Not so long ago, I had a summer job working in an adventure park. Every now and then, our walkie-talkies would channel in to conversations from paraglider classes, going on up above somewhere. On our lunch break, we would huddle together in the office, and take turns interjecting with some hilarious (very offensive) comments. After months of this, we became more sophisticated in our techniques. We learnt we could have more effect if we first managed to infiltrate into the class, with innocuous comments, and then it was so much more outrageous when we dropped something ridiculous. Ifan had the sharpest wit, and one day, after painstakingly gaining the trust of the group of paragliders, while we all ate and listened, and waited, and giggled, he picked his moment perfectly, when the instructor told his pupils to ‘use your breaks, use your breaks!’….
…I arrive at Coed Y Brenin at around 7.30am on Saturday morning. It is looking to be a splendid day in the woods. I have entered the Trail Marathon Wales quite late, but I live 20 min away, and know the organiser very well.
It becomes clear that I have a real race on my hands. Max Nichols; a GB International mountain runner, and current inter-counties champion, is taking this opportunity to debut at the marathon. Alex Pilcher; recently 7th place in the GB Uphill championships, and Tom Owens; pro superstar trail runner, are both competing. There is a real chance I might not make the podium.
I am hearing that Tom has been struggling with an ankle injury, and Max might be a bit wary having never run more than 19 miles before. It’s not particularly premeditated, but as the gun goes, I decide to put the hammer down. I want to win, and I’m not going to hide it. The first 2 miles are uphill, the four of us are together, but I won’t let anyone past me.
Then, as we start descending, I hammer it. It is working, I am getting away. But my thighs are reminding me, this is Saturday morning, and I ran a fell race Thursday night, and I hammered the descent there too. I hammered it hard enough for me to end up pissing blood, and sleep on the sofa, too ruined to walk up the stairs.
It is very bold/suicidal for me to be running flat out, 4.30min miling, with 23 miles still to go. At this point, Ifan’s immortal line comes rushing into my head;
“FUCK the fucking brakes! DIVE DIVE DIVE!”
I can’t help laughing out loud. Just as we all did in the office that day. Pure brilliance. Here I am, leading out the race, bombing down the hill as fast as I can, laughing. Considering consequences is for losers. So I accept my decision, to keep diving, and either crash and burn, or soar to glory.
In the first half of the race there happens to be quite a lot of fire trails, wide open and easy to run on. I figure, seeing as I am the most prolific road runner here, I need to turn these to my advantage. I keep my foot on the gas as much as possible, and use the more technical areas, where we cut into the woods, to recover.
I have lots of friends out on the course, and they are telling me how much of a lead I have. At 6 miles it is only 50 meters. I need to get out of sight. At 13 miles it is over a minute. Better.
On the second half, we cross to the other side of the woods. I have never run around this lap before, it is much more technical and I am struggling to keep my rhythm. Miles 17, 18, 19, my pace has dipped, I’m not sure how much my lead is, but I am pretty convinced by now, I have won. Around mile 21, I’m on the final big climb of the day, (and it’s a right pain in the arse) a very wobbly tight trail, with mud and thick tree roots everywhere. If I can get to the top of here infront, I have definitely won. Tom Owens pats me on the back, and skips past me like I’m a fat cart horse. I can’t tag onto him, not even close. Infact, it takes me a while to even believe what I just saw. For a while, I am convinced he is one of the half marathon runners, that we ran past earlier. By the time we get to the top of that hill, he is way out of sight. Luckily for me, it is all downhill, runnable trail from here. I have to very quickly get through the five stages; denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, of my current status.
I was winning for 21 miles. But I am no longer winning.
If I had to create the perfect race track for me to regain the lead, then this would be it. My fastest mile in the fell race on Thursday night was 4.24. I just need one of those now, and I will catch him. I propose this to my legs, but they have 22 miles of trail in them, plus the other race on Thursday; “we are good, thank you”. I pump my arms ridiculously, to try and squeeze something out of my body. I can see Tom now, I am catching him, but not fast enough. My legs are refusing to bargain with me; “we have performed remarkably up to this point, you’ve got a damn cheek asking for any more”.
