The Blog Is Back

I am aiming hard for the ON Snowdonia Trail Marathon. It is the GB Trial for the World Mountain Running Champs in Argentina. I want 3 things; to win, to gain my first GB vest, and to represent GB in Argentina. I want these things so badly that I am prepared to wake up at 6am every morning for training, except on Sundays, where I wake up at 4.45am instead.

I am also prepared to not blog for a month. I am leaving no stone un-turned, lots of people read my blog, which is great, but word travels fast. I want to come in under the radar. I don’t want people knowing what training I am doing. If it gives a rival the slightest edge, then the blog has to wait. So, let’s catch up guys…

I have had my sights set firmly on this race since London Marathon. It sets my soul on fire. It is a stretch goal, but I believe I can do it. Every race I run, the British Champs Fell race, the hilly Abersoch 10km, the Bwlch Maesgwm fell race, the Trail Marathon Wales, the Snowdon Twilight, and the Night of 10km PBs, all of them are selected as training towards the main goal.

I run 3 recces of the course. The first time, I am getting lost frequently, and twisting my ankles constantly. I realise the course is bloody, bloody tough. Much harder than the Trail Marathon Wales. Starts with very steep climb out of Llanberis and straight onto Bwlch Maesgwm (hence the reason I did the Bwlch Maesgwm fell race), tricky boggy descent, then very runnable trail until Llyn Gwynant. Ankle breaking mile around a lake, with roots and rocks and steep climbs. Then 6 miles up and down Snowdon!And THEN after the brutal descent, with legs completely gone and after having run 26 miles exactly, instead of turning left for the finishing field, you are sent on another mile of hilly trail just for the hell of it.

I run my first recce in 4hrs 20. I have not packed any food or water, am expecting to buy something at Beddgelert village, mile 11. I get there and everything is shut, it is 8.30am on a Sunday. I run for 4hrs plus without anything to eat or drink, I am pretty proud of myself.

The next recce, I bring too much fuel, a whole Salomon backpack worth. It weighs me down and annoys me the whole way. I expect to smash through 4hrs this time, what with knowing the way, and having extra fuel. Instead I mess up on Snowdon, really struggle, have to walk parts, and end up with 4hrs 05. I’m disappointed. That is not good enough.

Snowdon Twilight comes during a 110 mile week. It is an uphill race to the summit. The race starts at 7pm but it’s still bloody hot, like 28degrees. I am finding that in my uphill running, I am struggling with my rhythm. I can’t seem to keep my cadence quick enough. I see Ireland International Ian Conroy on the start line. Very gregarious when off-duty, but a fierce and intensely focused racer. The first time we met was in a mountain race in Italy, he came past me like I wasn’t moving on the hill climb (although I returned the favour on the descent, and smacked his bum as I overtook him). I am tired from a week of hard training, but I decide to do my best to hang on to Ian.

It is working, it is working, it is hot, but it is working. We get halfway up, he hesitates for a cup of water, I don’t even think to take anything on, I have never taken anything on in distances under 26.2 miles. I am out infront, I suddenly get really thirsty, my cadence slows down again. Ian storms past me, I can’t keep up, then Callum Rawlinson overtakes me too. I know for a fact that Cal will be at Snowdonia Trail Marathon (he has won it before), I can’t let him beat me, it will give him an edge over me for the big day. I am overheating, my nose starts bleeding, my form goes to shit, but I hang on to Cal, up the steepest part of Snowdon. I am down in 5th place at this point. Cal pulls us past a struggling youngster, suddenly, my mind starts to clear, my legs come back to me, and I am back in the room.

I look ahead, we are nearly over the steepest section, there is less than a mile to go, the 2 leaders are not that far infront, it’s now or never. I launch off. It feels brilliant, I am catching catching catching. I go past Ian (without smacking the poor guy’s bum), but run out of mountain before I can close down the leader. I end up in 2nd place and over the moon. The times are not anything special, but I put it down to the oppressive heat. I go home pretty beat up but very satisfied.

Easy run on Saturday, then final recce on Sunday. I know I need to nail the final part, everything is going to come down to who can climb Snowdon the best, with 18 miles of trail already in their legs. It is a perfect morning, still and cool, and I am flying. I have a gel belt, which is much less annoying than the backpack. I listen to the same song on repeat throughout the run, and stay in beat. It really helps my rhythm, particularly on the uphills. My ankles are feeling immortal, I don’t slip a single time. I glide through everything, and I absolutely nail Snowdon. Up and down. It all feels easy. I look at my watch and I can’t believe it. 3hrs37. A course record. With no liquid. In training. Feeling easy, light, smooth. On a 110 mile week, and having just buried myself in Snowdon Twilight.

I am very excited. I will win the race, I am absolutely certain. I know the route, I have a great nutrition strategy. Two weeks to go. Just keep taking care of business.

Monday morning, I am completely wiped out. I am good for nothing. Nina sends me shopping. I think I spend 90min in Tesco. Have no pound coin so I am heaving around 2 baskets, then I’m getting lost, can’t remember the simple list. Get to the tills and discover I’ve left my wallet in the car. It’s a disaster. There is a serious threat that I might have to compete in the Dad’s race in Jim’s sports day. I cannot, at any point in my life, have been in worse shape for that. Thank heavens it gets rained off.

