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...

Week Six- 24/5/09: Carneddau fell race. Hot and tough

[Photos c/o Alistair Tye]

Distance - 9 miles
Ascent - 4000'
Route - HERE


My time - 2:18:53
Position - 30/59 (52%)

What was it like?

It was a lovely, difficult, classic fellrace. 9 miles, tough climbs, long descents, a sting in the tail and some terrific scenery - all of which is to be expected in a race containing three 3000 foot peaks. It was a beautiful day with perfect conditions although the increasing heat meant a fast start would have been unwise.

This is just as well because I got a shocking start. I was pushing it to arrive on time and was preoccupied. I left the house in reasonable time, although I felt I was pushing it a little. THe A55 was slow with holiday traffic and i was really stressing out in the car. Also needed the loo desperately! A quick pit stop near Bangor and a fast drive to the start, a hurried registration and a walk to the start line and I was really mad with myself. When I got to the start, I realised I'd forgotten my skins calf-compression thingys, which do help me quite a lot. I need to prepare better for these things...

After a delay for another late arrival, the race started with a long climb out of the intruiging outskirts of Bethesda, a town seemingly clinging to the fellside and which seems to stop very suddenly, so one moment you're in a residential backstreet that almost could be anywhere and the next you're amongst the wild fells - no transition. The climb up Carnedd Daffyd is tough - 3000' straight up and not always on good ground. I was very slow. Couldn't get going and slipped down and down through the field. I was really feeling tired from a tough week of training, including a brutal return to the track after 6 months. Calves were screaming. Couldn't breathe too well. The virus that plagued me at Glaramara last week and that I've been having trouble shaking off was hanging on - so today was kill or cure... If felt like kill for the first half an hour.

As the view opened up and the breeze picked up I started to improve. The calves had warmed up and stopped hurting and my breathing seemed to have settled down. I started picking up places on top of Daffyd and caught the group of Eryri runners I was chasing on the climb up lofty Llewelyn. Snot count was getting lower - so it was either cure or dehydration!

I got into a battle with a strong looking lad and we were nip and tuck from about halfway. This woke me up a bit. He was a stronger climber but I passed him on the downs and flats. He did his ankle on the last descent which warned me a bit about the ground. I backed up a bit and cruised home and my race was done.

Nice to have got it finished and boy it was hot, but I'm annoyed that I don't seem to be performing too well. I think I'm in that zone where you increase the training and don't get the benefit until you've been through an adjusting, tired phase. We'll see...

Week seven starts tomorrow, and that's when week seven's race is going to be. I'm off to France to a wedding on Thursday and am supporting a BG in 2 weeks, before doing the Welsh Castles Relay the week after that, so it'll be a bitty few weeks of racing and training. Hopefully, next time I get on the fells proper i'll race well. That's the aim...

Week Five - 17/5/09: Glaramara Fell Race. Short and sweet...

Distance - 5 miles
Ascent - 2100'
Route - straight up and down again from Borrowdale

My time - 70 mins - ish
Position - 33/60 (55%) - not so good....but have list of excuses (sniff...)


PHOTO: Glaramara from the start (summit at very back on the left...)

What was it like?

Lovely! Really needed that.

Not a great run though. I lost a contact lens at the start, which meant descending was virtually impossible at pace. Also, am not too well and full of cold and completely lost my voice. Also wore some old shoes and realised that they need to be consigned to training runs only - no grip at all. So all in all, lots of excuses for a poor run, and a poor race it was from a performance point of view. Truth is, i was in 2nd gear all the way - having a cold means you never really get going.

But i loved it. Lots of stuff in my head (including plenty of snot) and I needed a reason to get away. I'm quite proud of the fact that I drove so far to ensure i maintained my race per week plan!

The view north (see photo) was just stunning too - and even better, i missed the rain by 10 mins!

