Llandudno Nick Beer 10k – 7th Feb.

Ali Nash reports…

It was a close run decision……the delights of out and back on Bradford Road in Dewsbury or the truly magnificent setting of the Llandudno Nick Beer 10k, running round the Great Orme headland. Sunday morning’s weather dawned over Colwyn Bay in Welsh Wales, with sun and blue skies, and a ‘hint of a breeze’. The midday start time (very civilised and considerate, allowing a leisurely breakfast) gave the wind time to pick up – considerably! It was forecasting gusts to 50mph in town, it was anybody’s guess what it would be 3 miles out sea and several hundred feet higher…

The race HQ was Venue Cymru on the seafront, very civilised yet again, loads of parking along the prom and the town was buzzing. The race start was on the prom, with a short section of flat promenade before joining Marine Drive – the private road that winds its way up up up and around the Orme. The start was fast as expected but the Nashes paced it to perfection (having done a recce run 6 months previously) and then hit the hills with plenty of overtaking. The Great Orme wild goats up on the cliffs dislodged a rockfall right into the leading pack, Ali receiving a shrapnel wound to the calf. Marine Drive is a lovely surface, with 3 main hill sections interspersed with a couple of short flat sections to get your breath/ accelerate over the first 3 miles.

When you reach the lighthouse you’re halfway, sea views off the high cliffs and a storm force wind strong enough to stop you dead in your tracks – bit like a mental version of Keighley track down that bottom corner. Mid stride you’d end up moving sideways in the air and coming down at sixes and sevens, on the plus side there was a mile downhill, passing ‘Millionaires row’ with superb views out over the bay, just a pity you couldn’t stop to take it all in! All too soon the downhill was back into uphill through the outskirts of Llandudno and a finish km down the prom, loads of cheering support and a commemorative tea mug at the finish (and a mars bar). Brilliant race, very well organised, civilised time and a hilly but eminently runnable course. Club Trip anyone??

34th Ali Nash 40:35 6th V40 (Ali wins the Nash sweepstake for closest finish time guess)
223rd (34th lady) Louise Nash 49:35 7th F45 (Louise wins the task of making this weeks work sandwiches)