Sarnhelen hill race

Scorching hot day on the cards it was always going to be a tough event. 16.5 miles little knowledge of the route and a strong field of local runners. Started off a steady pace and hit the gears when we approached the hills and reached 3rd position. Once we climbed the scenery was out of the world with views reaching down to Brecon and beyond. The road switched to single track, trail and rock with a selection of quirky twists and turns. Never sticking to the same track was refreshing and kept all the athletes on their toes ready for the next turn. 8 miles in and running with Glyn we approached a monster 1 mile climb. Climbing like a goat I put 200m on him on the top and pushed home from this point. Long decent to llanfair was a tough stage with the knees taken a pounding. The climbing continued after a short break with a long climb up into long wood, strong climb I'd given myself a nice lead on 4th. With 3 miles left the legs and calfs were tight and heavy but no sign of competition I was able to enjoy the finish into Lampeter. Finished 1h 58. 40 sec ahead of 4th, 8 min down on 1st and 2nd.Drink stops were plenty with 2 cups of water being drunk at each station, along with 2 gels. Superb day with a stunning course.

Cwrtnewydd 4 mile

Local run which always manages to gather a strong field of runners. Another nice day sun out I pushed a hard pace from the start and held onto 2nd, managed a pb and a strong run.

Llandow crit

Made more of an effort this time around with a few turns on the front of the bunch before a group finish, my legs leaving me a little slower in 11th.

Teifi 10

Welsh champ event the field quickly gathered and showing some fast runners. A steady run with mike until 8 miles then put the hammer down to a fast finish in just over an hour. Beaten by a 70 year old who happened to set a world record fastest time, 4 minutes quicker than my young legs. Painful

Ras gwyl Dewi

A local run which is 10k in length and looks easier on the maps than on the legs. An open field of mainly local runners the weather was against us a little with the strong winds. A group of 4 of us took off and settled to a easy pace, 3 k gone it was still easy so put the hammer down to get a little bit of excitement going. Turned at the 5k point in the front 2 but was struggling to increase the pace. Dropped to 2nd and with 1k to go I was happy to take the runner position. Leader gave me a glom our of hope when he strolled to the finish and having made up ground I failed to push enough to take the win. 36min in those conditions was a gd result and gets me ready for nxt weeks duathlon in pembs.

Llandow winter Crit

With the Wife down the Rugby in Cardiff and leaving me with a Sunday free to sort the house out, I decide last minute to grab the new bike, hitch a lift and attend the first race of the cycling calendar down at Llandow. As you do.

Arrived with the sole objective of finishing and finishing with out a scratch on the new bike. With only a handfull of miles on the wheels It was a case of tweeking. New seat height and length adjustment and new Cleats the night before was always going to be a worry but fear not great day of cycling.

Entered the 4th Cat and the 2/3/4 race. 50-60 in each race a lot of concentration was needed with 2 narrowing turns to slow the pelaton, and 2 long stretches to catch up with the group. Seated at the back of the group proved to be a big mistake with a lot of ground having to be made up to the front of the pack after each corner. (Note for the next race)

Finished comfortably in the pack, bored with the limited attacks.

With the second race starting as we finished I was dropped from the front group early on and settled to a 2nd group which was working well and catching the front runners. Put in a big push on the front and failed to hang on to the next chase and dropped in no man's land. Good few laps on a solo TT I puled out 2 laps from the end as the front runners where catching my wheel. Watched them finish with young Steve winning with a emphatic solo breakaway.  Top Day.

Team Pursuit 2013

Always a tricky race, the first outing of the season and the a true measure of the power of Mince pies. Doubt over the race due to the huge snow falls in crymych over the last few days but with a big thaw over the last 24hours it was go go go. Solid team again for Sarn Helen even with a stand by coming in last minute which still manage to hold on to our title of fastest team, and with myself the 3rd fastest and 1st out of our Team a very good day it turned out to be. The course suiting my ability with a downhill start to stretch and clear the legs and a hilly finish.

Brilliant Kit bag for the Win which will be used on my Ski trip to Chatel. Missing the Tregaron Half in the process.