Adderbury ‘Three Spires’ 10k 2013

I’ve fancied running the Adderbury Three Spires trail half for a few years now but after suffering a lot of arm pain during the back end of Otmoor I think 13 miles is just too long for comfort at the moment, however slow I run it. So spotting that fellow VRUK member Sarah had entered the 10k version I submitted a late entry and 9am Saturday morning was to be found driving down a farm track to the allocated parking on what promised to be another blazing hot day. I was knackered as usual with maybe five hours sleep if you add the bits up and an extra dose of ibuprofen to shut my arm up so I could enjoy the run – nothing new there then πŸ™

The farmer asked that we line the cars up in just half the field so there was plenty of room left for the sheep we were sharing with, I notice he’d left them the shady half – good man. We cut through down the side of a house and then crossed the road to follow signs to the start. I kept my eyes on the couple up ahead which maybe wasn’t the best idea as we ended up somewhat lost. After a bit, guided by the sound of race preparations, four of us followed a narrow path over a disused railway embankment and found ourselves at the wrong end of the start field. Youth races were already in motion and already warm runners queuing to collect their numbers, I grabbed mine then sat about on the grass till I caught sight of another Vegan Runners vest and introduced myself to Sarah. As we were chatting one of the half marathoners came and said hello – also vegan but running for Witney Road Runners.

Sarah said she hoped to get under the hour, I made the usual excuses about bad arm, lack of sleep, lack of training and lined up right near the back. We all set off together with the half runners doing a lap of the field but us lot heading straight for the exit at the other end of the field. I positioned myself right near the back so I wouldn’t get dragged along in the heat.

Adderbury 10k start As usual I’d done my homework and checked the route profile based on a route gpx I’d downloaded so was expecting small hill at 1.5 miles, bigger bump at 2.5 then another small one about 5. Unfortunately the route had been changed rather late in proceedings due to some other event so instead we had gently rolling on farm and field tracks after we’d left Adderbury with a visit to Bloxham about halfway. It was nice but I’d no idea where I was going πŸ™‚

It was really, very hot. I was glad it was a morning event and even gladder I wasn’t attempting the half marathon. I passed a few early on and was passed by many of the half marathoners as they caught us. What with stiles and gates and narrow paths it was never going to be a fast course which suited me fine. There was water after a couple of kilometres and I made sure a full cup went down, more water at Bodicote by which time some around me were noticeably wilting and I was quite glad I was obliged to take it easy. We joked with the marshals that the queue to cross a stile was really just an excuse to have a walk in the shade. Glancing at my Garmin showing time of day only it seemed from the distance markers that I was 10 minute miling or thereabouts which was fine by me.

Adderbury 10k meAround mile 5 I took a short walk in the shade as I was beginning to feel just a little faint and sick. I was yoyoing with a couple of walk/run guys and I think we were all keeping our eye out for each other in case there was any serious heat problems. Fortunately I didn’t see any. I wasn’t expecting more water but really appreciated it when it arrived near where we split from the half marathoners. Nearly done and glad of it we passed a gang armed with powerful water guns and three good squirts left me dripping and in much better condition for a not too slow finish.

Back through Adderbury, no idea where I was heading, it did seem to be going on a bit. Then a marshal says next left and your on the finish field. I heard footsteps behind and felt an unusual urge to speed up a bit and hang onto my position. A bottle of water handed to me as soon as I crossed the line, a medal (which I had to untangle from the bunch as the young lad was struggling to separate them). I was pointed to the goodie bags which contained more water, a welcome banana and an interesting water bag type thing. I’d enjoyed myself and didn’t feel too overheated as I sat and drank my water. Someone asked me what distance I made it and I realised I’d not bother to check the Garmin so saved the run and the data suggested a bit over 6.6 miles in agreement with other runners so we’d had a bit extra at no additional cost. Got lost trying to find my way back to the car afterwards but it was a nice day for an extra tour of Adderbury.

I was surprised to find my 1:04:07 had got me 33rd of 76 runners, I think this probably reflected my coping with the exceptional heat better than some as I’m not able to run flat out. Sarah was much more impressive, 4th lady and 10th overall. I must return and run the half marathon sometime – a great local event and very impressed with how well Adderbury Running Club kept us comfortable in that heat!

