Race: North Wales XC Championships, Rhug, Corwen (6.2m)
Time/Position: 38.34 (14th from 55 [1st V45])
Conditions were relatively benign for the championships this year, with icy rain falling before the start but the ground reasonably firm for most of the route. This may be some explanation for the fact that my time was a couple of minutes quicker than my three or four previous races at Rhug (or maybe the course had been tweeked slightly). Although this was my worst ever finishing position at the cross country championships, it was also my first category win. It was quite a fast start, and my inability to handle changes of pace saw me starting to struggle even earlier than is usual. By the last lap, I just tried to hang on as Eric passed me. Still my favourite XC course: great location for the race and the prize giving. Buckley won the team prize overall again, and the veteran's team prize.
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Deeside Border League
Race: Deeside/Kelsterton, Border League round 4 (4.5m)
Time/Position: 25.21 (33rd from 371 [3rd V45])
After yesterday's exertions into a headwind at the Twin Piers 10k, this was another damage limitation exercise. But, having missed two league races already this season, it was just an attempt to try to help out as best I could. It is, mercifully, a short circuit, which hasn't featured in the league since 2014. The only problem is that it incorporates the sharp climb up Kelsterton hill after a manic new start on the Deeside track with almost 400 runners squeezed in! The climb went OK in the circumstances. I made up some places on the long descent back to the stadium, but still finished in my worst league position for many years (possibly since 2008).
Time/Position: 25.21 (33rd from 371 [3rd V45])
After yesterday's exertions into a headwind at the Twin Piers 10k, this was another damage limitation exercise. But, having missed two league races already this season, it was just an attempt to try to help out as best I could. It is, mercifully, a short circuit, which hasn't featured in the league since 2014. The only problem is that it incorporates the sharp climb up Kelsterton hill after a manic new start on the Deeside track with almost 400 runners squeezed in! The climb went OK in the circumstances. I made up some places on the long descent back to the stadium, but still finished in my worst league position for many years (possibly since 2008).
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Twin Piers 10k
Race: Twin Piers 10k (Llandudno to Colwyn Bay)
Time/Position: 37.33 (6th from 420 [1st V45])
Having done this event many times over the years, with the coastal wind blowing from a variety of directions, it was pretty obvious that times would be adversely affected as we arrived in Llandudno to find a bitterly cold, and surprisingly strong, easterly wind. On this point-to-point race (my favourite local road race) this means a headwind the entire way, so a slow start was inevitable. A large group formed at the front, at least 10 runners, before it began to break up as we climbed over the Little Orme. This sharp climb does at least give some shelter from the wind. A route change then saw us doing two laps of the estate in Penrhyn Bay before reacquaintance with the headwind as we rejoined the coast down to Rhos on Sea. I managed to establish myself in fifth place, then pulled away from the group behind, until a young lad sped past with 500 metres to go. A very slow time, two minutes down on my expected finish, and well over three minutes down on my best time for this course (also my PB) recorded in 2011. I then enacted part two of the plan, running down the beach to immerse myself in the Irish Sea (up to thigh level) by way of impromptu ice bath recovery before tomorrow's Border League race.
Time/Position: 37.33 (6th from 420 [1st V45])
Having done this event many times over the years, with the coastal wind blowing from a variety of directions, it was pretty obvious that times would be adversely affected as we arrived in Llandudno to find a bitterly cold, and surprisingly strong, easterly wind. On this point-to-point race (my favourite local road race) this means a headwind the entire way, so a slow start was inevitable. A large group formed at the front, at least 10 runners, before it began to break up as we climbed over the Little Orme. This sharp climb does at least give some shelter from the wind. A route change then saw us doing two laps of the estate in Penrhyn Bay before reacquaintance with the headwind as we rejoined the coast down to Rhos on Sea. I managed to establish myself in fifth place, then pulled away from the group behind, until a young lad sped past with 500 metres to go. A very slow time, two minutes down on my expected finish, and well over three minutes down on my best time for this course (also my PB) recorded in 2011. I then enacted part two of the plan, running down the beach to immerse myself in the Irish Sea (up to thigh level) by way of impromptu ice bath recovery before tomorrow's Border League race.
