Race: Mold XC (North Wales Cross Country League, race 3: 5.5m)
Time/Position: 34.58 (27th from 167 [3rd V45])
I've done some muddy races in my time but this really was up there: it's been a while since I experienced a quagmire quite this bad, not since Ras Beca perhaps. I had around 19 hours to recover from last night's Dash but didn't feel too bad, possibly because the wind and icy rain had numbed all the pain in my limbs. Despite shivering at the start, I really enjoyed the race: a classic XC course around the Alyn playing fields, presumably replacing the Wrexham fixture that is usually on this date. I always miss the first two races of the league, so never count overall, but do enjoy it on the rare occasion I can turn out (and Buckley veterans are top of the league at the moment). This was four big laps, over ground that had already been churned up by the ladies and juniors. Just for good measure, more windblown heavy rain fell as we ran. As a result it was cloying mud of varying intensity the whole way round, with one fast descent and a couple of short climbs. By the final lap, the mud was very thick in places making for draining running.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Friday, November 27, 2015
Dash in the Dark
Race: Dash in the Dark, Llandegla (race 1: 6.5k)
Time/Position: 28.23 (3rd from 88 [1st Veteran])
It is hardly surprising that these night time winter fell races, 1000ft up in the woods above Llandegla, are often characterised by bad weather. Tonight it was classic bracing conditions of wind and driving rain, extremely soft, nay aquatic underfoot. Over the years we've had snow, gales, torrential rain, all sorts. I really enjoy the races: don't know how many of them I've done, but it must be well over 10, going back to when they started in 2006 or so. A decent field set off into the darkness, wind and rain: I kept a steady but conservative pace ticking over, holding back a bit at first. After around a mile comes the nasty descent where I injured myself quite badly on the opening race last year. I took my time, picking a route through the tree roots and mud, and found myself in third place on the steep climb that follows. There I stayed, well behind the two young leaders but with a reasonable gap on those chasing. The torches were always there behind though, so I pushed on a bit on the firmer tracks around the lake which lead to a very steep descent through the trees. Great fun, as ever, with £1 soup to warm up with.
Time/Position: 28.23 (3rd from 88 [1st Veteran])
It is hardly surprising that these night time winter fell races, 1000ft up in the woods above Llandegla, are often characterised by bad weather. Tonight it was classic bracing conditions of wind and driving rain, extremely soft, nay aquatic underfoot. Over the years we've had snow, gales, torrential rain, all sorts. I really enjoy the races: don't know how many of them I've done, but it must be well over 10, going back to when they started in 2006 or so. A decent field set off into the darkness, wind and rain: I kept a steady but conservative pace ticking over, holding back a bit at first. After around a mile comes the nasty descent where I injured myself quite badly on the opening race last year. I took my time, picking a route through the tree roots and mud, and found myself in third place on the steep climb that follows. There I stayed, well behind the two young leaders but with a reasonable gap on those chasing. The torches were always there behind though, so I pushed on a bit on the firmer tracks around the lake which lead to a very steep descent through the trees. Great fun, as ever, with £1 soup to warm up with.
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Penmaenmawr fell race
Race: Penmaenmawr fell race (10m/2000ft)
Time/Position: 1.22.17 (12th from 195)
It's strange how often times are almost exactly the same on frequently entered races, even if appearances are a few years apart. I haven't done this race for three years, yet was literally one second slower today than in 2012. Must have done the race at least seven times - always a very enjoyable, and very runnable, loop around Tal y Fan. I still think of the modern route as being 'the wrong way round' although it's been run anti-clockwise for a good few years now. Not a typical fell race, the steepest climb comes at the start out of Capelulo, then it's steadily uphill until the checkpoint above the quarry. A cold northerly wind blew throughout, but the sun was out, and in our face for the long and arduous crossing of the very boggy terrain leading to Bwlch y Ddaefaen (went too far right here, wasting half a minute). The Carneddau had a nice covering of snow, with a little underfoot for the return leg via Cae Coch. Felt reasonably strong into the headwind, with the usual fantastic sea views, but couldn't quite catch the group in front, who remained tantalisingly out of reach just in front. The final descent down the narrow and steep donkey path is always a particularly enjoyable aspect of this race!
