Race: Bangor XC (North Wales Cross Country League, race 3)
Time/Position: 37.41 (28th from 148 [3rd V45])
This course is often a mudbath, although conditions today were perhaps the worst I have known. Times were certainly down, although my decision to leave my spikes in the car was not a good one! The hill and the far reaches of the rugby fields were particularly cloying, with the descent through the woods the only brief relief from the quagmire.
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Roaches fell race
Race: Roaches fell race (BL/15m+/3700ft)
Time/Position: 2.40.19 (36th from 215)
A relaxed 'away day' at the end of the fell running year, and another British classic ticked off the list. I had no inclination to race this, tired after Friday night's race and with a distinct lack of training distance in the legs: but the weather was perfect, cold and crystal clear, albeit accompanied by a stiff northerly that seemed likely to cause problems on the outward leg. The route is unusual as a long 'out and back': Vic and I had reccied quite a bit of it on an extremely grim day in early January 2016 and I have climbed at the Roaches a few times over the years, so had some knowledge of the first part of the route. From Meerbrook, it heads towards the crags on the skyline, through an infamous slurry pit at the farm where we both got electrocuted in 2016! A horrible slog through muddy fields leads up to the road below the crags, before the route takes a big gritstone path which curves round to the famous upper tier, home of many classic rock climbs. Above this, the route emerges on a vague ridge amidst typical gritstone scenery: it is awkward rocky running terrain demanding full concentration, although distant views over Cheshire and the Peak were superb today. Eventually, after the trig point, it descends and very rapid progress on grit flagstones is made down to the road at Roach End. After this, the descent continues, awkward and steeper, into the Gradbach woods which give undulating and exciting running along to the river crossing (thigh deep) in the Dane Valley. More climbing over muddy fields leads eventually to Crag Hall and Wildboarclough where the final climb up the steep cone of Shutlingsloe begins. This is the only real 'peak' in the Peak District, the Matterhorn of Cheshire, and a fine mini-objective on which to turn round! The reverse leg is not at all tedious, and (rather surprisingly) is substantially quicker and less physically demanding. The tailwind was a help at times, as expected, and I kept the same gently plodding pace going throughout, intent on enjoyment rather than competition! The final descent from the Roaches to Meerbrook was ultra muddy, even by the standards of a November fell race. As I approach my 500th race, it's been a good year for ticking off interesting and classic fell races that have long been obvious gaps on the 'cv': all of them done in relaxed 'tourist mode', starting with the wonderful Anniversary Waltz in April, and including the Preseli Beast, Ennerdale Horseshoe, Kentmere, and even some newer Welsh races that I've contrived to miss in the past, like Trefriw Mill, Gyrn Gallop and Fron Four.
Time/Position: 2.40.19 (36th from 215)
A relaxed 'away day' at the end of the fell running year, and another British classic ticked off the list. I had no inclination to race this, tired after Friday night's race and with a distinct lack of training distance in the legs: but the weather was perfect, cold and crystal clear, albeit accompanied by a stiff northerly that seemed likely to cause problems on the outward leg. The route is unusual as a long 'out and back': Vic and I had reccied quite a bit of it on an extremely grim day in early January 2016 and I have climbed at the Roaches a few times over the years, so had some knowledge of the first part of the route. From Meerbrook, it heads towards the crags on the skyline, through an infamous slurry pit at the farm where we both got electrocuted in 2016! A horrible slog through muddy fields leads up to the road below the crags, before the route takes a big gritstone path which curves round to the famous upper tier, home of many classic rock climbs. Above this, the route emerges on a vague ridge amidst typical gritstone scenery: it is awkward rocky running terrain demanding full concentration, although distant views over Cheshire and the Peak were superb today. Eventually, after the trig point, it descends and very rapid progress on grit flagstones is made down to the road at Roach End. After this, the descent continues, awkward and steeper, into the Gradbach woods which give undulating and exciting running along to the river crossing (thigh deep) in the Dane Valley. More climbing over muddy fields leads eventually to Crag Hall and Wildboarclough where the final climb up the steep cone of Shutlingsloe begins. This is the only real 'peak' in the Peak District, the Matterhorn of Cheshire, and a fine mini-objective on which to turn round! The reverse leg is not at all tedious, and (rather surprisingly) is substantially quicker and less physically demanding. The tailwind was a help at times, as expected, and I kept the same gently plodding pace going throughout, intent on enjoyment rather than competition! The final descent from the Roaches to Meerbrook was ultra muddy, even by the standards of a November fell race. As I approach my 500th race, it's been a good year for ticking off interesting and classic fell races that have long been obvious gaps on the 'cv': all of them done in relaxed 'tourist mode', starting with the wonderful Anniversary Waltz in April, and including the Preseli Beast, Ennerdale Horseshoe, Kentmere, and even some newer Welsh races that I've contrived to miss in the past, like Trefriw Mill, Gyrn Gallop and Fron Four.
