Tregaron Half Marathon 16

1st. 1.17.34

Actually pretty happy with the Xmas break with steady miles every week and keeping the sessions going in Aberaeron. Having trouble with pain under the right knee cap and had a cold all week it wasn't  a record breaking day. 

Not a large field of quality so decided to take it steady before pushing to the end, keeping an eye on a good week of training. 

Gun set off it was freezing and even had to put the trusted blue t-shirt on, bitterly cold wind going out but behind us on the return.  

Was in 4th place after 1st mile, just hiding the same pace I was was 3rd after 3 miles. Passing ken there was a Neath Runner ahead who fancied his chances as it took me up until mile 7-8 before I caught him and went straight past. On the railway track I upped the pace and put in 3 miles off effort to win by nearly 2 minutes. 

Solid run where I never touched the red with the steady increase in pace. Tough course with the hills on the out leg always a surprise and a pan flat finish with one incline towards the end always a testing day. 

Team Pursuit 2016

Team Pursuit back to kick off another year in the running shoes. I enjoy the different running format of the TT start. Each runner setting off in 10 second gaps this year due to the large turn out of 250 runners. Sarn helen again the reining champions having one the team event for the last 15 years or so... but over the last few years the competition has started to gather steam and it's seems the crown will be well challenged this year. Always healthy competition around but this year the addition of Aberystwyth ac and Tenby brought some even quicker runners. I started off as the last runner which was a bit of an honour having been the quickest runner in 2015 and started off chasing some quick boys of Westcoast and aber ac. Within 1/2 mile I'd passed the Aber runner who was tying his shoe laces, next target was JC but probably a bit to quick to start chasing with a 30sec head start. Typically fast start due to the down hill start and the first hill was a tough climb to  clear the legs. But after that felt good and started picking off the other runners. Hitting halfway I was gaining on JC before the big climb up to the village. Ran the whole hill and put in a good chase to the finish to run in a time of 39.07. Few seconds shirt of last year but a new route with around 300 meters added to the start/finish. I was 2nd runner 30 sec down on the Tenby debutant who put in a gd shift. A very close decision saw us win overall by 90 seconds from Aberystwyth combining the 5 runners. Sion P putting in a great time to seal it. Me, Sion,  Ken,  Simon,  llew in the team. Nice day out with Tina supporting.

Snowdonia Marathon 2015

OpUnbelievably I was here, years of what ifs and maybes I had a last minute entry(august) from a club member to race in  this year's marathon. No previous long distance experience I was just using it as a day out and had no plans to achieve anything. My usual week would Include a 40-59 mile leg but I had 3 distinct runs leading up to the event which probably made it a suitable training and helps towards the day. 3 months and day after the entry I went out locally and ran 20 miles at 6.40 average. This made me believe a little in what I was trying to achieve and gave me confidence in my long runs. The next leg was a race over the beacons 20miler which I entered last minute to pass time as usual. Loved every second and proved to myself that I could hold my own over the distance. Few weeks later I race cardiff half marathon In 1.14. Looking back it was great preparation for a marathon. No long tireying milage and good solid speed training. Took to the day with ease and went to the start line in my bobbel hat looking to keep warm and enjoy the day. Condition were damp but the wind was quiet.

Started off steady In comparison to most starters but still a fast pace if kept up first the race. Chatting away I was latterly jogging and chatting with other runners as the pace was consistent. After penypass and the climb I was 60th overall and looking after first lady and glyn price. After turning right at the junction ready to hit the gravel road I said my goodbyes to Glyn and put the hammer down. From here the race head was on and I was determined to at least put an effort in. From nant GWYNANT i started recalling off some fast guys and this got me motivated. Coming into Beddgelert I came across Aber ac shelly child's,  from no where, stone wall in cover a runner quickly hurdles the wall half pants and shorts around his knees. I slowly caught him up and told him if the fun we had seeing him jumping from the bushes. From here picking off some more runners I went through Beddgelert and started climbing out of the village towards rhyd ddu and felt strong up the hills, somehow taking the rhythm off the flat running of the roads. I knew it would be a tough climb and it took some hit on other runners but having reached the top I was probably ready for more. Leavling off after rhyddu it was fast running again and quickly stick to my pace picking off some more runners, on mileage 17 I came across gancho who has been flying recently. From here I was probably top 15 and thinking this can't last with the last few hills ahead. Waunfawr was the start of the hills and I was clear of anyone as the climb began. With a strong climbing background I felt strong and hitting the top if the climb I passed 4-5 runners before the decent to the finish. From here it was really tricky with grassy roads fully if water. Very slippy with the road trainers. Coming into llanberis I felt gd sprinting to a time of 2.51 minutes and 8th overall. Ridiculous good run. Loved it and can't wait until someone gives me another entry.

Coniston fair race 2015

http://www.nwemail.co.uk/News/Lakes/Coniston-Country-Fair-8d7157da-4e1d-4d45-b0bb-308d7c3b7c81-ds

A trip up the lakes of windermere completed a top weekend of running. Early start sat I made the trip up to snowdonia for the uphill supercup. Then cup of tea with nain and taid we headed off up the roads if England to our cottage in windermere. Coniston show was a great traditional local show which held a fell race up the old man of coniston so needs be we took our running shoes and wife's out for a day out. A very low key race but looked a great climb up the mountain. Started off a steady pace, with a lot of new runners we all had no idea where to go navigational wise and got list at nearly every turning for the first few miles. After 20 of walking and u-turns we were at the Base of the mountain. Straight up and down the course was clear. Put a push on I took the the top alone and somehow took the longest decent possible down the paths. But enjoyed the race winning by a couple of minutes. A night of Northern food and wine capped off a top weekend.

Breiddyns Hills

Final round of the Welsh fell series, after a strong season making the final few rounds had been tricky. Getting into the swing of things this year with more effort on achieving consistent training. Still only averaging 2-3 runs a week so much to improve on. A full car of us arrived at the foot of the Breiddyns just north of Welshpool, a hill range which I've passed on numerous occasions and always thought they'd be an interesting climb. Not feeling sharp in the day after a tough week in work I started at a steady pace holding on to top 10

A Strong field arrived with some good targets to to pace around.. 

Cardiff 2015

1.14.08

9 years since my last appearance with a bit of extra time on my hands I entered this race on the last day of entry. With the running going pretty well through the year I decided I better try and get some pb's before the legs pack in. Cardiff sounded ideal with a flat course and plenty of runners to pace. 

Drove down on the day to a manic parking situation and having to use the medics toilet. With no toilet roll I had to shout outside for assistance where one of the St. John's helpers handed me a used napkin from his morning cake.

A dash to the start line I was surprised how easy it was to get up front. With 10min until kick off I was straight upfront poking my head behind the elite athletes who were being introduced to the cameras. Gun 

I was top 30 starting off and determined not to get dragged away to quickly and settled into a 5.39 mile with plenty of runners shooting passed. Without noticeing the first 6 miles flew by, feeling really good and was still going nicely. Atmosphere was something I haven't experienced before and was definitely making the run easier. After a controlled start I was now picking off runners of a similar caliber but who were fighting the run. This probably gave me a boost and whilst I was catching groups of runners I would go straight passed them without a response. At 10 miles I caught a runner from Newquay Cornwall who was keen to push on. For the last 4 miles we really put the hammer down and kept the speed all the way home with us crossing the line together. 

1.14.03.... was expecting something around 1.16 so a huge pb of 7 minutes was well received. Amazing day. Will try and do it next year.

Ras y mast 2015

1st. 43.22

Very windy and wet