Archive for September 2008
What’s On Week Comm 30 Sept
29/09/2008 by Dick.
Tuesday for most is the Bridge Inn 5k over in Shortwood, Bristol - the latest Club Champs race. 7.30 enter on the night. Meet at Leis Ctre at 6 to share cars.
If you can’t make it, come to the Leis Ctre at the usual time to meet up for a run.
Thursday’s main run will be the Tour of the Town (see website under Training & Coaching for the route). If you’re looking for some speedwork, you can do 4 X 1600 metres on the Link Road with 2 mins recovery.
No cross-country training on Saturday as Sunday is the real thing. Meet at Leis Ctre at 9.30 to share cars to Pontllanfraith near Blackwood. Remember to bring your Leisure Centre League race number. If you haven’t got one see Dick on Thursday, or if you must on Sunday morn.
Cheltenham Tri-umphs!
29/09/2008 by Dick.
An enthusiatic crowd of Chepstow members assembled at the Sandford Lido on Saturday to cheer on our three participants in the popular Cheltenham Triathlon.
A bright, fresh, early Autumn day was ideal for an open-air swim (I imagine - I wouldn’t have dipped a toe in myself). The bike was a nice tour of the countryside just below Cleeve Hill on the Cotswolds, and the run was a quick nip round the town.
This is a big event with 120 women, so Claire Gibson’s 40th position in 1hr 6 mins was quite an achievement for someone who’s been through what she has. There’s obviously a lot more to come as Claire’s fitness and skills improve.
Tracey Burton was only a couple of minutes behind in 1hr 8mins - well done Tracey to get well into the top half.
Gill Ellis, who’s only just taken up cycling and swimming very recently, put them all together very impressively in 1hr 12mins.
Watch this space for news of these girls’ progression through the Tri distances. I’m looking forward to watching them tackle the Ironman before too long (along with Bev when she gets that foot sorted).
Black Mountains Fell Race 27.9
28/09/2008 by Lou.
I woke up scared. And it was foggy. But by Abergavenny the sky was a pure stretch of blue and the sun shining.
In the school car park at Lanbedr, Chepstow Harriers were arriving; me, Dick, Mark English, Paul Murrin, Andy & Gill Stott, Sue & Gerry Ashton, Andy Blackmore, Andy Creber and Matthew Lawson. Gill was supporting and Andy C carrying a chair confirmed that he was too.
A pretty little church below the mountains in the sunshine, a beautiful setting for a race start. However, having done the race last year, I was more than a little daunted by the thought of the distance and climb to be covered before we returned. With foot hurting, stomach gurgling, sniffing, coughing and just hoping to do better than the 6.5 hour recce the week before, I set off.
This was no race for me to start fast. Subsequently I didn’t see Matthew or Paul during the race, they were gone.
I did start ahead of Sue Ashton and Dick but was not ahead for long. They both past me on the climb to the first trig point at Pen Cerrig Calch. I kept them in sight along the rocky path to Pen Alt Mawr and managed to get ahead on the flat (ish) track to Pen Tywn Glas. On this descent my recce was lost and I took a bad route, struggling along this diagonal descent too high, while Sue and Dick sped by below.
As Pen-y-Gadair loomed above me, the water in the stream was lovely and cool, had a quick dunk as I watched Dick steaming up the most brutal, never-ending mountain. I did meet Sue on this climb, she had decided to ‘enjoy’ the race and was chatting away! Meanwhile Dick disappeared into the distance not to be seen again.
By the top of Pen-y-Gadair, Gerry had decided to take his own route back in the sunshine.
I was very grateful to see Gill with a drink, before clambering up by the fence on the way to Chawarel Y Fan. At this stage I was convinced that it was quicker to walk on all fours, rather than upright. I was looking forward to the spectacular ridge run, during which I was pretty much on my own, apart from a walker in a raincoat who looked a bit like Andy Blackmore. I politely shouted ‘excuse me’ only later to discover it actually was Andy, suffering from blistered feet. Sorry, Andy, I didn’t think it could be you.