I also enjoyed the atmosphere of this small race - nice people, lots of chatter (I didn;t know anyone but lots of friendly faces) and a chance to enjoy the sport. Races like this are the true grass roots - seeing the elite (Rob Jebb won) and the likes of me sharing a post race brew with families, dogs, organisers and locals.

I hope a few more like this feature in my race per week journey. It's been a tough few days and weeks, so i need to reconnect to my roots - something that races like this in the Lakes (nowhere else compares for me) can do...

[Next week it's a return to the Carneddau - the Carneddau fellrace - 9M, 4000' ascent/descent - hope the weather is better than Foel Fras which is about 2 miles away from this...]

Week Four - 9/5/09: Foel Fras. Brrrr...!

Distance - 13.5 miles
Ascent - 3200'
Route HERE


My time - 2:30:12
Position - 33/84 (39%) - lots of non finishers, about a quarter of the field!

What was it like?

It was wet and cold, well for half an hour it was. And that was enough to make it something of an epic. Whilst a spring day greeted us in the valley, with some light showers and blue patches causing all sorts of wardrobe faffs before the race was started, the tops were a hideous place to be. Not that we knew...


Setting off from Aber up that steep and horrible tarmac was OK, but as we rapidly gained height to Drum, it was clear that the freezing gales and driving rain were not going to make it easy. Nick Holmes was pushing me hard and passed me on the desperate climb up Foel Fras when i was sticking a gel in as the conditions got worse and worse. My pertex kept some of the rain out, but not the cold.

I decided to try and hang on to Nick by keeping him in sight. As we topped out on Foel Fras, the wind was just horrendous and the run to Carnedd Uchaf was straight into the teeth of the gale. Now I can usually do tough conditions but i felt awful as I ran. My eyelids were swelling up and I felt faint. I kept going and wondered if there was something wrong with me. Uchaf, and a man with a camera awaited (see photos!).

I must confess that I herded a bit. A look at the map before I started showed that I needed to take a 300 degree bearing from Uchaf to take the best line off. I knew it might be misty and that it is confusing up there but i followed a local Eryri vest instead of navigating. Before long, i met with Nick and a group of a dozen lost looking runners. I realised my stupidity and took out the compass and ran on my bearing, aiming slightly left of that so we would get back on line. I felt like the Pied Piper as the group followed and didn't overtake. I didn't mind but thought that they would all pass me as soon as we were back on line. We plodded on and stopped a couple of times to check the line as we plodded around Drosgyl on the wrong side of the ridge before getting back on line below Wnion.

Most people had given up racing then and were just getting around, but Nick and I were still racing each other and I was still feeling good - better than at the start actually. I decided to push hard and race some people I could see ahead. This was great as we were now below the cloud base and the way was clear. Much like the three peaks, my late race stamina was good and I made up three more places and held off a few challenges to finish strongly.

All in all, I loved it. It wasn't a good time because of the detour, but fellracing is not just about fitness and strength. It's about toughing it out when sometimes when it's grim. I'm annoyed I got lost, but it does happen to everyone. When i heard about some really fit and fast guys going 180 degrees the wrong way and sacking the race, i know that it was a day to write off to experience and to use as progress towards getting fitter and stronger. Interestingly, at least 3 others (including Nick) said they felt iffy and couldn't see during the nasty headwind at the top - quite odd as all were experienced fellrunners...

I'm keeping my eye on Nick though, he'll be out for revenge....

(Photos care of Alistair Tye)

Week Three - 29/4/09: Wrexham Borders League road race

Distance - 4 miles
Ascent - n/a (road race)

My time - 25:34
Position - 130/270 (47%)

What was it like?

It was everything I hate.

Short

Road

Evening race

On tired legs from the three peaks

All the things that I hate. This was putting one in for the team - with Tattenhall Runners needing me to run and count, even though I was well off the pace and feeling heavy legged.

In all honesty, once the pressure of racing was off, it was good to have a bit of a run out and see how I was. The post run grub was especially good whilst the results were being calculated.

