Date: Saturday 23rd - Sunday 24th November 2019
Official miles: 82 miles
Strava says: ran out of battery, but likely 84 miles due to getting lost
Elevation: 7900 ft / 2400 m
Weather: constant rain
Start: Hessle Foreshore
Finish: Filey
Route type: A to B
Conditions: boggy, wet, energy sapping
Website link: Hardwolds 80 by Hardmoors Race Series
Describe the route in three words: Long unforgiving slog
Hardwolds 80 - Race Report
In typical Lizzie style I entered this race without too much consideration, the things that I did consider was that my employers have a fabulous holiday home a 2 minute walk from the finish line in Filey that I could stay at for free. I would also get 4 UTMB points for completing the race, I had decided a few weeks after Surrey Hills Challenge in September that I wanted to qualify for UTMB so I trawled through all the races and this and one other were the only feasible ones I could do that fitted in with my work schedule, the other race was in Jersey (I seem to recall) so this particular one was the no brainer - as such. Yet again, as with Surrey Hills, I felt like there was no need to train for it, my current fitness level would be enough (or so I thought). I also didn’t read ANY of the details so was in fact completely oblivious to the elevation. I also didn’t consider that it would be in the winter. I didn’t give a thought to the total darkness that is the Yorkshire Wolds Way that would set in from 3.30pm. I just didn’t really think.
Around three days before Hardwolds, I developed the monster of all colds, I rang the doctor in a panic who of course advised me against doing it, but he said if I really must, then dose up on vitamin c and zinc supplements and stay well hydrated in the few days I had left before the race.
I’m not sure I remember in great detail the route or the day itself, as to begin with I was so ill my mindset was just to get this thing done. Having never run further than 36 miles I hadn’t got much of a strategy other than to walk the hills. I started off really strong, too strong, and according to Hannah (Blaze instructor and fellow ultra runner) who was dot watching me, I was third lady for quite some time. I recall passing and then being passed by two vegan Yorkshire ladies multiple times, they ended up passing me for the last time and disappeared into the distance. I moved down to 5th and apparently stayed there for a while. Those two Yorkshire lasses did in fact finish in joint third. There were three men who had their photo taken just in front of me, little did I know I would get better aquatinted with them later on.
I got into Checkpoint 1 (10 miles) Brantingham at 9.52am (20 minutes later than I had anticipated) I recall being desperate for a wee but there were no portaloos here, something I would have known if I had read the race details. Upon leaving the checkpoint, I waded through a big deep puddle and any remaining dry millimetres of my socks, were well and truly drenched now.
Checkpoint 2 (20 miles), Arras Wold saw my arrival at 11.48am, I’d actually made up time as I had expected to be here at 11.30am. Ky was here, I was still desperate for a wee, so he opened the car door and stood between me and the car so I could wee on the grass! I was still running well at this point but was dosing up on Day Nurse, it was inevitable that my cold was going to catch up with me at some point.
Checkpoint 3 (33 miles) Millington Village Hall 2.21pm (estimated arrival 1.30pm!) was a luxury indoor checkpoint with rice pudding, I’d been chatting with Hardmoors legend Mark Dalton leading up to this checkpoint, my feet were so wet and I’d asked his advice on what to do (he’d also warned me of the hill coming out of it). On Mark’s advice I removed my shoes and socks at the checkpoint and let my feet air as I ate the most delicious rice pudding, a little money spider came down from above and sat in my bowl. I pondered on his day and what he had been up to whilst I’d been pushing myself through the rain. I let my feet air and dry as much as possible before setting off again with a clean pair of socks.
It will be the 11 mile journey between checkpoint 3 and 4 that I will forever remember. The light was fading, I was running on my own and self navigating. I remember having to stop to put my head torch on and being surprised at how early I was putting it on, I hadn’t realised it would get this dark so early. I then embarked on this seemingly never ending stretch of bog. There were steep grassy banks either side of me, and a stodgy muddy, cow dung filled bog beneath my feet. There was nothing to hold on to, I tried running but it was almost impossible, there were no signs anywhere (nothing for them to be fixed on to) so I just had to have faith I was on the right track. I had thought in the complete darkness I would see other runners’ head torch lights but I couldn’t. The rain was constant. My head torch and my breath created an immovable cloud in front of my face making it difficult to see. I tried holding the torch in my hand but I really needed my hands for balance. I cannot begin to tell you how miserable that journey was. I had to keep moving forward though, stopping would be no use, there was no where to shelter. I recall trying to use the tracking app at one point to see if there were other runners near me and if I was on the right track but my hands were getting cold so I just ploughed on. The boggy path forked and I had a sense of panic, which way should I go? I luckily chose the correct fork and eventually came to a gate with an acorn on. I was still on the Wolds Way.
