Hardmoors 110 - One Mile at a Time

114 Miles along North Yorkshire’s Cleveland Way is a long way to run. Add in 6000m of ascent and a time limit of 36 hours and you definitely have a challenge on your hands. But that’s the Hardmoors 110 for you, probably the UK’s toughest Ultra. Rain, cold, and gale force winds up to 70 miles an hour made the 2010 event even tougher reports the race winner, Andy Dubois.


The best way to approach a race like the Hardmoors is one mile at a time. A lot can happen in 114 miles and there are usually periods of real lows, but also real highs. Get through the former and you can savour the latter.

I had both, in large doses. I started well, setting the pace at the front of the pack for the first 24 miles before getting lost and losing 20 minutes, and the lead. Crossing the moors and Cleveland Hills it was very cold. By now it was dark, the wind was howling and rain pelted horizontally, it had all started to feel quite eerie. But my legs felt good, so I continued to push as hard as I could.

The next section through Guisborough forest in the depths of the night felt great and allowed me to make up some time. I was only four minutes down on the front runner when I reached Saltburn.

Things were going well until I reached to coast to find the beach swept with such violent waves that the marshall wouldn’t allow me to continue until the tide receded. I ended up sitting in his car for over an hour and a half. During this time pain in my knee which I’d hoped I’d ran off, returned with a vengeance.


Mental Strength
Both knees were now sore and I was in real danger of not being able to finish, fortunately some pain killers and some kind words from the Race Directors gave me the mental strength to continue. I had a goal of 24 hours and when I reached Scarborough at the 100 mile mark I still had almost four hours to reach the finish to achieve this and was in the lead. The next 12 miles seemed to take forever. The winds were so strong that it was hard to stay upright.

Finally Filey came into view, which meant there were just a few miles to go. My emotions started to get the better of me as I realised what I had achieved. By the time I saw my wife at the finish line and realised I won, I could no longer hold back the tears. I finished in 22 hours and 38 minutes. To say I was happy is a massive understatement!

At the presentation the next day I learnt what affect the conditions had on the other competitors. Last year in idyllic conditions 21 out of 23 competitors finished, this year 11 out of 29 made it to the end.


The Question, Why?
People often ask me why anyone would want to do a race like this. There are so many reasons: To have an adventure where you don’t know what the outcome will be; To enjoy being out in nature , and overcoming the challenge of what mother nature throws at you; Seeing the sun set and rise knowing that you’ve run the whole time in between; The total application of your mind to one all consuming goal; Moments of blissful meditative running where you feel like you could run forever; The feeling of control over your body when you can rise above physical pain and continue to push yourself; And, of course, the indescribable joy and emotion of crossing the finish line and for so many other reasons that are so hard to explain.


Read more about Andy's adventures in ultra running at: www.andydubois.blogspot.com

For info on the Hardmoors 110 visit: www.hardmoors110.org.uk.

Top left photograph of Andy Dubious, credit: Phil Coates