Race reports by Dave Phillips.
This year has been bad in that in Feb the Watford ½ was cancelled because of a flake of snow and I couldn’t get to last week’s half at Carsington Lakes near Ashbourne because of the fog so I turned round and came home.
So I made up for it this w/e as follows.
Rhayader Round the Lakes Elan Valley 30+k – 2.3.19
I’ve done 20 miler almost since it started and then last year (when it was cancelled due to snow) it became a 30k (18+ miler), This was due to the Welsh farmers moaning that the roads were blocked with runners so out came their tractors on race day! Not good seeing that my family were all Welsh farmers in many locations but in those days road running didn’t exist.
Anyway I had permission to start early (1100 hrs) so good news. The official start was 1300 hrs but that would have meant me finishing in the dark-well almost.
So as usual the 1st 5 miles is all uphill to Penrhiw-Wen at c1500 ft. and what an absolute killer this is. Then at the top the wind was so bad (c50 mph) and almost freezing and head on that forward movement was a no no no! Possibly the worst I’ve experienced.
Eventually we got to the 1st reservoir Craig Goch so at least we were on the flat and it continues this way round the roads that follow the lakes but as you keep turning that killer of a wind just kept hitting you head on for much of the time.
Eventually we got to Caban-coch reservoir and the leaders were passing me so plenty of company for the last few flat miles with the wind behind us.
Then back to Rhayader for the finish and T shirt and medal and showers in the Leisure Centre HQ.
700 + did this and the 5 miler so next time maybe the 5 miler?? Who knows?
Massey time: Dave Phillips: 4hrs 28 mins.
Warwick ½ marathon – 3.3.19
When I entered these 2 events I didn’t realise that they were both on the same w/e and I’ve done every Warwick ½ and most of the Rhayaders but never have they clashed before. So it was a no brainer to just do both especially as my daughter Anna was doing Warwick (training to do my 500th full at Stratford with me). She lives opposite us in Claverdon so I was chauffeur of course.
We collected our numbers and in the envelope were the instructions headed “Dear Athlete” so I did wonder if I’d come to the right place!
So about 1,000 runners assembled at the Racecourse and off we went at 0900 hrs on a wet and windy morning. The course is good and on closed roads so well done the organisers. Through Warwick to Leek Wootton then on the back roads to Beausale (same route as the Kenilworth ½), towards Hatton and hilly Hampton on the Hill and finally back on the Henley Road to the racecourse. It was a bit lonely for me but I know the route so no problems.
Then at the end there was Anna waiting for me so a good family day out.
Massey time:
Dave Phillips 2.56. Anna 2.27- but she will run with me at Stratford.