Offa's Orror 2009

Testing race on a course of unsurpassed beauty. Can't beat the Wye Valley for that gorgeous mix of wild wood & hill country blended with perfect pastoral panoramas. The race is mostly in the forest, with some big climbs leading eventually to a tricky descent (pictured) then a lovely flat run-in on the banks of the Wye (that seems to go on forever!). Full write up at Sacred Steps.

Self-Transcendence Invitational Marathon 2009

What, no pictures? There were lots of photographers there but so far I haven't tracked down their shots. Anyhow, this was a marathon PB for me on my return to the distance after 4 years in the wilderness (as far as marathon is concerned anyway) and so I got a lot of satisfaction from that. Wonderful atmoshphere as ever, and a superb course that gave lots of people their best times ever. Full report is on my personal web site. I think this was my 13th marathon, or perhaps 12th if you only count "proper races". So they would be:

Stevenage 1994 4.15
Leeds 1994 3.55
New York 1994 3.49
New York 1995 3.59
London 199? 3.45
Sri Chinmoy Marathon Battersea (thrice, late nineties) 3.39, 3.28, 3.22
Hereford (2000 ish?) 3.38
Self-Transcendence Marathon 2004 and 2005 3.19, 3.30
Self-Transcendence Invitational Marathon 2009 3.16

Mmm, didn't keep a blog in those days, so dates are a bit flakey. I remember the times OK though - you don't forget that in a hurry!

Self-Transcendence 2 Mile Race New York

Just a few days before the marathon, a great dash around the immortal loop at Jamaica, New York, where so many historic races have taken place from 2 milers to ultramarathons! A very cold morning, a happy and enthusiastic crowd of runners and a reasonable time for me of 11.35 (slower than last summer though - must do better in August!!). Full report as ever is on my homepage.

CCC 5K Race

A race I last ran when I was injured and should have known better! Still, this time I at least got under 19 minutes, no mean achievement when the day before had been a gruelling fell race (Llanbedr to Blaenavon). Full report is at Sacred Steps.

Llanbedr to Blaenavon Fell Race

A cracker of a race, culminating in the infamous "North Face of the Blorenge", perhaps the most notorious climb in South Wales! I had a great experience on this one - fitness is pretty good right now although I haven't been on the fells much so my legs were like jelly and my feet very sore by the half way mark. Still, the climb didn't (quite) kill me and I finished a respectable 12th from a field of 61. Full report at Sacred Steps.