Finally, nearly 3 hours and 20 minutes since leaving checkpoint 3, I arrived at Checkpoint 4 (44 miles) Thixendale Village Hall, my estimated arrival was 3.30pm. It was 5.38pm. Ky, Sarah and Chris were there to greet me, it was wonderful to see them. Sarah massaged my calves and I changed my socks again. The thought of leaving the sanctuary of the village hall and embarking on another lonely stretch in the dark, the cold and the rain filled me with fear. It was a few miles upon leaving here that I joined up with Mark Baines, Mark Morris and Scott Marrison who had been just in front of me where the photographer was earlier on. They took me under their wing and I stayed with them to the end, relying heavily on Mark B’s watch which had a GPS breadcrumb trail on. In Mark B’s kind words, “Our pace was good though and we passed Wharram Percy at 50 miles in 11 hours. Around here we were joined by Lizzie Gatherer, a lady who had been strongly running ahead of us for some hours.” Hannah told me how relieved she was when she saw my dot join up with three other dots.
The next checkpoint was Settrington Beacon, I have no recollection of the 10 mile stretch leading to it, I knew the only thing on my mind was to get to Ky at this checkpoint and sit in his car to warm up and change my socks. There was a point where we got a bit lost and had a frustrating out and back, I think that might have been on this stretch.
We got in to Checkpoint 5 (54 miles) Settrington Beacon at 8.22pm. Ky wasn’t there. I cried. Amanda Welburn-Smith, one of the ‘hardshals’ told me to eat, she filled my water bladders, she got my spare gloves out of my bag and changed them for me. I had lost the use of my hands, they were numb with cold, she gave me a cuddle and asked me what message she should pass on to Ky, she then sent me on my way as the boys were leaving too, I couldn’t let them go without me. If Ky had been there (he was lost and arrived 2 minutes after I left, Amanda gave him my message!). I would have got in his car and I’m pretty sure I would not have climbed out again.
Onwards. More mud, more rain, more mud, more dark, more mud, more hills and more rain.
Ganton Village Hall was next, this was the 6th checkpoint and had pizza. This is the checkpoint I’d thought about in the weeks leading up to Hardwolds. When I reached there I’d feel like I was on the home stretch and there’d be pizza too - how lovely! How wrong I was. It didn’t feel like the home stretch at all, it felt like a million miles were still left to go. By now, my cold was horrific, my body just felt ill. I was struggling to find the energy to eat, let alone drink, I had horrific stomach cramps. We arrived at Checkpoint 6 (67 miles) Ganton Village Hall at ten past midnight. Nearly 4 hours since arriving at the previous checkpoint and 13 miles covered, it really was a long hard slog now. And I had told everyone that I would finish Hardwolds around midnight. How wrong I had been. I wasn’t mentally prepared for more than 16 hours.
Ky got me pizza while I went into the loo. The stomach cramps was diarrhoea. I felt better for using the loo though! Ky took my shoes and socks off, I washed my feet in the sink and let them air as I ate the long anticipated pizza. I remember feeling disappointed that it was covered in foil. I’m not sure why or what I had been expecting, maybe I thought it would arrive steaming hot from a pizza oven presented on a platter with fresh herbs and olive oil drizzled on top? It’s funny the things that stick in your mind. I emptied my bowls again and then it was time to go, I think we’d rested here for around 40 minutes. Scott had been talking of quitting as he had picked up an injury, his knee was really giving him trouble, but he didn’t, the four of us continued our journey into the cold, wet, miserable night.
Checkpoint 7 (72 miles) Flixton Wold only 5 miles between the pizza and here, those 5 miles were long. So long in fact that we didn’t arrive until 2.37am. How could 5 miles equate to 2 hours and 20 minutes? Sure if you factor in the long rest at the previous checkpoint you could reduce it to 1 hour 40 minutes, we really were on 20 minute miles now, a snail’s pace. I don’t even remember this checkpoint, I remember anticipating it for a long time, I kept thinking we were nearly there but I don’t remember the checkpoint. But now surely the end was in sight? Only one more checkpoint at Filey Brigg and then on to the finish.
The trek to Filey Brigg was enough to make Homer write a poem about it. I knew this part of the world so well. What I didn’t realise though, was now being the owner of a pair of legs which had completed nearly 80 miles, and the inhabitant of a body which had been in the relentless rain and cold, and the possessor of blood which raged through my veins full of what now felt like flu… this familiar section would not be so comforting as I thought it would be. The trudge up and down those seaside steps, slip-sliding along the cliff tops, heading towards a red dot which never got any nearer, was enough to make Zeus weep. Runners who’d already made it to the red dot were on their way back, the finish line now so close to them. I kept thinking how that would be me soon enough. I finally got to that bloody red dot. If I had the energy I would have picked it up and hurled it into the sea. I didn’t. I just went around it and headed back. I had arrived at Checkpoint 8 (80 miles) Filey Brigg at 5.29am. Just under 3 hours to make it there from checkpoint 7 with just 8 miles in between them.
