Sugar Loaf Fell Race

Sore feet from the OMM but with magic Compeed all would be well!
A slow jog up the lane wasn’t a good sign – pain in the calf and on those pesky blisters. Still – no harm in trying.
I found myself near the front at the start so got pushed up the hill. The first section is leafy tarmac – so steep that for safety reasons they don’t allow fell runners to race down it! A few managed to sort of run up it – but not many.
I made a forceful start with simple tactics – go as fast as I could all the way. It seemed to work as I overtook a few of my normal targets on the rough track. I kept ahead of some of them as it steepened to the summit but was overtaken by Nikki and Esther – both running well. I tried my best to keep them in my sights.
The simmit was gained in about 31 minutes, then began the blast down the hill. The 2 girls stayed ahead, and I managed to keep just in front of Neil.
I had a good descent – gaining a bit on the rougher stuff but not enough leg speed on the smooth ground. I was pleased to take the little climb on the way back at a run / shuffle and even gained some time on those round me.
Finishing in about 52 minutes I was well pleased – faster than last year and I had a good run then.
I collapsed in a heap at the finish and then the searing pain as I hobbled down the lane. I took my shoes off which improved things. What a wimp! If a drug company could isolate the stuff that enables you to run a sprint finish and only feel the pain afterwards I am sure it would make a million. But it’s free while you are running.
Good day for me.
Ahead of Sue but not by much. She wasn’t far behind and had suffered a fall resulting in bruised chest and shoulder.
Decided against the cross country the next day – lets get these feet sorted.
See last year’s report

Black Mountains Fell Race

How did I do? – Good result for me.
How did I feel I did? – A bit disappointed compared with the good race on the Stretton Skyline.
It was a glorious day, a bit chilly at first, tempting me to run in a long sleeved vest – a mistake. As soon as the race started the sun came out and the temperature went up. At the start I was surrounded by Chepstow Harriers. I think there were more than 20 of us form a total field of about 70. Id did feel a bit busy but I can’t say I was held up anywhere.
The first climb was steady. I went into a walk early on, aware that there were many more miles to go. I soon realised that I wasn’t on top form but hoped things would improve.
From Pen Cerrig Calch I kept a steady pace along the ridge. I was just behind Dick Finch at the diagonal descent to the stream from Pen Twyn Glas, and followed his line quite steeply down to get the sheep track close to the valley floor. This didn’t involve much extra climb and was quite good running.
I took a diagonal line for the wall corner and crossed the stream close to the obvious stream junction. The climb up Pen y Gadair Fawr (2nd highest in the Black Mountains) was a killer. This left hand side route had some better terrain, but the steepness near the top is really tough. I found I was suffering.
Running from the summit I felt nauseous and was suffering from some stomach pain (perhaps the Jelly Babies and the hot weather didn’t agree with me). The descent should be great, but for me was just a slow jog. It was on this section that I lost sight of Dick and Vanessa.
The climb up Chwarel y Fan was torture. I was surprised that I caught up Luke and Mark and just before the top, Andy Stott. It wasn’t only me who was suffering!
James was marshalling with his bad knee and he seemed to have adopted a dog? Just a few words to him then with Luke and Mark we jogged slowly along the ridge. I kept as staedy a pace as I could and somehow lost the two of them (Mark subsequently retired). The drop down from Bal Mawr was surprisingly well defined, except I arrived at the forest unsure as to which way to turn. My left turn decision worked and with perhaps too much caution I found the taped route down through the forest.
Up the other side I changed directly into as fast a walk as I could manage. I was then cought and overtaken by Lou, and soon after Luke reappeared. I reckon he had no real idea of the route so he stuck with me and we even managed to break into a jog for small sections.
Crug Mawr was very welcome. I expected only a couple of miles from here and at 3h40 I hoped to beat the 4 hour target. It was in fact 2.5miles and the extra length made all the difference. I ran almost every step on the descent, apart from the nasty climb at the end and finished in 4h 3m 37s. Not the last of the Harriers but beaten soundly by Matthew, Steve Caldwell, Mark English, Niki, Esther, Vanessa, Lou and Dick (apologies for any I have missed!).