The whole week I’m out of sorts. The weekend coming, we are going down to London for Night of 10km PBs, the best track event in GB. It should be a perfect sharpener for me, but I am wiped out all week. It is fatigue, not tiredness, which means no amount of sleep will help.

I can’t turn it around in time. I hope I will be able to pull something out of the bag, but I can’t. After 3km in a respectable 9.07, I quickly fade. My friends and family, and kids, are all there supporting me, I can’t drop out, even though A LOT of runners do. I kinda ease back to tempo pace, and eke out a 31.33. It’s not indicative of the shape I’m in. But I’m glad I have finished, and have a great time at the event after. Beer, Pizza, Music, atmosphere, and good old fashioned racing. Gives hope to athletics.

When I return to Wales, nothing has improved. I have Sunday off entirely. Then Monday too. Tuesday I stay in bed I am so knackered. I have Track Tues that night and am trying to build something positive there, so really don’t want to miss it. On the drive over, I am feeling like death warmed up. I see a Kwik-Fit sign as I approach Bangor;

I am reading it, absent-mindedly, and I swear it says;

• Tired
• Exhausted
• Breaking
• Flat Batteries

It makes me giggle to myself. I turn up at track thinking I will just hold the stopwatch. Then I think well I might as well jog a few laps with everyone. Then I might aswell have a go at one rep. If I can do a mile in 5.10 then this whole drive will have been worth it. I run 4.59. And then session goes fine.

My strategy for the Trial is to go out hard, scare everyone, and get far enough in front that the rest of the field can’t see me, can’t see the lines I take, and give up on me. I have to do that to the best guys in Great Britain, having never earned a GB cap myself. It will take guts. My mind has to be ready. I am singing to myself all week, I can do this I can do this I can do this, to the melody of Morrissey, “hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ”. I don’t even like Morrissey, I don’t know where this arrangement came from, but there you have it.

Every day I sing that stupid song to myself. I visualise the entire course, and me winning it. I grow in confidence every day. I sing the song every time a doubt enters my head. Morning of the race, I know what I have to do, and I am ready.

17/06/2019	AM	PM
Monday	REST	10tm @ 7min miling
really happy feeling much better than yest
Tuesday	6	1km in 3.10 (5min rest) 5 x 200m in 33 (1min rest). 4 miles total
Sharpener session for squad at track tues, good to loosen my legs
Wednesday	10tm	REST
Thursday	10tm	9min @ 20kmph tm. 5 miles total
Feels HARD, but get family to cheer me on, helps!
Friday	10	REST
feeling good
Saturday	30	REST
hard but epic race
Sunday	Rhyl 5km – 17.35. 6 miles total	10
Feel terrible until gun goes, then body gets through it
TOTAL:	101 miles	tm = treadmill

24/06/2019	AM	PM
Monday	10tm	REST
Tuesday	10tm	5 x mile (3min rest) in 4.57. 8 mile total
Was hoping pace would feel bit easier, but high mileage costs
Wednesday	10tm	6
Thursday	6	3400m at 20kmph. Then hilly road run. 10 miles total
Feels easier than last week
Friday	REST	Snowon Twilight – 2nd. 45.46
Tough race, hot day
Saturday	10	REST
tired but not too bad. Nina does parkrun
Sunday	30. Trail recce	rest
feel brilliant
TOTAL:	110 miles	tm = treadmill

1/07/2019	AM	PM
Monday	REST	REST
Wow, I am ruined. Worried I have to run dad’s race in sports day, rained off!
Tuesday	6tm	10 x 400m (2min rest) in 66. 6 miles total
Feel awful on way to track, manage to get it done, but bit worried
Wednesday	6tm	REST
not feeling great, feels like tm has sped up!
Thursday	6tm	3min @ 20kmph tm. 2 miles total
Almost can’t make it to 3 min! Not good. Drive to London smoove
Friday	4	REST
run with Nina, bad night’s sleep, hot, feel heavy and sluggish
Saturday	3	Night of 10km PBS – 31.33. 11 miles total
Feeling rough AM, negative thoughts. Brilliant event
Sunday	REST	Drive to Wales
Wanted to run, still exhausted, try to sleep it off. BBQ with family
TOTAL:	44	tm = treadmill

8/07/2019	AM	PM
Monday	REST	REST
still feeling fatigued and weird. Lots of protein, water and sleep
Tuesday	REST	4 x mile in 5min (1min rest). 9 miles total
feel terrible, fatigued. Stay in bed most of the day. Manage to turn it round for track. Perfect weather
Wednesday	REST	10tm
feeling much better, positive mantras working
Thursday	REST	REST
Recce course with Nina and Dad
Friday	6 miles + 5 x 100m strides.	REST
feeling myself again
Saturday	parkrun – 17.20. 8 miles total	REST
wanted 17.30, 17.20 felt easy and controlled. Getting confident
Sunday	Snowdonia Trail Marathon – 10th. 3.36.57. 29 miles total	REST
Race report to follow
TOTAL:	63 miles	tm = treadmill

Non-Running Related Highlight of the Month

My little boy wins race in sports day. Yes. I know. But I don’t care

Thing I’m Digging This Week:

Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar. Never seen ballet and rock music put together before, it is brilliant! Last scene is the best…

Best Thing On The Internet This Week:

Catch-22 on 4OD. One of my favourite books, have read 5+ times. The movies was rubbish, was scared the series would be too, but it is fantastic!

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