Preston 10

Race: Preston 10

Time/Position: 61.45 (41st from 247 [2nd V55])

With the cancellation of the border league, I immediately initiated 'plan b' and headed north for this long-established 10 miler. It has been quite some time (maybe almost a decade) since I last did a proper 10 mile road race, and I wanted to see whether I could put down a decent V55 time. As such, this was an adequate performance that probably reflects my current speed and fitness. In my heart of hearts I knew I wouldn't be able to maintain sub-6 minute mile pace for long, so breaking the hour seemed unlikely. On reflection, 6.10 pace probably isn't too bad in the circumstances. My PB is 58.20, set at Wrexham in 2012, and I obviously wasn't thinking in those terms! I went off a bit fast, still wondering whether a sub-hour was on the cards, and undoubtedly paid for that later. I realised the danger at 5k, however, and knocked it back a bit, going through the first five mile lap in 30.30. It was quite a pleasant circuit from Hutton south-west of Preston, along some lanes via Walmer Bridge to a big track down the side of the Longton bypass, which wasn't quite so pleasant! Conditions were perfect: fairly cold and sunny with a light breeze, and the circuit is quite flat. It was bit frustrating to have to concede I will probably never go under the hour again, but at least this was a club record and should get me fairly comfortably into the North Wales all-time top 10 in the category. It combined with the Lancashire Championships, so it was a strong field of serious runners with lots of quick veterans competing.

Widnes parkrun

'Race': Widnes parkrun

Time/position: 18.22 (6th from 323)

Having run 17.36 at the Wirral 5k, I also wanted to add a decent V55 parkrun time to this year's schedule. Widnes, as the 7th fastest parkrun in the UK, seemed a good choice. Sadly, however, enthusiasm triumphed over experience here and this was just too soon after the marathon for a decent performance: I felt a bit jaded and was half a minute slower than I had hoped to run (20 seconds down on my previous running of the course). Still, it was nice to see have a post-run breakfast with Dave and actually we were lucky to avoid the torrential downpours earlier that morning.

Marathon Eryri

Race: Marathon Eryri

Time/Position: 3.26.11 (134 from 2209 [1st V55])

A significant race in several different ways. Firstly, it has been a staggering 19 years since I last did it in 2006. Secondly, I have never won my age category in a marathon before, or even come close. Thirdly, I'm still recovering from the heel injury that meant I missed most of the training I had intended to do. Finally, I had a place for it in 2022 when I was well trained after London, but glandular fever meant I didn't even make the start line! It is also, of course, a wonderful event through a landscape that I know intimately and that means a lot to me. The weather was typical late October, nowhere near as bad as the multiple inclement weather races I've experienced (the OMM and numerous other events at this time of year are one of the reasons I have taken such a long sabbatical from this marathon after my two previous runnings). Basically, intermittent squally showers and fairly strong cold north-westerlies, unpleasant to those unused to it. I wore a light base layer and carried a windproof for emergencies but in the event I was fairly comfortable throughout. The start used to be close to Nant Peris but is now just outside Llanberis and I took it nice and steady down to Nant and then a controlled climb up to Pen y Pass, which I crested in around 35 minutes from the start. This set a sustainable steady pace, nothing spectacular, and I remained conservative on the rapid descent to Pen y Gwryd and then the gravel track down Nant Gwynant (it used to go down the main road). Superb views to a moody Yr Wyddfa as a heavy squall swept in from the North-West (the prevailing direction all day). Along the lovely shores of Llyn Gwynant and Llyn Dinas and then into Beddgelert on 90 minutes. Good atmosphere, and I was pleased to feel quite comfortable despite going through the half way point not much over three hour pace. The crux came next, the long climb out of the village coincided with the day's worst squall, into a violent headwind alongside a hailstorm. All quite draining, and the pace really slowed. That said, it was the same for everybody and the hail soon stopped. Even better, the headwind weakened as we approached Rhyd Ddu and was nowhere near as bad as I'd expected round the shores of Llyn Cwellyn, with superb views over the Nantlle ridge with even a tiny bit of brightness around. Kept a decent pace ticking over until Waunfawr, after which comes the famous savage climax up to Bwlch y Groes. I reached Groeslon in 2.55 and then, as I'd expected, hemorrhaged big chunks of time, especially where the lane gets steep. Another gel revived me, and I did manage to run a little more of the climb than I had expected. Even where it levels out towards the atmospheric old quarry, it stays tough, and more weather came in from the north-west at this point. I was still feeling pretty good, and was looking forward to the descent into Llanberis - but it was, predictably, very slippery and hazardous with lots of people falling on the grass and gravel, not ideal in Vaporflys! Caution was necessary, although I still passed a lot of runners and could finally open out a bit on the tarmac above Llanberis. All told, I lost around four to five minutes over the last 5k from my predicted time at Beddgelert, so not too disastrous. I met Tim and David in the baggage tent, got into warm clothes, and quickly into a warm car heading home for tea!

Trafford 10k

Race: Trafford 10k

Time/Position: 37.05 (227 from 1376 [3rd V55])

A well-known ultra competitive 10k, renowned for fast times. For whatever reason, I had never got round to it before and although I knew I was unlikely even to get near my best V55 time (Colshaw Hall's 36.35 from June) I thought a speed session would be good, the intention being to try to run a controlled and steady race as a confidence boost. This is what happened, and although it was my second slowest 10k since I turned 55, I did feel pretty comfortable until the last kilometre, which was good. As anticipated, a very strong field attracted by a pleasant, flat course in the countryside south of Partington towards Dunham Massey. Finished miles down the field, and was nowhere near the two quickest V55s. A family brunch in Altrincham followed.

Chirk Castle run

Another addition to my 'linear run' exploits over many years. I'd never run to Chirk Castle from home before and thought it would make a good objective from the croft, as I needed to get a 20-miler in before Marathon Eryri and this, a fortnight before, was the last opportunity. It went quite well, from home to Wrexham via Caergwrle, and then skirting the Maelor before heading down Berse Lane parallel to the dual carriageway. At Rhostyllen, I then climbed up towards Johnstown and through Ruabon. Then a lovely section on the recently reopened road over the Dee at Newbridge, which I don't remember ever visiting before. Then Chirk and up the long climb to the Castle, neatly replicating the demands of Eryri. A nice lunch with K and E replenishing calories at the Castle cafe.

Two trig run

Feeling a bit better after Saturday's implosion, and very conscious I still need to get some long, hilly runs in for the forthcoming Marathon Eryri. As such, this was a delightful outing from the house in autumnal late afternoon sunshine, over the hill to Bryn Yorkin then down through Cymau to Ffrith. Lovely low sunshine as I jogged up the forest track and through the thick vegetation to the top of Pen Llan y Gwr with its views of Eryri, then an even more delightful descent to Cae ap Edward and Llanfynydd, then up through Horeb and across the top of Waun y Llyn (the second trig) to wend my way home - still not long enough at 26k but decent elevation gain of well over 2000ft.

St Asaph XC

Race: Llanerch Hall 8k (North Wales XC race 1)

Time: 37m

A disastrous performance with few precedents, the only ones I can think of are when I was taking anti-histhamines for allergies in 2007 or so! I started off fairly steadily, an excellent new course down towards the river from Llanerch Hall in good conditions after a windy period. On the climb back up to the top, I felt weirdly weak, and that set the stage. The rest was a nightmare, torn between packing it in or walking the hills to the finish. I opted for the latter, and suspect a cold or some other infection.