It was my turn now to be heading for the finish, just 2 miles away. I could pass the sludgers who were sliding their way toward the dot and call to them “you’re nearly there, you’ve got this!” I could have my back to that red dot and slide away from it. I got down to the seafront and Sarah was there - I told her to run with me. She just did a slightly faster walk. I thought I was running, I wasn’t. I was doing a true ultra shuffle now. Cargate Hill was between me and the finish at Filey Sea Cadets. I scampered up that hill as fast as my fatigued body would allow. Not long now! It took me under 30 minutes to get from the Brigg to the finish line. As I neared, I did my best for a sprint finish, well, I broke out of the ultra shuffle into a gentle jog. I looked behind me for Mark B, Mark M and Scott, I waited for them and we crossed the line together. We had bloody done it. Officially 82 miles but likely closer to 84 due to a couple of wrong turns. 21 hours 53 minutes 13 seconds. Nearly 6 hours longer than I had estimated.
There are a couple more memories I have but I could not tell you when and where. One was a pitch black uphill track, the boys were pulling away from me and I was losing the will to live. They then disappeared from view, it was so dark, I didn’t know which way they had turned, a panic set in. My word. I was actually going to die here. (Never mind I had a mobile phone, back up mobile phone and a tracking device on me) but it would seem logic leaves me when I am that fatigued and that ill. The panic only lasted for a few moments, my logic soon returned and I knew the boys would still be able to hear me, I called for them, they shouted back some sort of encouragement and I broke into a slightly faster shuffle to catch up with them. It was an interesting choice I had to make. I could shuffle at the pace I felt comfortable with, and be on my own in the dark, relying on my own navigation. Or I could pick the pace up and run in the safety and security of a group. This was me digging deep. I REALLY wanted to stay with those boys. And I did.
The other memory I feel was towards the end of the route. Day to day, the thing that now faced us was a hill. A steep hill that many walkers would get out of breath walking up on a daily basis. Today though, it was not a steep hill, it was a vertical cliff. When I saw it I wept quietly to myself. I remember the four of us struggling up this dam thing, lucky Mark B with his poles. I fell to my knees and I crawled up it, weeping and swearing as I did so. I believe this quote from Mark B is referring to this particular hill: “Lizzie pushing hard her only concession to the ridiculous slopes a plaintive sounding "Oh dear, oh dear". Once again I mused on the fact that women are far stronger than men in many things, I felt like crying.” My gentle weeping must have been disguised by the rain falling on my face.
What’s in the snack pack?
2x 500ml bladders water - 1 plain, 1 with Hi 5
Spare Hi 5 tabs
Vasaline
Safety pins
Compeed, plasters, surgical tape, spare socks
Survival blanket
ID and bank card
Spare gloves
Headtorch & spare batteries
Map
Whistle
5x bars
Spare long sleeved top
Warm layer
Portable charger & cable for phone & Garmin
Mobile phones x 2
Spare buff
Dextrose
Ibuprofen* & Day Nurse
Waterproof cap
OMM ultra flexi cup
Hair band
*The boys informed me on this run just how dangerous ibuprofen is when the body is under physical stress, I listened to their advise and did not take any.
Dropbags
Dextrose, 6 bars, socks, Compeed at Checkpoint 3 - 33 miles
Dextrose, 4 bars, socks, Compeed at Checkpoint 6 - 67 miles
What I wore: OMM Halo waterproof trousers, Nike leggings, Salming Exo Trail 5 shoes, Inov 8 Trailshell waterproof jacket, gloves, Salomon Bonatti waterproof over mittens, hat, buff, Dirty Girl gaiters, Garmin Forerunner 35, Ronhill Merino long sleeve top, Stance socks, Salomon Adv Skin 12 running vest.
Lead up: I’m afraid to say I did absolutely no extra training for this ultra, I ran my usual milage, I participated in my usual weekly bootcamp classes. I did loose a bit of weight ahead of the event. Around two days before I came down with a stinking cold, I hadn’t been ill in such a long time and I was so snotty and bunged up, the doctor advised that I did not run, but he said if I really must, then dose up on vitamin c and zinc supplements each day and stay well hydrated.
Morning preparations: This was an early start as I had to get the shuttle bus from Filey at 5.45am to Hessle Rugby club where the race registration was. I had boiled egg and soldiers for breakfast and two Panadol Extra as I had a headache and was still full of cold. The bus journey was a blur, and I recall doing my stretches at the rugby club and having a cup of tea there too.
Summary
A difficult route in difficult weather, apparently the frontrunners this year were 4 hours slower than the front runner last year due to the weather and ground conditions. I learned an enormous amount from this race and there is so much to take away from it, from training and preparation to nutrition and kit.
Lessons learned
consider the time of year
consider the terrain and the elevation
think about practising certain aspects - i.e running trails with a head torch
think about what kit is required - poles would have been a game changer
never give up on fuelling yourself
practise race nutrition beforehand
read about the race you are entering so you understand what is involved
running with others gets you through the dark times
I now know I can dig far deeper than I ever thought possible
Results
Chip time: 21hrs 53m 13s
Overall: 46/116
Female: 8th
Hardwolds 80 2019 - click here for results
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