Trip Report - Self-Supported FKT – Cleveland Way
Start time: 08.15am, 03/06/24
Finish time: 12.27pm, 04/06/24
178.3km, 28 hrs 12 mins 48 secs, Helmsley to Filey, full Cleveland Way
In terms of logistics and travel, I drove to end of the trail at Filey, parked my car and then took a train to Scarborough and then a bus to Helmsley. I stayed overnight on the 02/06/24 at The Royal Oak Hotel in Helmsley, very near to start of the Cleveland Way.
I started at 08.15am on 03/06/24, in a self-supported style – I was running solo, carrying everything I needed with me, with no support crew or team support of any kind. This would be my first ever 100+ miler (I had done a 120km before), so I was feeling a little nervous, but my training had been good with a restful taper and I was feeling strong. The weather conditions were excellent, perhaps a little too hot, but clear skies, a light breeze and no rain.
I ran well in the morning, feeling good. I visited the White Horse and continued through the hills and moorlands, enjoying the scenery. I stopped briefly for a re-supply of food, snacks and water at the village shop in Osmotherley. I cracked on, picking up more drinks at the campsite cafe at Busby Moor. My pace remained positive to Roseberry Topping and beyond to Skelton (where a new-build estate caused a slight detour) and Saltburn-by-the-Sea. At Saltburn I picked up a light dinner and more re-supplies before the night leg.
It was a beautiful sunset as I ran along the coastline. I managed to get some drinks at the pub in Staithes just before it closed (I was struggling with dehydration and didn’t like the luke warm water in my hydration bladder!), and then steadied myself for the night section. I found this difficult and beyond 100km I was really fast-hiking rather than running. I made it through the night, had breakfast in Scarborough, and by this point was hanging on. My energy levels were low and I was moving much slower, a steady march rather than a run, but I didn’t give up and made it to the end in just over 28 hours. A great adventure and super-happy to have bagged my first 100+ miler.