Oh wow what a day!

Firstly before I say any more I need to say how much I love my wife Sarah! If she didn't give up her greatly earnt time then I wouldn't be able to do most of this stuff, plus she puts up with me training and facilitates it.  My running definitely makes me a better person or even a happier person so making the effort to do it even when its a chore or awkward timing wise I know I'll be better for it.  Sarah comes out in the middle of the night, sleeps in the car, exhausts herself and looks after me which I am eternally grateful. I am very lucky!

So on to my run, loved it! Even the early start, the anticipation, the preparation, the learning outcomes, the glorious weather, the team work, the amazing route, the pain, the pleasure, the lows and the highs!  Since the Hardmoors 55 race had to be postponed due to Coronavirus I decided I wasn't going to let this stop me.  I knew I needed a long run done pre-160 and this was it.  I needed this not only to see how I faired physically but mentally I needed the confidence and reassurance that I was going to be able to cope ok on the route.  I know the route fairly well but its been a couple of years so a little recap is always good plus I wanted to learn a bit more in the first section where I was going to have to work harder and where I was just going to have to give it my best effort and try not to lose too much time.  From previous races the section coming from Slapewath Pub going into Guisborough woods is going to be a crucial point for me, so a little preparation is important here.  So my plan will be to get to get to Sarah who'll be waiting in the pub carpark for me after seeing me at Saltburn.  I intend to get a good feed here and refuel with a little sleep.  Then I'm going to attack the next section that mentally held me back last time, but not this time!

Saturday morning came and I was up at 4.30am to let Bertie the family dog out into the garden.  I was to get myself sorted and packed whilst having some breakfast and make Sarah her coffee, ready!! I woke her at 4.50am as was the plan so we could leave at 5.15 to allow me a 6am start.  As per normal I wasn't ready and we were behind schedule.  Once we arrived and I got myself sorted I headed off all keen and excited for my adventure that lay ahead.  I said my goodbyes and and Sarah waved me off still half asleep I think and off she drove.  That was it, I was on my own.  The sun was just up and it was nice and fresh, I felt good and got focused on the job in hand. The plan was to get a good overview of the route in the next couple of sections and workout how fast I need to go to get through it.  I wanted to see why I'd build it up in my head to be so hard, yet the reality was yes it was tough going but not nearly like I'd built it up in my head.  It was 2 miles of slogging it up hill to High Cliff Nab, now that I know that I can push myself that little bit harder as its not far and I know it will be over soon 30 mins worst case scenario remembering I'd have already done 105 miles by this point so fuel and salts will be important before this section. Power up here then its a section I have to push on with to get across to Roseberry Topping, ok I won't be racing up it but I can try and get across to it a little quicker than walking.  Then it will just be a matter of getting up and Roseberry without taking forever or falling and back up little Roseberry before heading to Gribdale and Captain Cooks Monument a few miles away.  Again very runnable once up little Roseberry so I have to make myself try harder here again so as to make up a little time.   Once I'd got over to Kildale I new I'd done the section that bothered me and that I wanted to learn more about.  I wanted a mental boost that allows me to look at it and not think this will be where I break, whereas now I'm thinking "it won't be there, that is not so bad and its not going to break me".  I went on to Blowarth Crossing and over the Wainstones but realised I was running out of water fast.  The sun was now beating down and yet again I was ill prepared for this and allowed it to bake one side of my head.  I was starting to worry about the water situation with being mindful about savering each drop.  I had a little plan or hope that I'd be able to refill my reserves at Lordstones camping park where I knew there was a toilet block, for residents, but I just preyed I'd get a top up.  Luckily as I staggered up to it I spyed an outdoor tap which by now was going to save my life.  I filled all the bottles and poured some over my sun baked head, wow it was hot.  Off I went towards scarth moor woods with Osmotherly in my sights.. This was another section I was weary of and keep building up in my head so again I wanted quash all the negativity around these areas.  The best way to deal with this is to just be prepared for them and have little stratergies.  It works, its still hard but you break them down from being monsters and making them more not necessarily happy places but nicer and achievable and undemonise them if that's a word lol!

 I made it through to Osmotherly in fairly decent shape and time was ok. Sarah was there after I eventually found her, hiding round a corner out of the way.  As ever she had everything there for me tending to my needs and Bertie the dog was with her and very excited to find me there.  It was a great  chance to just have a break and refocus, refuel and then head up the hill to Square corner.  Again this was a little section that I have built up in my head and making it horrific.  The reality is, its not that bad I've just got to get it done but allowing myself enough time to struggle up it rather than race against the clock as this is a cut-off check point and if I'm getting this far then I'm finishing.  I've been there before on the 110 and been timed out.  Its not a nice feeling and its not going to happen again!!!!  Once up the hill and another mini catch up with Sarah and Bertie I pushed to get the last 22/23 miles done.  In theory this is the easy bit as you've done the hard work and its just a matter of running down the miles.  It definitely felt good being able to run for long sections and feel like your getting somewhere, so the time and the miles were flying by.  Unfortunately I had still done 32 tough hilly miles beforehand so fatigue was creeping in what felt quick to me was actually not that fast lol!  What pleased me though was the desire to be running and the bodies willing to keep going.  It would be easy to feel broken at this point and to just plod out the remaining miles, but I wanted more, I wanted to push myself at this point because in the 160 I will sill have a 100 miles to go :)

I had been given strict instructions to call Sarah at 6pm and give an indication of what time I'll be finishing.  As always I'm very optimistic with this so Sarah has learnt to just add a bit more on to whatever I say so in this case an extra 30 to 45 mins.  I got myself finally to Sutton Bank and on to the White Horse car park where it was just starting to get dark which was going to change everything.  The fun was disappearing gradually as was the sun.  On to Cold Kirby and Rivaulx which now was just a going through the motions exercise and trying to keep pushing right to the end not letting up and walking it out.  This was not acceptable.  I ran down the hill into Helmsley feeling tired and exhausted but not totally spent, there was reserves and I knew I'd run with in myself therefore I'd have been ok to continue.  Sarah was there waiting as ever and off we went straight away as it was after 8pm now and we were both shattered.  Bath and food was calling me and bed for Sarah.  Job done, what's next!!!!