Caught a few runners on the decent off Bal Mawr. Briefly missed the turning into the woods. Cooled off in a waterfall. Spotted Gill again with more drinks, urging Andy to ‘get on’ not to loose his place. Andy S kindly offered me some of his Kit Kat as we both ran up the track to the farm below Crug Mawr, commenting on Dick flying past us earlier.
After the slog up the stony gully it was good to be on the way to the last summit, where Andy Creber was stacked with gels and very welcome water. Little chat with Andy before the relatively smooth and wonderfully final descent to Llanbedr. Nearly took out a (real) walker in my glee.
On the very last rocky climb I spotted a Chepstow vest, Mark English, thinking he needed some encouragement I caught him and tried to get him to chase me but sadly he was more than knackered. He still improved his time from last year and was well within 4 hours but it was not what he’d hoped for. Mark you did look ill at the end, hope you are feeling better now.
I was please to finish in 3hrs 49min. Sitting in the sunshine on the church steps were Matthew and Dick. Matthew, the first C.Harrier, had finished 9th in 3hrs 19min, Paul Murrin 2nd C. Harrier (I think had gone home), Dick 3rd CH, finished 19th in 3hrs 37min.
Andy Stott finished not long after Mark, next was Sue who had enjoyed the race.
The winner, Matt Palmer did 2.39, 2nd, Martin Shaw, 2.44. 3rd overall position was Jackie Lee, who finished in under 3 hours- brilliant time. It was her 7th year as 1st Lady.
Thanks to John Darby for organising the race and all the helpers, including Sharon Woods, Emma Bayliss, and our own Andy Creber and Gill Stott.
I was very happy with my £5 prize - obviously the envelope with ‘3rd Lady’ is worth 10 times that to me. Dick out did me with a £7 prize ( 1st in category ) and definitely deserved it - fantastic run - respect.
This Week 23 Sept
24/09/2008 by Dick.
Back to the Link Road Tuesday after 6 months off road. A speed pyramid sharpener to get your legs ready for Thursday and your last chance to post that really fast 5k that you know is in there somewhere. The Sedbury run awaits those who prefer the quiet life.
Either way report to the Leisure Ctre at 6.50 and don’t forget your shiny top or bring your fiver to buy a cost-price one from Dick.
We had a 200% increase in turnout for last Saturday’s cross-country training over Piercefield. Those who made the effort found it a great session that compresses a typical XC course into a really effective half-hour session. The beauty of is that you can be of any standard and yet you never feel alone at the front or back. Berna and I had quite a tussle, with Calum passing us every now and then. You could even bring the kids along for some healthy exercise and know that they’ll never be far away. So 9.30 in the top car park. The more the merrier and the XC season starts next week.
Llandogo Fun Run - Results
21/09/2008 by Lou.
Thanks to Rob Gordon ( Mynydd Du ) and Emma, for organising this great Cross Country Race. It was an excellent course with lots of little steep downs, twists and turns, very clearly taped all the way round. The weather was fantastic. The race starts were staggered so you could watch the Junior races before the Adult race. Great friendly atmosphere.
Chepstow Harriers did well:
John Wright - 1st Male
Lou Summers - 1st Female
Darcey Wright - 1st Female Under 16
Polly Summers - 2nd Junior Female
Llandogo Fun Run
20/09/2008 by Lou.
This Sunday, 21st Sept., is Llandogo Fun Run -
A well supported, local race ( Llandogo being the next village along from Tintern ).
This year the race is being held in the school grounds - the course will be similar to a Gwent League Cross Country race.
The race starts at 11 am. The adult race is 4km. There are also children’s races:
Infants - 1km; Juniors - 2km; Up to age 16 - 3km
There are usually lots of prizes and tea and lovely cakes after. It’s a great local race, especially if it’s sunny!
See you there, Lou.
Stretton Skyline 14/9/08 - by Colin Prosser
19/09/2008 by Gerry.
Andy Blackmore, Matthew Lawson and myself set out from Chepstow around 8am on a reasonably nice Sunday morning and arrived to register in Church Stretton about 10am. I took a last minute decision to take the 10.30am start (the official start being 11am) and there had also been a 10am when apparently quite a few set off.
