Just come across David Tittle’s blog post on Week 8 – Not the Coventry Way . It’s part of his blog on completing the the ‘A Coventry Way Challenge‘ which is a 40 mile challenge. I came across this challenge a few years back but unfortunately i’ve had bad timing in terms of other races being on at the same time – that and i’d want to run in and needed to build up to it a bit first.
Definitely one i’d like to do in the future!
We drove up to Snowdonia on the Friday and stopped overnight at a travellodge just outside of Bangor.
Saturday morning we walked out to autumnal weather. It was a bit blustery but nothing major. So we drove up to Llanberis. Very scenic drive – about a half mile out we drove in to the wind and the rain.Parking up was easy enough and it was a quick walk to the electric blue building to get under cover from the rain.
About a quarter to nine we joined the queue for the bus to the start of the race in Nant Peris. At quarter past ten we were still stood in the pouring rain and wind and it was announced that spectators could no longer be transported to the Start. So i left my support crew (very wet but understanding wife) and got on the next bus. The start of the race was delayed by about 15 minutes but this seemed to be taken on well by all the runners. Within a few minutes we were all penned in and ready for the off.
Miles 1-4 were up a gradual hill that was fairly easy going. The waterfalls and rivers had been well fed by the rain which was now easing up – but it was still windy out there.
Around the 4 mile mark you reach the peak of the first climb and then it’s a long descent all the way until mile 12. The scenery on the descent was just breathtaking, and i did slow down to take in some of the views.
Miles 12 – 14 were a steeper all up hill but nothing too major. This leads into miles 14 – 20 which are a gentle descent with a few undulations thrown in to the mix.
All is going pleasantly well. I’m fuelled up, hydrated and making good time. Mile 21-24 is some of the hardest running that i’ve ever done. The first part of this I put my head down and made slower but steady progress up the hill. It’s at this point that you start catching up with people who’ve already started to walk up the hill. I carried on running for a short while but found it just too hard going to keep this up. So I slowed down and eventually had to walk for a while. A bit of a jog/run/walk and it looks like you’re at the top. But you’re not there’s a little dip/and then a final climb. It’s around this point i think that you’ve moved onto slate track and then softer ground. Then you are at the top.
Now you have to descend into Llanberis. All the climbing that you’ve done has to be countered by a two mile run-in to the finish line. This was not an easy run in to the finish. The descent’s obviously very steep and I just went for it – I’m leaning backwards and taking shorter steps but it seems to work. I just let my feet get on with it and I find myself in site of the 26 mile mark. It’s here that i get my first bout of cramp – probably related to the newly developed running style i’d just been trying coming down the hill. A few encouraging words from a fellow runner and a couple of stretches and i’m past 26 and heading to the where the cheers of the crowds are. (Even an encounter with a pothole doesn’t phase me at this point) . It’s the final stretch running through the crowds to the finish line. It’s a super way to finish the race.
Exhausted and elated at the end of it all! Missed out on my finishers prize as I think I went the wrong way somewhere
The support along the route was surprisingly good. It seems you’re in the middle of nowhere but there are people out giving their support. In the villages that you pass through the streets are lined with people. The drink stations are manned – cadets, scouts and other volunteers all giving their time to make this a smooth process. Gels, isotonic drinks and (homemade?) chocolate available at the latter stages. The scenery was just superb and this is definitely one marathon i’ll be doing again
Snowdonia marathon course map
Snowdonia Marathon course profile
I took a trip down to the Black Park parkrun on Saturday. It’s massively out of the way I know but it looked the closest parkrun to the midlands. I was on a bit of a fact finding mission as i’m fairly keen to see one started up in Coventry and wanted to know what was involved. I have to say I was very impressed!
I arrived fairly early and there were a few cars in the car park. I took a bit of a wander to warm up and returned about 15 minutes later to a much fuller car park and a buzz in the air. I made my way up to where the runners were gathering around the enquiry desk (handily located picnic bench) and just soaked up the atmosphere. There was about 80 people taking part in the run. A pleasing mixture of young and not so young, male/female.
Everyone lined up for the start and we were off on a well signposted, simple route on a gravel track around the park. Four lefts, two rights and before I knew it, it’s over! and i’m heading to the finishing line – ushered on by an encouraging cyclist. On the line your time is recorded and then you’re given a position token.
