Hardmoors Rosebury Races, 11/12 December
Report by Kim Holden
This weekend saw the Hardmoors series again in action with half marathons taking place on Saturday and Sunday and also a 10k and marathon on Sunday. This is the last time the HM routes will be taped so next year it’ll be maps and route descriptions at the ready :)
The half marathon, with 3,500 feet of ascent, was the same route for both days and over 15 miles. The weather on Saturday turned out a little better than expected, as the race started at 12 pm with rain forecast around 1 pm but it didn’t materialise till about 3:30 pm. However, it felt very cold particularly on some of the highest points of the race.
The half route started and finished at Guisborough Sea Cadets Hall at 12 noon on Saturday and 9 am on Sunday. The first main ascent was up the Tees Link to the rocks at Highcliffe Nab, but we had by no means finished our climbing. Next saw us clambering up and down Roseberry Topping twice followed by a visit to Captain Cook’s Monument about half way around the course. The route then went along undulating tracks until a very tricky descent of the Tees Link Path before the finish.
Sunday’s route had the benefit of an early start so everyone was able to complete in daylight, unlike Saturday’s race when anyone not amongst the front runners had to decide whether to pull out a head torch or not. However, the paths must have been very muddy on Sunday after the footfall from the day before so just as, if not more, challenging in its own way.
The 10k started at 10 am on Sunday and covered approximately 8.5 miles. Hardmoors never fails to deliver on distance!
Saturday Half
Hazel Russell 3:43
Kim Holden 3:49
Sunday 10k
Jessica Lewis 1:26 (3rd Lady)
Anita Oldham 1:49
Sunday Half
Jamie Baker 2:21 (5th place overall)
Ady Warner 2:55
Nicole Sutton 4:03
Lucy Smith 4:03
My husband, Phil, who is a very strong walker but has not run for some time, also managed to complete the half marathon course in just over 5 hours with the carrot of a Hardmoors t-shirt keeping him going towards the end!
Happy running everyone,
Kim