As we get to the last mile, the course flattens out and narrows, and we are squeezing past runners just starting on their 2nd lap. I can’t see Tom through them all, I knock into some guy’s rucksack, I can feel my momentum ebb. Tom floats away. I hear the crowd cheering for him at the finish line. It sounds incredible. I cross the line a minute behind. I have broken the course record by 4 minutes. My 2nd course record of the week. But this time, it’s not enough.
Beautiful sunny afternoon in the woods. Wonderful atmosphere. Max comes in 3rd place and gives me a massive hug. He has just finished his first marathon. It’s a big thing, and you can see it on his face. What a marathon to start with!
The kids play in the playground, while Nina and her bezzie chat and keep an eye on them. I am sitting on a grass bank, trying to figure out what just happened. I’m proud of how I attacked the race, but, did fatigue set in? Or did I get lazy and throw it away?
Can’t recommend this race highly enough. Run Coed Y Brenin and Matt Ward have really built a mecca for trail running in the UK. If you like trail running, this is the place to visit. The event itself was flawless. Spectator appeal, marshals, aid stations, photos, all first class. Thanks loads to everyone involved!
Excellent photos from sportpictures.cymru
| 3/06/2019 | AM | PM |
| Monday | 10tm | REST |
| Tuesday | 10tm | 6 x 1km (3min rest) in 3.19. 7 miles total |
| Wednesday | 10 | REST |
| Thursday | 10tm | 2,400m @3min km pace. 5 miles total |
| Friday | 10tm | REST |
| pub with dad pm, eat way too much, feels good though! | ||
| Saturday | 5 x mile in 5min (1min rest). 8 miles total | REST |
| bloody hard, especially with a hangover, find a way though | ||
| Sunday | 28 miles trail in 4hrs40! | REST |
| feeling pretty broken after | ||
| TOTAL: | 98 miles | tm = treadmill |
| 10/06/2019 | AM | PM |
| Monday | REST | REST |
| sleep in, pretty beat up after long run | ||
| Tuesday | 5tm | 1km (2min rest) 600 (2min rest) 400 (5min rest) x 3. @3.05km pace. 2x200m (200m jog) 29,27. 10 miles total |
| Everywhere in the UK raining except here. Doesn’t happen often! | ||
| Wednesday | 10tm | REST |
| Thursday | 10tm | Ras Bwlch Maesgwm. 1st – 41.18. Course record by 3min. 10 miles total |
| That last descent on steep tarmac, I’m sure it caused internal bleeding! | ||
| Friday | REST | REST |
| Sleep in. Sposed to run 10 miles today. NFW | ||
| Saturday | Trail Marathon Wales. 2nd – 2.50.03. 29 miles total | REST |
| hard but epic race | ||
| Sunday | 6tm @ 9min miling | REST |
| Can’t go any faster | ||
| TOTAL: | 80 miles | tm = treadmill |
Non-Running Highlight Of The Week:
Get up at 6am on Sunday, so I can do my run and spend the day with the kids. Nina and friend walk up a mountain, while we sit on the sofa eating snacks watching Mary Poppins. Then go swimming. Best Father’s Day ever. Proudest moments of my life, have all come from simple dad stuff. Jim coming last in parkrun, El saying ‘ventriloquist’.
Best Thing On The Internet This Week:
Thing I’m Digging This Week:
Got to say, yes I am sponsored by them, but the ON CloudVenturePeak is the best trail shoe I’ve ever had. The way it can cover rough terrain, yet still give fast performance on roads, is unique. The shoe also dries out superquick, so it doesn’t weigh you down when you run through mud/stream/lake etc. On sent me a new pair for Trail Marathon Wales, it arrived on Friday, I was marathon running on Saturday. That is normally a crazy idea, but the shoes fit so snug I didn’t get a single blister.
Click here to check out the ON range
I do half my training on the smooth and powerful NoblePro. Click here to see their treadmills