Monday, 26 July 2010

Ras rhyngwladol y Wyddfa 2010




Y diwrnod mawr, finally I'd managed to start this race after years of nearly's. The atmosphere was fantastic with large crowds, international runners and not forgetting the Kenyan who only arrived in the country 12 hours before the start of the race. Felt fit and ready, the race was started by the current record holder Kenny Stuart. 500 athletes began up the mountain and into the rain and mist. A steady start saw us hit the first hill which was a little steep to say the least, didn't expect it at all but flew up felling good. Once we hit the trail i was in the top 40 and holding on to first lady, struggling to keep up with her climbing ability i quickly set a rhythm which i was comfortable with. I hadn't been on the course since i was a kid and struggled, had no idea of the distances of each climb or how long left to the top having stopped my watch after 15min's, muh! Kept with a group of runners from half way up and quickly up the pace when i saw that we were close to the top. I peaked before the train got to the top which allowed me to run down the train line for 400m instead of the footpath, and classed me as an elite athlete. (Peak 57.11). The downhill was fantastic and loved every minute! No incidents, passed loads of people, even 6 on the last mile. Flying!! Looking back on the results it's hard to believe that any one could go any faster, ha. Ran into Llanberis with a camera tracking every stride and to a massive cheer from the crowd. 1h 27min 25sec. What next ?

Friday, 16 July 2010

Hafod Estate 150th Anniversary race


15th July 2010

Celebration of Welsh athletics 6mile trail run around the Hafod estate, Free Entry!

Superb location but a little damp and windy, a field of 63 came out of nowhere to start 40mins later than planned. The front group got lost on the first corner which didnt bode well, lucky for me i passed them all and held 1st place for the first mile. Remembering my previous races and having learnt some valuable lessons, running hard from the start is not a good idea if you cant keep it up, so i quickly slowed down and joined the heels of Dafros and Mike. Once the trail left the forest roads we hit the single trails through the woods which were my kind of running, loved every second. Kept with the same guys until a mile from the end, last hill i passed them both and flew down the final paths to finish in 4th position. Superb run against good opposition, pleased. 44.45min. If Dic sorts his organising out this race could gather large crowds, race of the year so far. Mega!!

Thursday, 15 July 2010

Foel Fras Fell 2010




This was a silly idea, bit over eager to attend this to collect points for the welsh champs. Cant remember how long but close to 12 miles, felt like the first 11.5miles were uphill. Not fit and football dinner night on the thursday, blistering start in 2nd place for the first 2 miles then good night, lost all control of legs for the next 2 hours. Poor race. Not even going to give a result, diflas.


London Dockland swim 2010

3rd July 2010 , London docks.

1.5k swim up and down London docks, water was clean and atmosphere was awesome. Definite a race next year and to hammer that swim time. 31min. Good weekend capped off with Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, Jay Z!! Happy days.

Felinfach 6mile

A testing 6mile with a few hills to burn the legs. finishing 12th 35.49. Kept with Daf and Ed(doc) for the first 7 miles but then ran out of steam with a painfull jog to the finish. Chuffed with the time, get back in training boio.

Cerist Triathlon 2010

The Big Race, local pride up for grabs. Poor run up of training resulted in a ok day in the end. Superb weather with a hint of a brezze as over 100 entries got ready for the pool, 7.50 swim my slowest in 2 years, ouch. Bike was competitive but a poor run cost me a podium place. Slower than last year by 1 min. Back on the podium next year a must.
1h 1min 16sec

Saturday, 5 June 2010

Cader Idris Fell 2010


A real peach of a race, a definite on the calender this year and a race which i was hoping to knock a fair few minutes off last years time of 1h 55m. Arrived with Daf and James how were competing for the first time and a quick glance around the car park soon got the heart racing and kick start the adrenaline tank. Had 1 running session in 6 weeks prior to the race as i had broken a rib whilst playing football AGAIN. Running and football are just not meant to be. I had no idea how topace myself in the race and thought just keep a top 20 pace and hang on. Did ok until Ty nant where the climbing began and really felt the legs empty. Luckly i didnt loose that many positions with a quick walk and reached the top on Butch's heels. Followed each other down to the ridge where the calfs cramped up when hitting the flat and had to stop to stretch and fuel up on a Gel. Had a blast down to Ty nant then a steady run down to the finish picking off the 2nd lady on the last stretch. Finished 26th overall, 1h 46min, 10 min quicker than last year. Butch finished 1h 44 and daf was 7 seconds behind me on his first ever run up a mountain let alone a Fell race, HERO!
Hopefully injury free and a few races before Snowdon will see me with a top 30. Foel Fras next weekend.