Tal y Fan run from Conwy, Welshpool-Clun OD run

We are spending weekends in Conwy at the moment, so I took the opportunity to run from the house (which is within the walls) to the top of Tal y Fan yesterday. A wonderful run, I'd always thought it would be too tough but in fact it went comfortably in one hour from kitchen to summit - where gale force winds and poor visibility made me feel a bit vulnerable without any warm clothing. Got back to the house from the top, via Llangelynnin church and Hendre, in 45 minutes. The ultimate challenge might be Foel Fras from the house? After work on Friday, I headed for Ogwen with snow climbing gear - but rain was falling and snow was melting, so I just went for a quick run up Carnedd y Filiast, abandoning near the top in slush and driving rain (me in fell shoes). Then ran along the cycle path to Bethesda. Feeling much fitter now, at last. This was proved, I hope, when I ran/walked a 20 mile section of the Offa's Dyke path on the 23rd, just two days after the half marathon. Lovely winter sunshine as I ran from Buttington near Welshpool to Brompton crossroads in around 2 hours, then via the atmospheric Kerry Ridgeway via isolated valleys - an ancient landscape, on the dyke itself - to Newcastle on Clun.

Four Villages half marathon

An encouraging performance in yesterday's Four Villages half marathon (Helsby) - my return to racing since my disaster in early December. I decided to take it fairly easy and go for sub-90 minutes, which I've never done before (my last half marathon was last May, there aren't many around these days). But conditions turned out better than expected, so I pushed it a bit while remaining comfortable and enjoyable throughout. Got round in just under 1:28, which is pleasing and gives me a platform to beat in forthcoming flatter halfs. At least I've got a bit of form back.

St Asaph runs

Progress has been difficult of late. We are between houses, living in my parent's house in St Asaph, and we spent last weekend in London. No trips to the hills in prospect for a few days at least. But there have been glimmers of returning form, or what passes for that with me. I got out for two runs in London and have just about managed to keep it up in St Asaph, which isn't the best place in the world to run during winter. All in preperation for this Sunday's Four Villages half marathon, an event at which I recorded a PB last year but came down with pneumonia soon after. Caution will therefore be the name of the game this time: nice course though, and a big regional event, so looking forward to it. And, as I now have a definite London marathon place, it will be useful to gauge where I stand before I start properly training.

Two Carneddau circuits

No races over Christmas, but some progress made in the struggle to regain fitness. Had two good outings in Snowdonia - one from Aber over Llwytmor, Foel Fras, Drosgl and the other northern hills in lowish cloud. Another with Rich C in a superb cloud inversion over Pen yr Olau Wen, Dafydd and Llewellyn on Christmas Eve. We started in Ogwen's freezing fog but soon broke through the cloud into warm sunshine and un-naturally still conditions. A sea of cloud stretched inland with a few breaks, but unbroken and very impressive over the Irish sea and in Nant Ffrancon. A memorable round of these hills, which I have done dozens of times. Also managed one dash around the red MTB circuit and Llandegla, and a cold and wet trip round the Marin MTB trail at Llanrwst with Rich on 30 Dec. My suspension has now completely gone, so this made life rather tricky on both occasions. Running is going reasonably well - a better intervals session this week but niggling hamstring pain hampering progress. We are moving out of our house this weekend, so some additional stress.