Moel Famau run

Ran up Moel Famau from Cilcain (the August fell race route) yesterday, intended as woefully inadequate preparation for the Cader Idris fell race on Saturday. Exhileratingly blustery conditions as I then ran along the ridge over Moel Dywyll and down past the reservoirs, where a cuckoo took flight as I descended via the woodland edge. A reasonably comfortable outing, but I am sorely lacking in recent hill training so not expecting a great performance on Saturday. Weather looks awful too.

Chester half marathon

Ran the Chester half marathon yesterday in good cool running conditions: continuous rain helped a lot. As such, a bit disappointed not to break 1:30. Ended up with 1:31:29, largely because I blew up on the final tiny hill into Handbridge. Lost a lot of time here, which meant I couldn't get under the 90 min barrier. Still, a PB and an enjoyable race. Loosened up with a mountain bike ride in the evening, thinking the rain had stopped. It hadn't, and gave us a real drenching as we forded streams on the tiny lanes north of Rhosemor.

Sychdyn runs

Training going reasonably well this week - all set for the Chester half on Sunday, although I fear I've concentrated too much on speed and haven't got enough long runs under my belt. Pleasant outing last night with the Sychdyn crew in gusty wind and intermittent heavy rain. The night before (Tuesday), I unofficially matched my Christleton 5k time on the Buckley 5k route - to the second...

Christleton 5k, South Stack

Dipped under 19 mins in the Chrisleton 5k, which was quite pleasing (18:56). Not really my kind of distance - bit too intense for my tastes with little time to think about tactics or anything else. A 10 mile run around Gwernaffield and up to Rhosesmor on Sunday morning was a tranquil antidote - not too muddy underfoot, sun peeping through, dozens of willow warbler and blackcap to serenade. Followed by a family trip to South Stack in low cloud, icy wind and heavy drizzle. The usual thousands of guillemot, along with razorbills in the sea, a few puffin visible on the lighthouse side and one chough - which Morgan managed to spot. Short bike ride in the evening damp, when the rain had finally stopped.

Dinas Bran fell race, Wrexham border league

After running the Dinas Bran fell race and the final border league fixture of the year (Wrexham), within two days of each other, I felt a little tired - and a little traumatised by my poor performance on the hills. But now, a week on, I feel ready to enter the fray again with the Christleton 5k.