Sunday, March 17, 2024

Hoylake BL

Race: Hoylake 7.5k (Borders League race 6)
Time/Position: 27.44 (53rd from 363 [2nd V50])
The final fixture marking a memorable league 'grand slam' (or triple crown?) season, with Buckley winning the overall team championship plus the veteran's league, and me winning the V50 category. There were several other factors today: Hoylake was where I ran my first ever border league race in 2006. And I also maintained my record of counting for the team overall in every fixture. Also, I think this was my 90th ever borders race, so getting quite close to the century. It is only my third season category win though, following the V45 prize in 15-16, and the V50 prize in 21-22. Having said all that, this was not a great race for me, certainly the least enjoyable of the season. I went off too fast, unusual for me, then really struggled on the incoming leg despite just a mild crosswind blowing along this exposed section of prom. From the lifeboat station, this new route headed east along the prom before taking the inland gravel path up to Leasowe lighthouse, reversing the summer seaside 5k route temporarily. Then it was back to the prom for the long run-in: the wind was light, but as I was tiring it was enough to really slow the pace from 3.25 to 3.45. I was passed by at 8-10 on this section, which was a shame on the last race of the season.

Monday, March 11, 2024

Eilio CW

Peaks: Foel Goch, Foel Gron, Moel Eilio
Area: Moel Eilio, Eryri
Various circumstances dictated a quickish 90 minute outing this morning. So I opted to run the Eilio ridge clockwise from Padarn, removing some of the silly extra bits from the Maesgwm Muddle race (which I ran in 2017). I jogged through town before turning off for the YHA and repeating our bike climb from Thursday, all the way up the gravel to the bwlch at the top of Maesgwm. Considerably easier on foot than on wheels! Unlike Thursday, almost no wind and high cloud, with mist just covering the top of Eilio. I kept a steady pace going up the valley, where the Muddle race descends from its unpleasant side-trip to Cynghorion! After a brief stop at the col, I slogged up to Foel Goch - a repeat of last Thursday - then the always enjoyable trip along the ridge via Foel Gron to a misty Moel Eilio. It is considerably harder this way round, but then comes the superb 10 minute descent to Bwlch y Groes. After this, I ignored the Muddle extension to Cefn Du, instead taking the logical Snowdonia Marathon descent down the track and tarmac to Llanberis in just under 10 minutes: 20 minutes from Eilio to town. A little hobble down to Electric Mountain then alongside Padarn back to the free parking.

Saturday, March 09, 2024

Chester parkrun

'Race': Chester parkrun (B course)
Time/Position: 18.54 (5th from 294)
A pre-open day plod round the Chester B course in surprisingly dry conditions. After a longish session on the climbing wall yesterday, I was a little tired so just aimed for sub-19 minimum standard. The off-road section was probably the driest I have ever seen it, and has possibly had some chipping laid on to it.

Thursday, March 07, 2024

Foel Goch gravel bike/run

Peaks: Foel Goch (Eilio)
Area: Moel Eilio, Eryri
A bitterly cold easterly wind this morning, although it was clear and sunny. My head said it was perfect hill running weather, but after another convivial hut evening the plan was for a group bike ride so I set off with Vic and Emma - them on mountain bikes, me on the gravel bike. This was a great help initially, into Llanberis and up to the youth hostel with a tailwind. But then life got tough. It was really the first time I have ever taken the gravel bike properly off-road and I almost immediately regretted not having my mountain bike. It was just too heavy, and the gearing unforgiving. The road from the hostel is very steep in places and then joins the familiar (now quite manicured) track that curves up into Maesgwm. The weather was very clear and bracing throughout, but the easterly remained bitter. After a painfully slow ascent, far slower than I can run it (or even walk it), we arrived at the col of Maesgwm. Vic and Emma continued on their route but I locked the bike and scampered up to the top of Foel Goch in an icy, strong wind. I needed to get back for work reasons and descended quickly back to Llanberis before tackling the headwind back to the hut.

