Challenge Gran Canaria... final count down

This time tomorrow I will have been running for 7hr30 and hopefully will be reaching the final stages of Challenge Gran Canaria. Challenge Gran Canaria is an 82km ultra-distance reach which starts in the seaside village of Puerto Mogan in the south-west corner of Gran Canaria and follows mountain trails diagonally across the island eventually arriving at Santa Catalina in Las Palmas.

My kit

Since leaving my job 2 months ago I have dedicated my time to preparing for this race. I have ran 100s of kilometres over the toughest terrain Gran Canaria can throw at me, and I feel like I am in good shape. My body has adapted well to the training and I am stronger than ever before.

However it doesn't matter how much training you have done...you never know exactly how you are going to physically and mentally react under race conditions. This race is 22km further than I have ever ran at one go before, it starts very early in the morning and I will be competing against people that have a lot more experience than me.

If any of my dedicated fans (Barry and Gordon) would like to watch the race, I am aiming for roughly 10km per hour. This should get me into Santa Catalina at about 14.30 tomorrow afternoon.

START (P.Mogan)- 06.00
Presa de las Ninas- 08.00
Roque Nublo- 09.30
Pico de las Nieves- 10.00
Santa Brigida- 12.00
Jardin Canario- 13.00
Teatro Perez Galdos- 14.00
Santa Catalina- 14.30

(could be any time between 13.45 and 15.00, but if you ask at the finish someone should be able to give you an idea where I am).

Good luck card from Alison, who is in Malaga this weekend :(  

OK, time to carbo-load....

Final race of the summer: Donard & Commedagh

My promotional tour of 'Europe' ended on a high, running up Northern Ireland's highest peak Slieve Donard, in the annual Mourne Runners Donard & Commedagh race. The race was won by Northern Ireland's inform fell runner Stephen Cummingham, topping an impressive season. I finished several minutes behind in 4th position.

Check out pictures from the race on Alison Hill Photography 

Lurig Challenge Cushendall 2010

Today as part of my Active Canaria promotion tour I ran the Lurig Challenge hill race in Cushendall. The 6km race was won by one of Ireland's biggest talents Joe McAllister of St Malachy's in 28.50 and I finished just over a minute behind in 3rd place. I was pleased with my performance as I have only been able to train a few times since the Mount Enta race earlier this month. Even though it was a short race it was one of the steepest ascents and descents I have ever raced on. Runners had to run to the top of Lurig Mountain (1100 feet) and then hurtle back down again into Cushendall.

More to come later...
If you want to see a photo of yourself from today check-out Alison Hill Photography, where you can purchase the digital file of your photo from as little as 99p (perfect for Facebook profiles). Online from tomorrow.

Grant and Stone High Wycombe Half Marathon 2010

With the choice of the Milton Keynes Half Marathon, the Swanage Half Marathon (which I was 3rd in last year) and the Grant and Stone High Wycombe Half Marathon I was spoilt for choice. Whilst I am in the UK I am based in Welywn Garden City, so I decided to run the High Wycombe Half Marathon and  am really glad that I did. Handy Cross Runners did an amazing job and it was truely one of the best organised road races I have ever run.

(PHOTO: Alison Hill)

As for my performance, well things started off OK. I was a little stiff and sore after Tuesday's orienteering in Stanborough and the Bamford Village Fell race on Wednesday certainly took its toll on my gluts. I was hitting my target splits for the first several kilometres, but after about 7miles I started to really suffer in my hips, especially in the down hill sections... I am putting this down the 5mile (1000 feet) fell race on Wednesday night.

At about 9 miles I heard a pitter patter of footsteps behind me... I thought 'that doesn't sound like a man' and I turned around to see Sarah Gee, one of Britain's best female marathon runners! My male ego jumped in and I sped up to try to stay in front of her, but this did not last for long! I was extremely impressed with her pace and even more so now after 'googling' her and looking at how she has improved from a PB of 89mins in 2004 to a PB of 75mins in 2010, and she is in her 40s!!

(PHOTO: Alison Hill)

I managed to finish quite strongly and finished in 6th place (5th male).

The race was won by Eddie O'Gorman in a time of 1:13:16 which was a very respectable time considering how undulating the course was. In second spot was John Herbert in 1:13:58 again a very good time (Herbert only took up running 18months ago).

Check out Active Canaria for great deals on winter training.

Bamford Village Fell Race

On Wednesday night I ran in the Bamford Village Fell race near Sheffield. Even though this is a small race it attracts some of the best fell runners in the country.

(PHOTO: Alison Hill)

The race is an 8km 'up and down' with 300m climb. I found the race difficult from the start, partly due to my training being a little sporadic since being back in the UK. However I enjoyed the race and finished in a respectable 7th place (31.00mins).

(PHOTO: Alison Hill)

Check out Active Canaria for great deals on winter training.

Gran Canaria's first Sprint Orienteering Race on Europe's most Southern Map

On Saturday 19th June new orienteering club O-riéntate and Active Canaria held Gran Canaria's first ever Sprint Race on Allan Bogle's new map (Gran Canaria's first ISSOM map and also Europe's most Southern orienteering map.

Although there were not as many competitors as was hoped (clashed with several other events) the day was
a great success for orienteering in Gran Canaria, bringing the level of organisation to 'a new level'.
Aside from the Principal race which consisted of a Prologue and Final, the organisers also held an event for beginners (Ven y Prueba- Come and try) and also a race for children.

The Prologue started at 10am from Faro 2 shopping centre in Maspalomas, with two runners starting at the same time and running different loops before punching a central control and then running their second loop. The fastest time in the Prologue was Fran Herandez in a time of 18.58, closely follow by Gran Canaria's resident Finn Mikka in a time of 20.55.
In the come-and-try event there were some very impressive times from new orienteers Alison Hill and Mike Kneeshaw (who would have placed very highly if they had ran the Principal race).

The final used a chasing start format with Fran starting first followed by Mikka. Fran had a very impressive final extending his lead to just under 5 minutes. Although making a few mistakes in the final Mikka was able to hold of Pedro who had an amazing final.

Circular de Tejeda

It has been a very long time since I have up-dated this Blog (I am sure not too many people have noticed), partly due to being very busy with work etc. and partly due being disappointed with my last race, Circular de Tejeda.

About one month ago I ran a race called Circular de Tejeda in Gran Canaria, which was a 38km trail race with alot of climb. From the beginning I was not on form and found the early (set by Ismael Molero Bethencourt) pace hard! Which was surprising as it was the perfect sort of race for me, steep climbs and rocky.

It was not long before Ismael opened at gap and I really had to struggle to keep him in eyes’ distance. However suddenly (around 15km) without realising it I was back together with him, we ran together for a few kilometres, however I found it difficult to hold my pace and started to drop back again. I found the next few kilometres very hard and started to cramp. To add to the misery I also took a wrong turning and ran about 500m in the wrong direction before realising that I made a mistake. When I got back on track I had been caught by the 3rd placed runner…and mentally I was defeated! I hobbled the next 5km, feeling really dehydrated and cramping badly. And if things weren’t bad enough I took another wrong turn (not my fault…the taping during this race was the worst I have ever seen)…and to cut ‘a long story short’…after several phone calls to the race organisers I could not understand where I was supposed to run and decided to drop out of the race and hitched a ride back with the red-cross. Not a good day…but a lovely course…