A year of running I could never have imagined.....discovering Parkrun and getting a Welsh vest!

Well.....2019 and running has been one I could never have imagined! 
I have run races I have loved, some I have not enjoyed quite so much and achieved results that were never something I thought would actually come to fruition. 
This post isn't going to be a blow by blow account of all the many races and results just some of the highlights and challenges that have ultimately been all part of my journey to the start of Ultra Tour Monte Rosa. As well a "Big up" to those that have been a part of this years running exploits.

"Sunny day fun run" Kingswood. 7th July

Coming off the back of a very pleasing Cross Country season at the end of March, that marked the start of the "big" races and "proper training". Cross country helped me to enjoy running fast and over shorter distances, whilst still being in my preferred off road and muddy environment! 

Training this year has been helped hugely by the support of great friends and heading on adventures in Snowdonia, the Peak District, the Isle of Wight and of course the beautiful trails and hills of home. I have had an absolute blast. 
Special mentions and "Thank yous" to some particular people.
Jon (AKA Gee Bear/#BestieBear)You have been an absolute STAR! Motivating me when I didn't want to run up that hill or I was having a run where I had less coordination than a toddler and of course the mighty "AMERICCINO"! So many smiles, laughs and tumbles haha! :-)

Start of our run up Cadir Idris. 15th May

Up on the Kymin (One of so many visits this year) 21st June

Jon and I on our Pen Y Fan adventure. 8th July

Sugar Loaf Masif!! 1st August

Next Claire. Meeting through a love of running at the Sugar Loaf fell race in April. This summer we have had some awesome adventures on the trails, hills and Mountains of England and Wales! Thanks for being a blinking awesome support to me. Here's to more of the same!

 Claire - Super supporter! On the Snowdon descent after the Twilight race. 28th June

Table Mountain on a windy Sunday afternoon. 1st July

"Matching tshirt kn*bs!" Snowdonia Trail marathon and 10k. 14th July

A mention also must go to Lisa, Ray and Sammi (No photo of Sammi...camera shy lols, and away doing some amazing grown up work!) Thanks for your company on training runs, chats about running, visits to the pub for refuelling and some great laughs!

Grwyne Fawr reservoir loop taking in Waun Fach. 11th May.

Before I finish my "Thanks" I will mention my most brilliant Mum. Always there in the background waving her "Faye Flag". Attending and patiently waiting for me to finish races or to get home from training runs -"Won't be long Mum" getting home 3 hours later! Thank you for your unwavering support. Oooh also - my little Isla Pup. Unconditional love and shared many hours out and about with me.


Now to a brief overview of how things have gone with my running through 2019 (most recent first)

July

Snowdon International race July 2019. First Welsh vest 😁😁15th international lady (19th lady overall) 2nd to score in Welsh team. 01:30:40

Snowdonia Trail Marathon. July 2019. (GB Selection race) 14th lady, 58th overall 04:41:44.

June  

Midnight Mountain Marathon (Half) June 2019. 01:38:33. 1st Overall.

Snowdon Twilight June 2019. 56:52 6th lady (1st Welsh lady) 43rd overall.

Man V’s Horse 2019 - 1st lady 03:05:11 (46th over all including relay teams)

Isle of Wight Needles Half 2019- 1st Lady 01:38:04 (19th overall) Isle of Wight Tapnell 10km 2019 - 1st Lady 42:56 2nd overall

May

Mount Famine fell race - 2nd lady. 54:44. The one with the crazy Berkley Marathons esk start!

Hay Field May Queen Fell race - 2nd lady 25:10. Shortest race I've ever done. Loved it!
 

April

Red Kite trail marathon 2019 - All set to finish 1st lady and queue some navigation issues! Marathon turned into 32 miles in the same time the winning lady ran the 26.2 miles. (All good experience right?)

January 

Winter Trail Wales (Coed Y Brenin) 3rd lady and “Queen of the Sting” 01:49:57
 

1st Lady and 2nd overall at the Tapnell 10km trail race. 1st June

Needles Half. 1st Lady 19th overall. A beauty of a race :-) 2nd June

Snowdon Twilight Race - 28th June. 1st Welsh Woman to the top!

