Week thirteen - 7/7/09: Race up the Beast

Distance - 4 miles
Ascent - 1200'

My time - 33.38
Position - 25/45 (55%)

What was it like?

Well i enjoyed it, and thought i ran ok (climbed poorly) but what a terrible result! A bottom half finish and no excuses.

It was again, another gorgeous race and another disappointing outcome. I am finding that i'm descending really well. Fast, fluid, enjoyable and fun - but then the climbs come and i'm beat.

Seems like i need to do more training, this racing per week thing is clearly not enough on its own

Week twelve - 1/7/09: Hotfoot up Famau

Distance - 4.5 miles
Ascent - 1250'

My time - 45 mins ish??
Position - 35/84 (45%)

What was it like?

A lovely, muggy evening, but another disappointing race. Perhaps it was the moel y gamelin still in my legs, although there were others there who seemed to fare better... Perhaps it was the fall i had midway, which lodged at least a dozen thorns deep into my hand as i thrust it into a gorse bush to stop myself face-planting... It may equally be because i'm pre-occupied with work and things are looking rough there...

Or perhaps it is simply because i'm not training enough. Or just not fit enough.

Whatever the reason, i need a new challenge to fire me up, in addition to a race per week. Borrowdale in four weeks time is a neat early focus, and hopefully a week's walking in the dolomites will help get chilled out and fit too.

Simon's Paddy Buckley exposed my lack of climbing fitness as i struggled with the pace on leg 3, although he was flying along. I do need to step it up, and perhaps developments at work and some light noghts will allow for that....

Next race - The Beast, Maeshafn and the Deestriders race 2 next week....another race week...


IMAGE: Me getting a spot prize! (Photo Pete Douglas)

Week eleven - 28/6/09: Moel y Gamelin Loop

Distance - 9.5 miles
Ascent - 2350'

My time - 1:37:02
Position - xx/xx (xx%)

What was it like?

It was seriously hot. Both times i've done this race it's been scorching. Good news is that was was just over 1 min quicker than i was in 2006 and i remember thinking that day that i'd run well. Bad news is that i just didn't feel fast at any point, but i did rally towards the end.

Think maybe my race head needs some work. I ran well but let people pass me and get away, although i did pass someone towards the end as i seemed to descend quite well. Next race i got to work harder and empty the tank. Only then i'll see how fit i really am....

Route HERE

Next race - week 12, Hotfoot up Famau, Weds 1 July, short, sharp, steep....

Week Ten - 17/6/09 and 19/6/09: Two this week....the Druid and the Tattenhall Tough Team

Race 1 - The Druid

Distance - 5 miles
Ascent - 1250'

My time - 41:18
Position - 34/84 (40%)

What was it like?

I love this race, and the series it kick-starts. It's a real marker for me that summer is here. I love the low key atmosphere, the course, the fact that race HQ is a van in a pub car park and it costs three quid on the night....the joys of fellrunning.

Didn't have a great run, but better perhaps than the castles. Just not running with much confidence. Started ok, paused to tie my laces and couldn;t get going again. Felt like there was no speed but had a strong finish. I have started training regularly again so perhaps this was an early sign of my body responding. Need my mind to catch up.

Race 2 - The Tattenhall Tough Team Race

Distance - 8.6 miles
Ascent - @ 700'

My time - 1:08:18
Position - 7th team from 63, (11%)

What was it like?

Nick, Paul and I had a lovely run and it was the best i;ve run for weeks. Nick and Paul and both just a little stronger than me which only really showed itself in the last flat mile but i ran fast and well and held off a fast team of Liz, Sara and Andy. I enjoyed it, remarkable having had arguably one of the worst days at work of my career. I was pre-occupied and tense but ran well on a stunning and fun evening.

Who knows....maybe this racing and training is paying off....

Week Nine - 13/6/09: Welsh Castles Relay Leg 3, Cricceth to Maentwrog - hot and slow

Distance - 12.3 miles
Ascent - About 700', all on road

My time - 1:34:55
Position - 49/57 (85% - probably the worst i'll do all year)

What was it like?

Boy that was hard. I'm clearly not really running too well, there was no speed in my legs at all. It was a hot day with no breeze and no shade. A brutal hill to finish and a high class field as is usual in the castles.

Perhaps it was a result of tiredness after supporting Dave's BG last week? I just don't know. But it was quite possible one of the worst races I've ever done, just one of those days. It got so bad i couldn't run 8 min/mile on the flat. The heat was horrendous. I ended up counting paces just to keep going and focussing on not feeling crap.

Oddly, the hill, both up and down which comes at the end of the race was ok, perhaps showing that my speed is, well, not up to speed. It's clear where i need to focus, and quick...

Still, least i had some compensation at the end....thanks guys...

Week Eight- 4/6/09: Deestriders Multi-Terrain series Race One - The need for speed

Distance - 5 miles
Ascent - Trace amount - some short sharp little hills

My time - 32:49
Position - 27/82 (22%)

What was it like?

Fast. And right now, I don't really do fast. I arrived back from France after not much sleep and turned up without much mental prep for this - a 'just get round' job. It was a lovely race, nice and low key. The sun was out and the trail race was on an interesting course, especially for a contrived course amongst copses and fields within industrial Deeside.

I found that I liked running hard and fast, despite the fact i've done very little speedwork. I was well rested and felt ok, although i reckon that rich French food took it's toll and I'd added a pound or two... This race is part of a 4 race series (9th July, 6th August, 4th September) run on the same course so a good chance to track my fitness.

This was a very handy race in the pursuit of one per week as I supported Dave Sykes' amazing Bob Graham at the weekend and I was thankful for being fit for that.

Next race: Leg three of the Welsh Castles next weekend. Oh no, road racing....

Week Seven - 25/5/09: Mynydd Myfyr hill run - Tired, sore, hot, slow, rubbish

Distance - 4 miles
Ascent - 500'

My time - 30:12
Position - ? about halfway

What was it like?

This was a race I would have loved if I hadn't have done the mighty Carneddau the day before. It was a pleasant, low key trail race with a little bit of mixed ground which would be right up my street. I reckon I could get in the top ten on a good day here - today I'm not sure I was in the top half.

I tried, but it was sore going and i instantly got a headache from the start, so it was not going to be one of those days when you get away with it. Moel Famau last Monday, 6 railways last Tuesday, a very tough track session on Weds and a trail run on Thursday as well as the big race yesterday meant i never stood a chance today.

Still, that's this week's race done so I can go to France knowing the race a week plan is still on.

Next stop Deestriders trail race on 4th June - the same day as i'm back from France before heading off to do Dave's Bob Graham - the overnight leg 3...