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Shrewsbury XC
Race: Baschurch, Shrewsbury XC (North Wales Cross Country league, race 4)
Time/Position: 35.41 (30th from 141 [3rd V45])
An amusing river crossing had been incorporated into this new circuit, the fourth and penultimate race of the season. It attracted a couple of dozen spectators and led to some fun and games as we plunged in to its icy, thigh deep murk. A steady climb followed immediately: hard work indeed to sustain any kind of pace after the soaking in the river. It all made for an excellent, though challenging cross-country race: classic stuff. I felt the need for spikes as it was very muddy underfoot, slippery and insecure in many places.
Time/Position: 35.41 (30th from 141 [3rd V45])
An amusing river crossing had been incorporated into this new circuit, the fourth and penultimate race of the season. It attracted a couple of dozen spectators and led to some fun and games as we plunged in to its icy, thigh deep murk. A steady climb followed immediately: hard work indeed to sustain any kind of pace after the soaking in the river. It all made for an excellent, though challenging cross-country race: classic stuff. I felt the need for spikes as it was very muddy underfoot, slippery and insecure in many places.
Saturday, January 07, 2017
Glyderau walk
Peaks: Carnedd y Filiast, Mynydd Perfedd, Elidir Fawr
Area: Glyderau, Eryri
A sharp contrast with Monday: the snow and clear skies gone, to be replaced by standard issue clag and drizzle. This was a shame, as M had been persuaded to join the scouts winter walking weekend for the third time. I joined in (also for the third time) and was therefore able to observe him outside his natural habitat again! The cloud base was just above sea level as I approached Deiniolen at first light around 8am: very dank and gloomy. As the scouts had breakfast, it began to lift a bit, and was much higher when we set out from the HQ at the old school house on the edge of the village. The long haul up to Llyn Marchlyn Bach gives an unusual start to a mountain day: tarmac the whole way, gently climbing for several miles. Two of the scouts dropped behind and eventually five of us continued upwards into the mist. The path up Carnedd y Filiast is steep but comfortable, and conditions weren't too bad apart from the poor visibility. A bearing across the plateau gained the shelter on Mynydd Perfedd, then the always enjoyable ridge towards Elidir Fawr which gave a very brief clearance at Bwlch y Brechan for views of Llyn Marchlyn below. M seemed to enjoy the occasional bits of scrambling leading to the summit of Elidir. Last time I was here was the very memorable Elidir Fawr race one evening last September. After lunch, steady rain and a brisk wind added to the fun. I took a bearing after deliberately continuing along the ridge for a bit. The lower slopes of Elidir are featureless, and the visibility was very poor, but the bearing landed us above the broken crags and by skirting west for a few minutes we picked up the faint path which leads down to the lower Marchlyn lake. At this point, just a few metres above the lake and tarmac road, we broke through the persistent clag for the first time on the entire circuit, which M admitted was 'very satisfying'. A long descent ensued, back down the road to Deiniolen.
Area: Glyderau, Eryri
A sharp contrast with Monday: the snow and clear skies gone, to be replaced by standard issue clag and drizzle. This was a shame, as M had been persuaded to join the scouts winter walking weekend for the third time. I joined in (also for the third time) and was therefore able to observe him outside his natural habitat again! The cloud base was just above sea level as I approached Deiniolen at first light around 8am: very dank and gloomy. As the scouts had breakfast, it began to lift a bit, and was much higher when we set out from the HQ at the old school house on the edge of the village. The long haul up to Llyn Marchlyn Bach gives an unusual start to a mountain day: tarmac the whole way, gently climbing for several miles. Two of the scouts dropped behind and eventually five of us continued upwards into the mist. The path up Carnedd y Filiast is steep but comfortable, and conditions weren't too bad apart from the poor visibility. A bearing across the plateau gained the shelter on Mynydd Perfedd, then the always enjoyable ridge towards Elidir Fawr which gave a very brief clearance at Bwlch y Brechan for views of Llyn Marchlyn below. M seemed to enjoy the occasional bits of scrambling leading to the summit of Elidir. Last time I was here was the very memorable Elidir Fawr race one evening last September. After lunch, steady rain and a brisk wind added to the fun. I took a bearing after deliberately continuing along the ridge for a bit. The lower slopes of Elidir are featureless, and the visibility was very poor, but the bearing landed us above the broken crags and by skirting west for a few minutes we picked up the faint path which leads down to the lower Marchlyn lake. At this point, just a few metres above the lake and tarmac road, we broke through the persistent clag for the first time on the entire circuit, which M admitted was 'very satisfying'. A long descent ensued, back down the road to Deiniolen.