Friday, November 10, 2017
Dash in the dark
Race: Dash in the dark, Race 1 (6.5k/750ft)
Time/Position: 27.29 (7th from 134)
I somehow contrived to miss all of last year's headtorch races, so it was great to be able to reacquaint myself with this very enjoyable event tonight. I have done it a lot over the years, most often in its earlier incarnation when I can remember just 25 people turning up one grim winter night. It's very different now, and a big crowd of runners set off from Llandegla in good conditions: cool and dry, with rain forecast to arrive later. A quick start at the front, and I soon got in a group of four, trying to keep with Steve's rapid early pace. Our little group had a grand little battle, and we were neck and neck as we emerged at the lakeside path which gives the only opportunity for a flat blast. A very steep descent through the woods follows, on which it is virtually impossible to stay upright, even with decent studs. My new head torch and shoes paid dividends (although I didn't stay upright, sliding twice) and I was able to pull away a bit on the final climb to the centre. Great fun, as always.
Time/Position: 27.29 (7th from 134)
I somehow contrived to miss all of last year's headtorch races, so it was great to be able to reacquaint myself with this very enjoyable event tonight. I have done it a lot over the years, most often in its earlier incarnation when I can remember just 25 people turning up one grim winter night. It's very different now, and a big crowd of runners set off from Llandegla in good conditions: cool and dry, with rain forecast to arrive later. A quick start at the front, and I soon got in a group of four, trying to keep with Steve's rapid early pace. Our little group had a grand little battle, and we were neck and neck as we emerged at the lakeside path which gives the only opportunity for a flat blast. A very steep descent through the woods follows, on which it is virtually impossible to stay upright, even with decent studs. My new head torch and shoes paid dividends (although I didn't stay upright, sliding twice) and I was able to pull away a bit on the final climb to the centre. Great fun, as always.
Sunday, November 05, 2017
Abergele 5
Race: Abergele 5 mile (North Wales Championships)
Time/Position: 29.19 (17th from 184 [1st V45])
My slowest ever time at the Abergele 5, and this despite the fact that the once hilly course has now changed to a fast, flat dash along the seafront. Possibly my worst finishing position too, so I was rather lucky to win my age category in both the open race and the championship today. That said, conditions were not great, with strong westerly winds rendering the outward two miles quite demanding and a small tidal flood blocking the path further on. I got in with an equally matched group of runners, the third such group on the road, and this gave us some shelter before it broke up on the return leg. This new championship route is the same as the long established border league fixture, which I have also done many times: I remember running 28.00 on the course, or a version of it, so this was a lot slower.
Time/Position: 29.19 (17th from 184 [1st V45])
My slowest ever time at the Abergele 5, and this despite the fact that the once hilly course has now changed to a fast, flat dash along the seafront. Possibly my worst finishing position too, so I was rather lucky to win my age category in both the open race and the championship today. That said, conditions were not great, with strong westerly winds rendering the outward two miles quite demanding and a small tidal flood blocking the path further on. I got in with an equally matched group of runners, the third such group on the road, and this gave us some shelter before it broke up on the return leg. This new championship route is the same as the long established border league fixture, which I have also done many times: I remember running 28.00 on the course, or a version of it, so this was a lot slower.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)