 

Otmoor Challenge 2013

Checking back to my report on last year’s Otmoor Challenge I see that this year I was definitely going to go under 2 hours. Very funny! I settled for a target time of 2:15 instead with no certainly I could even manage that.

Come the day I was knackered what with my shoulder having moaned non-stop for days and the knock on effect of only managing to sleep in brief shifts between doses of ibuprofen and tiger balm. Friday night I accidentally made matters worse by deciding on a return to the paracetamol and codeine during the night but the blooming stuff didn’t seem to work.Β  I had to get up though as I was on the Oxford parkrun volunteer rota and needed to be there at 8:15, I breakfasted and set off bleary eyed muttering that I wouldn’t be doing Otmoor today. I was marshalling and was glad I took the camera as it was sunny enough for some decent photos and my victims were very game.

Oxford parkrun GorillaSo 1pm I was on my bike cycling to Horton cum Studley for the start having decided a nice dawdle round at the back in the sunshine would be more fun than sitting at home moaning about my arm. I wore my ‘Stop the Cull’ t-shirt over my vest and this got an approving comment from the lady handing out the race numbers. An energy gel, a couple of ibuprofen and a big drink of water then I positioned myself right at the back for the start and dead on 2pm we were off.

A nice slow start as we jog out the entrance, right down the road then onto a rough track at the end of a cul-de-sac in Horton. Few as slow as me though as I keep it real easy for those first couple of miles cross country till we join the road just before Murcott where the Hash Otmoor Elite Squad were already on their first beer outside the pub. Several miles of minor road now through Fencott, Charlton and Oddington where the same chap as last year standing outside the same pub told us to get a move on again. We’d spread out quite a bit by now and while I’d passed a couple and been passed by a few I was still keeping the pace very easy in the hope of saving some energy for the ‘endless field’ and the hill after it.

It was good to turn down a little avenue then back off tarmac onto field paths again. There was a tricky little wooden bridge and some gnarly surfaces though and my arm was starting to throb as the painkillers wore off. I was pleased to walk a few paces at the Noke water station, drinking a full cup to wash another gel down with. It was getting a bit too warm for comfort – Otmoor Challenge always seems to manage a sunny day – and some of my companions at the tail end were showing signs or wear as I’m sure I was. Shouting and hullabaloo behind announced the approach of the Hash Elite Squad who passed me in a fragmented state of exuberance and exhaustion.

The field went on and on with it’s narrow bits of path with awkward camber and surface. My arm hurt and I wanted to walk but had to keep reminding myself that, unlike sore legs, it would feel no less painful walking or running. The plan was to run everything except Otmoor Lane hill which climbed along the route of the old Roman road from Otmoor nature reserve to Beckley so a couple of miles was spent really looking forward to the hill. When it came to it a walk 3 telegraph poles then run 3 strategy worked fine and I think the only runner who passed me was a straggling Hasher who invited me to join him at their beer stop near the top. I declined and carried onto the last water stop. Then a bit more hill and we were almost home.

The grassy downhill was great as my legs were still good enough to enjoy it, it’s a pity about the stiles. Then a little path and a bit of track before coming out on the road for the last flat mile to the finish. The official walkers route rejoined ours along here so knackered runners, backpacked walkers and traffic gave a busy feel after all that countryside. Soon but not soon enough I reached the turning into the finish field and crossed the line in just under 2 hours 20 minutes – 310th of 353 runners. I was very glad I’d bothered to be there but also pleased I’d thought to bring the tube of ibuprofen gel to rub on my shoulder and ease the cycle ride home over the hill. Definitely going under 2 hours next year πŸ™‚

Chalgrove Festival 10k 2013

There’s a definite pattern emerging with running and this blooming shoulder. Try and push out of the comfort zone and end up with a disappointing result and a sore arm – slow and easy gets much the same result without the disappointment and a slightly less sore arm. Unlike last year, when it rained a little, this years Chalgrove Festival 10k promised to be a proper Bank Holiday scorcher. So I applied a good layer of sun-cream and left myself plenty of time for the 10 mile ride there and arrived with a vague intention of finishing under the hour but not if this meant any excessive huffing and puffing.