Gerry finishing

Total distance according to the Garmin is 27.5km and 1630m.
Reviewing things the next day, I am happier with my run, but must do better!

Race Profile

Sugar Loaf

I know I should have been over in the Black Mountains perfecting my route for the race next weekend but went to Sugar Loaf instead. It was closer and shorter, and I had done a 2 hour run yesterday (The Monmouth 2 hills route, Buckholt and Kymin giving 500m climb and about 11 miles).
Sue is still suffering with her knee so we weren’t expecting a lung buster. Starting at the school / leisure centre we took the race route up over the Deri then up the ridge to the summit. The descent was down the adjacent ridge with a short road section back to the start. All in all, 11.6km and 600m climb.
We walked the steep parts of the climb and Sue managed a passable imitation of a run along the ridge. We also made good time on the descent. Total time 1h30m so not too bad!
A good jaunt followed by a short steep cycle ride when we got home.

Stretton Skyline Fell Race

I had been looking forward to this race as I was feeling reasonably fit, and had a good run at The Beast (see previous post). My preparation was, for me, quite thorough. I had decided what to wear the evening before (trail shoes and warm weather kit). I even prepared my Isostar and had my bag packed.
Sue unfortunately is still suffering with her knee / leg so was frustrated, but decided to come along and do some active spectating.
The day was warm but never really hot. There were a few times, mainly on the climbs where sweat in the eyes was a problem, and a few times where the weather was overcast giving in all a good running environment. The terrain was good, all runnable with no tricky bits that had any real impact.
I set off at a steady pace, determined to run my own race. My target was sub 4 hours (last year I did 4h 4m). The holiday in the Alps gave me confidence for the hills. As in all such events you quickly establish a few competitors in your view. One was a local guy who I chased down the first hill and finally overtook on the last descent. These runners give you a focus and target.
I took a full cup of water at each drinks station. There were 5 of these but a long gap – the last 10k with none. I carried a bottle of water round with me and used it on this last stretch, halfway up the last climb. This and 2 fruit pastilles per climb kept me on song.
I had enough energy to run the closing stages, though the last climb (incidentally the longest) was somewhat slower than the others.
I was surprised to see Andy Blackmore near the top of Lawley – he didn’t look like he was having a good day!. I tracked him down, overtaking him just before the road crossing. He finished a few minutes after me, collapsing in a heap. I didn’t see Matthew – he was 9th overall – a great performance. Colin Prosser & Dick Finch ran round together and seemed in good shape approaching Lawley.
My time was sub 3h 40m. I was well pleased! It’s not often you can cut 24minutes of a race time!
Picture of me. Many thanks to the photographer.
Link to race website. Many thanks to the organisers.
Next big one to worry about is the Black Mountains in 2 weeks time.

Black Mountains – Upper Llanbedr Horseshoe

Sue and I have been trying to find a new route for a fell race, and had thought of a shortened Black Mountains route as a possibility. The full route starts and finishes in Llanbedr, a small village up a valley from Crickhowell. It takes in Pen Cerrig Calch, Pen y Gadair Fawr, Chwarel y Fan and a few others just for good measure.

Our route started a few miles north of Llanbedr at Cwm Farm (SO325237). Dropping down to cross the river then up through the forestry it headed NE to the ridge, then along to Pen Twyn Mawr. There was a long but not too steep climb, except near the end, to Pen y Gadair Fawr. From here we headed NW to Waun Fach. This is the only hill I know where the summit is in a depression below the surrounding ground! a little bowl of mud with a weathered concrete block at its centre. A strange summit for the highest peak in the Black Mountains. From here it was a good run down the ridge to the col then a small climb onto a southerly ridge taking in Mynydd Llysiau & Pen Twyn Glas. This was a superb ridge for running, hardly a break in our pace until we got down to the farming level and had to negotiate with a herd of bullocks to get onto a muddy lane down to the road.

