Recovery Period? What recovery period!

Managed to get out into the Coed y Brenin on Monday for my recovery run, prior to a chain saw session in the garden. I was halfway round their Short Sarn Helen Loop when a white van came down the Forest Track towards me.

We both stopped, Matt Ward poked his head out the van & asked me if I was running on Saturday in the Coed y Brenin’s Winter Trail Half Marathon (he was marking the course). I said I’d just done a Marathon & was unsure whether I’d be recovered in time. Of course you know what’s coming, I’d been hooked, see you Saturday Matt appeared in my eyes!

Thursday came (Gaby had given her blessing for Dorina to watch me in the race), Dorina cycled, I ran, as I showed her 3 points she could cycle & watch me go by.

Thankfully race day broke to beautiful skies (unlike Friday when the heavens had opened) & Dorina & I cycled/jogged to the start where we bumped into Phil who’d been one of my team members in the Oggie 8 last year. We agreed to start together but I know I’m no match so left him to his pace & me to mine.

Mine felt surprisingly good with serious flagging only kicking in at about the 10 mile point. In 4 years I have moved from a Half Marathon feeling almost impossible to tackling it almost like an extended sprint where I can risk overdoing it early in the knowledge that I have the strength to hold on. That said Emlyn, also of Eryri gave me yet another lesson in descending, mine is at least improving.

Very pleased to beat my 2012 time by 16 minutes despite a slightly harder course & only a respectable 4 minutes behind Phil, he’s only run once or twice in 6 months, another b….. cyclist kicking my ass! 60th out of 230 with some strong runners felt very respectable.

Thanks to Matt for encouraging me to run & to all of his team for a very well organized event, also to Stephen Edwards for the plugs he continues to kindly give our Cafe.

Back at the Cafe, what a day, busy in our absence there was no rest for the wicked until almost 8:00pm when I was at last able to rest & enjoy the fantastic Photographic Presentation put together by John, Nick, Marion & their guest Rob Johnson, given to a full house. Sorry to the people I had to turn away but hope you can come to future nights published on our Events page.

One question, did I see a nude image on the screen at one point or were my glazed eyes deceiving me?

To cap a great day the night raised £355 for Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team so a big thank you to all those who came.

I now have a problem to resolve so no races next week but Moel y Ci is in the diary & I am looking for a flat Marathon, not too crowded & near to Snowdonia, any suggestions welcomed.