Wednesday, March 06, 2024

Pedol Marchlyn

Peaks: Elidir Fawr, Mynydd Perfedd, Carnedd y Filiast
Area: Glyderau, Eryri
A long time away from the mountains, for various reasons, but another night in the Nant Peris hut was scheduled after a contrasting weekend in Madrid. I was too late leaving work to join the rest of the group in the quarries, but on a rare good day this quick outing seemed an obvious choice. I parked in Deiniolen and headed up the straight, narrow road to Pen y Bwlch (I think). From here, somewhat easier gradients lead up to the Marchlyn closed road. All fairly easy progress, all on tarmac, until I took the direct short-cut up to the top lake. From here, I took a minor path that provides an excellent way to the summit of Elidir. I'd never done it before - it is far better than the hellish slog from Nant Peris. It is a little vague, and some snow was lying in places covering the path, along with a little verglas on these north-western slopes. Superb views from the top with mist peeling away from all peaks to the north. Then came the familiar descent down to the Perfedd bwlch, but I cut upwards up a little gully to gain an excellent short-cut up Perfedd. From here, a rapid traverse to Carnedd y Filiast in less than five minutes, then the awkward bouldery descent until the excellent curving path which leads back towards Marchlyn. A quick and civilised descent, 1.28 for the round. I arrived at the hut in Nant Peris just as the rest of them emerged from the quarries.

Sunday, February 25, 2024

Deeside BL

Race: Deeside 7.3k (Borders League race 5)
Time/Position: 25.43 (47th from 384 [1st V50])
The real fallow year can now begin after a successful start to the new year, with several important events bleeding over from last year's racing. Of these, the continuation of the border league season was something of a priority (this was my 89th or 90th borders race). A cold and unusually early outing over the familiar Deeside course, from the usual manic start on the athletics track up the sharp Kelsterton hill. I had planned to hold back for this, but my immediate peers started off very quickly and seemed to be disappearing out of sight! So I pushed through and actually kept a decent pace going for the double (or triple) climb. After this, and the left turn on top of the hill, this fixture always becomes a flat out pelt back down Golftyn lane to the stadium - 3.25km pace or so, which seemed reasonably similar to previous efforts when I was younger and fresher. I caught Jez and some other team-mates at the turn, and we pushed on in a fairly tight group, packing well. With one fixture left, I have a 30 point lead in the V50 individual category, with Buckley now comfortably top of the first division overall, and miles ahead (1000+ points!) in the veterans competition. Some kind of modest grand slam looks on the cards with only one competitive race left.

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Carsington Water trail half

Race: Carsington Water trail half marathon
Time/Position: 1.25.51 (5th from 359 [1st V50])
Rather unusually, I found myself in an exact tie for 4th place on this race by chip time. In the race itself, I was jumped on the line by a runner I'd just spent the last three miles trying to get past! It was another very nice event, and another free entry from the RunThrough stable of events (after winning my category at the Ladybower race in October). A damp and misty day on the edge of the Peak, which was unfortunate as I had been looking forward to some pleasant lakeside views. I started off slowly, in the spirit of the 'fallow year', and found myself in 7th place after an initial 5 mile doubling back route along the western shores of Carsington. Back to the start, and then a full lap of the lake, on which I started to feel pretty good after the steady start. As a result of recent rest days, I felt very perky and enjoyed the muddy running through potholes at the southern end of the lake and then the much tougher eastern side. I hadn't really done any research but had guessed things got harder here, and they did, with several sharp climbs and muddy, wet terrain. We began to catch the 10k runners, and then I caught a pair that had set off fast. I passed one at the 10 mile mark and then embarked on a fast finish, feeling surprisingly strong and upping the pace considerably. Still not enough for a finishing kick sadly! After taking the van on its first long drive (and an early start from home) I stopped in Ashbourne on the way back for a very gentle pootle on the gravel bike along part of the Tissington Trail.