I had no trouble passing the spare 40 minutes after I’d picked up my timing chip. The festival was already starting to build up and I went and had a look at the old cars and the huge Merlin helicopter in one field. Then a visit to the vintage and miniature engines chuffing away pumping water to nowhere or lighting electric lamps, should have taken a photo of the slightly surreal set-up with a vintage pump circulating water in and out of a bowl in which a plastic lady from a later era sitting in a deck chair cooled her feet. The strong, warm sunshine, the smell of warm oil and sound of early Beatles blasting out from the merry-go-round coming together to make a fine environment.

I ate a gel, drank half a pint of water, said hello to the IWCA contingent and a couple of other familiar faces then we were summoned to the start area. The Race Director announced that the starting gun today was in fact going to be some old canon and might be a bit loud. I avoided the warm-up gymnastics and found a quiet bit of field to get the blood flowing. I hung round near the back of the field and chatted with a bloke doing his first race and explained how the timing chip thing worked and how his published time might be a bit slower that he thought if it turned out to be gun to chip, I couldn’t remember from last year. We couldn’t really hear the announcer and the canon was not visible to us so we’d half forgotten about it. I think everyone jumped in unison when it did go off!

Chalgrove 10k Starting Canon 2013

Thanks to Chalgrove Festival for the pictures

We were off, backwards down the finish straight with the beep of the timing mat confirming it was chip to chip. I started my Garmin but just had it showing the time of day with no flashing up the mile pace etc. A view people gathered to see us off, many with ‘rather you than me’ looks – good viewing as the start/finish straight cleverly cuts right through the middle of the festival ground.

Chalgrove 10k Start 2013Out of the field, down a tatty drive with a couple of bigger potholes marked in yellow, then onto the road where I spotted Howard who looked like he’d cycled out to support someone. A few faster runners who’d been trapped at the back passed us, I gently overtook a few gone off too fasts. By the time we’d turned into the lanes before the first mile was done several red sweaty faces were making an appearance. The forecast only predicted 20 degrees C but it was more like 25 according to my weather station when I got home. After our extended winter and recent, bitter, north-easterlies we weren’t fully ready for proper sunny weather.

We continued on, a bit of descent but a very slight headwind, I resisted getting carried along when the occasional faster runner passed and held back to be sure before passing others. I was quite warm enough and was glad of a squirt from some kids water gun as we passed through Berrick Salome. An unfortunate but appropriate earworm had taken hold courtesy of Simon and Garfunkel – over 30 minutes running left and the same 6 lines before the words ran out and someone pushed the repeat button.

Slow down, you move too fast ...

Slow down, you move too fast …

Halfway and we had changed direction and were glad of the water station at Roke. I walked a couple of steps to make sure a full cup went down. Gently climbing for a mile now with a steeper bit and a false summit. Several walked, several charged up it like it wasn’t there – a few did a bit of both. I just eased off a bit, but not too much, and plodded on. A bit of sweat dripping into my eyes to remind me that a hill in the sun is always going to be taxing.

Then gently down for a good way which was welcome as I had a slightly sore foot and my arm was having a grumble. Good thing I’d not pushed my self or I might have ended up joining the ranks of run a bit – walk a bits of which there were a few complete with that ‘angry at my body for letting me down’ look. I picked up a couple of easy places but had neither urge nor energy to challenge the threesome who passed me on the finish straight. The festival was really bustling now and there was lots of cheering near the finish, this is a great race to bring your family to if you’ve got one.

Chalgrove 10k Finish 2013I handed in my chip then, after queuing a minute, realised I really didn’t need yet another running shirt however nice so went to the water. They were struggling to keep enoughΒ  full cups on the table to sate the roasting runners so I headed back to get my bottle off my bike instead managing to intercept a bottle on the way. I cheered in a few later arrivals then back on my bike for a gentle, tiring, but not unpleasant ride home. Result was 56:56 243rd of 352 – as good, maybe better, than expected.

