleveland Way and those runners doing the 110 mile race.
Although Jill had a sickness bug she started well enough and had the company of Elise and David Nicholson and Jane Grundy as support runners. Jill reached the Hole of Horcum checkpoint at around the 2.30am where she decided to have a rest until sunrise. Continuing with an upset stomach and not being able to eat properly, Jill battled away through Saturday, and was joined by Simon McCudden and Andy Purll (with John Grundy as support driver) who got her to the east coast.
There she headed north through Ravenscar, Robin Hoods Bay and Runswick Bay with Jo Hope, Lisa Quinn joining in as runners with Michael Bray taking over car support duties. However, continued eating and sickness meant that by the time her new support runners of Sheena Jackson and Paul Morgan had helped her to reach Skinnigrove, she had missed the midnight cut off at Saltburn and therefore retired from the race. However, she had completed 96 miles of the route with approximately 15,000 foot of ascent.
Along the way additional support by car and on foot was provided by Hayley and Martin Whipp, Tim Joynson, Mike Pennock, Chris Bennett, Penny and Dave Nicklas, Julian Davis and Dave Allen.
Starting at 8am on the Saturday, 2017 Ladies winner Lena Conlin, started the 110 mile long event from Filey for her latest long distance challenge. Just to make things even tougher, Lena went completely unsupported for the whole race, no support driver to meet her at checkpoints and no support runners to help navigate and keep spirits up.
A wrong turn in Guisborough Woods due to dense fog during the night section added a tough extra half mile with an ascent of High Cliffe Nab, but that didn’t stop her going on to endure a hot and sunny Sunday afternoon, finishing in an incredible time of 33 hours and 8 seconds.