Once More Unto The Breach

Back up to Snowdonia again. This time for the real thing. No more training recce's. This is it. The forecast is still holding. tomorrow looks to be cooler than today and I'd be happy with that. I'm not the greatest hot weather runner. That should really read, I struggle even more when it's hot. Who really knows though?

I'm all packed. Got that job out the way early so I've been able to chill this afternoon. It's been nice to just sit in the garden and do nothing. Made some pesto pasta for lunch, using some of the mass of basil I have growing. Think I might have slightly over done the garlic though.

Now it's just the little task of driving north, Welsh 1000s here I come...

Not Quite All Set

But I'm getting there. My plans are all made. In my head, at least. My race game plan is decided - don't go at it too hard to soon - ooh, sssh, no, stop it. I'm thinking of saving myself for the jog down from Snowdon after the finish! Right now it's just a case of making sure I pack everything I might need and then chilling. Shouldn't be too big a problem, I've got all day tomorrow to get ready - yes, day off - back of the net. I'm looking to head up in the evening to get there 9:30-10:00 and then register Saturday morning before the race rather than Friday night. I'm still feeling positive. The forecast is looking acceptable. Almost more than acceptable. Never say never with mountain weather - ooh, that rhymes. Think that I've found my catch phrase!

It will be so ace if the weather holds... but remember, never say never with mountain weather.....

Easing Along

A three day week... Bank holiday and a day off Friday - result. Chilling from hence forth. It was an easy 90 minutes on the static bike tonight - you won't see me getting drenched in this lovely summer weather. I'm all set for the big one on Saturday. My kit is all but checked. I know where I'm going. I know where I've been - but I'm not tellin'. Twenty miles doesn't hold any fear for me. As Barney would say, it's going to be Legen.. wait for it, wait for it, ... dary....

Settled That Quickly

The question, speed session and then ease back or skip straight to the easing back?... Yep, I think we all know which option I went with in light of this lovely early summer weather. To be honest I'm hoping the rains keep on coming until, say, Friday morning, then would be a bloody good time for it to bugger orf for a few days.

I've decided I'm going to head up to Snowdonia early Friday evening and go for registration early Saturday before the bus leaves for the start at 8:00. That gives me all day to plan and pack my kit, read all the rules and regulations and generally ease myself towards the torture I'm going to put myself through. With regard to said torture, I've given myself a nice surprise. I've just realised the race is actually only 20 miles not 25 - result and with only 8,000 feet of ascent it really be that much worse that last weekend. I'm well up for it now. I'm not going to be quick but come on, only 20 miles? The Mad Runner laughs in the face of a mere 20 miles. That said you do still have to run down from Snowdon after he finish and that's a few miles but I can take my time over that. Still, I'm well ready for it now. The Mad Runner Rebooted is on the come back trail....

Time To Rest

My arms are aching almost more than my legs today from all that scrambling over Ugain and Crib Goch. You don't realise at the time how strenuous lowering yourself down with your hands and arms can be - and there was a fair amount yesterday. I'm never particularly happy when you have to hold on with your hands with both feet free from the surface, like you're playing at being a gymnast on the parallel bars - only at the top of a mountain. There's always that 'shit, do I need to lower myself just a little bit more than my arms will allow before my feet touch back to terra-firma' moment. Then of course there are those twister moments where you need to put you right foot where you left hand is to be able to make the next move. Yes, I guess that's why my arms are aching...

With just five days till the first big one I need to make sure I am fully rested. And so it's been a day of rest which started with a bloody good lie in - 10am, result. Then I had a bit of a potter in the garden. A spot of baking in the afternoon before a bit of a fry up for tea - healthy? Well not actually that unhealthy. Oven chips with veggie sausages accompanied by red onions and peppers lightly fried with fresh chilli, sage, parsley (from the garden) and garlic (not from the garden), a fried egg and my homemade pickled red cabbage. My portion size went a bit wrong though...


And now it's operation feet up watching Sky Fall and the then The Tourist. Film fest. Just what the doctor ordered. Up tomorrow, do I squeeze in Chepstow training and then rest or should I been into light training only? I guess I'll see how things feel tomorrow...

Wam Bam Thank You Snowdonia

My tour of Wales completed in 30 hours. I set out from home at eleven am for the Cwmdu Fell Race and just got back at five pm today. A bit of a whirl wind and I do officially declare my legs broken - not actually broken but I think they might require some sort of resuscitation.

It was bloody marvellous up in Snowdonia. I arrived by about 8pm to the most fantastic evening sunshine and this morning was even better. As I drew back the curtains - yes, the van has curtains - there was not a cloud in the sky (except that fluffy white stuff hanging over Llywedd). Snowdon - once she came into view - was probably the most spectacular I've ever seen her.

Anyway, I set off just before eight and jogged along the road and up to Pen-y-Pass. To say the mountain was busy was an understatement. Even at such a relatively early hour there were hundreds of people out there for me to hunt down and pass. I didn't actually go over Snowdon today, climbing the Pyg Track to the top but turning right to Ugain rather than left to Snowdon. The most surprising thing was that I reached there just after nine and as I was on the last stages of the Pyg track walkers were already on their way down! What time did they get up!

So I headed over Ugain - and what a leg wobbler that was. I wasn't expecting there to be so much possibility of instant death from one slip of the foot. I really don't like heights and there were one or two points when I was hugging the rock face. After pooing my pants once or twice it was time to go up Crib Goch. Cue more pooing of pants. I didn't go over the ridge you only need to get to the summit and then back-track to the col before dropping down to Lyn Glas. I think I had an okay line down and making a mental snapshot of what I saw I think I will follow the same route in the race.

By the time I eventually got down from CG my legs were fair trashed. Having already ascended 3,000 feet up I have pretty much the same straight down and my legs were paying for yesterdays race. The jog down the road and then up to Glyder Fawr was enough. That climb was pretty close to 3,000 feet without respite. From the road to GF is pretty much just goes up and then up some more.

I decided to miss Tryfan. As I got to Glyder Fach, in the heat of the day gnawing at my reserves, I called it a day and dropped down to the Miners Track as directly as I could and then followed that down - and that wasn't easy. It was a rough old track, all several thousand feet of descent. It's surprising how hard going down hill can be sometimes.

All in all been a good couple of days. A 10 mile race and 3,000 feet of ascent and then 15 miles today with 6,000 feet of ascent. That's close to the highest ratio of distance to ascent I think I've ever done - bearing in mind that the last three miles were all down hill so the ascent was racked up in just 12 miles. I think I might sleep well tonight.....

Finally...

Been a good day. I didn't run too shit in today's Cwmdu Fell Race. I was round the 10 miles with its 3000 feet of ascent in 1 hour 38 minutes. Now I know that sounds a long time but it was a little mountainous... It was good enough for 20th place and I'm happy with that.

Then after a bit of lingering I hopped in the van for the journey north to Snowdonia. I took a bit of a scenic route to make the most of the spring sunshine - that was a bit of a novelty - the sunshine not the scenic route. I finally arrived and found my spot just gone half seven, cooked supper - yum - and now it's time to sit and watch the sun go down...

Up tomorrow is the Goch, Crib Goch - although I'm not going all the way - matron. I've a 25k route planned with 6000ft of ascent - I like to mix my units. All being well that'll be the Vegan Welsh 3000s fully reccied.

Just A Quickie

Hopefully I will have live tracking on the blog page (second tab at the top) today and tomorrow - subject to it not turning itself off!

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...