1st overall Midnight Mountain Half Marathon - 29th June

To my utter surprise my running performance at both Man V's Horse and the Inov8 Snowdon Twilight race drew the attention of the Welsh selectors. An email landed in my inbox a few days after running up the Llanberis path asking me to be a part of the Welsh team for the Snowdon International Mountain Race. What the?! The words "Are you any good at running down hill?" made me quiver but also grow a pair and get over my fear of descending!

Que a return trip up North to Llanberis and the race of my life! 

Nerves, excitement and honour like never before. A race experience that I absolutely loved and could not have been happier with my first Welsh performance. If I am lucky enough to be selected again I might give a mountain marathon the weekend before a miss! I found new found confidence and drive that had not truly surfaced until this race.

Women's Welsh Snowdon International Team 2019

 

"Worst bit, but short bit!" Almost there! Snowdon International 20th July

 I now move onto one of the revelations of 2019. My discovery and now slight obsession with Parkrun! By no means was I "Anti Parkrun", it just didn't really appeal. Short distance, usually a lapped course and on a Saturday morning. (For years Saturdays have always been a working or race day only)
Thank you Claire for persuading me along to Glossop Parkrun back in May. You have unleashed a monster! 10 down and and loving a Saturday morning on either my local Forest of Dean course or doing a bit of Parkrun Tourism. We are incredibly lucky in these parts to have so many great courses fairly close by.
I have to say 5km is really growing on me - Shhhh! Don't tell anyone though! 

Embracing the Parkrun love! 1st June

Medina IoW Parkrun. 24th August

I am just over the moon as to how this years running has unfolded. I can honestly say I have loved it and learnt alot! Testing myself across different distances, varying terrains and more pleasing going out and doing races that I would usually have shied away from. "No that's too short....I'll be sh*t!" Turns out its better not to worry about that and just run and have fun. It is my hobby and the way I love spending my spare time so I should be enjoying myself right?

 

 Cadir adventure. What a beauty! 15th May

So over the moon with my win at Man V's Horse. 8th June

 I think that's enough of my ramblings! Time to get ready for the race I have spent the whole year prepping for.... when I signed up in January it seemed such a long way off! haha! Lets go finish packing :-)

 

 See you on the mountain!!

 

 

Ultra Trail Wales. My first 50 mile mountain Ultra

Ultra Trail Wales 2018

This race required a bit more than a Facebook post to give it justice.....This race has really struck a cord with me and and left me with an excitment and adventure that I just had to share.
Before we go any further you must have the following with you before you start reading this:-
A cup/sizable mug of tea or coffee.
A biscuit/packet of or some cake.
A comfy seat.


Ready? Lets go! 😀😁😀😀

When I first heard about UTW I had to put this on my "To do" list.I signed up and thought "amazing, this will be great, plus I have a good 9 months to get to some kind of preparedness". A few marathon distance uber hilly races on the lead up and we'll be good to go...! That 9 months flew by and I am sure I probably should have done training runs longer than 20 miles.....?! I do have a theory though that cumulative mileage can also do the trick, running tired and be prepared for that feeling of "this will not be quick or pretty but you are still moving forwards!" Plus I am now one of those ladies of 30 years old... and it scientifically proven (and actual fact) that us ladies get better at endurance as we get older...!

Anyway enough about the faff of training for the race lets get to the weekend in hand!

Friday 24th August - After a week of feeling every single niggle, feeling of tiredness (blame work for that one!) and general thoughts of "oh my goodness, am I ready?" I woke up feeling all of the above! Marvellous I thought...but after having a word with myself we set off North Wales bound. Mum, Isla and I ...and a good packed lunch!
Always liking to be early I arrive at registration to find fantastic familiar faces. I have a bit of a chat and I collect my bits and pieces for race day and a bag of goodies. If you don't get excited at the goodie bag I am not sure you are a real trail runner nowadays.....?!
Right, needed something else to eat (packed lunch had already been consumed!) We head to Coed y Brenin for a cuppa and a flapjack - I sit there thinking "tomorrow this will be the 30 mile point and you'll have broken the back of the race!"Got to get to that point without breaking though....
My usual night before a race rituals then commenced, double check kit, food, clothing, which socks do I wear?! I ate a good dinner and hoped for a good nights sleep! I spent some time pouring my attention over the map (those that know me well I can sit and look at maps for hours!) and eventually fell asleep with approx 1/4 of a single bed thanks to Isla and her lack of personal space awareness!

