Race: Baschurch, Shrewsbury XC (North Wales cross country league, race 4)
Time/Position: 39.34 (29th from 131 [3rd V45])
Snow falling through much of Shropshire at lunchtime, although it changed to a combination of slush and sleet as we approached Walford College for round 4 of this year's cross country. Last year's fixture here, with its three-lap crossing of a thigh-deep river, had been memorable, and it seemed likely the water would be deeper and colder this year. That was indeed the case, and combined with a very muddy course, one field under water, and a wall, to make for a classic XC experience - albeit one I plodded round with a persistent mild cold. My feet and hands took an hour to thaw out.
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Sunday, January 14, 2018
Abergele Border League
Race: Abergele 5m (Border League race 3)
Time/Position: 28.50 (28th from 375)
My slide down the positions in the league continued with this perfunctory plod round the measured five mile seaside course used for November's regional championships. My time was virtually the same as last November (both races were 50 seconds slower than my course PB), and conditions were kinder and calmer today, so it really should have been a bit quicker. Over 30 runners came in below 29 minutes, including nine from Buckley: not surprisingly we currently sit on top of division one.
Time/Position: 28.50 (28th from 375)
My slide down the positions in the league continued with this perfunctory plod round the measured five mile seaside course used for November's regional championships. My time was virtually the same as last November (both races were 50 seconds slower than my course PB), and conditions were kinder and calmer today, so it really should have been a bit quicker. Over 30 runners came in below 29 minutes, including nine from Buckley: not surprisingly we currently sit on top of division one.
Sunday, January 07, 2018
Glyderau mountain morning
Peaks: Glyder Fawr, Y Garn
Area: Glyderau, Eryri
A bitter easterly wind was forecast, so I felt that Cwm Cneifion would offer the best chance of shelter: every inch of it familiar territory. I was on my own, so scampered along the shores of Idwal at first light before ploughing up the hillside and traversing into East Wall Gully (I was a bit tired after yesterday's race and wanted to use my arms). This gives good scrambling, awkward verglas in many places today, until I emerged at the mouth of Cwm Cneifion which is always one of the best snow-holding areas in Snowdonia. Instant snow cover, although it was mainly fresh powder I gambled on some older consolidated strips being present on the headwall. The upper cwm was, as I'd hoped, relatively sheltered although blasts from time to time hinted at the ferocity above and sent clouds of spindrift down from the headwall. I made my way towards the top right of the cwm, put my kahtoolas over my running shoes and picked an enjoyable line up the gully, which always has a pleasant mild mountaineering flavour. At the top, spectacular views as the morning mist parted from the pillar and away to the west. A bitter easterly, however, which made running difficult (and I was slightly tired after yesterday's race). The windchill got even more intense as I descended from Y Garn (having found some shelter at the summit cairn). In 30 years in Snowdonia, I have rarely experienced anything quite as intense: a very strong easterly, painful windchill, difficult initially to get down the top section of Banana Ridge. Wonderful views, however, and good running lower down as the circulation began to return. Home in time for lunch.
Area: Glyderau, Eryri
A bitter easterly wind was forecast, so I felt that Cwm Cneifion would offer the best chance of shelter: every inch of it familiar territory. I was on my own, so scampered along the shores of Idwal at first light before ploughing up the hillside and traversing into East Wall Gully (I was a bit tired after yesterday's race and wanted to use my arms). This gives good scrambling, awkward verglas in many places today, until I emerged at the mouth of Cwm Cneifion which is always one of the best snow-holding areas in Snowdonia. Instant snow cover, although it was mainly fresh powder I gambled on some older consolidated strips being present on the headwall. The upper cwm was, as I'd hoped, relatively sheltered although blasts from time to time hinted at the ferocity above and sent clouds of spindrift down from the headwall. I made my way towards the top right of the cwm, put my kahtoolas over my running shoes and picked an enjoyable line up the gully, which always has a pleasant mild mountaineering flavour. At the top, spectacular views as the morning mist parted from the pillar and away to the west. A bitter easterly, however, which made running difficult (and I was slightly tired after yesterday's race). The windchill got even more intense as I descended from Y Garn (having found some shelter at the summit cairn). In 30 years in Snowdonia, I have rarely experienced anything quite as intense: a very strong easterly, painful windchill, difficult initially to get down the top section of Banana Ridge. Wonderful views, however, and good running lower down as the circulation began to return. Home in time for lunch.
