T'was the week before Christmas

The Riverfront Parkrun was fun on Saturday with many runners dressed in Christmas attire. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures to show you as I didn't see any posted on line, although I know some were taken. Anyway, the run was good, and then many of us went into the theatre cafe afterwards for coffee and a sing-along of Christmas songs. And that was also my 46th Parkrun completed so, I will be doing the run on the 23rd, then again on the 30th, the New Years day run at Barry, and so my 50th should be on the 6th January at my home run at the Riverfront, and a nice way to begin the New Year too, but, my friend and fellow Caerleon runner Michelle Clabon is also very close to reaching her 50th also, so we shall be coordinating our runs to coincide and run this together.

On Sunday I took part in the Christmas Tree race, organised by the Forest of Dean AC. This is a 5.5 mile trail run through the forest beginning at the Ellwood football club. To say that it was muddy and hilly is an understatement. My friend Daniela, (top sport massage therapist), was there also, after having done a fell race up the Skirrid mountain only the day before.

Daniela is a top ladies runner with Griffithstown Harriers and I'm glad that she had done the fell race the day before as she is a quicker runner than me and this was maybe a chance for me to beat her to the finish line. Alas it wasn't to be. I did manage to stay ahead of her until I'd reached about ¾ of a mile before the finish line but, there was this very long hill, and I just didn't have the strength left in my legs to be able to run at any pace along its full length, so I resorted to power walking, (which probably wasn't that much slower than I could have run up it), but that gave Daniela the chance to catch and overtake me. She probably finished about 30 - 40 seconds ahead me.

The course

Check out that long climb at the end

Daniela (in the red top) arriving at the finish

The set up was good for this race. I think it cost me £8.00 to enter, race numbers were collected in the football club on the day, and then the club was open after the race for refreshments. Tea and coffee were free, as were the vast assortment of cakes on offer, although they were raising money for Parkinson's disease and so a voluntary contribution of £1.00 was requested, and £128.72 was raised for this worthwhile cause. This is a race that I will definitely look at running again next year.

Tuesday evening's club run was the Village Venture, a 5.5 mile route around Caerleon village taking in that dreaded hill known as Trinity View.

Many of us were dressed in festive garb, including myself in my Christmas pudding outfit. And it was a mild evening, so by the time I reached the top of Trinity View, I had to stop and cool off a bit. I could actually see the steam rising from my head and body.

Pre run photo

On Wednesday evening I met up with Jenny at the Roman amphitheatre in Caerleon for our weekly speed/interval session, and as the last three weeks have been on a nice flat course, I decided to up the anti and throw in some hills this week.

I don't know what possessed me really as I ran up a big hill the day before, and several big hills on Sunday, and my calf muscles were now aching and tired. So my plan was to take a nice and easy pace along Ponthir Rd before turning into College Glade and hitting that first hill.  Then a little respite before tackling Trinity View, then once at the bottom, take Roman Reach and Home Farm to get to the cycle track and back to our starting point for roughly a 4.5 mile distance.

All went as planned and I have to say that my calf muscles, (which had been achy all day), felt fine on the run, and in fact I felt better and stronger than I did the evening before, (maybe due to the slower pace),managing both hills without having to stop or walk. And Jenny did a great job too. She's actually quite strong and she didn't stop or walk either, and just for good measure, we finished the run with a sprint along the Fosse section back to the car park.

I'm really impressed with Jenny. She is totally focused on her marathon training and keen to do anything that will help her improve her speed. She doesn't moan or complain and she's actually quite inspirational to be around.

Wednesday's run route around Caerleon

And the elevation graph

Yesterday a friend told me that she didn't know where I got my energy and motivation from, particularly as I have run five days in a row this week. I don't know where I am getting my energy from either but, the motivation is knowing that in about three months time I have to run 26 miles. That is motivation enough for me. The only things that will stop me completing the course will be injury or illness.

I am resting this evening and tomorrow evening, (party night 😃), then I am running a extended Cwmbran Parkrun with some of my Griffithstown Harriers friends. So my plan is to run from home to Parkrun, partake in the after run Christmas singing and a bacon butty, then run home again. I've worked out the distance to be approximately 12.5 miles. I will try and post this over the weekend as my final post of 2017.