Apart from Waun Fach we saw hardly anyone, a group of 3 walkers when we were on our way up, and the same group just before we finished.

It was a good route, but the lack of parking and the awkward length probably preclude it as a fell race.

20km 800m 2h 52m

Brecon Beacons

A run/walk starting at Llanfrynach reversing the Fan y Big fell race route then branching off to Pen y Fan, Corn Du, Cribyn and back. The start was messed up when we missed the road up from the village and did an extra couple of miles. A bit silly really – don’t know how we managed to miss it.

The mistake took us to a farm where a little, annoying dog took a liking to us. It followed us back down the farm track to the road; along the road and back and up the hill. It was with us all the way to the ridge by Waun Rydd (Pwlfa) when it headed along a path looking for all the world like it knew were it was headed. Perhaps little doggy was cleverer than we thought? It was a relief to get away from him and the feeling of the need to shout “home!” and threaten him.

We skirted round Fan y Big and Cribyn then climbed Pen y Fan. I was amused by a small poster on the summit – a memorial to Michael Jackson! I never realised he had visited the Brecons? We stopped to admire the views, a really clear day with good views across to the Black Mountains and Hay Bluff. Then was Corn Du and the traverse back to Cribyn. This was a stiff climb, but lead to a more gentle descent, good for a gentle jog. But who do you think found us there – the annoying doggie! We stopped at the top to admire the view again and another walker, with his own dog offered the stray a biscuit which he refused. He then trotted down with us until we crossed paths with a family who were obviously more interesting than us. He stopped with them – never more to be seen by us.

Should we feel bad? comments and your own stories welcome.

Following Cribyn was Fan y Big then the longer than expected descent back to Llanfrynach.

27km 1350m climb in 4h 30m. A great day.

Black Mountains Round

This route started and finished at Llanthony Priory in the glorious Black Mountains. It is based on the walk / race organised by the Longtown Mountain Rescue as a fund raiser. The basic route is Bal Mawr, Chwarel y Fan, Twyn Talcefn, Rhos Dirion, Lord Hereford’s Knob Twmpa, Hay Bluff then back along Offa’s Dyke.

According to the trusty Garmin the stats are 28.5km and about 910m climb which Sue & I did in a reasonable 4 hours.

We made a mistake on the initial climb up Bal Mawr, heading for Bal Bach with stinging nettles and gorse. I recall the “proper” way is cleaner but stonier. The route is obvious and looks like it should give some lovely ridge running but in reality the first half suffers from a few too many boggy bits.

I liked the restoration work on the Offa’s Dyke section with good stone slabs seemingly floating in the peat. It seems to work well. One of my more morbid thoughts was that I ought to leave some money in my will to do more of this stuff.

I had sight of a book of the 100 highest Welsh summits and carefully copied them down. I was interested to see that Hay Bluff wasn’t included but according to the map it is in Wales and at 677 metres should be in there at about number 90.

A long run/walk but good to be out with the weather kind to us and the views excellent.

Mynydd Troed Fell Race

The fell race from the Castle Inn, Pengenffordd, North of Crickhowel was organised by Dick Finch and was a Welsh Championship event. A medium category event of 7 miles and lots of climb shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did! I was slow up the first hill onto Mynydd Troed and then kept up with the slow people along the ridge. My descent to the valley was unspectacular. It was here that Sue, with a lapse of concentration twisted her ankle. Withe her gritty approach to life she decided that the quickest way to get back so that she could give it the care it deserved was to continue the race!. Meanwhile I trdged on a few minutes behind her, relaxing into a jog along the ridge past Langorse Hill, a bit faster down to the col and a lot slower up Mynydd Troed for the second time. I got involved with a race down the hill, which I lost. Not a race of glory for me but better in retrospect than in reality. Sue did surprisingly well considering the size of her left ankle. Once the adrenalin wore off she was in some agony. Cold patches and cold gel added to the blue and purple bruising with a red rash – a spectacular combination.

Results of the Chepstow Fell Series are published on the Chepstow Harriers site, with more compete results on the Welsh FRA site

LLANTHONY FELL RACE 31/01/09

The following was taken from the Welsh FRA website. I took the liberty of nicking the article as I think it may well disappear with time.

