High Weald Challenge Marathon &15m
9th/10th July 2011

Unofficial Results

Harden Hard’Un Marathon (Yorkshire Moors)

After camping overnight near Halifax I arrived in Harden Yorkshire for the Hard’un. It’s not called that for nothing! After registration in the village pub around 100 Fell runners set of on a self navigational marathon up and down some very high climbs and descents, the route involves crossing 2 large stretches of open moorland (route descriptions are useless here! a map & compass is essential!) the moors are lovely when bathed in summer sun but when the poor weather comes in its very harsh and grim, reducing visibility to near zero. At one point while crossing one of these sections I could not see a single person, a building or structure of any kind, an animal even all the birds had disappeared the only sound was my feet running through the long moorland grass. Very spooky indeed and puts enough doubt in your mind to make you constantly check your bearing on the map. A lot of experienced runners got lost on the moor that day I thankfully didn’t! finishing in 6 hours 34 mins though shows the toughness of the event. The best part by far was the free Fish & Chip meal waiting for you when you have finished in the pub.

High Weald Challenge Marathon  (Kent/Sussex borders)

After travelling 145 miles home from Yorkshire on the Saturday we then travelled 132 miles to Kent the following day to compete in the High Weald Marathon.

Any thoughts of me having an easier one here were soon dispelled by a runner as we walked together to registration, he cheerily said it took him 6 hours 50 mins last year after getting lost a few times and that he normally runs marathons in 3 hours!!!

I thought about getting back in the car and driving back home here!

This however was a lot easier to navigate using the instructions this time but its laced with hills and hills and more hills……….a group of  7 of us set out from the start but by checkpoint 3 however only 3 of us remained. Another tough run had me finish in 6 hours 14 minutes. Boy that was a hard weekends running but great to make new friends and see some awesome views and beautiful countryside.