Rosedawn Ramblings

A beautiful location, almost perfect running weather (just a bit too warm), a course that really suited me and a goal achieved – I loved this race! Lake Vyrnwy is located about 2 hours away from Stoke-on-Trent, and about 20 miles over the border into Wales, with most of the journey along winding country lanes. But it was definitely worth the trip. It has a very interesting history, and there is a lost village under the lake, which was created with the construction of the dam in the 1880s (see http://www.lake-vyrnwy.com/ ). The race started on a lane in the hamlet of Abertridwr – there were hundreds of runners crammed into a very small space and we didn’t really know the race had started until the people in front started moving. It was a slight downhill and then the only real uphill section on the course – just less than a mile up to Lake Vyrnwy. Running Route It wasn’t too much of a climb though (nothing like Anchor Road) and soon we were emerging from the tree-lined road and...

Yesterday, I completed the Potters 'Arf - my second half marathon and a very tough experience, especially the last two miles. But I did it and also within my 2hour target, so I could pick up my bronze medal... In the build-up to the race, I was a little bit nervous. I'd had a really mixed experience with my training - I didn't run properly for about 2 weeks after a cold/cough amidst the dreadful weather and had only managed 2 of my planned 4 long runs. I'd also missed out a couple of scheduled hill sessions, which I knew I could cause me problems on the Potters 'Arf route. However, I'd managed a really good training 10-mile run with Liz and Jo from Potters Trotters on the 31st May, then a fast Hanley parkrun on the 2nd June and also a good mid-week speed session in which I did my fastest ever kilometre. By Saturday night, I was a little bit more relaxed and ready to run... bring it on! Given that the start / finish line for the Potters 'Arf is only ab...

The title of this week's blog post is a rather catchy little song by The Fatima Mansions - I'd never heard of them or the song but MrT added it to my running tracks playlist earlier this week - I think he was hoping it would encourage me when I heard it. However, when it popped up on my playlist today whilst I was about half way up the very steep hill that is Anchor Road (going from Longton to Adderley Green), I'm not sure whether I found it inspirational or just annoying! However, it did bring a smile to my face as I kept pushing myself to keep going to the top of the hill - no bus for me today on Anchor Road! First Potteries Route #2 goes between Longton and Adderley Green up Anchor Road! For those of you who run in and around Stoke-on-Trent, Anchor Road will be familiar to you. You've probably run up it many times, especially if you've completed in the Potters 'Arf. For those who've never experienced the joys, just think of a road near to you that ...