Commonwealth Ultra Trial

 Well guys, for the first time in over two years, I have managed to plan a race a few months in advance and then actually get onto the start line. To say that I am ecstatic would be an absolute understatement. Following my dissapointments of the past couple of years, I listened to Andy Walling with trepidation, when he said that I would be good enough to compete in the selection race for the Welsh team to compete in the Commonwealth Ultra 50km race to be held at Newborough forest in September. 
 I lack confidence, it's a trait that has always plagued me in my running career and normally to the detrement of my competitve outings. However, when I made the decision to run after speaking with Neale, I was quite confident that if I made it to the start at Speech House at Coleford in the forest of Dean, then I may stand a chance of completing the 32 miles. Little did I know that my training programme would see me wey layed for several weeks, preventing me from completing a full schedule of longer runs. However, that said, I was there on Sunday alongside Andrea Roberts my club mate from Eryri and we both looked

ahead towards the following 4 hours with confidence and a degree of apprehension. Neale and I had travelled down to the south two days previously, in the hope that a relaxed 48 hours prior to the race would help me to forget about the race and be totally rested, I am pleased to say that it did. Despite race day nerves I was relaxed and ready to take on the world! My main aim was to go off very very slowly which I did and this strategy saw Andrea dissapear ahead of me and on to a 2nd overall position. I however, wanted to stay focussed on a finish and maintainted my pace to 18 miles. Then, as luck would have it, the crampt set in. I was very suprised, as I was fully hydrated and had eaten well in the days leading up to the competition. My quads' effectively seized, but despite this I kept telling myslef not to stop, because I was sure that if I did, I would have been unable to resart. From somewhere within I managed to pluck up the strength to continue to the end and was joined in the run-in by Ritchie my little brown Cairn terrier, who strided alonside me proudly as I crossed the finish line. With 50km in the bag and a feeling of utter elation in my mind, I now have to wait until this Wednesday to see whether or not I have done enough to be rewarded with selection in the Commonwealth race in Spetember and my ultimate wish.......a commonwealth vest for Wales. All I can do is sit and wait for the selectors to make up their minds and put me out of my misery.........Thanks for looking folks, I will update you with the result as soon as I can.  Bye for now....Tamster!