Interesting twist back at work the next day when I wander over to the other building to see a chap who’s been there as long as me but I’ve hardly had cause to talk to. There he was wearing his Chalgrove 10k shirt – 5th over all and won his age group – well done Rob πŸ™‚

Pen yr Ole Wen 1 – Vegan 0

With 6 weeks to go to the Vegan Carneddau and no real improvement in my shoulder it seemed about time to try myself out, I’ve never actually walked or run to the top of a mountain before. We had already booked a couple of nights B&B in Betws y Coed for a break and had been jammy enough to get some wonderful sunny weather. So after a long mornings drive then vegan pastie and chips at the Alpine Coffee Shop Jane dropped me at the east end of Llyn Ogwen with instructions to pick me up in 3 hours allowing me time to find my way up Pen yr Ole Wen and back, maybe with a leg out to Carnedd Dafydd thrown in if I was making good time. I had brought a choice of trail shoes and light showerproof or boots and proper coat, it was warm at the bottom but I could see a couple of patches of remaining snow up there so went for the boots and coat.

East of Pen yr Ole Wen

The way up

I’d plotted on Garmin and map what I understood to be the easier but longer way up, following Afon Lloer up the east of Pen yr Ole Wen then following a path left round to the south to reach the summit. It turned out to be pretty boggy by Afon Lloer with no clear path but marking posts and steps over walls showed the way quite clearly at first. It was of course all uphill and pretty soon I was regretting bringing my coat as the sweat flowed. I took it off and carried it under my good arm, tied my fleece round my waist and slowed the pace reminding myself that the hard work was yet to come.

Llyn Ogwen and Tryfan behind

Llyn Ogwen and Tryfan behind

One of the marker posts had fallen so I stuck it back in it’s hole. They ran out after 40 minutes or so but I could make out a sort of path leading to the rocky bit below the summit and was still on the course I’d loaded the Garmin with. I wasn’t in sight of the small lake, Ffynnon Lloer, snuggled near the top yet but remembered a route description had cryptically stated the need to bear left before you could see the lake. I continued on to the start of the rocks where it was fortunately a bit cooler with altitude as I had to put my coat back on to free up my good arm.

Still looks like a path

Still looks like a path

I picked my way up what seemed to be a steep path over rocks and grassy bits but soon found my way blocked by some larger slabs resting at a quite steep angle. I thought I could see a level bit not far up that could well be the path but there was no way I was going to get past these without a bit of what’s know as a scramble and that wasn’t going to happen with my lack of experience and only one arm working properly. Turning round to retrace I was reminded that I don’t like heights, particularly where the footing is not secure – I pushed that phobia back into it’s hiding place where it was quickly forgotten as I took in the view.

Pen yr Ole Wen view eastI retraced a bit but couldn’t see any obvious path further south so decided to ignore the Garmin and continue towards Ffynnon Lloer to look for a way up I could manage. Perhaps that hadn’t been the correct path and it was a little further on, there were no shortage of false tracks. It was an hour since I set off and I’d not seen anyone since leaving tarmac – not exactly a multitude of walkers to tread a clear path. The little lake was pretty and it was a great place to have to myself. The continual wall of loose rocks towering to my left didn’t offer much promise though. I tried a couple of possible paths but they tapered to nothing, one got so steep that I ended up sliding part way back down on my bum as the vertigo gremlin tried to crawl back out his hole.

A week and a bit of research later and it seems I’d failed to find the proper route though looking at a couple of videos of the scramble I still wouldn’t have got up there without 2 good arms.

Ffynnon Lloer

Ffynnon Lloer

 

Not that way either

Not that way either

I continued round the lake to the shallower looking slopes below Carnedd Fach but really knew it was time to admit defeat. If I couldn’t gain the first summit walking in perfect conditions I wasn’t going to be up to running the Vegan Carneddau with a further 6 peaks. I reckoned I had another 30 minutes maximum before I needed to start back down so decided to follow a clear path up from the lake to a big rock I could see a bit before what looked like another yet more loose rock. Getting closer I could see that with sufficient skill, strength and limbs it might be possible to gain the ridge this way but it wasn’t for me. Time to give up!

Ffynnon Lloer from above

Ffynnon Lloer from above

Time to go back down

Time to go back down

Download from Garmin

Where I actually went – download from Garmin

 

 

Shotover Resolution Run 10k 2013

The omens were good for the rescheduled Resolution Run 10k up Shotover. This fund-raiser for the Stroke Association (their website says they don’t fund animal research) was postponed from a freezing, muddy, snow covered day in March to the 21st April which promised spring sunshine instead.