Time/Position: 1.22.17 (12th from 195)
It's strange how often times are almost exactly the same on frequently entered races, even if appearances are a few years apart. I haven't done this race for three years, yet was literally one second slower today than in 2012. Must have done the race at least seven times - always a very enjoyable, and very runnable, loop around Tal y Fan. I still think of the modern route as being 'the wrong way round' although it's been run anti-clockwise for a good few years now. Not a typical fell race, the steepest climb comes at the start out of Capelulo, then it's steadily uphill until the checkpoint above the quarry. A cold northerly wind blew throughout, but the sun was out, and in our face for the long and arduous crossing of the very boggy terrain leading to Bwlch y Ddaefaen (went too far right here, wasting half a minute). The Carneddau had a nice covering of snow, with a little underfoot for the return leg via Cae Coch. Felt reasonably strong into the headwind, with the usual fantastic sea views, but couldn't quite catch the group in front, who remained tantalisingly out of reach just in front. The final descent down the narrow and steep donkey path is always a particularly enjoyable aspect of this race!
Sunday, November 08, 2015
Birkenhead border league
Race: Birkenhead 5.5m (Border League race 2)
Time/Position: 32.03 (24th from 370 [2nd V45])
'Wet leaves on the course', or perhaps 'the wrong kind of leaves' were my feeble excuses for recording my slowest ever time for this course today. Another record field today for these narrow parkland paths. I usually enjoy this course because I like the park, even though it's four laps. The peculiar thing is that I felt reasonably good, didn't feel like I was running particularly slowly, yet ended up almost a minute down on my best times for the course (which I must have done at least 8 times). Well outside the top 20 again, only one place up on the first race of the season.
Time/Position: 32.03 (24th from 370 [2nd V45])
'Wet leaves on the course', or perhaps 'the wrong kind of leaves' were my feeble excuses for recording my slowest ever time for this course today. Another record field today for these narrow parkland paths. I usually enjoy this course because I like the park, even though it's four laps. The peculiar thing is that I felt reasonably good, didn't feel like I was running particularly slowly, yet ended up almost a minute down on my best times for the course (which I must have done at least 8 times). Well outside the top 20 again, only one place up on the first race of the season.
Monday, November 02, 2015
Bochlwyd Horseshoe
Peaks: Tryfan, Glyder Fach
Area: Glyderau, Eryri
An attempt to set a time for this old favourite circuit, something of a scrambling classic on which we cut our mountaineering teeth as teenagers in the late 80s. A truly stunning spell of autumnal weather: indeed, the UK's November temperature record was broken in Trawscoed yesterday (22.3C). Fog at home this morning, but Ogwen was bathed in sunshine as I set off for the Heather Terrace. I decided to do a bit of a variant on the classic circuit, by using a route on the sun-drenched East Face to make it a bit longer and more interesting. I jogged most of the way up, using various short cut paths to get to the broad gully which gains the terrace. Very slippery underfoot, which slowed progress. But the rock in Little Gully (my chosen route) was warm and dry: allowing for a very quick ascent. I've been up and down this many times before, and it gives a nice route with fine rock scenery and views of the classic climbs. I curved right towards the top of North Gully then weaved up little variants to the summit in 45 minutes from the A5. I had the top of Tryfan to myself (a rare treat these days). From here, a mixture of running and scrambling down the South Ridge to the base of Bristly. It's been years since I last did this (although we did some of the classic rock climbs on Bristly's East Face a few years ago, and I probably did the scramble 10 times in my youth). Instead of the normal start up Sinister Gully, I took the excellent clean groove further left. This gives fine sustained scrambling and was much drier than Sinister today. From here, I stuck to the crest over Great Tower Gap (where the excellent HS climb finishes) and up to the Glyder plateau. Stunning clarity of light with great views over Castell y Gwynt to Yr Wyddfa beyond. All of Eryri crystal clear, with banks of fog beyond. I ran over the plateau, then down Y Gribin for the final piece of mild rock action: along the crest to good running down to Bochlwyd then Ogwen and the car. Just under 2.25 for the round.
