Cerist Triathlon club Aquathlon series

3rd Overall in series

Sarn Helen 6mile Felinfach

6 mile Sarn helen Race 26th June 09. Perfect summers night running, a strong field of 59 entered this local event in Felinfach primary school. A very fast start saw me chasing for the first mile but then decided to hold back as the kids in the front where quite handy. Let 3 pass me then kept a steady pace. Got my legs back close to the finish but failed short of gaining any more positions. Nice up and down road race which started at the school to talsarn then loop round to abermeurig before heading back to the school. 9th 35m 40sec.

Cerist Triathlon 2009

3rd Open Male

Moel Hebog 2009

A mountain in which I've always looked up to as my family come from the Beddgelert area. My 2nd fell event, which was completely different to cader idris 2 weeks before. The weather was "blue sky" but luckily not baking hot. A large field of 55 started at 1.30pm behind the Royal Goat hotel. A nice single track climb until the 3/4 point where the hands had to come out, very exciting climbing from this point until close to the summit. Coming down was not to funny, the stones where loose and the mountain was steep, so took it easy. The single track was enjoyable on the way down as the ground was solid and plenty of grip. Once the single track finished a short 1k sprint to the finish line, finished me in 10th.

Cader Idris Fell race 2009

My first fell race, and preparation for my attempt on Snowdonia in august. My practice included running the mountain 4 times prior to the race and some general flat running and my weekly cycling with Ystwyth TT.
Turned up in Dolgellau and the weather was really exhausting whilst walking about to registration. Start was at 1.00pm, temp around 26 C. 10.5 Miles start from town centre Dolgellau including 2927ft of climbing. First climb was out of Dolgellau on the tarmac road, turning off after 1.5k onto a single path circulating the lake, through a very wet section before arriving at Cader idris national park car park/toilets. Feeling good at this point, run was steady to this section and holding a top 20 position. From this point the climb begins, once I hit the 1.5k of steps the calves just gave up. With the heat and the thought of climb just beginning it wasn’t looking good. From this point to the ridge I somehow managed to walk with quick tempo and with my old man there with a bottle of sports juice, things started to change. I felt I was well short of hydration and should really have looked at this before the race, stupid boy. After a quick break and some cold fluids I failed to lose a position on the way to the summit. The summit was a welcome sight and once I touch the top the run down was great fun, with only 4 passing me. Coming into the National park car park and the flat road the legs went into wobbly mode!!! 3k to go before the finish and the legs where gone, I was doing well not to fall over. I walked a lot of the single track around the lake but once I hit the tarmac I put on a little push and kept with the man in front, took him on the last corner in the town and crossed the finish to a surprisingly large crowd. PAIN. Finished 50th with a time of 1.55.01. Definitely one of the hardest racing I had ever done, but a quick paddle in the river with Archies floater and I was already looking forward to next year’s race and snowdonia.