Tony’s training day Sunday 12th June Offas Dyke – with video

The now legendary training days that Tony has been arranging for us hit Wales on Sunday .

The bus left the club at 7.00 and by 8.15 we were having coffee at Macdonalds having been briefed by Tony on what to expect from the latest boot camp training day. Stay in groups,take mobiles and make sure each group has a person that can read maps .

Back on the bus and another 15 minutes sees us at the Moel Famau country park .Off the bus for a light mile warm up and a saunter up an impressively steep hill , we are off .

We had been told to expect an undulating route of some 15/16 miles and Tony had been out to research the route the week prior , so no worries there !!

Some light drizzle was in the air as we filed along the ridge of Offas Dyke. For the first few miles we regrouped and sheltered from the now blustery wind and increasingly squally showers , but as we rolled out the miles , the groups separated . By now concerns were growing for Rod and Don , both carrying their own injuries while I was becoming concerned for my own welfare and ailments !

Garmins were regularly checked as more hills were attacked and defeated , stiles climbed and aching limbs nursed .  

Tony had said 15 , and not 16 miles so by 12 miles , we were nearly there . The map provided was clearly not to scale as it looked a long 3 miles to go and no sea in sight . At this stage I had become team leader for our group of Amanda , Nina and Gail . The fast group  were away in the distance and we hoped that Rod and Don were not too far behind us.

One more mile and no more hills became our mantra although I fear that mantra was not what others called it !!.

Finally Prestatyn appeared on the horizon but a steep downhill path became as sore as previous uphill stretches. By now Gail was running through fits of laughter(mad dogs and englishmen come to mind).

We finally hit the outskirts of Prestatyn and have some 10 minutes to run : We are late for the 12.45 rendevouz having been on our feet for some four hours . A few twists and turns and we see the bus and our meeting point ……..Garmins are checked and its 19.3 miles and 4100 of ascent !!

Everyone that started finished , times were irrelevant : Everyone was a winner . The beauty of these days are the fun , the friendship and camarederie that is so evident not to mention the mental and physical development .  

Thanks as always to Tony and the comments below best sum up the day :  

• Thank you Tony, for all my aches and pains and also a  good nights sleep.. It was a great day.Really brilliant that everyone finished it .. and in good spirits.What’s a little rain or another hill to the pack.Mind you there were a few: are we there yet? Where’s the sea? Patrick
• Oh my achy achy legs !!! What a wonderful day – great experience 🙂 Thanks Tony and to all of you that made it truly fantastic!! Have just driven my daughter to school and commented whilst looking at The Edge from a distance that I used to find it a mountain, I now realise its just a mole hill after the undulating run yesterday – can conquer anything 😉 I have to admit getting down the stairs is becoming somewhat of a challenge by the minute!!!!! Only 1 more mile too go !!!!!!! The Bish Team – Gail
• I agree, great day – despite the weather but when you are running it doesn't really matter does it!
  Aching like mad myself today too but it was worth it – well done everyone and especially to the '1 mile to go team' 😉 
  Look forward to the next one! Amanda 
• Well, i can't believe how good I feel! After the run yesterday and going to take that last night, getting home at 1.15 am, 3.5 hours sleep and then up for the 630 train to London! The worst bit of the day so far was negotiating the stairs on the tube!
  Getting up and down in my chair is also quite painful and my stomach hurts when I cough! But apart from all that I am fine!
  I think Tony mentioned feeling exhilarated… I certainly do!
  Thanks to all, including Team Bish!! Nina
• Just watched the video great viewing!!!  had a fantastic day never slept so well, see you all tuesday legs permitting. Jane
• A good day but tough.Thanks for everyone's input and Tony for having the idea !Walking hurts – I expect the molehill of Alderley Edge will feel like Everest tomorrow…Kate

 The route we took is here.  Video below.

Well done team ……We eat hills for fun !!

Nick.