Ultra_Tales_Issue_4_v2

EVENT REPORTHARDMOORS 60became follow the signs (that always worked),follow other runners (sometimes worked) andfollow the route description (oh dear).[Tracklogs mapping software shows this year'sroute without navigational blunders to be 63 mileswith 10,820 feet of ascent. That's a significantchallenge within a 16-hour cut-off by anyone'sstandards.]Checkpoint 1 at Highcliff Nab (1.9 miles) involvedan out-and-back. The front runners were soonheading back towards us. I was poised with thecamera, while the morning chill had long sincebeen counteracted by the by-product of my efforts:I was burning up."I became lazy andpromptly tripped over aninvisible rock as it stoppedmy right foot dead"I became lazy and promptly tripped over aninvisible rock as it stopped my right foot dead.Within a second I was horizontal and skidding alongthe track, camera bouncing along in the mud acouple of yards ahead and both drink bottlespirouetting after it. Oh poo and multiple choicewords to stronger effect. Those around me asked if Iwas alright. I could stand, so presumably yes. Themishap was soon forgotten, though I did run theremaining 62 miles with two scraped thighs andblood trickles from my right knee. I wasted littletime in getting rid of the windproof into myrucksack to banish any further risk of lethargy, andcontinued the plod towards personal victory(meaning finish to keep Runfurther Grand Slam 3alive).An unexpected marshal met us at 5 miles to clip ourtallies before we crossed the A171 betweenSlapewath and Charltons. The route throughSkelton was not a problem. The brown metalCleveland Way signs high on the lamp posts stuckout like a sore thumb and were easy to follow. Moreinteresting was our route into Saltburn (yes, I waslazily following other runners). I knew the routedescription wasn't matching up with our route.Only afterwards did I realise that we turned left andentered the conurbation early, running two sides ofa triangle instead of one side along the river valley.Next year I'll make amends (possibly.)I was captivated by the slim elegance / brick-savingpenny-pinching minimalism (take your pick) of therailway viaduct we passed beneath before Saltburn.How it has remained standing with seemingly solittle structure I will never know. The engineer whodesigned it obviously knew his stuff.At checkpoint 2 (Saltburn-by-the-Sea, 9.9miles) Iwas greeted like a long lost friend by Pat Mullins.Great to see you Pat, and thank you for volunteeringfor us. Get well from your injuries and I hope to beseeing you back in the events next year.Osmotherley Phoenix in July. Engrave it in yourdiary!Saltburn is where we hit the coast and turned right.Now out of the woods and into the open I wasexpecting the wind to be a hindrance from ourright, but it seemed to be more from behind and anassistance for most of the time. I appreciated ourgood fortune.Shortly after Saltburn the single track railway makesa big loop around Warsett Hill and joins us abovethe coastal cliffs for a short while. It takes its leaveagain adjacent to something that can best bedescribed as a giant Romany earring with extradangly bits. What, why, how, etc. Enlightenment iseagerly awaited.Staithes in the bright autumn sunshine was simplybreathtaking. My camera, fortunately having landedsoftly enough 20 miles ago, was pressed into action.I caught up with personal trainer extraordinaire andHardmoors 110 conqueror Henry Morris atcheckpoint 3 (Runswick Bay, 21.8 miles), where amuch-needed refueling session was taking place. Itook the opportunity for my first kneeling for aminute to drive the blood and lactic acid out of theleg muscles (it was on the gravelly entrance to thecarpark but who cares about minor skin punctureswhen there are major muscles to be told who'sboss). I bounced up with renewed vigour and joined39 ULTRA TALES | JANUARY 2013Sponsored by thehttp://