Race: Wrexham XC (North Wales Cross Country League race 3)
Time/Position: 33:50 (41st from 143)
A dreadful performance, around 20 places down on my two previous outings on this course. As usual, I've already missed too many of the North Wales series to count, but thought I'd try to help the team on this - the usual fast and flat four lap course around playing fields on the eastern edge of Wrexham. In contrast to last year's icy rain, is was cold and dry today: but I started to struggle on the second lap then lost a dramatic amount of time and places on a very tough final lap. Really suffered, despite the extreme flatness of the course: my worst race for some time.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Tattenhall Border League
Race: Tattenhall '10k' (Border League Race 1)
Time/Position: 35.11 (24th from 339)
Worst finishing position in the league for two years, but rather suspect that this was an unusually strong field - as the season openers often are. Lost quite a lot of ground on the steep double climb up to the Peckforton Hills and only really started picking up the pace in the last couple of 'false flat' miles. Felt quite good towards the end but couldn't quite close the gap to a small group containing Jez, Darren et al. Alongside Caernarfon, this is probably the most scenic, and best, BL course: 200m shy of 10k, but the hills make up the shortfall!
Time/Position: 35.11 (24th from 339)
Worst finishing position in the league for two years, but rather suspect that this was an unusually strong field - as the season openers often are. Lost quite a lot of ground on the steep double climb up to the Peckforton Hills and only really started picking up the pace in the last couple of 'false flat' miles. Felt quite good towards the end but couldn't quite close the gap to a small group containing Jez, Darren et al. Alongside Caernarfon, this is probably the most scenic, and best, BL course: 200m shy of 10k, but the hills make up the shortfall!
Saturday, November 09, 2013
Ras Rhobell Fawr
Race: Rhobell Fawr fell race (10.3k/600m/AM)
Time/Position: 60:45 (3rd from 43 [1st V40])
On a soft Autumn day the scenery around Dolgellau is exquisite, so this was an excellent day trip topped off with a superb leg-loosening jog around the Precipice Walk. Sadly, I didn't really get going on the race itself until the final descent down the tracks and paths from Bwlch Goriwared, but luckily this part of the descent favoured a bit of road speed so I was able to hold off the challenge from a few young lads to hold onto third position. It's a great race: up muddy forest tracks above the strangely named Afon Babi to gain the open hillside at the Bwlch. I moved into third position quite soon, but didn't feel good on the main 1500ft climb: worse, I took some awful lines after the bog of Ffynnon Sion - heading away from the wall too early, meaning I went up the western forepeak and several other steep knolls unnecessarily. A young lad passed me near the cairn, but I regained third as I tried to take the best line down to the right: I lost my nerve, though, unsure of the route so retreated to the 'handrail' of the wall, taking more inefficient lines back down to the bwlch. I was so slow that three younger runners were just behind at Bwlch Goriwared, but I was just able to hold them off as I finally sprang into some kind of life for this final fast section back to Llanfachreth. Very wet and muddy underfoot! I ended up third, and first Veteran. After soup and prizes in the village hall, Adair and I set off for a superbly enjoyable warm-down around the famous Precipice Walk, which I last did with Kate after Ras y Gader some years ago. A violent hailstorm cleared as we started off, and the autumnal colours under dark skies gave fabulous, ever-changing views back up to Rhobell Fawr, then over Coed y Brenin, then Mawddach and Cader Idris.
Time/Position: 60:45 (3rd from 43 [1st V40])
On a soft Autumn day the scenery around Dolgellau is exquisite, so this was an excellent day trip topped off with a superb leg-loosening jog around the Precipice Walk. Sadly, I didn't really get going on the race itself until the final descent down the tracks and paths from Bwlch Goriwared, but luckily this part of the descent favoured a bit of road speed so I was able to hold off the challenge from a few young lads to hold onto third position. It's a great race: up muddy forest tracks above the strangely named Afon Babi to gain the open hillside at the Bwlch. I moved into third position quite soon, but didn't feel good on the main 1500ft climb: worse, I took some awful lines after the bog of Ffynnon Sion - heading away from the wall too early, meaning I went up the western forepeak and several other steep knolls unnecessarily. A young lad passed me near the cairn, but I regained third as I tried to take the best line down to the right: I lost my nerve, though, unsure of the route so retreated to the 'handrail' of the wall, taking more inefficient lines back down to the bwlch. I was so slow that three younger runners were just behind at Bwlch Goriwared, but I was just able to hold them off as I finally sprang into some kind of life for this final fast section back to Llanfachreth. Very wet and muddy underfoot! I ended up third, and first Veteran. After soup and prizes in the village hall, Adair and I set off for a superbly enjoyable warm-down around the famous Precipice Walk, which I last did with Kate after Ras y Gader some years ago. A violent hailstorm cleared as we started off, and the autumnal colours under dark skies gave fabulous, ever-changing views back up to Rhobell Fawr, then over Coed y Brenin, then Mawddach and Cader Idris.
Sunday, November 03, 2013
Abergele 5m
Race: Abergele 5m (North Wales Championships)
Time/Position: 28.57 (6th from 187 [3rd V40])
Glancing at my watch with 400m to go, I thought I was on for a decent time here - at the very least a PB for the course. But, weirdly, I ended up 6 seconds slower than my 2011 and 2012 times and a minute down on my 5m PB. There is something rather strange about this course, which is notoriously tough with one long, gradual hill for the first two miles and one short, very sharp climb at the three mile point. The strange part is that I always end up with virtually the same time, whether I feel good or bad during the race. It's an excellent, and well organised event though, which always incorporates the North Wales championships and, as such, tends to attract a strong and competitive field especially among the Veterans. Could only manage bronze today, to add to last year's silver and 2011's gold in the champs - but, more positively, 6th is my best ever overall position at this race. There was a bit of a headwind at times today, which may account for the lost seconds.
Time/Position: 28.57 (6th from 187 [3rd V40])
Glancing at my watch with 400m to go, I thought I was on for a decent time here - at the very least a PB for the course. But, weirdly, I ended up 6 seconds slower than my 2011 and 2012 times and a minute down on my 5m PB. There is something rather strange about this course, which is notoriously tough with one long, gradual hill for the first two miles and one short, very sharp climb at the three mile point. The strange part is that I always end up with virtually the same time, whether I feel good or bad during the race. It's an excellent, and well organised event though, which always incorporates the North Wales championships and, as such, tends to attract a strong and competitive field especially among the Veterans. Could only manage bronze today, to add to last year's silver and 2011's gold in the champs - but, more positively, 6th is my best ever overall position at this race. There was a bit of a headwind at times today, which may account for the lost seconds.
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