From Petra Bijsterveld…
Photo credit Jenny Noakes
The adjective ‘iconic’ can be overused. But I think the Hardmoors 110 (miles) race probably deserves this title. With 2025 staging its 18th edition, it started in 2008 as a small race with just 17 finishers. Ultra running was still very much a niche pursuit within the running community. As for me, I had only just taken up running then (I started in October 2007) and was immensely pleased to be able to run without stopping from Burley to Menston and back!
Since those early days Hardmoors has grown as a race organiser and now offers races across various distances from 15 all the way up to 200 miles, but the 110 probably remains its flagship race. Covering the entire Cleveland Way National Trail, starting in Filey, it heads north up the coast all the way to Saltburn, passing through Scarborough, Robin Hood’s Bay, Ravenscar, Whitby, Runswick Bay and Staithes. At Saltburn the trail turns inland past Guisborough to Roseberry Topping, passing Kildale, Bloworth Crossing and the Three Sisters before turning south at Osmotherley all the way down the western edge of the moors to Sutton Bank and the White Horse. From there it heads east to the finish in Helmsley.
Not only do runners have to cover 110 miles, but there is also around 6000m (19,000ft) of elevation to deal with. Though my Strava eventually settled on 5000m. Anyway, it’s a lot. You have to complete the run inside 36 hours and there also are cut-offs along the way at several of the checkpoints.
Many runners are crewed and have family or friends supporting them in between the official checkpoints with food, drink and suitable encouragement. You are also allowed a support runner from Sandsend (36 miles) onwards. I chose to run unsupported, there are enough checkpoints along the route to be sure of always having enough water, we also were allowed 3 dropbags so I did not have to carry all my fuel from the start, as that would have been too much. Unsupported runners also had to pack a few more warm layers in their compulsory kit, and had to provide evidence of previous ultra experience. Even though I had no crew myself, it was lovely to receive encouragement as well as offers of supplies along the way from people who were supporting other runners. I also knew quite a few runners, especially from Punk Panther events, as there is quite a big overlap between PP and Hardmoors. As is my habit I largely ran on my own, but had lots of nice chats with people along the way.
I had estimated it would take me between 32 and 34 hours, in the end I finished in 34 hours and 26 minutes. I did find the race harder than I had imagined. Cut-offs were constantly on my mind and I had to keep motoring on fairly relentlessly. It was warm and humid on Saturday which made for extra hard work. Later in the race I suffered quite a bit with dizziness and then with two nasty blisters, one under each ball of my feet. Having never really suffered with blisters I have now had them two races in a row this year so perhaps I need to change something in my approach. Though I believe the rock hard ground has a lot to answer for.
I reached the finish in Helmsley on Sunday late afternoon after 34 hours and 26 minutes, which is more or less what I had expected, maybe a tad slower than what I had hoped. I was also pretty broken. I had planned to just have a snooze for a few hours in my car before driving home, but instead I had to book myself into a hotel. Considering the attrition rate I am very pleased that I finished, and well within the cut-off too. In the 110 mile race there were 19 female runners of whom 12 finished, and 89 male runners of whom 52 finished. A total of 44 DNFs out of 108 runners (40%). I am pleased to add that all three F60s finished (I was second). All power to older women!
There was a 160 mile race too (they started on Friday evening) with 26 runners and a DNF rate of 60%, though brilliantly all three women in that race finished.
When I feel a bit more recovered there will no doubt be a lengthy account of this adventure in my blog. If you like that kind of detail: stay tuned!
1 21:53:40 Lewis Wardale
4 26:51:53 Alice Kershaw 1st F
48 34:26:21 Petra Bijsterveld
64 finished