Race: Wrexham XC (North Wales Cross Country League race 3)
Time/Position: 32.40 (20th from 138)
A token appearance in the cross-country league, but the team were missing several runners and its only a short drive for me. I only realised the race was on this morning after running up Moel Famau in the mist last night. Felt reasonably fresh though, and was around the same time as previous races on this flat course (apart from last year, when I blew completely on the last lap!).
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Friday, November 28, 2014
Clwydian run
Just the normal friday night run up Moel Famau from Cadole, but notable for appalling visibility: probably the worst I've experienced in many years and hundreds of night-time ascents. I was on my own for most of the climb from the leat, and reckon visibility was between 1 and 2 metres - with an unusually low cloud base, thick mist, and steady drizzle. In the dark, with condensing breath mingling with the rain, obscuring the funnel of light from the headtorch, this made for difficult progress: good job we know every inch of the route!
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Wrekin Wrecker fell race
Race: Wrekin Wrecker fell race (8m/2400ft)
Time/Position: 1.08.14 (23rd from 189)
An object lesson in making the most of a small Shropshire hill: three different ascents of this famous miniature mountain near Telford make this a tough and memorable race. An unusually strong field today, and a fast pace from the start through autumnal woods, very wet underfoot, before gaining a series of long zig-zags through the conifers to gain a steepish ridge and the crest of the Wrekin. Some mist playing around, and urban views over Telford below as we embarked on a superb descent. This went down tracks initially before plunging down very steep and narrow paths on soft leaf litter. This suited me perfectly for some reason, and I picked up 10 places. A long false flat section led to a brutally steep climb back to the little rock pinnacle near the summit. Quite cold and still, so the condensing runners' breath created a weird low mist through the trees. From the pinnacle over the main summit ridge before plunging back down yet again. Another climb back to the top was inevitable, and it came soon after: three times up the Wrekin is enough for anyone. After the final descent, however, came an excellent long run-in, fast and enjoyable.
Time/Position: 1.08.14 (23rd from 189)
An object lesson in making the most of a small Shropshire hill: three different ascents of this famous miniature mountain near Telford make this a tough and memorable race. An unusually strong field today, and a fast pace from the start through autumnal woods, very wet underfoot, before gaining a series of long zig-zags through the conifers to gain a steepish ridge and the crest of the Wrekin. Some mist playing around, and urban views over Telford below as we embarked on a superb descent. This went down tracks initially before plunging down very steep and narrow paths on soft leaf litter. This suited me perfectly for some reason, and I picked up 10 places. A long false flat section led to a brutally steep climb back to the little rock pinnacle near the summit. Quite cold and still, so the condensing runners' breath created a weird low mist through the trees. From the pinnacle over the main summit ridge before plunging back down yet again. Another climb back to the top was inevitable, and it came soon after: three times up the Wrekin is enough for anyone. After the final descent, however, came an excellent long run-in, fast and enjoyable.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Clwydian run
Crisp and sunny autumnal weather, so Vic and I took the opportunity for a longer morning run from Cadole. After the usual route up Moel Famau we descended the ridge towards Penbarras, then embarked on a long additional route through the woods from the bwlch to rejoin the usual Friday night descent. Beautiful morning of falling leaves and unbroken sunshine.
Sunday, November 09, 2014
Christleton border league
Race: Christleton 5.8m (Border League race 1)
Time/Position: 33.41 (22nd from 352 [3rd V40])
This was supposed to be a mild jog with sore legs after yesterday's Welsh Championship finale. But in the event I had such a bad race at Rhobell Fawr that I didn't feel particularly tired as soon as I'd adapted to the usual flat out road pace after a fast first mile. It always takes a while to adapt to the ever-competitive Border League after a summer in the hills, but I've done a few hard intervals sessions over the last few weeks so felt fairly well prepared. Yesterday's race was obviously a factor, so I kept a conservative pace ticking over throughout, not wanting to blow up on the final mile which I knew from several previous attempts at this course is gently uphill all the way. Two years ago I was tripped up after half a mile on this course, landing on my head, staring at the clouds, and had no wish to repeat the experience. I slowed a bit over the slippery sequence of ancient cobbled bridges, unable to keep with the pace of Eric and Jez, but I did manage to pick up a few places on the final uphill mile.
Time/Position: 33.41 (22nd from 352 [3rd V40])
This was supposed to be a mild jog with sore legs after yesterday's Welsh Championship finale. But in the event I had such a bad race at Rhobell Fawr that I didn't feel particularly tired as soon as I'd adapted to the usual flat out road pace after a fast first mile. It always takes a while to adapt to the ever-competitive Border League after a summer in the hills, but I've done a few hard intervals sessions over the last few weeks so felt fairly well prepared. Yesterday's race was obviously a factor, so I kept a conservative pace ticking over throughout, not wanting to blow up on the final mile which I knew from several previous attempts at this course is gently uphill all the way. Two years ago I was tripped up after half a mile on this course, landing on my head, staring at the clouds, and had no wish to repeat the experience. I slowed a bit over the slippery sequence of ancient cobbled bridges, unable to keep with the pace of Eric and Jez, but I did manage to pick up a few places on the final uphill mile.
