Yr Aran is a 905m peak just south of Bala, the race route starts from the village of Llanuwchllyn and is 5 miles straight up and back down again. No trouble with the navigating, especially with the glorious sunshine provided.
It's the peak mid centre of the photo above. Now you'll have to agree that it looks a runable slope from a distance. But even with a following wind on the way up, I probably walked 2/3rds of it. A very deceptive final summit that kept looking further away the more you ran towards it.
I had done this race before in 2010. There wasn't as much snow about this year and had to climb up the final stile before the last little scramble to the top, instead of being able to just step across the top of it because of the huge snow drift. It just goes to show how changeable the March weather can be with the 2014 race shortened and the 2013 race cancelled altogether. This year 'suncream' was the additional kit requirement with a few of the faster male runners flouting FRA rules by not having their number on their chest, but (on their vest) tucked down their shorts!
Maybe I spent to much time looking at all (out'n'back route remember!) the views this year, so a little disappointed with only a 8 min improvement on the time from 2010. The respective Black Combe times from the same years saw a 13 min difference. But a pb is a pb, and the views were worth it!
The following day saw me head up to Oxenholme for the 11th (my 10th) race of the Kendal Winter League. A testing 2 lap run around Helm Hill. No results as yet, so will have to see how I'm placed in the league table before the final race at Elterwater. TloB was there too, testing out his hamstring. The suggested 'run with me for the first lap' evaporated into the ether by the time we reached the first climb. He was massaging it thoughtfully on my return, so hopefully it won't curtail his chances at the last race and his 7th required counter for a good league finish.
TF
No comments:
Post a Comment