Training and Race Dates - November09

Some experimentation with a few new training sessions this month, plus a busy race calendar.
Note again the Peebles based training on Thursdays with a 5:00pm start....

Interested in a sociable night run with headtorches but can't make mid week training..?
Drop a note on the Blogger 'comments' and if there is enough interest we'll schedule a Friday evening 'run & pub' event....

Sun 1-Nov Moorfoot Trail Race - Innerleithen 10:00 am start

Tues 3-Nov Innerleithen (Hall St) 5:30pm Night Run with Headtorches
Thrs 5-Nov Peebles (Gytes) 5:00pm Pre-race run (Fartlek)
Sat 7-Nov Tinto Hill Race 2:00pm start
Sun 8-Nov Cardrona (Village Green) 10:00am Long steady run (~ 1hr) - easy post race run

Tues 10-Nov Innerleithen (Hall St) 5:30pm Hill Reps (7 x ~90s Wells Brae)
Thrs 12-Nov Peebles (Gytes) 5:00pm Pre-race run (Fartlek)
Sun 15-Nov Borders XC Norham 12:00 noon

Tues 17-Nov Innerleithen (Hall St) 5:30pm 2 x 4 x 500m intervals
Thrs 19-Nov Peebles (Gytes) 5:00pm Night Run with Headtorches
Sun 22-Nov Walkerburn (Bridge) 10:00am Long steady run (1hr +)

Tues 24-Nov Cardrona (Village Green) 5:30pm Village Green circuit reps (confirmed)
Thrs 26-Nov Peebles (Gytes) 5:00pm Pre-race run (Fartlek)
Sun 28-Nov Borders XC Lauder 12:00 noon

Blood Sweat & Tears in Wales - the full story

Pic1 - at the start (lovely weather !!!)

Pic2 - dressed for the conditions

I'd travelled down to North Wales the afternoon before with Alan Strain who unfortunately wasn't able to run because of a chest infection (or so he said!).

Saturday morning saw grey skies and as we arrived at Llanberis the heavy rain and strong winds greeted us - it was the sign of things to come. The start of the race was about a mile down the road at Nant Peris so as a "warm up" we decided to walk, subsequently we arrive thoroughly soaked! Still there was lots of folk about and all seemed happy enough when we lined up for the start (by which time I had donned my waterproof & gloves - as was still cold!).

From the start we turned south for a mile before the ascent to Pen-y-Pas, a climb of about 800ft over next 3 miles. I'd settled into an easy pace, trying not to clock watch and made to top quite comfortably despite the gradient. The nest couple of miles were a steep downhill but took it easy being wary of the challenges to come. We then turned towards Beddgelet a steady downward stretch that took us to about halfway, by this time the rain had eased, the waterproof was off and it was almost pleasant (you could almost see the views). Then it was a steady undulating road all the way up until 21 miles at Waunfawr. I felt OK the training seemed to have worked, there was no sign of the dreaded "wall" and the company was very friendly although there were lots of nervous comments about the challenge to come. Those comments became reality as we moved off the main road to begin our ascent of Bwlch y Groes - 2.5 miles of sheer hell, a climb of 900ft up to the summit, lungs bursting, too steep to run in places (95% of us were walking for a couple of hundred metres), and a couple of false summits before the road became a muddy trail just before the top at which time the rain was again torrential and it was blowing a gale. Then it was down, down, down, thighs burning, too steep and too slippery to run properly, eventually into Llanberis. The finish was in sight - apart from some joker decided that we needed an extra 1/2 mile to make up the distance, and guess what, it included another b****y hill! Over that, "sprint" to the finish, totally exhausted but elated - the weeks of long runs had paid off, a time of 3hrs 57 mins was very satisfying on that course (the organisers stated that the hills would put 30 mins onto our times). Trudged wearily to the car and then the pub for an afternoon of rehydration! The race had been voted both the hardest UK marathon and the most scenic, I can vouch for then former, as for the views they kept themselves for another time!

Cheers,

Mick

Tinto Hill Race Saturday 7th November

Tinto Hill Race Saturday 7th November, for those who like it short, sharp and painful...

Entry on the day at Symington.

Full details here - several Moorfoots already confirmed as going....

Moorfoot Christmas Night Out Saturday 5th December

Just to let everybody know that the Christmas night out will be Saturday 5th December at
7.30 pm at the Green Tree Hotel in Peebles.

It is not a Christmas Party night (i.e no disco) although there is a Christmas menu along with the normal menu to choose from.

To date, there has been about 20 that has replied to say they are going.

I shall send another e-mail out nearer the time to remind everybody again.

Regards

Mike

Blood Sweat and Tears in Wales....

Just got back from Snowdonia Marathon.

3hrs 57 mins - the hardest thing I've ever done.

Torrential rain, gale force winds unbelievable hills (especially at 21miles!).

Will send a report for the blog in the next day or so.

Cheers

Mick

Moorfoot Trail Race - Innerleithen - Sunday 1-November

Short reminder about the final Moorfoot Trail Race of the 3-race 'series' - Sunday coming, 1-November.

Meet at Leithen Lodge (north of Innerleithen Golf Course on the Heriot Road, about 3 miles out of the town) - first runners off at 10:00am.

Short prize giving afterwards and we have 'tea and coffee' making facilities being arranged.....

Full details on earlier post here...

Glentress Duathlon Series 2009/10

Quite a few Moorfoots expressing an interest in the popular Glentress Duathlon Series.

Full details here....

A couple of the dates clash with the Borders XC series, but the Short Course Duathlon on Sunday 24th January 2010 is 'fixture clash free'.

Get your online entries in quickly (delay not- do it now !) as this is the most popular event and the cut-off of 150 entrants in strictly enforced.

A couple of Moorfoot 'bike & run' training sessions being planned for those interested and there is a spin class on Thursdays at the Gytes which we'll check out, to provide some winter training variation....keep watching the Blogger....