Training Log Archive: Magic

Easy shuffle with Andy down the valley from their place. Very pretty and green. Legs sore to start but actually quite okay once moving.

Welsh 1000's race, 30km, 2500m (actually underestimated according to the GPS).
Good race this, glad that I did it, though my quads are in full agreement with the rest of me at the moment. Starts from the shoreline near Bangor and crosses all the Welsh 1000m peaks (five) to finish on the top of Snowdon.

First 3km were on roads and trails to get to the hills, but once three it was either terrain or mountain trails until the finish. The first climb was tough, bilberry on the lower slopes and no trods, legs also surprisingly heavy for so early int eh race but just sat at a pace that I was comfortable with in about 9th position.

Lovely run along the ridge-line to Carnedd Llewelyn (1064m) and then on to Carnedd Dafydd (1044m) - started passing the walkers/joggers from the early start here. Great views in the sunshine (when I remembered to look). Initially steep but then a lovely and soft descent down to Ogwen, on which I passed a couple of guys, including Jack Wood.

Surprisingly quick along the road (4:30 km, but got passed) and then with Jack on the start of the climb up the Glyders. Jack much too strong but passed the guy who passed me on the road and also an Eyeri guy near the top (Glyder Fawr, 1001m - only added to the race two years ago as it was re-measured and found to by a few metres higher!).

Descent off this was tough and my quads had had enough, seizing on the steep bit. Got moving okay again once the gradient flattened and picked a really good line to Pen-y-Pass.

From here on wasn't much fun, although I lost time here to the leaders (and the Eyeri guy passed me) it was more to do with the massive number of people on the Pyg Track (they were enough to be able to hold hands and form a continuous chain to the summit). Lots of bumping into people on tired legs on what was the roughest part of the race. Also a contrast in weather with the sun of the previous hills replaced with cloud and some rain.

Cut the corner up to Garnedd Ugain (1065m) as had enough of the track. This was very steep though and had to be careful not to knock any lose stones off onto the walkers below). Stort stagger off this and then up to the finish on Snowdon (1085m), too tired to run more than about half of it.

Finished 4th, well inside the old M40 record, but also 3rd M40 on the day! Jack had a great last section and won on 4:05. Very pleased with my own run, kept to my own pace and it wasn't until the last 3km that I found it hard.

C • Wow! That's a lot of climb! 3

Back down the Miner's track as far as the reservoir where Toni and the kids were waiting (with food and warm clothes). Right heal sore due to some manky fungal type things, not noticed it in a long while but was starting to feel tender like a blister. Stood in the very cold water for as long as my megs would hold me up. Nice and warm in the sun, good end to the day but very glad to have got off Snowdon and away from all the people!

IW. Moving okay. Nice lack of traffic in town.

HFW. So close to being the first double sub-30 day in a while.

IW. Diversion to avoid the Champions League barriers. Most of the the city centre shut to cars already, hence very little traffic.

HFW. Lovely evening, looks like it may be the last for a while. Almost went straight into the side of a wheelchair when the pusher turned out into the road without even a glance.

IW. Still a dearth of cyclists, but that made for easy travelling.

HFW. Plenty around this evening though. A pair of swans seem to have moved in just above Radyr Weir.

IW. Damp sometime overnight but roads empty, of both cars and cyclists - numbers down to mid-winter levels of the latter. Must be half-term then.

HFW. Actually a very nice evening. Cyclist numbers also back to normal. Bit of a head wind kept things slow.

MDc run from Blaenavon, supposed to be the Coity race route but as no one seemed to be doing the race and I don't much like the route, I took us exploring somewhere else. It was 95% successful - only a few nettles and brambles and blood... Tired legs stating but felt okay at an easy pace once warmed up. Evening not so nice, not wet but a bit of mist in the air the whole time.

Long slow training run in the Black Mountains (including a nip across the border to England) with Ollie, Nicky and John H. Really misty above about 350m but still, muggy and mild. Had a small bag on, which felt unreasonably heavy, and very happy to plod along to get some distance in. Were planning another 10km and 500m or so more, but opted to cut short so Ollie could get home. Stopped at Llanthony priory for drinks and chips for lunch - proper way to do a long run. Very enjoyable, despite the lack of any views.