Saturday 25th August - Race day! Alarm 3:45am, I ate breakfast before the brain realised what I was doing, got dressed, checked kit again and sat for a minute to think about the day ahead......but not too much!
My super Mum drove  me to Dolgellau at this silly o'clock, I said my goodbyes to Mum and Isla and promptly head for my first of many nervous wees, standard!
Race briefing continues to make this all alittle more real and immediate! Cue another nervous wee!
Standing on the start line the sun is still not up and of course it starts to rain....."shit, jacket on or off?! I have like 30 seconds to decide" No jacket, Just go!
We are sent on our way with a muted cheer, and I have selected the wrong setting on my watch!! "Really Faye!!" Anyway for the first 500 meters of so I am having a minor over reaction in my head, but I sorted it! Right, off we go!

This race really breaks down into three sections, I had in my head a few different ways of looking at this beast. "Its just 8 10km's" okay, or "Its just under 2 marathons" Nah that's too big! Right, just use check points and landmarks - simple!
The first five miles set the bar for the elevation and the terrain of this first leg, I was also carrying a bit of a grumpy mood, I was wanting to be running alone and others heavy breathing at this hour of the morning was grating! This mood passed as it started to rain, A LOT and I couldn't hear the breathing or see others then....(I am not a grumpy one really, just when I am getting into a race I need a bit of time...)

Cloudy conditions, wind and rain continued and a slight feeling of claustrophobia came across me as seeing any distance ahead was tricky. I also was annoyed that a chap followed me and then told me it was the wrong way....may I add it was not the wrong way....and shortly after I overtook him. Sorry matey!(may I add the man in question did not get lost and got to the end he just got a small stern glare from me)
At some point I reached Mynydd Moel at 863m and then up and over Cadair Idris, I remember a trig and promptly ran past it and started to descend the characteristic rocks of the Pony Path. By the way its still raining at this point, I haven't put a jacket on, and its past the point. Brain is telling me I will get hypothermia and my feet promptly ignore this and keep moving forwards.

Some time passes and I hit a view of Barnmouth and the famous bridge across the River Mawddach estuary, stunning! That gave me a great boost, but I was very aware I had only just covered a half marathon....anyway, pushing that thought aside and reaching the first aid station there was a warm welcome from Elly and other members of the crew. Flapjack and water - STAT! Oh and a toilet please!! Unable to get my shorts down in any graceful fashion due to them being stuck to me! I eventually get out of the toilet and back on the trail.

I cross the bridge with a bunch of guys, say a little "hello" a "well done" and smile for a waterproof clad photographer. In my head I am preparing for another climb, sea level back up, up, and up some more! Bloody hell, this second section was testing, this was where I thought more than once "Sod this!" I felt I was walking backwards and was now thinking "you idiot why didn't you put your coat on!?" A steep section of muddy and slippy ground started the trail following "the wall" (This is just what I called it, not its official name!)

After a couple of paracetamol and handful of jelly babies I sorted my head out. Plus although the flowing ups and downs were playing havoc with my patients I liked the terrain, it reminded me of "Little Mountain" at home. The views came and went as the weather blew through and this felt like wild running! "The wall" we were following went on, and on......apparently for 7km, up to Diffwys at 750m. - felt like significantly longer! You know when you climb up a hill, you see the horizon and think "yes, nearly there, just alittle further now" and reaching said horizon it is one of many false summits! Eventually I climb the stile and with a little tap of the trig (you must always tap the trig no matter how tired or disgruntled you are!) I began to descent....finally!

The descent of Manganese mine then began, and on tired legs I appeared to leave my feet behind on a couple of occasions collapsing in slow motion into several areas of foliage....But the sun was now shining and I could hear the birds singing! I even mustered up a few photos! Along with a guy who was exclaiming "I thought the downs would be quicker than the ups!?" I respond with that of previous experience (and many a run where my descents are slower than my climbs) "Around here often not the case mate, just take your time and don't fall down!" That guy probably questioned me at that point but hell I was actually descending okay for me and I got down without falling on my own face..!
I could see ahead the trails and trees of the marvellous Coed y Brenin and I was buzzing (as much as I could be at this point) think I did a little "whoop!" Oh and this was half way - 40 km Com'on!!!!!

