16 miles and 8500' of ascent down, 2 miles to go on the gruelling Peris Horseshoe.Photo Alistair Tye, with thanks
Just four runs this week but today (Sunday) Douglas Bader would kick my ass over 100 metres. It's been a superb week's training, including two very very different races, both of which went pretty darn well. Right now, my legs feel heavy and tired in that satisfying way that comes with having done a big race.
And Peris is a big race. A quick flick through the FRA calendar reveals that only Wasdale and the OCT have more climbing in a single day than Peris's substantial 8500'. That's more than Jura, Borrowdale, Ennerdale, Duddon - tough classics. It's 18 miles long, and 3 of those miles are on runnable tracks (including 2 lovely quick miles at the end where the top photo was taken). So that's 8500' of ascent and descent in 15 miles.
Its route includes 4 summits above 3000' (Elidir Fawr, Y Garn, Glyder Fach and Snowdon itself) and two other summits (Lliwedd and Moel Cyngorian (sp?)) which are no pushover. Much of the ground is rocky, there are some navigational issues, local knowledge is a real advantage (alas I had only a cursory knowledge of the critical parts of the course, cocking up the line to Penypass completely and losing many hard won places) and it's committing and tough - a proper hard race. In my view one's fellrunning education is not complete without having done it.
I loved it. I was tired on the start line having done 8 railways on Thursday, a fast Moel Famau run on Weds and a short sharp and fast trail race on Tuesday - not great prep. I got a bad start, with rock solid calves reducing me to a painful walk up the first climb.
Looking pissed off on the first climb - calves screaming before they warmed up!
Photo c/o Gwynfor, with thanks
But the calves loosened up and i spent the rest of the race eating gels, scoffing sweets and moving through the field, making up places. My legs were a bit tired all the way but i still managed to run 4 hours 37 mins, which is a reasonable time. I was expecting more like 5 hours. I think with more course knowledge and fresh legs, i could get under 4:15, maybe 4 hours?
That race meant a cumulative ascent for the week of almost 14,000'. What's encouraging is that the recovery time is getting quicker. I was tired after 8 railways on Thursday and didn;t run Friday, but ran well at Peris off one day's rest. This bodes well for the latter stages of the BGR when you have to pick yourself up and push on with tired legs.
The other race this week was the 4.7 mile multi-terrain race on the Wirral at Royden Park. Having spent all year getting beaten by all my peer group at Tattenhall, this was the first time i'd finished ahead of them, with just the three really fast guys ahead of me.
Fast running... quick recovery... this training lark seems to work!
Week summary
Mon - rest (Bank Holiday)
Tues - Multi terrain race - 300' ascent, some rough off road ground, 4.7 miles, 33 mins
Weds - Moel Famau run, 2300', 8 miles, 1:19. Did 1:18 two weeks ago but this run was the morning after a race so 1:19 is a good run considering.
Thursday - 8 railways and then the club run. @7 miles, 2700' ascent
Fri - rest
Sat - Peris 18M 8500', 4:37
Sun - Much needed rest
Totals: 13,800' ascent, 38 miles
Tune in Head - Love is the law, Seahorses (drifting into Mark and Lard's version occasionally!)
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