Lanzarote 2005 details
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Rhobell Fawr Fell Race 13th November2004
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This was my second attempt of this event.
The weather was a little kinder than a year ago. It was cool and sunny with light winds.
It attracted nearly double the number of competitors as the previous years race.
The race took place at 12.00 and comprised 6.3 miles of "horizontal"
and 1900 vertical feet of climbing (in one hit). Fell kit (waterproofs whistle map and compass were compulsory).
This was the first in a series of 3 winter races (the others being Tarren Hendre and Aran Fawddwy)
Probably the better weather was largely the reason for my taking two and a half minutes off my time.
I struggled up but ran a reckless downhill overtaking a handful of runners on the way down.
You can see me going up on www.brodysynniac.com
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My Time 71 minutes 31 seconds PB
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Abergele 5 mile Race 7th November2004
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This was my first attempt at this event which is reckoned to be one of the harder 5 milers.
I didn't really like the course which started and finished in the town amid traffic. Away from the town it was all on open roads
with a couple of stiff climbs. Nevertheless I did reasonably well for my first race after withdrawing from the Pirelli 5 with a leg injury.
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My Time 36 minutes 51 seconds
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Vyrnwy half Marathon September 19th 2004
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This was my first attempt of this event.
The course starts below the dam rises up to and across the dam and follows the lake on almost level tarmac road before descending the last mile to the finish.
An ideal course for fast times and the weather was ideal wih just a liitle wind and occasional sunshine.
Over 1250 runners took part. I expected and duly got a personal best for this distance taking more than six minutes off my previous best.
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My Time 94 minutes 43 seconds PB
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Caernarvon 10k 2004
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This was my second attempt at this event.
It was more or less the same as the previous year and I again came first in age group taking 44 seconds off my previous time
I think I could have run a little faster. Tony points out that next year he will move up into my age group so if I want to win again I need to improve another 80 seconds or so.
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My Time 44 minutes 21 seconds
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Race the Train (14.75 miles) August 21st 2004
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This my first attempt at this attempt at this event.
The course starts from Towyn goes up the valley crossing the railway tracks twice each way with a turn close to Abergwynolwyn.
Lots of rough grass, sheep tracks and cowpats made the going a little "heavy" and at 14.75 miles was the longest race I have ever done.
Full results are still awaited.........
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My Time 129 minutes 36 seconds
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Dolgellau 5 Mile August 7th 2004
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This was the third running of this event.
The 5 mile course starts part way up a hill behind Dolgellau and rises steeply for a couple of hundred meters before levelling out and descending slightly.
That is followed by a gentle rise to about a mile and a half.
From there it is either level or downhill all the way to the finish on the Marian.
The day was scorching hot and in direct sunlight apart from a few trees in the first mile and a half.
Of the runners I spoke to most were agreed that the best tactic was to go flat out on the hilly bits of the start
and then hope to recover on the downhill. That was my tactic as well and I was rewarded with a personal best
and first in age group in the Welsh Championships.
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My Time 33 minutes 53 seconds PB
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Moelfre (Bald Mountain) Challenge July 10th 2004
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This was about 9 miles mostly off road including 580metres (1900ft) of climb. The weather was fine with a little wind and the course started with a
long low climb, then a slight descent, then a punishing steep climb to the summit.
At this point I was going well and in about 12th position overall. Up to this point the course had been well marked but I guess the organisers ran out of tape and as I launched myself
into the descent I promptly got lost and ended up running through first a boulder field and then a pile of gorse bushes.
Someone (who I never saw) shouted follow the road so I headed for the road below and then it was a 50/50 chance whether I followed the road to the right or left.
I chose right and after a couple of hundred metres saw a welcome piece of marker tape.
I got into gear again and pulled in two runners before missing a turning a mile from the finish and ending up doing a tour Llanbedr village.
Having worked out where I was it was then five hundred metres of upward gradient on the main road to rejoin the course.
Another five hundred metres and I coasted through the finish in 15th place overall.
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My Time 120 minutes 18 seconds
but could have been a lot less
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Ellesmere 10 kilometres July 5th 2004
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The race on a slightly undulating roads around Ellesmere College started in a heavy rain shower which soon changed into bright sunshine. Once again my tactic was to try and stay with Malcolm Taylor for
as long as possible. This worked for 2 kilometres before I gradually pulled ahead a few metres. However in the last kilometre Malcolm pulled past and despite a big effort in the last few hundred metres I came in nine seconds behind.
I still managed a personal best however.
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My Time 43 minutes 59 seconds
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Red Kite Challenge June 19th 2004
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This was tough. 10.3 miles mostly off road including 440metres of climb really sapped the strength from my legs.
Enduring mixed weather from cold and windy to warm then cold windy and wet, I finally got settled about 6 miles into the race
and reeled in a few runners from then on. An optimistic marshall shouted only a mile to go (when it was at least two) and consequently I totally mis-timed my finishing effort
losing three places in the last mile.
There were five Brodysynni runners with Steve well placed at 3rd overall and 2nd in age group and Tony putting in an excellent
effort despite a surfeit of wine the night before.
I don't yet know my own position as the long drive home took precedence over waiting for all the runners to come in and
having the presentation.
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My Time 97 minutes 59 seconds
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Buckley Charity 5 mile June 6th 2004
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A scorching hot morning was not exactly ideal conditions for a race run entirely on tarmac roads.
A fast downhill start was followed by a long gentle rise and fall and finally nearly a mile of uphill work.
Contrary to race rules there was a lot of switching from one side of the road to the other and stepping up and down kerbs.