The start was a mile from race HQ and I set off the wrong way – as usual – but soon got a lift from another runner and found myself at the foot of the Cardingmill Valley with two mature veterans and the lady who had so kindly offered me a lift.
The initial ascent, as previously reported, was runnable and we all set off at a sedate pace on a steady ascent next to the babbling brook.
The lady runner pulled ahead after about half a mile and I then pushed on as she got about 50 yards clear and we soon left the two old vets behind.
I then ascended another mile and was still feeling good but the weather was closing in and visibility was down to about 50 yards and at this stage I thought a path to the left was the right course but had lost sight of the front runner and decided to wait for the seasoned fell runners.
Waiting, I found I had made about 200 yards on the first of these 2 runners with the last man not in sight and upon his approach I asked for some navigational advice and he informed me that my route choice was a possible course but that he was going on up a bit. Graham, as it turned out, had done this race loads of times so I fell in with his pace and we carried on up the valley and had a bit of conversation about this and that including the fact that the bloke behind us would beat both of us with ease being a good descender.
We reached the first summit and checkpoint at Pole Bank in about 38 minutes and I felt I could have been going quicker but with visibility now down to about 20 yards I had no intention of going off into the unknown.
We finished the descent and reached the first water station at the same time as the first four runners who I was surprised to see stop and drink a full cup of water each before setting off again – probably with some sort of energy stuff. Anyway we did likewise and then I got a bit carried away with the field and left Graham behind as I took on Ragleth Hill where Matthew passed me towards the bottom and Andy Passed me towards the top.
The skies had cleared by this time and I was pleased with my descent holding off some of the mid-fielders and thinking – I’m definitely on for about 4 hours or better!
So, another drinks station and off up Caer Caradog – this one hurt a bit more than the first two and I was definitely slowing up but once at the summit I was able to run off and get lost round the side of the hill.
At this point I spotted Gerry Ashton descending back to my right and I altered course to the bottom of the hill just as Sue A arrived and we jogged round to the next water station. I was thinking at this stage that this long fell race stuff is a bit overblown on the fitness side and downed my water and headed up the Lawler and up and up.
I was going so slowly that Sue was able to trot ahead adjust her camera and get a photo of birthday boy before jogging off into the distance. Sue said that she felt the start of the race was a bit sparse on runners and actually spent a bit of time in last place which despite her second race of the weekend gives some idea of the quality of the field and confirmed my good decision in starting early.
The Lawler went on and on and on as the entire field apart from two passed me as I shuffled on up the hill. The sheep are so used to walkers that they just stand and watch but my approach must have appeared as the stealth of a fox as they spooked and ran, either that or the glint in my eye as a boy raised in the Ebbw Fawr valley before they piped it!
Eventually the trig point on some sort of mast came in view and I got my time from the marshal, kicked his rucksack - accidentally, and set off back down the hill as this is the out and in section of the race. However, now I felt everything hurt, particularly my knees, and could only slow jog in a zig zag back down the hill to the same water station and took another drink of water.
I had lost the rest of the field (apart from the two behind) and having taken directions and feeling a bit woozy I set off across several stiles and muddy fields back to the main road in a faltering walk jog. Now up to this point I was really impressed with everyone runners and marshals alike and I’m also probably doing this bloke down but Vanessa this may have been the one at Pole Bank when you did this race.
He said, do you want to go on – it’s about 4 or 5 miles of hard climb – or you could just turn left on the road and you’ll jog to the finish in 15 minutes – lots in front of you have!
The temptation was huge – on my approach he’d said -are you ok and I replied - no I’m all in! Why not I’d done most of it – in fact I’d never run 19 miles before never mind over hills – who would blame me!
I looked the guy straight in the eyes and said no I want to go up – he pointed me towards a nice lady with a bottle of water on the other side of the road and I began the last ascent to the Port Way.
To begin with this was OK and I jogged up the valley choosing to run in the stream at points for no particular reason. As the path began to steepen there was a choice to the left and my markings on the OE map suggested this was the route but I was unsure.
