Report by: Laura Rangeley
Race Date: 7th September 2024
The Hardwick Hobble, organised by the very lovely Rasselbock Running, is a 6 and a bit km looped course round the grounds of Hardwick Hall. Runners have 6 hours to tackle as many loops as they fancy. It’s the first time I’ve taken part in an event of this sort and was really looking forward to it, seeing it as a perfect low pressure opportunity to get a long run in if I was feeling like it, or otherwise just a nice day out exploring somewhere new.
Rasselbock events come highly recommended by lots of fellow Striders, so they’ve been on my radar for a while, but I will freely admit that the medal for this event was a key driver towards me signing up. I’m not usually the biggest medal person, but the Hardwick Hobble medals of yore looked sensational. Based on portraits found within the hall, they’re what you might call a “statement piece”, and as a big history nerd with a penchant for bold vintage pieces and unusual antiques (which others might term hideous) I was keen to add one to my collection. (In case anyone’s interested, the collection is mostly comprised of cat plates, dead butterflies and a large selection of horse brass, confined to an area of the home known as “Creepy Grandma Hallway”). A couple of weeks before the event, Rasselbock did a medal reveal, and it’s as if they’d seen me coming. The chosen portrait was Lady Arbella Stuart, granddaughter of Bess of Hardwick, painted just before her second birthday, clutching a terrifying doll and with what you might call haunted eyes (Eric, founder of Rasselbock Running, said “you try to look at one and they all look back at you”). I was gleeful at the prospect of bringing one home and having my home and future generations cursed forever more.
Now the Hardwick estate is described on the Rasselbock website as “stunning”, and I’m sure it is, but race day was so murky and misty I didn’t really have opportunity to take it in – throughout the whole event I did not once work out where the Hall itself was! It wasn’t really raining, it was just generally wet, and I was pleased that it at least wasn’t as hot as it has been recently, although the 90%+ humidity was pretty challenging. Anyway, I pottered over to the small but well organised race HQ (registration tent, bag drop, portaloos, t-shirt stall and well stocked food tent, expertly managed by Eric’s dad) and collected my number with no fuss. I didn’t have a race plan, I was just hoping to get going and see how I fared. My husband Jim was my support crew for the day, not fancying joining in after completing the 135 mile Ring o’ Fire just 6 days prior, and I was especially glad he was there as I was the only Strider! I was actually one of a very small number in a club vest at all.
A quick briefing politely asking us not to fondle the sheep en route and we were off! I really enjoyed the first loop, I was around plenty of people and used it as a chance to get to know the course. It’s predominantly trail, with a lot of running on grass and some pretty woodland sections, with the odd bit of farm track and a short section at the end on the estate road (sticking close to the edge or on the grass to keep out of the way of the daytrippers). It was firm underfoot, in contrast I understand to the winter event earlier in the year which was a mudbath, but still quite tricky in places with tree roots and rabbit holes to look out for (I almost fell in three on an otherwise very runnable gentle downhill field). No major hills but plenty of undulation.
Soon enough I was heading back into HQ, first lap done! After each lap, a QR code on the number was scanned with the same type of scanner they use in supermarkets for items too large to fit on the conveyor belt, which keeps track of how many you’ve done. I didn’t pause at all after this one, just chugged straight round into the second loop. The mist seemed to thicken at this point and I was starting to get annoyed at the lack of visibility. Fellow spectacle wearers will know that running in glasses in these sorts of conditions is essentially like running with a second layer of fog right in front of your face. It meant I had to concentrate much harder, which seemed to sap my energy too. And it was so gloomy in the woods I wondered if I should have brought my headtorch along! But I soon passed 10km and went into what I thought was the hardest part of the course for the second time – a twisty, narrow woodland path round some lakes, with hard rutted mud underfoot and a gradual climb. This came just before the one notable hill of the route, so I had a bit of a walk and snaffled some Skittles. Oddly, my Salomon Speedcross shoes, of which I’m on my third pair, were giving me jip and the front half of both feet was getting really sore. The beauty of a lapped route though meant that I could message Jim to have my back up shoes ready for me when I got back to base.
So two loops done, a quick change of shoes and top up of water and I was back off again. I’d been listening to podcasts up to this point but decided I needed something a bit more upbeat and switched to my “Running Bangers” playlist. It was on this loop that the constant wiping my glasses really started to get to me, it was so irritating and becoming all-consuming to my mind. About 2km in I messaged Jim wondering if lap 3 would be my last – whilst it didn’t matter at all how far I went, and the aim had always been to carry on for as long as I was enjoying myself, I had at the back of my mind wanted to get at least a half marathon under my belt so was feeling a little disappointed. By the time Jim replied to tell me to stop being daft and crack on (not in quite those words), I’d reached the easier bit of the loop and decided it was actually fine and of course I could carry on. Decision made, I slowed up a little but kept myself moving. Lap 3 was much slower and I got lapped about half way round, before hitting the tough bit and finding it a struggle again. It did mean that as I reached the end of the loop I was confident that the fourth would genuinely be my last, and was perfectly happy with that decision. I ate some fruit from the aid station (mid run fresh pineapple was an absolute revelation!) and off I went for the final time.
Lap 4 was more social, with those around me (a combination of lap 3 and lap 4 runners) also on to a walk-run tactic by this point, so I enjoyed a few chats on the way round. This one was also slow, and it occurred to me that I’d still have around 3 hours of race time remaining when I got to the end, but I didn’t feel a need to keep going. I think had I been there as part of a group, I’d probably have carried on, maybe doing a walk lap, but as it was I felt pleased to have done what I had and like it was enough. Half way through the lap I went past a sign that said “stuck between a walk and a hard pace” which really summed up my attitude! Back to the twisty woods and every step was affirming that I was near the end of my race. I cracked out the 90s dance playlist to get me through the last bit and managed to pick up the pace on the road section and into the finish. QR code scanned, completion is confirmed by ringing a bell, which I did with gusto, and Lady Arbella was mine! Victory! As well as the medal, all runners could help themselves to a goodie bag from a selection of snacks – I chose Cherry Tango, a bag of Cheetos and a Wispa – and there was ample homemade cake on offer too, which was delicious.
Mentally, the looped format is different to anything I’ve ever done, and I imagine it wouldn’t be for everyone, but I found it reassuring to know that I was only ever a couple of miles away from base and could stop whenever I wanted – whilst equally knowing that each loop is a manageable chunk, so on a different day I think a “just one more” attitude might have got me a bit further! But 25km done, the longest run since my ultra a couple of months ago, I’ll take that! Overall, I thought the event was brilliant, and would thoroughly recommend Rasselbock’s events to anyone. Entry was £39.50, which is probably a bit pricey if you only want to do one lap, but considering you can get an ultra out of it should you wish I thought it was great value, with fantastic support from the race organisers and lovely volunteers. It felt like a very cared for kind of race, and as a runner I felt really well looked after. Their events take place in a variety of locations, but they’re all fairly local. Definitely worth looking out for.
First man was Dan Lumley – 9 laps (56.29 km) – 5:28:32.
First female Ellie TORPEY* – 7 laps (43.78 km) – 5:01:57.
Ed: *Gender not listed in results so this is based on given names.
Striders results:
60th Laura Rangeley – 4 laps (25.02km) – 3:03:54
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