Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones.
On the long course of the Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones the decisive run of climbs only begins at km 26, on a loop from Chop Gate in the North York Moors that barely gets above 400 metres. The height is modest, the repetition is not: prepare to climb steeply with a long day already in your legs.
Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The Village Hall on Raisdale Road in Chop Gate is the base for this small amateur event on a Sunday in June, and of its three distances this is the longest. The loop starts and ends here. It wastes no time: the first two kilometres climb at around twelve percent. A long descent then runs to km 9 and hands back all the height you gained.
What comes next belongs to this course alone, because the Half Marathon leaves it out. A short, steep kick at km 10.5 ends the descent, then the ground rises gradually over several kilometres and falls away again. From km 20 comes the steadiest climb of the day, at just under six percent, before you are back at the bottom around km 25.
That is where the real race starts. Almost two kilometres at nine percent open the series, and by km 37 five climbs have added around 545 metres, the steep ones separated only by short, abrupt drops. After that the big climbs are over: a few rolling kilometres remain, then a final fall of some 180 metres back into Chop Gate.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.1 | 2 km | 12 % | 25.1 % | +241 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 10.5 | 0.4 km | 14 % | 20.8 % | +59 m | — |
| km 20.5 | 1.6 km | 5.7 % | 11.1 % | +89 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 26.4 | 2 km | 9 % | 22.3 % | +175 m | Cat. 3 |
| km 31.7 | 1.1 km | 11.4 % | 20 % | +128 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 33.7 | 0.6 km | 13.9 % | 22.8 % | +76 m | — |
| km 34.8 | 0.6 km | 11.4 % | 18.2 % | +68 m | — |
| km 36.8 | 0.8 km | 12.2 % | 20.6 % | +98 m | Cat. 4 |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones.
Start under control
Plan these 45 kilometres backwards from km 26: everything before that point exists to get you there with usable legs. More than a quarter of the course is steeply up or down, and on those sections effort counts, not the clock. Hike the ramps briskly as soon as running leaves you out of breath.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between km 26 and km 37. The first climb of the series is its longest, so ration it, because the four after it are shorter but steeper and the drops between them give little back. If you can still climb evenly on the last one, you gain real time on the rolling stretch that follows, where running finally becomes possible again.
Spend what is left
The trap is the middle. After the opening climb and the long descent, the quieter ground from km 10 looks like the place to bank time, and the gentle gradients let you try. Every minute bought there is repaid on the first ramp after km 26, all the more so because the long descent to km 9 has already taken strength from your quads.
Training plan for Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group athletes should expect around six to nine hours. It is a long aerobic effort with a lot of hiking, broken up by short, hard spikes on the ramps. Your endurance has to carry you through the whole day, and you also have to absorb steep pitches without your rhythm falling apart afterwards.
Train race pace
The climbing after about 26 kilometres decides the race. Put the ascent of your long runs into their final third and extend them step by step to four or five hours. Two long sessions on consecutive days add to this, because the second one starts on tired legs, just as the series does on race day.
Rehearse the course
Downhill running matters just as much, since nearly half the course falls and the descents between the late climbs are short and abrupt. Include steep descents regularly and combine them with brisk hiking on ramps a few hundred metres long. In the decisive phase the two alternate constantly, so train them in the same session.
Arrive fresh
In the weeks before 20 June, make fuelling part of those long runs, because over this many hours it has to work under load. The organiser provides a route description and map for each distance. Learn the loop beforehand, above all the middle section the Half Marathon skips: in a small field you may well spend long stretches of it on your own.
Courses
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Everything about Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones.
How long is Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones?
Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones is 45.06 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones have?
Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones has around 1,367 m of elevation gain over 45.06 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones?
Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones is classified as Mountainous, averaging 31 vertical metres per kilometre. 12% of the route is flat, 27% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 15% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones have?
The hardest climb of Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones starts at kilometre 0.1, runs for 2 km at an average of 12% and gains 241 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 3. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones a loop course?
Yes, Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones course?
Yes. The Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones?
Preparation for Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones should account for 45.06 km, 1,367 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones?
The pacing strategy for Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones should reflect 45.06 km, 1,367 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones take place?
Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones takes place on June 20, 2027.
Where does Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones take place?
Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones takes place in Chop Gate, United Kingdom.
Which distances does Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones offer?
Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones offers 3 distances — Trail Marathon — 28 miles: 45.06 km; Half Marathon — 16.5 miles: 26.55 km; 10K — 9.5 miles: 15.29 km.
How do I register for Hardmoors 26.2: Wainstones?
Registration runs through the organiser: hardmoors110.org.uk. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