Saturday, January 06, 2018
Rhug Cross Country
Race: North Wales XC Championships, Rhug, Corwen (11k)
Time/Position: 39.50 (15th from 61 [2nd V45])
Although it is almost always a small field at this event, my finishing position has slipped considerably over the six or seven times I've done it. Well off the pace last year, although times were quick and I fortunately won my category. This year was similar: boggy in the usual places, but I just kept the same plodding pace churning over, lacking any speed. I have always enjoyed this course, though, you can grind out a bit of a rhythm and the distant views of the Berwyn are always nice. Dry this year too, albeit cold. We had a strong team and won the overall team prize and the veteran's prize again.
Time/Position: 39.50 (15th from 61 [2nd V45])
Although it is almost always a small field at this event, my finishing position has slipped considerably over the six or seven times I've done it. Well off the pace last year, although times were quick and I fortunately won my category. This year was similar: boggy in the usual places, but I just kept the same plodding pace churning over, lacking any speed. I have always enjoyed this course, though, you can grind out a bit of a rhythm and the distant views of the Berwyn are always nice. Dry this year too, albeit cold. We had a strong team and won the overall team prize and the veteran's prize again.
Wednesday, January 03, 2018
Carneddau run
Peak: Drum
Area: Carneddau, Eryri
This route is a tried and tested solution to ferocious westerlies, and it worked again as Storm Eleanor hit North Wales with 80mph gusts at our exact moment of departure. Andy and I set off under leaden skies from the A55, up the steep road taken by the Foel Fras race, which is always a struggle. As soon as the track to Bwlch y Ddaefaen gets exposed the fierce westerly kicked in, blowing us upwards initially before turning into a crosswind higher up. We knew it would be impossible to communicate on the top, so worked out a pre-arranged set of signals! I lay flat on the grass on the summit of Drum, an old trick, as the 75mph winds whistled just above my nose. Andy arrived, and we indicated 'down'. I'd pulled exactly the same trick a year ago, when hail made life even more uncomfortable. Today, it was just the wind, and it was hard to make any progress towards Llyn Anafon initially, even steeply downhill. But with each metre descended, the wind gets imperceptibly lighter, and down in the cwm there is usually very little if it's blowing from the west. Excellent running down Anafon (feeling much better than I was last time I was here, descending from our 3000s run in August), then we took the extension north to the road, avoiding the tarmac and finishing on the A55.
Area: Carneddau, Eryri
This route is a tried and tested solution to ferocious westerlies, and it worked again as Storm Eleanor hit North Wales with 80mph gusts at our exact moment of departure. Andy and I set off under leaden skies from the A55, up the steep road taken by the Foel Fras race, which is always a struggle. As soon as the track to Bwlch y Ddaefaen gets exposed the fierce westerly kicked in, blowing us upwards initially before turning into a crosswind higher up. We knew it would be impossible to communicate on the top, so worked out a pre-arranged set of signals! I lay flat on the grass on the summit of Drum, an old trick, as the 75mph winds whistled just above my nose. Andy arrived, and we indicated 'down'. I'd pulled exactly the same trick a year ago, when hail made life even more uncomfortable. Today, it was just the wind, and it was hard to make any progress towards Llyn Anafon initially, even steeply downhill. But with each metre descended, the wind gets imperceptibly lighter, and down in the cwm there is usually very little if it's blowing from the west. Excellent running down Anafon (feeling much better than I was last time I was here, descending from our 3000s run in August), then we took the extension north to the road, avoiding the tarmac and finishing on the A55.
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