I looked behind and again Graham was about two hundred yards behind me and I decided to wait and seek his advice.
He said – well you can go that way but I’ll go on up the road for a bit first. So we then fell into a reasonable pace walk together and after about half a mile I believe I hit what is called the wall and got ever slower as Graham pulled ahead but waited on two occasions to offer moral support and some more navigational advice – which overall made us more than even as my earlier stops had been for my own benefit.
I was really struggling and chewed down my last energy bar on the way up which really at that stage should have been a gel as I needed a quick fix. So I struggled on very slowly and reached the last checkpoint at the Portway and set off for the last descent all the way back to Church Stretton – about 2 miles.
At this stage I think the energy bar started to work and I really started to perk up, spotted the 2 runners in front and headed off in pursuit. I hit the tarmac with about a mile to go and carried on picking up the pace passing Graham and the other runner (who had started at 11am) and finishing with a bit of a sprint finish and a minute or so ahead.
Andy and Matthew were dutifully waiting at the finishing line to cheer me in and I was mindful that I had kept them waiting ages and that we had all missed the presentations.
I made lots of mistakes and prepared poorly – mainly training and nutrition on the day – would I do it again? Damn right!
Will I do the Black Mountains – not a chance I couldn’t walk properly for 2 days – but this is what it’s all about and I’ll be back!
About 5 hours – what a doddle.
Don’t know the results as yet for everyone who took part but a great day all in all - endorphin heaven!!
Stretton Skyline 14/9/08
18/09/2008 by Gerry.
A fell race in hilly but perhaps not considered by the purist as a mountain environment. This was a long race - 19miles and about 4,500 feet of climb. A small contingent from Chepstow took part with Matthew Lawson the first of the club to finish in a good time of 2 hours 58 minutes.
This was my second attempt at the race - the first time I gave up at Lawley - about 2/3 of the way through - but this time managed to complete the full distance. I’m not too proud of the time 4 hours and 3 minutes - but at least I completed it.
There were 5 longish climbs on the route and a bit of route finding with some mist on top. The conditions meant that I pushed on the first section to keep in touch to avoid the need for my own active navigation, but I did get the compass out towards the end to make sure I was on route. It was long and hard - I wasn’t in full form on the day - and crawled into the finish.
Perhaps this is a good event as a first long fell race - never too far from civilisation. I still reckon the wilder events in the Brecons and Black Mountains are more of a challenge and more in keeping with the true fell running ethos. Look out for the Black Mountains due in a few weeks time. For more info please contact Sue or Gerry ashton.
Sugar Loaf Recce
18/09/2008 by Lou.
November’s Club Championship race is the Sugar Loaf Fell Race.
It is partially marked so knowing the way would be an advantage. There has been an interest expressed in doing a club recce of the race.
As a first provisional date would Saturday 11th October (11 am ish to leave LC ) suit anyone? Please leave your name if it does, or let me or Dick know.
This is the day before the Mendip Muddle, but it will be a slow recce, possibly slow enough for children, just to learn the route.
In addition to the first recce there will be a weekday recce as requested.
Presumably this date was not suitable, so due to no takers, there will be a weekday recce, possibly Thursday 2nd October.
The Week Ahead - 15 Sept
15/09/2008 by Dick.
Tuesday’s speedwork will be a new session devised by Andy Meek-Welsh using the park in the middle of the Danes estate. It sounds different and interesting, and likely to become a favourite in our training calendar. Or it’s a fartlek session over Piercefield Park.
Thursday is the final 5k on the Severn Bridge. This has proved very popular. If you haven’t done one yet, come down and have a go and post a time for your Club Champs points.
Then celebrate with our monthly visit to Wetherspoons in St Mary’s St for a nice supper and drink and chinwag.
Finally, cross-country training in Piercefield Park on Saturday at 9.30. Last week’s session attracted a grand total of one, Kevin, who nevertheless had a hard but lonely workout. Kev is rather hoping that a few other Harriers will join him this week! The first race is in two weeks remember.