Along with the improvement in the weather there seemed to be progress with my frozen shoulder. The aching, previously consistantly uncomfortable since early February, had started getting noticibly worse a couple of weeks ago. Despite my daily diet of 3 doses of ibuprofen and 2 of paracetamol and codeine the night pain seemed to have spread to every muscle even vaguely related to my shoulder and I could find no position comfortable to sleep in for more than a couple of hours. I was reconsidering the option of a cortisone injection. Then a few days ago, just as I was about to start 2 weeks leave, I realised I couldn’t even feel it through the painkillers so stopped taking them. The pain seemed to have retreated to the quite bearable ache it started as at the end of last year and for the last 3 days I’ve just been using Tiger Balm and occasional ibuprofen gel if it gets uncomfortable. Hope I’m not speaking too soon but seems the 1st stage of frozen shoulder, the painful stage, may be over just leaving the frozen and rehabilitation stages to go through. Unfortunately I still can’t raise the right arm above shoulder height so it wasn’t just a bad dream and I’m going to have to keep at it with the daily physio exercise regime. (Three days later and it’s back to the aches and ibuprofen – oh well!)

So out the door I went, Garmin set to show nothing but the time of day as I had no plan to rush round, and jogged the half mile to Brasenose Woods then onwards through them to walk and jog up Shotover Hill to the the start. I passed a couple of puzzled marshalls on the way and explained that I lived less than 2 miles away. Ten minutes to start time and I found a lot of purple clad people being warmed up in the field by Military Fitness. I couldn’t see the registration tent but a volunteer relieved me of my donation which I’d paper clipped to my race number. We headed out onto Shotover Plain where registration and start/finish became apparent and chatted till we were called for the start talk. I couldn’t see George who said he might enter on the line but Barry from the parkrun was there. I let a few people know just how very hilly the course was going to be!

Then we were off – 1 lap for the 5k and 2 for the10k. I started about halfway down the pack and gained a few paces running along the Plain despite taking it easy. We entered the forest at the western end and followed the curving, now almost dry, trail to the top of a lovely long descent that I run down most weekends. Emerging into the field at the bottom we ran round 3 sides of it instead of straight across to get to the still muddy gap through to the next field. Again right round 3 sides, both fields are sloping so gently up then fast back down, a chance to see how many were in front – maybe 20 runners but I was expecting several to pass me as I walked the steeper hills.

Along the path at the edge of Brasenose Woods, a pretty showing of white and yellow flowers, then across the end of The Ridings and up the bridleway. As planned I walked the steep 1st part of this, I’d already been up it once today, and was passed by 2 or 3 runners one of whom I re-passed as I started running on the flatter bit and he ran out of puff and took a walk. Instead of going all the way up we took a path to the left which swooped down then climbed steeply – my 2nd planned walk. An arrow sent us right up a path that led to the big field at the top where the warm-up had been. I spotted a couple of fast runners emerging from a path to the left, it seemed someone had tampered with the arrow and I was lucky it had been reported and replaced by the time I got there.

Resolution Run 2013

Instead of going back onto the Plain we ran the parallel path through some of the loveliest bits of the forest with some very old oaks. The 5k was sent left to run back along the Plain to finish while we continued on. I think a few of us may have missed an arrow here and followed a parallel path as we spotted one of the arrows on the long downhill to our left and cut through to join the path while another runner was already descending and had obviously joined the path further up. Subsequently comparing my Garmin track to the the map there didn’t seem to be a lot in it.

Then down for a second time, round both the fields again, tiring a bit and losing the odd place to the more determined but loving the race. My second walk up the hill, a young woman passing me. Down and up the next one, losing another place to a young chap with a backpack. Then along the top path to be marshalled back onto the Plain for the last kilometre to the finish where I saw I could just scrape in under the hour and managed to push the pace a bit. The lady who’d passed me offered a swig of her lemon and I hung about to see Barry finish not far behind me then a pleasant run down the hill then back home, passing the marshall at the Ridings for the 4th time as she closed up shop. 59:54 28th of 48 participants.

Resolution Run 2013 Finish

I do like a good trail run in the sunshine πŸ™‚