One to score in the mission to race every week, but nothing more than that. Confirmation, not that it was needed, that I belong on the fells and take time to get going. 4 miles is far far too short!

Route HERE

Week Two - 25/4/09: Yorkshire 3 Peaks

Distance - 24 miles
Ascent - 5000 feet

My time - 4:14:53
Position - 218/689 (31%)

What was it like?

My favourite race has lost none of its charm despite swollen numbers - a feat the organisers should be congratulated for. I love the three peaks - partially because it's a grand old race over a fine course with lots of support and atmosphere, and partially because this part of Yorkshire is where it all started for me. This was the setting for a fateful Easter weekend in 1987 aged 14 with Venture Scouts which introduced me to the hills and started this lifelong love affair. I remember seeing Penyghent for the first time after coming over Fountains Fell and being amazed that Britain had places like this (I am a city, council estate lad all told).

This part of the world means a lot to me.

That's all fine and dandy, but this course does not provide sentiment - if you're not fit, it'll find you out! This was my preoccupation on a warm Saturday morning as I drive from Ingleton Youth Hostel to the start. Usually, I'm very prepared for this. Two years ago, I ran a fantastic race as part of my Bob Graham Round preparation and clocked 3:53. For an honest midpacker like me, that's a fine time. My previous outings were 4:17 and 4:46 and I hoped to get something around 4:30 - a respectable time.



(Photo purchased from Sleepmonsters - legally incase anyone wonders)

I did not start well. I was nervous, lungs were screming on the way up Penyghent. I was already 5 mins slower up there than I was 2 years ago and feared a grind...

Oddly, once Penyghent was out the way, I rallied. Each step almost seemed easier than the last and I started passing people. Save for the climb up Whernside where I took on gels and drinks and faffed a bit, I passed people all day. I made up 139 places from the summit of Whernside until the end, including a very satisfying 28 on the last long decent from Ingleborough. Amazingly, my splits for the ascent and descent of Ingleborough was as quick as my terrific run two years ago - stamina does not seem to be a problem.

Often, that final descent from Ingleborough results in cramped calves as tired runners try and pick their way through that uneven limestone (see image above of me descending towards the end with Penyghent of recent memory in the distance). It's a 6 mile descent that can make or break your race, and I have had some tough times here in the past. Fearing this with a currently low level of fitness, I decided to buy some Skins calf stockings which look a bit silly but they didn't half do the trick as i sped down to the finish. The new Innovate Rocklite 315s also showed themselves to be the perfect PPP shoe, with both grip for the fells and cushioning for the trails.

Given the lack of training, I was delighted with my time and run. It was my second fastest run on this course. Only my pre-BGR fitness has provided a faster run and I was training every day then and running well. This run was good going off 2 runs a week.

Perhaps this course likes me as much as I like it - some sentiment there after all?!

Week One - 18/4/09: Moelwyn 3 peaks

Distance - 10.5 miles
Ascent - 2800 feet

My time - 1:46:37
Position - 47/106 (44%)

What was it like?

Sunny sunny sunny and just gorgeous. My first race for months after a few months of very little running. What a gorgeous return to racing. And what a great race! Has a bit of everything - grassy bits, steep rocky bits, hard path and trial and some simply gorgeous scenery. I loved this race - the weather helped though...

Steve and Sarah ran from Tattenhall and both beat me on the day - couple of mins ahead. Given the lack of training, i was quite pleased to be anywhere near them to be honest.

One amazing feature of this race was the amount of photographers on the course! There's nothing worse than having to straighten yourself up and puff your chest out for the camera when you're knackered.

So, a return to racing and a fantastic new experience for me in the stunning Snowdonia mountains.

I didn't do this race to fly or compete. Nor was it consciously the start of a mission to race each week. I just wanted to come back and see how I was getting on.

What I learned was that I really missed it and was glad to be back.

(Photos care of Alistair Tye)