It was brilliant to be on trails that I recognised and although the usual pleasant flowing trails were not feeling as gradual as usual I could manage a far higher leg turn over and felt I was moving at a comfortable pace.
The aid station eventaully appears ahead and I thought "damn mum is waiting at the balcony of the visitors centre, I won't be able to say hello...!?" May I add my Mum had probably spent the equivalent of a number of years waiting for me at races... (love you mum!) Whilst I mulled over yelling as loud as I could I again visited the toilet and contemplated what to eat...? A cheese, a marmite and peanut butter sandwich in hand I started walking out of the aid station. I was approaching the shoe test path when there coming from the higher path is Mum and Isla ! I get to say "hello" and reassure her I was okay. The key with my mum is not to tell her quite the extent of the adventure until its all finished...!
I yell a "I'll be about 3 hours, see you at the finish" and I plod up the hill as fast as I could walk and eat my sandwiches.

 
At this stage I was thinking "cool, you know these trails, you love them and look the sun's out!" I begin that well known climb of the start of the Trail half and full marathons and I am not feeling quite so much love. I blame the sandwich - so I leave it on the ground for a couple of little birds, I didn't have the excess energy to be digesting such carbs right now...
On I go, steadily climbing the trails and ticking of locations, fence lines and fallen trees. I pass another runner and we wish each other well (he was to later come in 2 places behind me) I think about how many times I have run here and when I bought Steph and Dewi dog here and I turned the half route into 16 miles, no wonder she has to think twice about coming running with me!
I now was approaching the last 10 miles, I was ticking off the kilometres and at hitting about 10 miles I saw another lady, it was Katie Cole. Somehow I had caught her up (later Katie came in approx. 15 minutes after me having managed a hamstring injury from half way - great work Katie!)
For a good few miles we ran a hundred or so meters apart or next to one another and continued to make steady progress. I eventually take the lead and just keep going. The watch is now reading 7 and a bit miles to go (kind of) and that dreaded beep of low battery comes out of my watch "5 % battery" Bloody hell!!! With saying that, although I was annoyed and already justifying the next model of watch up, I thought save what you've got and just run, its only a bloody Strava upload right!? Ha!
I run the last 6.5/7 miles with no watch, just the guidance of marshalls. This varied quite considerably gaining and loosing the odd miles from one person to the next. Hell! I had come this far what a mile between friend 'aye!?

Then there was a climb (yes another f*&king climb up a steep hill, with tiny annoyingly positioned steps!) It went up, around a little, eventually reaching the signpost of the Precipice footpath. Views every which way and I could feel the pull to the finish - what a beauty! Plus there was no way you could loose focus or concentration on this footpath, bloody hell the sheer face meant the eyes were firmly on ahead!
I saw the friendly face of James Mackeddie with his camera (I have the evidence that I mustered something resembling a smile...!) I said a quick "good to see you" and he confirmed approx 4 miles to the finish "all down hill" he shouted. YES!!!:-)

On I skipped...well trying my hardest to keep as light on my feet over this narrow path whilst dodging the odd walker. It really was all down hill, how exciting! Although the quads were crying with any misplaced step, at the last check point I am given a a lovely big cheer that spurred me over the remaining 4km, just 4km between me a sit down!
At this point in a race the sheer excitement of finishing after such an epic day is hard to explain really, it just gives me a mini rocket boost pack on my trainers and no matter how tired I am, I have that little something in reserve for a strong finish.
Onto the road I go, over the bridge towards town, hanging a right and there in my sight is the finish gantry - "Oh my goodness I have actually done it!!!!"Cheers from friends, strangers, my mum, Isla barking......the best sounds ever! I had done it! I had covered 50 miles, almost 12,000 feet of elevation! Chuffed, SO CHUFFED!

A time of 10 hours 28 minutes and 42 seconds, that was a hell of a day! I had tackled my first 50 mile mountain ultra and had achieved beyond my thoughts. 2nd female and 8th overall - SO HAPPY :-)

 
A route like this one encompassed everything that makes this part of Wales so wonderful. From the rocky high paths of Cadair to the Grade II listed wooden railway bridge of Pont Abermaw and the majestic forest of Coed y Brenin. 
Thank you Ashley Charlwood (Nomad-Running) and Matt Ward (Run Coed y Benin) for all the hard work and passion that went into creating this absolutely awesome race. As well, a huge thank you to all those that stood at checkpoints, aid stations and those that welcomed us back over that fininsh line with weary legs. Its a day I will never forget. 😃🌄