Monday, January 02, 2017
Carneddau run
Peaks: Carnedd Dafydd, Carnedd Llewellyn, Yr Elen
Area: Carneddau, Eryri
A great way to start the year, reviving the route of the defunct Carneddau race from Gerlan above Bethesda. By pure luck, conditions were superb with a good covering of snow and a cold northerly wind which blew most of the cloud over into Ogwen as we climbed up from Cwm Llafar. I did the old race in 2007 and 2011, but Jez and Hayley hadn't done this particular circuit before. The first steepening was tough with cold limbs in the early morning, but the Mynydd Du spur is soon reached with the usual cracking views over Llech Ddu and Ysgolion Duon. From here, surprisingly thick snow cover gave interesting route finding through the boulder fields to a spectacular summit view, with sunshine through the tendrils of mist wreathing Ogwen. The ridge across to Llewellyn is always magnificent in these kinds of semi-Alpine conditions: I would estimate at least 30 trips along it since the 1980s, possibly many more than that. The snow was perfect for running: not too soft, not too crusty. It allowed for very rapid progress and I got some great pictures on the crest of the ridge. The mist came down on Llewellyn, which was predictably bitter, and I took a brief bearing towards Yr Elen before we enjoyed the superb climax of the route. Wonderful views down into wild and remote Cwm Caseg and across the northern Carneddau: one of my favourite spots. I suggested not to bother with the traditional race climax (which indulges in some brutal arbitrary punishment by taking runners up Gyrn Wigau). Instead, we enjoyed the superb continuation of the horseshoe over Foel Gron, which remained snowy until we got to Cwm Llafar itself. A cold river crossing then quick running back to sunny Gerlan before lunchtime.
Area: Carneddau, Eryri
A great way to start the year, reviving the route of the defunct Carneddau race from Gerlan above Bethesda. By pure luck, conditions were superb with a good covering of snow and a cold northerly wind which blew most of the cloud over into Ogwen as we climbed up from Cwm Llafar. I did the old race in 2007 and 2011, but Jez and Hayley hadn't done this particular circuit before. The first steepening was tough with cold limbs in the early morning, but the Mynydd Du spur is soon reached with the usual cracking views over Llech Ddu and Ysgolion Duon. From here, surprisingly thick snow cover gave interesting route finding through the boulder fields to a spectacular summit view, with sunshine through the tendrils of mist wreathing Ogwen. The ridge across to Llewellyn is always magnificent in these kinds of semi-Alpine conditions: I would estimate at least 30 trips along it since the 1980s, possibly many more than that. The snow was perfect for running: not too soft, not too crusty. It allowed for very rapid progress and I got some great pictures on the crest of the ridge. The mist came down on Llewellyn, which was predictably bitter, and I took a brief bearing towards Yr Elen before we enjoyed the superb climax of the route. Wonderful views down into wild and remote Cwm Caseg and across the northern Carneddau: one of my favourite spots. I suggested not to bother with the traditional race climax (which indulges in some brutal arbitrary punishment by taking runners up Gyrn Wigau). Instead, we enjoyed the superb continuation of the horseshoe over Foel Gron, which remained snowy until we got to Cwm Llafar itself. A cold river crossing then quick running back to sunny Gerlan before lunchtime.
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