Times were generally slow but I did gain first place in age group.
The freebee Mars bar to all finishers was almost liquid and I refrained from opening it till it had spent a night in the fridge.
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My Time 35 minutes 50 seconds
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Erddig 10k May 30th 2004
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This route wound through and around the National Trust Erddig Estate over tarmac, shale and grass with just one uphill section at about 4km
The race started in the rain but this quickly abated. Tried my usual tactic of trying to keep up with a faster guy for as long as possible and found myself in front till the end.
This time I only managed third in age group but it was a large field and I got a
personal best for this distance.
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My Time 44 minutes 38 seconds PB
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Newton 10k May 16th 2004
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This was a newly measured route partly on the footpaths of Newtown but mostly along the banks of the Severn.
The weather was hot and sunny. After the first uphill section my place never changed throughout the race.
Steve Gilliland took first place and I managed first in age group but a little short
on my personal best for this distance.
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My Time 45 minutes 59 seconds
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Ellesmere 10 miles May 9th 2004
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Good weather on a slightly undulating race around Ellesmere College my tactic was to try and stay with Malcolm Taylor for
as long as possible. This worked for 2 miles before I gradually fell behind. I was really hoping for a personal best but fell a little short.
Once again I went home without realising I had won second place in age group!
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My Time 74 minutes 56 seconds
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Craig Yr Aderyn (Bird Rock) Half Marathon May 2nd 2004
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No real problems with this race apart from going out far too fast, fading through miles 6-9, followed by a recovery.
Conditions were good apart from a headwind on the way in.
This was the second year I have run this race and I managed to knock over 6 minutes off my previous time.
I didn't stay for the presentation as a barbecue was taking place at a friends house so it was a day later before
I was telephoned with the news that two silver medals were in transit to me! One for 2nd in age group in the
Welsh Championship and one for being part of the second place team.
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My Time 1 hour 41 minutes 38 seconds PB
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Chirk 10k 4th April 2004
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The race around and in the grounds of Chirk Castle drew a large contingent of runners on a fine but slightly windy day.
Times were unexpectedly slow.
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My Time 48 minutes and 56 seconds
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Ras Yr Aran @ Llanuwchllyn March 27th 2004
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This was a 10 mile fell race and a toughie.
There was a lot of climbing with snow and rocks on the top section and the mist reduced visibility to 20-30 metres.
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My Time 2hrs 15 minutes and 45 seconds
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Rhayader 5 mile @ Rhayader March 20th 2004
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My first race since Llyn Elsi owing to convalescence from a hospital operation in January followed by achilles tendon trouble
probably caused by training too quickly too soon.
Conditions were cold and extremely windy. We were taken out to the Elan valley dams starting point by coach and
ran back into town. Several runners fell the problem being if you got too close to the person in front you were sucked
forward by the wind. The first three miles were downhill and I had to apply the brakes a little to stay upright.
After a flattish second mile came a long uphill section to the finish.
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My Time a wind assisted 34 minutes 36 seconds PB
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Llyn Elsi @ Betws-y-Coed December 13th 2003
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An unexpected phone call on the morning of the race gave me just 25 minutes to get ready, finish some commitments and
drive down flooded roads to meet Steve Gilliland and get a lift to this 5 mile fell race. The initial climb of 750 vertical feet
up paths which had become rivers was pretty tough.
After that the course levelled out going round the lake (Llyn Elsi) before a final steep,wet slippy descent. Due to inadequate
marking out and lack of a marshall at the critical point not everybody followed the same route and little
confidence can be had in the final published times.
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My Time a dubious 35 minutes 40 seconds PB
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Penmaenmawr Fell Race November 15th 2003
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This years race (organised by Eryri Harriers) took place at 10.30 and comprised aproximately 11 miles of "horizontal"
and 1500 vertical feet of climbing. Fell kit (waterproofs whistle map and compass were compulsory).
Conditions were good though a little boggy over the centre section and Bro Dysynni runners this year were Andrea Goode, Tony Hodgson and myself.
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My Time 1 hour 43 minutes 29 seconds PB
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Rhobell Fawr Fell Race November 8th 2003
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The inaugural run of this race took place at 12.00 and comprised 6.3 miles of "horizontal"
and 1900 vertical feet of climbing (in one hit). Fell kit (waterproofs whistle map and compass were compulsory).
This was the first in a series of 3 winter races (the others being Tarren Hendre and Aran Fawddwy)
Conditions at the start of the race were a little cold dry and windy. At the top it was very cold and windy.
The summit marshalls were lying on the ground (because it was not possible to stand up).
At the turn the wind was enough to suck the air out of your lungs so you had to turn your head in order to breathe.
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My Time 73 minutes 43 seconds PB
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Further details on the Bro Dysynni Athletics Club site.
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Lanzarote International Running Challenge 2003
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The running club that I joined earlier this year has been sending a team of runners to this event for the last few years.
The event consists of four races with a nice medal for anyone completing all four.
This year the runners and supporters were:- |
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Andrea Goode
Graeme Stringer
Tony Hodgson
Andrew Sanderson
Bob Chilton
Jane Chilton
(behind the camera)
more pictures |
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The races were:-
10 kilometer road race..3 circuits of the resort totalling (allegedly) 10.4K
13 kilometer ridge race..cross country up along and down a volcanic ridge
5 kilometer beach race..run mostly on soft sand
23 kilometer trans island road race |
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My Times 10k 45.07,
13k 1.02.01,
5k 25.24,
23k 1.49.22
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