TWO months to the day until the Llanrwst Triathlon, and I reckon it's time to step up my training.
I've been neglecting the bike a bit recently - perhaps a subconscious result of my muscle-busting trip with Rhos on Sea Cycling Club when, my legs aching from 40 miles of hard slog, I realised a mountain bike wasn't going to cut it come race day. So this week I'll concentrate my efforts on getting myself a racer.
One thing that is going well, however, is the running. I thoroughly enjoyed yesterday's inaugural Llyn Alwen Trail Race - the results haven't been published yet but I think I came about 12th out of around 125.
My performance wasn't helped, though, by a total lack of preparation on the day which meant one of my trainers was nearly falling off for most of the race! Normally before a race I'm neurotic about making sure my shoelaces are double-knotted - but having got to Llyn Alwen at the last minute yesterday this particular paranoia evaded me, and sure enough, about five minutes into the race one of my trainers had come undone.
I carried on, not wanting to lose any time, but about half way around I'd had enough of not being able to run full pelt down the slopes for fear of my trainer flying off and hitting another runner in the face. So I stopped and tied it, but - and you'd think I'd have mastered this basic skill at the age of 28 - five minutes later it was undone again! Once is a mistake, twice is a schoolboy error.
Full credit to Martin Cortvriend and Denbigh Harriers for organising such an enjoyable and challenging race. An undulating run over the slopes of Mynydd Hiraethog and through woodland bordering on the Clocaenog Forest, the course treated runners to beautiful views of Llyn Alwen and the surrounding countryside - an ideal race for a summer Sunday. I'll definitely look forward to this one next year.
