Oswestry XC

Race: Oswestry 5m+ (NWXC League race 5)

Time/Position: 36.45 (42nd from 103 [1st V55])

It has been a very unusual cross country season, from the opening round meltdown at Llanerch Hall (which saw me torn between retiring and walking) through to the final three races in which I won my category. After almost failing to finish the first fixture, I didn't even do the second race at Colwyn Bay, thereby only really starting the season in Bala, early December. All of this meant that I was tied with Irfon from Cybi Striders going into this, the final race, over the familiar Oswestry course. For better or worse, this meant that we were competing head-to-head in the last race, mildly exciting with the usual friendly competition. It has always been a tough course, although as I remember it used to be even harder, using more of the field closer to the school. After loads of recent rain, the course was very boggy in the usual places. I went past Irfon on the second small lap and then managed to open a bit of a gap down to the bottom field which has a horrible climb back out (which I have always hated, even when I could run properly up hills). After this, two thigh-deep bogs lead to the drier section back towards the school. It is hard to bridge gaps in cross country, particularly on a course like this, but I still found myself passed by three of the student team runners right at the end! I maintained the same plodding pace of the last three fixtures, but scored fourth for Buckley and did enough to win my category this season. Only the second time I have ever won my category in a cross country season, and the first time was the V50 prize immediately post-Covid. Buckley finished 2nd in Division 1, which equals our best ever finish in the league, not bad considering how few runners we had at the last two fixtures. A nice prize giving at the Marches School, with tea, rolls and cake.

Ceiriog valley loop

A delightful ten mile outing through the obscure hills to the north of Dyffryn Ceiriog. I have done the Ceiriog Canter (up Vivod) from Glyn Ceiriog before, but this morning I took the extremely steep lane of Ty'n y Cestyll to emerge on the Nantyr road. This is a very nice lane between the Berwyn ridge on the right, and the Ceiriog valley below, and it leads to a sharp turn to an obvious bridleway marked Whitestones on the OS map. This is steep in places, effectively a pass between Bryn Du and Tomen y Gwyddel, very rough underfoot and sadly used by off-road motorbikes, several of which roared past as I ran. It leads all the way down to Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, where I had a 30 second glimpse of an unfamiliar orange orb in the sky. After 600m of elevation over the tops, I then really enjoyed the long valley run back to Glyn Ceiriog via Tregeiriog and Pandy.

Flint Castle parkrun

'Race': Flint Castle parkrun

Time/Position: 19.06 (4th from 349)

Another new event, only in its 5th or 6th week, but a very pleasant course along the coastal path heading west from the castle. I had run a lot of this before: despite the proximity of industry, it is very tranquil with views over the Dee estuary across to the Wirral side. There were some big puddles on the route, and a little sand, but generally conditions were good - cloudy, cool and calm. I had a steady outing, struggling to get any kind of speed up, but I was first age graded and took another V55 category course record, not overly impressive given how new the event is! I currently hold parkrun age group course records at: PitP, Rhos on Sea, Greenfield, Ruthin and Flint. Not really in the spirit of the friendly 'timed run', but it does give something to aim for!

Thurstaston BL

Race: Thurstaston 5m (Border League race 3)

Time/Position: 30.25 (90th from 399 [1st V55])

The second part of this weekend's double header, made particularly trying after a busy and tiring Saturday night. It was the reverse of the route we did from Thurstaston two years ago, meaning it started with the long climb from the country park up Station Road to the main Heswall road. Given my condition, I knew I had to take this steady and did so, with the usual hyper-competitive Borders field streaking up the road ahead of me. My legs felt reasonable but it was a more general fatigue that afflicted me this morning. The main road towards Heswall is gently inclining and I stuck with Andy and Rob, similarly paced as we were yesterday. We did pick up a few places, and this continued on the fell race style steep descent down Oldfield Drive, which is badly potholed, the Dee estuary stretching out in front and a little sunshine playing around. There just remained the little matter of the finish along the endless Wirral Way. This is dead straight and mentally tough - it is also the finish to the summer Wirral multi-terrain race, so I have done it eyeballs out in the past. One of my worst ever finishing positions in the league, but not too bad in the circumstances and it did maintain my 100% age category winning record this season - I have an 82 point lead on second place, with Buckley second team overall. If I have counted correctly, this was my 97th border league race.

Shrewsbury XC

Race: Leaton Forest 5m (North Wales XC league, race 4)

Time/Position: 33.45 (42nd from 101 [1st V55])

A double race weekend, always a demanding undertaking but made more so this weekend for a variety of reasons (my age being one!). As luck would have it, this was a relatively civilised (new) course by cross country standards, despite its location right next to the River Severn. It was flat with a few muddy sections, but not as draining as it might have been - I rather enjoyed it. Tomorrow's border league fixture had to be my priority so the idea here was to run at 80% effort and keep a steady pace ticking over. My age group rival Irfon took off at quite a pace on the first short lap so I ended off starting faster than I'd intended to, but eventually the pace steadied and the two short laps gave way to two longer ones, all along the banks of the Severn. As with numerous other recent events, my pace was steady but not remotely fast, and I was still ready for the finish when it came. First V55 in this, and the last fixture at Bala, making me really regret my tribulations at the first fixture in St Asaph, which will obviously adversely affect my overall standing in the age category. As a team, we are now in second, which is pretty good as we only had six male runners here.

PitP parkrun

'Race': Park in the Past parkrun

Time/Position: 20.59 (4th from 103)

Ruining all my stats for my local parkrun here with a muddy outing in old fell shoes. Hardly in the spirit of the 'timed run' event, but slightly annoying nonetheless, especially given the enormous magnitude of this personal worst! I was almost three minutes slower than my 18.14 course PB, which is pretty staggering despite the mud. That said, I really enjoyed the jog from home across the fields (surprisingly dry, much easier than in summer) and I still like the course a lot. It felt a bit like a cross-country race today, and I was quite tired for the jog home back across the fields, which makes it into a pleasant 10k outing.

Helsby half

Race: Four Villages Half Marathon (Helsby)

Time/Position: 1.25.00 (141 from 1686)

This may well be the last half marathon I ever run. It was very nearly seven minutes down on my course PB, and slightly slower even than my plodding Jubilee Bridge time from June. I ran my first half just before my 13th birthday in 1983 and have long since lost count of how many I've done, but suspect it must be around 50 if not more. But although I didn't really suffer too badly here, I also knew I couldn't increase the pace. Part of that was due to a lack of specific training, and that was itself partly due to my continuing heel (and ankle) injuries. It's a shame that I haven't recorded a decent V55 half time to match my times at other distances, but there we go. I started with Gerard, and we paced each other pretty well in good conditions - wet and quite cold with no wind to speak of. I first did this race 20 years ago and think I've done it six times in total: the route has changed a bit over the years but the basic route around Dunham and Manley remains the same, and it is one of the last remaining old style (non-commercial/club-run) local half marathons. As soon as we hit the hills at nine miles, Gerard pulled ahead and I just put my head down and ground it out, knowing I would lose time and places. This race famously finishes with two miles of largely downhill running, but even this didn't go to plan and I struggled to pick up the pace. A little over three years ago I ran 1.18.04 as a 52 year old at the Vyrnwy half, so I'm not sure age is entirely to blame for the rapidity of this decline.