It took a couple of minutes to queue to register my name against my position token on the computer with the run organisers, but nothing off-putting. It gave me a chance to take some much need breath. Once that was done that was it, a well organised process from start to finish.
I stood and watched the rest of the participants finishing off and then headed home again.
Some of the other runners headed to a nearby cafe but I had to start the trek home.
A few hours later I recevied an email detailing my time for the day’s run and then a couple more hours later and all the details are up on the site ready for viewing.
I drove down to the Tenbury 10k 2009 this morning. The drive took a lot longer than I thought and the planned hour of calm preparation turned into about 25 minutes. There was ample parking and you just needed to follow the signs for the swimming pool to find your way. (I managed to miss this the first time around but followed the trail of runners on my second pass). The race started off on a flat playing field and the 220ish participants flooded out through a gateway turning left on to the first hill of the day.
Not too bad as starts go and as soon as you hit the top you’re heading downhill again. There’s then a further set of inclines on the route that once you get to the top of you’re filled with a bit of relief that all the hard work’s done and it’s all downhill from there. That was a bit of a mistake and at around the half way point there is a further hill. It was a bit of a killer but once you reach the top it’s mainly downhill from there. The route takes you along a shaded path and at the end you come out just behind the start and it’s then the run-in to the finish line.
All in this was a great race. The organisation was quietly efficient and everything went smoothly from arrival to departure. The only oddity I found was the markers which were at mile intervals rather than kilometre but once you get your mind round that it’s not a problem. The marshalling and signposting was excellent and on a warm day the 4/5 waterstations along the route were most welcome. The route was very scenic with a few spectators/locals dotted around – but the finish was well supported. Nice medal, water and mars bar in the goody bag – with an invite to join in the 10 mile Fell Race in the Mortimer Forest December 2009, i’ll have to think about that one.
I set myself a goal a while back – something to challenge myself with aside from the weekly training schedule. I’m aiming to do the Snowdonia Marathon in October 2009.
I read various articles and reports on this including 9 questions to discover a marathon : Snowdonia Marathon and Runner’s World Readers’ Top 50 Races 2008 and Snowdonia tied in with my timing.
Really looking forward to this one!
I watched the end of the fun run before setting off for the start of this 5k. Great level of enthusiasm from the younger runners that I saw and good support along the finish line.
So a small trek to the start line on Staircase Lane – organisers in Allesley races like their hill starts!
The course was along footpaths once you got on to Coundon Wedge Drive. A hill takes you along Wall Hill Road and this brings you to the top of Browns Lane. Browns Lane dips down towards the final hill of the course – The Windmill Hill. Once you’ve climbed this hill it’s flat/downward run to Birmingham Road and the Finish.
I liked this race. There were about 50 entrants and a friendly vibe throughout. Despite being a relatively small race there were plenty of friendly marshalls along the route and there was sporadic local support too. A medal and plenty of refreshments at the Finish line – what more could you ask for? My thanks to the organisers!
And this is the route for the Allesley festival 5k. Not too sure about the start but it’s close to there:
View Allesley festival 5k in a larger map
I’ve been a bit lax with my blog posts. It’s not that I haven’t been doing anything! Last week:
Monday – 4 miles in the morning and then a circuit session in the evening
Tuesday – 4 miles in the morning and then an interval session in the evening
Wednesday – 4 miles in the morning and then circuit and weight session in the evening
Thursday – 4 miles in the morning and then a sports massage in the evening (Fire and Earth UK)
Friday – 4 miles in the morning then a weight session in the gym
Saturday – 4.8 km slow but steady paced run
Sunday – no long run on Sunday i just took a rest day and took it easy in the sun.
So keeping up with the regime and the two workouts for most of my weekdays. So still happy and getting through it all.
Saturday i took a visit to the Coventry Runner store. Excellent service again. They’ve updated a bit since the last time I was there. There’s now video gait analysis available (for a fee which is refunded if you purchase trainers).
Basically a video camera is pointed at your feet as you run on a treadmill. The camera records all the movement of your feet for a period of time. When it’s played back you’re able to see how much pronation (if any) there is as you move and advice is then given as to which type of trainer you should be looking at – so they fetch down a few pairs of trainers and it’s back on the treadmill for a try out of the trainers and another video session to see how those trainers affect your running.
Very interesting to see the video of me running, particularly in slow motion, they’re able to point out how you should be running and you can see the difference that the different trainer styles make to your running.
