Monday 11 December 2017

Crunchy Ice Run!

We were all caught out despite the weather forecast and woke up on Sunday morning to a huge dumping of snow at street level!   Our children wanted to go out promptly at 7am to catch every snowflake known to mankind on the rational basis that "It might not last!!!"

However, the snow has decided to stay with many consequences:

  • Beautiful snow photos
  • Sledging and snowball mayhem
  • Streets reclaimed by feet and not cars
  • Two days of school closures and "working from home"!
I did not venture out yesterday when it pretty much snowed all day but today I did take the opportunity to log off early and go for a little jaunt along the River and Canal.

Beautiful scenery again, the sun was dipping and also the temperature so not much time for hanging around to take in the scenery.   I did take a few stops though for the following shots:

The run was 9.8km; moving time of 55:16 and average pace of 5:38/km.    Exhilarating 😄


Sun setting - the Darren on the left and the Table Mountain to the right.


Close up of the Darren above Crickhowell


Sugar Loaf in the distance and a real trudge session through the snowfall here!

SNOW RUN!

Its quite rare to have snow in December, especially in Crickhowell but the weekend forecast was snow, and the heavens delivered!

Many races and events were cancelled this weekend, including the weekly local Park Run but I had to venture out....not least because I had a few G & T's the night before and felt a bit fuzzy!

Its a lovely route and the hideous hill climb from the Canal up to the Hillside car park is worth the views and near cardiac arrest at various stages on the way up.   I was particularly pleased to see that the segment which is posted on Strava is named "I HATE THAT HILL".....and I have to agree!

But feast on these lovely photos!


 The Hillside Mission church is a haven for roosting bats and is managed by The Vincent Wildlife Trust


 Views out towards Llangattock Cave Network



 Looking back towards Llangattock Escarpment


The peril of trail running.....the unseen briar caught my trusty bobble!

The run was a 14km slow 1:41 trudge (average pace of 7.14/km)  as the conditions underfoot were largely unseen along the cave ridge and elsewhere, very muddy and wet.   However, loved every minute of it 😍

Wednesday 6 December 2017

Gwent League XC - Pembrey 3rd December 2017

Oooh! - My first running post of December...the months are really starting to count down!

I have decided not to panic yet about fundraising and instead focus on getting Xmas done and dusted with my aim to start thinking of training proper in January.  (actually I am a bit nervous about raising £2k...especially as Christmas is upon us and everyone will be or about to be skint!)

At the moment, I am enjoying the chance to run for Parc Bryn Bach and on Sunday 3rd December, travelled with my lovely running friends to the scenic setting of Pembrey, just outside Llanelli.

Based on my trusty old Garmin Forerunner 15 - I clocked 6.2km with a time of 29:49 and given the  relatively dry, flat course, was pleased with my overall effort.

However, my addiction to marshmallows, the odd biscuit (pack) and little Xmas (and Autumn) treats in the office have seriously resulted in the creeping on of some extra poundage and today with my weekly "weigh-in" colleague, I have discovered that am the heaviest I have been since just after last Xmas!   


  Image result for scales
I know I need to stop eating crap sugary stuff but I just can't help myself so I think its time to get the Chimp Paradox book back out of the Local Library and start preparing to Train my chimp ready for the shock it MUST receive shortly.

The Chimp Paradox: The Acclaimed Mind Management Programme to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence and Happiness cover photo



Sunday 26 November 2017

It started to Snow.....

The opportunity to have a lie in on a Saturday morning is usually as rare as rocking horse pwp, mostly because the children (because its Sat) decide to get up earlier than the week days, play the Simpsons so loud its like having Homer in bed with you and the sibling quarrelling usually starts before 8am. 


Two of the tribe have weekly piano lessons and occasionally I will make an effort to travel up to Parc Bryn Bach for the Park Run.

This week, knowing that we had a full Sunday of sport for the two tribe elders (Hockey in Whitchurch and Football in Aber), I knew that the chance for a long Sunday run had to be stashed in somewhere on Saturday morning.

The sun was peeping out, there was a tint of blue sky and a hint of ice up on Llangattock Mountain so I knew it was going to be a little chilly up on higher ground.....

Below is a little collage of my morning out - note that little puff of cloud cover coming down....

Started Sleeting.....


I did not sign up for this!

Washed daps on route
Ended up doing about 12 km but it was hard going.  I had planned on heading up to Pen Alt Mawr and heading back to the Table Mountain but my directional skills in poor weather are notorious and an afternoon without children meant a Gin and Tonic had my name on it back at The Bear!   

I am a committed athlete. 💪🏃

Thursday 23 November 2017

In Your Element - Black Mountains Trail Race 2017


Location:   Crickhowell - Llanbedr - Crickhowell

Trail Length: Out and back 9 Miles

November 19th 2017


This was a fantastic trail route which was made better as I only had to walk to the registration desk and start line from my front door, on what was probably one of the loveliest Autumnal days this month has been able to offer.

There were about 300 runners booked onto the event and it was really well organised by Element Active Ltd.   It was the first time I had used the little dongle orienteering type check chip markers otherwise known as SI-Cards and I loved the fact that my result was instantly printed at the goody bag table!



I would thoroughly recommend this race and route to anyone who enjoys an off road experience (there were a few road sections) and whilst a little gnarly in places, with a tidy pair of fell/off-road trainers it was quite comfortable on the limbs.  This is certainly going to be one of my many weekend runs over the forthcoming winter months.


Wednesday 15 November 2017

London Marathon - Gold Bond Place confirmed

I received this on the 12th October 2017......


Congratulations!



"You have secured a London Marathon Gold Bond place – and will be representing St David’s Hospice Care in April 2018.

Excited??

Be prepared – it will take over your life for the next 6 months. You will be eating, sleeping, breathing marathon training."


As you can imagine, I was a little shocked as knew the chances of getting one of the highly coveted placed was slight. In preparation for the disappointment, part of me was already thinking "well,I will try again next year and the other part of me thought "well, at least you won't have to think about all that training in the dark...."

Nearly a month on and the reality of now facing the challenge of running 26.2 miles has started to really hit home, along with the additional task of raising the pledged funding of £2000.

I recently received my confirmation letter from St David's, along with some donation boxes and ideas for raising money which I really need to start thinking about as I have only 157 days to go.  😲

I have also set up my Virgin Money Fundraising page where all early donations would be most welcome!   Sarah Jeremiah - London Marathon fundraising page

So this first post is really about setting the scene and reminding myself that I really have quite a bit to sort out before the 22nd April 2018.

The good news is that that I have the support of a wonderful family and also have a brilliant friends network to help me achieve my aims - physically, mentally and financially!  

In addition, I know I can rely on my fellow club runners from the best running club in the world Parc Bryn Bach to bolster my confidence and affirm my belief that I can do this.

Will be posting up lots of running related images soon to confirm and demonstrate my commitment to this wonderful charity.

Thanks all 
Sarah x