The Plan Is Set

The forecast for Saturday and Sunday look similar. It's always going to be a bit of a gamble but because it's bloody freezing today I'm thinking it can't get any colder for tomorrow or Sunday can it? So I've decided I'm going to head up to Snowdonia tomorrow afternoon after I kick ass in the Cwmdu Fell - okay, there won't really be ass kicking, well, not by me anyway. Cwmdu is a replacement for the Myndd Troed fell race. Covering much of the same route but starting and finishing, funnily enough, at Cwmdu and only going up Myndd Troed once. At ten miles and 3,000 feet of ascent it'll be a good test.

This is pretty much my last chance to recce the route off Crib Goch for the Welsh 3000s before the race. I'm planning to head up the Pyg Track, over Ugain and to the summit of Crib Goch. Then I'll retrace my steps to Bwlch Coch and down....... Then it'll be a case of finding a way down to the road before heading up to Glyder Fawr, across to Glyder Fach and back down. I might throw in a loop of Tryfan down the scree from GF but I'll see how I feel at the time.

The Rise

And so it continues. I once again left the comfort of the sofa far far behind as I made the arduous journey to Chepstow for more training. I'm not really too concerned about quality at the moment. Right now I am happy to muster for a bit of quantity. It's all about getting out the door. Third day in row. Barely believable, I know, but true. After a long time falling comes the rise....

Does it Get Any Better Than This?

Not only did I manage to haul my ass out of the office for a lunch run with Martin but after a whopping eight months, only five late, Morgan 'We Couldn't Organise A Piss Up At A Brewery' Sindall have finally finished digging up the A40 at Huntley. Halle-bloody-lujah. Now I say finished but there still looks to be some finishing off going on at the side of the road but so long as they keep the f*(& off my road I don't mind how long they take to complete - and by their standards it could be another two months.... So I think I've probably just about hit the pinnacle. Not sure I there can be anything better for me to look forward to now - I'm kidding. Or am I?

So anyway, I managed some more training today. It wasn't the greatest but my legs felt a bit weak after yesterday. I'm just pleased I got out and if I can gather my strength of will I will be heading down to Chepstow for training tomorrow night. Will the miracle continue? Tune in tomorrow.......

I Actually Made It!

Yes, I can't believe it either!!! I gathered my kit together the night before so I had no excuses today. Nor did I need an excuse. I got home in good time. Watched a bit of Neighbours - as you do. I now but I can't help it and apparantly there's no cure but I digress. I bid the cat farewell, doffed my cap and then headed down to Chepstow for the LCL race - that's Leisure Centre League for those not in the know - and that includes me.

I knew it would be tough tonight but it exceeded expectation. The old me would have thought it was a good course. Less than the regulation 10k, weighing in at 8.8km but it was decently hilly, including an uphill finish.... The new me thought it was shit and it had a f$(%ing uphill finish. Only joking - or am I? No, I am...

Anyway, I set off way, way, way back in the field - and it was a BIG field - I wasn't expecting that! Infact, I was so far back I was practically in next weeks race.

The first kilometre saw me taking things easy on the downhill section. I wanted to ease myself into it having not raced on the road for who knows how long. Then into the first climb I made my move and started edging through the field as my speed remained constant while those around me slowed. Me? I'm a one pace donkey these days. Ahead, dead slow...

After a few more kilometres the gains slowed but I kept plugging away. As we hit the final climb I was beginning to struggle. I wasn't going fast, averaging just 4mins 29s per kilometre, but that, it appears, is as fast as I go these days. It wasn't all bad though. I managed to force myself beyond the limit on the first section of that final climb to gain a couple of places and then had to stop for a spot of puking - they over took me - doh! I got going again and managed to keep myself just the right side of vomit this time - until the finish, but that's allowed - and more importantly managed to get back those two places. Probably made sh!t all difference to the club result but the fact I can still race hard gives me hope I've not gone soft....

I am hopeful this can be the start of a beautiful relationship with my club, Chepstow Harriers (the best club in all Wales, coincidently). One where I can get down to some regular training - get down as in travel to Chepstow as opposed to some James Brown style soul singing/dancing. Maybe I might even get a little speed in my now ancient legs- yeah, maybe not.