Sue & I took part. As you can see with her mention in the article she did well. Searching the results ou might find me if you look far enough down. My rest from running with the odd race certainly seemed to have had an effect on my performance. I guess the fact that I am writing this means that it is something that is beginning to matter. I guess I will have to get back into training.

The Llanthony winter race took place over a new course for 2009 of 3.3m/1150ft, hence records were set in all categories. The deep mud underfoot in the lower fields leaves them open for improvement in years to come though. This year, in lieu of prizes, organizer Dick Finch opted to donate the race profits to humanitarian aid in Gaza. The men’s race was as exciting as has been seen in recent times, with Pete Ryder and Paul Murrin fighting it out to the final yards. Murrin, running for Chepstow, led for most of the long diagonal climb to the ridge and along the Offa’s Dyke path, only to be passed by Ryder (Brycheiniog) on the steep descent. After the final stile into the fields the mountain-bike specialist regained the lead, and the race looked to be over, until a final sprint by Ryder in the last 40m denied him. Just a minute behind them Stroud AC’s Mike Duxbury took 3rd and 1st MV40. Chris Taylor and Gary Gunner continued their streak of good form by taking the 1st MV50 and 1st MV60 respectively. The women’s race was a less close affair, with Helen Fines 1st female and 8th overall for Yorkshire club Calder Valley. Liz Francis of Chepstow had an excellent run in 2nd place, beating Alice Bedwell (MDC). Both were 1st and 2nd FV40s, and close behind was 1st FV50 Sue Ashton.

Kymin – South Wales Winter Hill Series – 10th January 2008

This was my first race (other than Orienteering and a jog round Caldicot) for some time. I felt sort of relaxed, but do admit to a bit of excitement in joining the back of the start pack. For this race there is just enough room for 2 runners abreast for the first quarter mile, but for some reason this never seems to be a problem.

I took it steady for the first climb and soon found my rightful place. You get with a group of runners and seem to stay with them for most of the race, or at least some of them. In fell races there are such a range of abilities at climbing and descending – not always good in both!

I have pulled the review from the Welsh FRA website as I expect it may well drift away once new stuff arrives. This was written by their ace reporter, and ace fell runner Helen Fines:

KYMIN REPORT- 10/01/09

There was an excellent turnout for the fourth race in the South Wales Winter Hill series, at the Kymin in Monmouth. Although the Kymin is only about 600ft in overall height, an inventive and challenging course comprises 1150 feet of ascent in just under 4 miles.

After the early leader Hugh Aggleton was forced to retire with an ankle injury, the race turned into a fascinating battle between 17 year old Kristian Jones of Swansea Harriers, and Tom Gibbs (MDC/Chepstow). Gibbs, who performs better in longer races, tracked the youngster and caught him at the top of the final climb to the Observatory Tower. However, orienteer Jones had the superior descending skills, and despite the two being neck and neck with a quarter mile to go, his finishing speed gave him a 14 second advantage at the finish. A new record of 30.34 was written into the books. Mike Duxbury of Stroud AC, always a consistent performer on the fells, was third in 31.25.

In the womens race Helen Fines achieved a comfortable win, though slower than her record set last year after being affected by stomach pains. Alice Bedwell, representing MDC, was second (and first FV40) in 38.57. She was chased all the way to the line by unattached runner Kate Auchterlonie who worked hard to catch Bedwell along the final road section, only to be outsprinted at the line.

The veteran categories were competitive, with Simon Blease taking the MV50 in 34.59 and Gary Gunner (Croft Ambrey) the MV60 in a fast 39.22. For the women, Sue Ashton (42.05) continued to dominate the FV50 category, and Clare Johnson was first FV60 in 53.44.

No mention of me at all! No great surprise there. I did a reasonable time but doubt it was close to my best. The important thing was that I enjoyed it!

Sorry but not linked this time to Google Maps – no need to see how slow I went!

Perhaps I’ll get back into racing sometime?