Saturday, November 08, 2014
Rhobell Fawr fell race
Race: Rhobell Fawr fell race (10.5k/2000ft)
Time/Position: 59.49 (20th from 88)
A badly twisted ankle ruined my chances of first place in the Welsh fell running championships on the final descent of this - the final race in the series. After my mistake at the Black Mountains in September which cost me lots of time, I only had a slender 3 point lead over Darren Fishwick coming into the last race of the championships. As a result, I had to put in a decent performance, but completely failed to do so (although he was much quicker on the climb and would still have beaten me today even if I had run the perfect race!). I felt slow on the climb, even though I'd intended to really batter myself! But I got up reasonably quickly and was still in touch as I started the descent - then it all went wrong. I started to lose ground on those in front, shoes slipping all over the place with worn down studs: intermittent rain and light mist. Then I took the wrong line half way down the descent, up a little draining climb near the sheepfold. To my left, a group of pursuers followed the wall and immediately gained 100m on me. Ruing my mistake, I then turned my left ankle in a sickening wrench. After hobbling for a minute or two, I managed to break into a jog (having damaged that ankle many times it does tend to right itself after a while!) but then slipped and fell on the steep grassy slopes above the descent track. Once off the open hill, I sprang back into life and enjoyed a quickish final section through the muddy woods and tracks that lead back to the village. Missed first place in the V40 category by the annoyingly narrow margin of 2.5 points, finishing in 2nd place with 363 - the last two disastrous races having blotted the rest of a great series for me. I can't think of many nicer autumnal venues than Llanfachreth - beautiful colours, and amidst the sharp downpours we had a burst of sunshine over Mawddach and Cader as Jez and I warmed down with a jog round the Precipice Walk.
Time/Position: 59.49 (20th from 88)
A badly twisted ankle ruined my chances of first place in the Welsh fell running championships on the final descent of this - the final race in the series. After my mistake at the Black Mountains in September which cost me lots of time, I only had a slender 3 point lead over Darren Fishwick coming into the last race of the championships. As a result, I had to put in a decent performance, but completely failed to do so (although he was much quicker on the climb and would still have beaten me today even if I had run the perfect race!). I felt slow on the climb, even though I'd intended to really batter myself! But I got up reasonably quickly and was still in touch as I started the descent - then it all went wrong. I started to lose ground on those in front, shoes slipping all over the place with worn down studs: intermittent rain and light mist. Then I took the wrong line half way down the descent, up a little draining climb near the sheepfold. To my left, a group of pursuers followed the wall and immediately gained 100m on me. Ruing my mistake, I then turned my left ankle in a sickening wrench. After hobbling for a minute or two, I managed to break into a jog (having damaged that ankle many times it does tend to right itself after a while!) but then slipped and fell on the steep grassy slopes above the descent track. Once off the open hill, I sprang back into life and enjoyed a quickish final section through the muddy woods and tracks that lead back to the village. Missed first place in the V40 category by the annoyingly narrow margin of 2.5 points, finishing in 2nd place with 363 - the last two disastrous races having blotted the rest of a great series for me. I can't think of many nicer autumnal venues than Llanfachreth - beautiful colours, and amidst the sharp downpours we had a burst of sunshine over Mawddach and Cader as Jez and I warmed down with a jog round the Precipice Walk.
Sunday, November 02, 2014
Clwydian Hills fell race
Race: Clwydian Hills (15k/3000ft)
Time/Position: 1.21.32 (8th from 148)
I've been lured away to the Abergele 5 road race on this weekend for the past three years, so thought it was about time I returned to this local classic. I still remember the trauma of my first time at this race a decade ago: when I found the gully climax a brutal struggle and returned home with the classic thousand yard stare. I think this was my 6th time at the event. Beautiful autumn weather this morning, perfect conditions, as we set off for the long climb up to the ridge from Cilcain. I struggled terribly at first, not sure why (perhaps because I've upped the training in the past two weeks) and was close to packing it in as we neared Drws y Coed. The descent down to the Vale of Clwyd was an opportunity to regain some strength, although I missed the checkpoint initially and wasted some time. Contouring the Vale, I started to feel a bit better and began to gain places on the very long grassy ascent back up to the ridge. This race does have an 'arbitrary punishment' feel to it, but takes in some great terrain and really makes the most of our local hills. A steep descent leads down to Nant y Ne, and the usual horrendously steep climb out via the gully. I made up some ground and picked up the pace for the descent, the best I'd felt all day! A good battle with a runner from Todmorden, although I couldn't quite match his speed on the flatter tracks towards the finish.
Time/Position: 1.21.32 (8th from 148)
I've been lured away to the Abergele 5 road race on this weekend for the past three years, so thought it was about time I returned to this local classic. I still remember the trauma of my first time at this race a decade ago: when I found the gully climax a brutal struggle and returned home with the classic thousand yard stare. I think this was my 6th time at the event. Beautiful autumn weather this morning, perfect conditions, as we set off for the long climb up to the ridge from Cilcain. I struggled terribly at first, not sure why (perhaps because I've upped the training in the past two weeks) and was close to packing it in as we neared Drws y Coed. The descent down to the Vale of Clwyd was an opportunity to regain some strength, although I missed the checkpoint initially and wasted some time. Contouring the Vale, I started to feel a bit better and began to gain places on the very long grassy ascent back up to the ridge. This race does have an 'arbitrary punishment' feel to it, but takes in some great terrain and really makes the most of our local hills. A steep descent leads down to Nant y Ne, and the usual horrendously steep climb out via the gully. I made up some ground and picked up the pace for the descent, the best I'd felt all day! A good battle with a runner from Todmorden, although I couldn't quite match his speed on the flatter tracks towards the finish.
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