And you know what? Best of all? I didn't even miss the sofa tonight. That's got to be some kind of omen.....


Blimey, this blog post almost has a tinge of the old Mad Runner madness - one swallow does not a summer make but am I ever hoping to see the return of the Mad Runner........



And another thing, there seems to have been and awful lot of dot dot dotting tonight..........

Where Did My Mojo Go?

I need to train. I used to be quite good. Not great. Can't claim that but I was half okay. I want to think I will go and get slapped at tomorrow's LCL race in Chepstow. Whether I get thrashed would not be in question. What will be in question is whether I can motivate myself to rise from the sofa and go run. I am so without mojo these days. Long gone are the days I got home from work, donned my kit and headed out. I want it back....

Confidence Boost On Black Hill

In the end I decided to stay on the east of the Black Mountains today. In fact, I started so far east I set out from England - I packed my passport just in case I was stopped at the border! I parked up in the Black Hill car park. I've never run over Black Hill so thought I tick it off today. With sun block applied - yes, I actually needed sun block! In fact the weather was pretty darn tooting fantastic. There was a bit of wind - not coming from me, I hasten to add - and a few clouds but I was pretty sure it wasn't going to rain. T-shirt it was then...

For the first twenty minutes I struggled to get going. It was pretty much straight into climb and that's never the easiest. I took my time and admired the views - they were worth admiring. By the time I reached the trig it had flattened out and from there across to Hay Bluff I started to find a reasonable pace - I even managed to claim a top spot Strava, knocking the great Tom Gibb off top spot! (I'm guessing he was probably walking backwards while carrying a 40lb pack). In fact I claimed top spot on all seven climbs today - so I'm guessing it's not a popular route for runners...

It was on that section I realised something was up but not in a bad way. I'm pretty sure the Big Black Mountains Challenge must have been going down because there were hundreds of people out there and several official looking check points manned - and in some cases, womanned - by the Longtown Mountain Rescue. It appeared to be a different route to the one I followed when I did it a few years ago.

So I continued along. Over Twmpa and Rhos Dirion. I forgot how annoying that boggy bit across to Chwarel y fan is. Wasn't as bad as it could have been though - I'm thankful for small mercies. I continued along the ridge to Bal Mawr before dropping down to Llanthony and confirming my Big Black Mountains Challenge suspicions. If I'd have known I might well have done it although it would possibly have been a few miles too far at this stage on the knife edge that is my training for the Welsh 1000s.

As I the climb back up to Offa's Dyke I began to blow a little. The couple of kilometres along the top back northwards wasn't so pacey as before. Eventually it was time to head cross country, due north, and down into the Olchan Valley to pick up the footpath that would take me back to the van. The final climb out of the valley pretty much finished me off but I have to say the footpath was very well way-marked, top marks Mr Land-Owner.

The total tally was 31km and 1,100m of ascent completed in a thoroughly pleasing 3 hours and 45 minutes. Before I set out I was thinking it would take me between four and a half and five so I'm really pleased. I certainly didn't push like I was racing but neither was it a pootle. I tried pretty hard. All in all my confidence is boosted ahead of the Welsh 1000s. I'm now thoroughly convinced I can do myself justice. I'm not going to win but I'm reasonably confident that I can a) complete it and b) not claim the wooden spoon. Happy days...

Decisions, decisions

Where to run tomorrow? The Brecons forecast has improved - a lot - from that predicted mid-week. It almost looks like it could be a nice day - but I don't want to say it in case Karma kicks me where it hurts..

I had half a thought of heading to Snowdonia tonight but I feel pretty tired. By the time I'd got there, and then run wherever the heck I would have run and then driven back home I think I'd have been finished. I've decided it will be far more sensible to go for a long run in the Brecons tomorrow instead. I'm thinking over to the far west. I have an inkling that the big P will be a mite busy tomorrow if the forecast holds. Alternatively I might travel closer to home and run along Offa's Dyke on the eastern side of the Black Mountains. That would save me two hours of driving. Decisions, decisions...