Area: Glyderau, Eryri
An attempt to set a time for this old favourite circuit, something of a scrambling classic on which we cut our mountaineering teeth as teenagers in the late 80s. A truly stunning spell of autumnal weather: indeed, the UK's November temperature record was broken in Trawscoed yesterday (22.3C). Fog at home this morning, but Ogwen was bathed in sunshine as I set off for the Heather Terrace. I decided to do a bit of a variant on the classic circuit, by using a route on the sun-drenched East Face to make it a bit longer and more interesting. I jogged most of the way up, using various short cut paths to get to the broad gully which gains the terrace. Very slippery underfoot, which slowed progress. But the rock in Little Gully (my chosen route) was warm and dry: allowing for a very quick ascent. I've been up and down this many times before, and it gives a nice route with fine rock scenery and views of the classic climbs. I curved right towards the top of North Gully then weaved up little variants to the summit in 45 minutes from the A5. I had the top of Tryfan to myself (a rare treat these days). From here, a mixture of running and scrambling down the South Ridge to the base of Bristly. It's been years since I last did this (although we did some of the classic rock climbs on Bristly's East Face a few years ago, and I probably did the scramble 10 times in my youth). Instead of the normal start up Sinister Gully, I took the excellent clean groove further left. This gives fine sustained scrambling and was much drier than Sinister today. From here, I stuck to the crest over Great Tower Gap (where the excellent HS climb finishes) and up to the Glyder plateau. Stunning clarity of light with great views over Castell y Gwynt to Yr Wyddfa beyond. All of Eryri crystal clear, with banks of fog beyond. I ran over the plateau, then down Y Gribin for the final piece of mild rock action: along the crest to good running down to Bochlwyd then Ogwen and the car. Just under 2.25 for the round.
Sunday, November 01, 2015
Abergele 5m
Race: Abergele 5m (North Wales Championships)
Time/Position: 28.59 (10th from 200 [2nd V45])
There is something strange about this excellent race. I must have done the event 6 or 7 times: it is always sunny, and I record almost exactly the same time every single year (28.51 in 2011, 28.51 in 2012, 28.57 in 2013, 28.59 in 2015). However, that very gradual decline, losing a couple of seconds a year, cost me today as I missed out on the category win by 4 seconds! I had a feeling the Wilmslow runner in front of me was my age, and spent the entire race trying to catch him. Almost managed it, but not quite, although I did have the consolation of first place in the North Wales Championships. It's a slightly tricky race to pace, as you have to go off fast on the long hill to St George but you also need to retain a little something for the sharp hill at three miles - after which comes a fast run-in to the finish. It's never likely to be a PB course due to the hills, but is always enjoyable.
Time/Position: 28.59 (10th from 200 [2nd V45])
There is something strange about this excellent race. I must have done the event 6 or 7 times: it is always sunny, and I record almost exactly the same time every single year (28.51 in 2011, 28.51 in 2012, 28.57 in 2013, 28.59 in 2015). However, that very gradual decline, losing a couple of seconds a year, cost me today as I missed out on the category win by 4 seconds! I had a feeling the Wilmslow runner in front of me was my age, and spent the entire race trying to catch him. Almost managed it, but not quite, although I did have the consolation of first place in the North Wales Championships. It's a slightly tricky race to pace, as you have to go off fast on the long hill to St George but you also need to retain a little something for the sharp hill at three miles - after which comes a fast run-in to the finish. It's never likely to be a PB course due to the hills, but is always enjoyable.
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