Bowland Fell Runners–The North Wales Contingent (Not Yiannas or Declan)

Whilst living in north wales over the last year I have been completing several races, sporting the Bowland Vest. This blog entry acts as a rough guide to what I’ve been up to.

I started off my year here in September based out of Dinorwic, next to the slate quarries at Llanberis. My first race being one I had completed the years before and as a champs race it was a busy one.

Moel Wnion (A race to blow off the summer cobwebs (busy summer job, not much training))

The fell running bug had struck and the following weekend saw the completion of half of the Pedol Peris or the Llanberis Horseshoe. I thought about doing the full 17mile round but went for the 8.5miles instead, just to stretch the legs.

Notice the jammy sibling, whom i recently got into fell running, went a beat me.

 

The first height gain onto Elidir Fawr winds up through the deserted slate quarries.

 

 

 

After the initial hit of fell running in North wales I got out training and using the rapidly shortening days I kept it up for a bit. Before I knew it was getting dark quite early and it was time to get the head torch and road shoes out for a spot of Street league orienteering with Eryri Orienteers.

Following the surprise of winning the first race I thought I may as-well have ago at some of the others.

After mentioning my involvement with South Ribble’s street league I got roped into organising the Llanberis event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ok, back to fell running.

A busy winter at work meant I wasn’t getting any races done until Eryri’s Tuesday night series kicked off in April. A full series of ten races are open to all with competitors having to complete 4 to get a series score. Due to the lack of winter running I started off with a result not to shout off the roof about.

The races following the format of (get in as much height as possible within the shortest time and before the sun goes down) are quite addictive and I seem to be getting better at them.

Foel Lus

Pen Dinas

Abergwyngregyn

Great Orme

Penmaenmawr (3 Hills)

Here are several Photos of me sporting that Bowland Vest.

Penmaenmawr (3 Hills)

                                                        Moel Eilio                                         Moel Eilio

   Penmaenmawr- 3 Hills

                                 

                              Pen Dinas (Climb)

 

Pen Dinas (Descent) Much more enjoyable.

 

 

 

Unfortunately I have left Wales now and am currently living in Europe for the next year. But I do intend on racing over here so it won’t be the last you see of the vest.

OMM 28th-30th October 2011 - Breadalbane, Perthshire, Scotland

So it has been a busy two weeks, first with the Original Mountain Marathon (OMM) in Scotland. The event area, Breadelbane, covered the mountainous terrain between Loch Tay and Earn. It was my first mountain marathon and also a first for my team partner, my brother James. As it was our first one we didn't want it to be too difficult but we wanted a good level of challenge so we decided on the 'C' course. This course is a transition between a linear, (where the checkpoints are given in a set order) and score, (where the course is decided upon starting incorporating differing value checkpoints). So we had 5 linear and then had to choose four out of six checkpoints and results would be based solely on time. We started off fast and were knocking off several checkpoints and what seemed like we were overtaking lots of other C course pairs. Some very effective nav and we avoided some easy mistakes which several others had made. Between our 6th and eighth checkpoints we started to slow, perhaps as a lack of food and water intake throughout the morning. The thick fog on the tops added a biting cold wind and a visibility down to 10m. We picked up in the afternoon once we got a bit more warm and out of the fog. We finished the first day in 6 hours and 39 minutes in 36th position. The second day started off cold and damp and we woke to the sound of the piper on the video. Again we set off fast and learnt from the first day to get enough food and drink in regularly. We held a steady pace for the rest of the day with the same format of a few linear checkpoints and then deciding our own. Slowing towards the last couple of checkpoints before I got a sudden burst of energy as we got the the bottleneck of the last 3 checkpoints and several other pairs of all the courses followed the same route to the finish. We finished in a total time of 13 hours and 50 minutes in 36th position out of 103+/- who started. Overall, several lessons were learnt, navigation was tested, equipment reached its limit but it was fun, we took in a little bit of the Scottish scenery. Until next year.

Open Adventure - Haglöfs Open 5 Staveley

This week has been a week of both recovery and reflection. 
I woke up early to get in my huge bowl of porridge and left towards Garstang for my very kind offer of a lift from Heather Jackson. This is the third Open 5 race I have done since last years Slaidburn and Grizedale events so there was plenty to talk about on the way.

Again I was renting a bike and had to wait until 10am for Wheelbase to open so went to register and took on some more food and drink. The last few days saw the hot spell, but this morning definitely showed it was October in the U.K., overcast with a drizzly rain. 

I decided to bike first like I have done on the last two events, perhaps I should experiment with this for the next race in Shropshire. Open 5's are score type events so the route is decided by the individual, with checkpoints being worth different amounts. The values of the checkpoints are discovered on starting but you can study the map from registration. 

High Borrans OEC

I set off north from the start aiming for checkpoint 16 after finding out number 17 was a no control and worth nothing. This was a long stretch up a road so I used this time to look at the map and plan my route a bit more. After some stretches along tracks and bridleways I 'punched' number 16 and continues passing High Borrans OEC.

A fast descent down and across the B road for number 18 on the bench. A rider came up behind and overtook me, I thought I was going fast enough myself, he was zooming. Heading back north I picked up 13 and then wasted a little bit of time weighing up which way to go around for number 12. I went around the top and then powered all the back into Staveley, past registration and the start and to number 19. I had been going for about an hour and 15 minutes at this point. North up a small lane and up across some heath land for point 14 which I found out later that Big Bear Bikes Male Pair James and Morgan couldn't find. Another 30 mins up to number two and this is where I started to dwindle. Route options were planned on the way up to here and i decided i would swing round to the left and head back picking up 7 and 8 on the way 

Reston Scar

for 60 points. This is where I learnt I can't ride over a rocky track and eat a sandwich at the same time. I got into transition just under the 3 hour mark and quickly got down some food and water and went out for the run. I decided to go over Reston Scar first as I knew this area from orienteering earlier this year and picked up 60 points in 30 mins. A rash decision took me out to the east and over towards Brunt Knott to get the spread out points to the east of the map. Some Fell Running familiar nav for the next two points, on the tree and on the dam. I had 35 mins left so picked up 45 points from 3 checkpoints and finished 5 minutes early. 


Out of 70 male solos I came 33rd and score 425 overall, winner on 588 it was close scoring at the top with only few seconds late dropping people several places. 
In conclusion I think I am fit enough to score higher, I just need to get more fuel in more often and plan my route a bit more. Until then, in Shropshire on the Long Mynd in a months time. 


Paddy