All in it’s a relaxed evnironment to shop in and the guy who served me (whose name I forgot to ask for) was a runner and knew all about the trainers he was selling (i’d done my research too!). They’re updating the resources on their web site soon so it may be worth checking in there in the near future – or now if you haven’t done so already.
For those interested I pronate a bit so a structured trainer was advised – again you could see the difference on the video. Left the shop with two pairs: Nike Air Structure triax+ and Mizuno Wave Inspire
Oh and they also have details of the local races that are coming up – Massey Runners, Coventry, Corporate 5 Challenge at Uni of Warwick Tues 18 Aug was a new one to me!
A list of running events local(ish) to Coventry. Some have already been held in 2009 but I think these are annual events now.
April
Rotary Shakespeare Marathon and Half Marathon
May
June
Hinckley Town Centre 5K – 7:30pm, Wednesday 24 June 2009
July
Birmingham and Black Country Half-Marathon – 10am, Saturday 4 July 2009
Stratford Summer Six – 7:30pm, Saturday 4 July 2009
Saab Salomon Forest Trail, Sherwood Pines, near Mansfield – 7pm, Tuesday 7 July 2009
Sweatshop Wyre Forest Half-Marathon, Wyre Forest Visitor Centre close to Bewdley, Worcestershire- 10:30am, Sunday 12 July 2009
Sherwood Pines, Old Clipstone, Mansfield,10K & 5K Forest Trail Race 2009 Sunday 19th July – 11:30am, Sunday 19 July 2009
August
Kingsbury Classic 12K – 10:45am, Saturday 1 August 2009
September
Experian Robin Hood Festival of Running – Sunday 13 September 2009
The Big Stratford 10K, Stratford Race Course, Stratford on Avon- 10:30am, Sunday 13 September 2009
October
Badger Bite 4, Badger , Nr Burnhill Green, Wolverhampton – 11am, Sunday 4 October 2009
The Waseley Wobbler (formerly known as the North Worcestershire hill race), Waseley Hills High School, Rubery, Birmingham – 11am, Sunday 4 October
Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest 10K, Nottingham – 11:00am, Saturday 10 October 2009
Leicester City Marathon and Half-Marathon – 9:15am, Sunday 11 October 2009
Mudrunner 7, Eastnor Castle, Eastnor, Ledbury – 11:00am, Sunday 11 October 2009
Robin Hood Adventure Challenge 10K/5K/2K/Off-Road Duathlon – 12:00pm, Sunday 11 October 2009
University of Birmingham 5K - Sunday 18 October 2009
Cassidy Coventry Half Marathon – Sunday 25 October 2009
View Coventry Northbrook AC 10 Km in a larger map
I think this is the route that the Northbrook 10k took us through.
My first 10k race today and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The race itelf starts part way up a hill and the undulations continue throughout. The route is through traffic free, country lanes – nice scenery on the way round. Not a very populated area but locals were out supporting the race. The run was well marshalled, water stations well signed and well manned. Good atmosphere, well organised, a medal and welcome goody bag at the end. Great race!
I previously ran the Rotary Shakespeare half-marathon and thoroughly enjoyed it. This was one of the main reasons for deciding to run the full marathon here.
The marathon started at 9.30 am – it was warm and sunny throughout. The event itself started down near the entrance to the RSC and finished 0n the other side of the river. The start was fairly crowded with spectators which was good for a lively, supportive start. Along the route the residents of Stratford-upon-Avon and the surrounding areas were out in force to cheer on the runners. It still amazes me how a clap, a cheer, a well done or someone shouting your race number can spur you on that little bit extra particularly towards the end when you’re nearly spent out.
There are a couple of busy roads on the route but these were very well marshalled by the Rotary volunteers. The routes take you through some scenery and villages that you probably would never otherwise see. The water stations were well organised and clearly signposted throughout. There are a couple of big hills but generally this was a generally undulating course. The run up to the finish was along the greenway. This seemed to go on for miles particularly on the second loop! The finish ran alongside the river which was lined with spectators (including my personal cheerleading crew) cheering you accross the finish line.
An excellent day!
The finish line a welcome site:
Rotary Shakespeare marathon finish line
Medal (well earned!):
Rotary Shakespeare Marathon medal
© 2010 Running Coventry · Proudly powered by WordPress & Green Park 2 by Cordobo.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional | Valid CSS 3
