Higher Kinnerton running

Just starting to enjoy new running routes from our new house in Higher Kinnerton. Not easy to keep up with marathon training in current chaotically busy circumstances, but on Sunday I did manage a fairly long run from the house to Lower Kinnerton, then Bretton, then Saltney, through Curzon Park to Handbridge, then over the bridge and around the Roodee to the Dee path all the way back to Saltney Ferry. Over the bridge, then back to Bretton, then Gorstella, and then home. A great circuit. The individual border league standings are now through: I've climbed to 16th senior male in the league, with 208 points. All quite tight and competitive, with two races left to go.

Border League: round 5

Quite pleased with my performance in the 5th round of the Border League last Sunday. The race was Buckley's home event, a hilly (and windy) 5 mile course from Mold out to Nercwys and back. It suited me quite well, and I came 48th from the usual strong field of 253, in 30:42 to score in 10th place for Buckley. We are now miles in front at the top of division 1. We finally exchanged and completed on our house in Higher Kinnerton yesterday, so are in the process of moving in and ending the itinerant lifestyle we've lived since January 8th!

Penmaenbach Quarry

Another quick climbing trip this morning, using the shunt again. I visited Penmaenbach quarry, a bolted venue above the A55 which I've often looked at and pondered. The belays at the top weren't brilliant, so I just did the obvious groove line in the middle of the lower quarry. Not bad, more awkward than it first appears: probably about HS 4b, with some tricky bridging in places. I then did some good bouldering higher up, and climbed the free standing pinnacle via the longer easy 'arete'. A reasonable venue, might repay another visit, ideally with a partner. After this I did a short recovery run along Marine Drive. I've been feeling quite good this week, with a good 10 mile trip from the Nova in Prestatyn along to the Foryd in West Rhyl in steady rain. Enjoyable despite the squalour. All bodes well for this Sunday: the fifth border league fixture.

Moel Wnion fell race

A slightly disappointing performance on the very enjoyable Moel Wnion fell race on Saturday. My third fell race in two weeks - this one is a classic round, although I didn't realise it covered the entire ridge above Rachub (near Bethesda) until I was actually on it! Cue a degree of pain as I struggled up the three subsidiary summits (Gyrn, Llefn and Moel Faban), after putting all my energy into getting up Wnion. The last hill, Faban, was particularly traumatic and I lost a few places here. Still, that's not the point. It was a great outing in nice weather: rather windy but sunny and clear. A spectacular place to run and a corner of the Carneddau I don't know very well. The race is only short, although steep (AS, 4m, 1600ft) and we all went for a family outing up Allt Wen again when I'd finished. A useful warm down, and Morgan and Eve both made the top without complaint again, although it was far too windy really. I was able to continue marathon training on Sunday - with a 2 hr slog out to Rhos on Sea and Penrhyn Bay via Mochdre and Glanwydden. Then back over the Little Orme, along Llandudno prom to Mostyn Street, West Shore, Deganwy and back. Felt quite good: hamstring feels OK again.

Conwy Mountain shunted climbs

Experimented with my newly purchased Shunt on Conwy Mountain crag today: a clever piece of climbing equipment allowing for safe ascents of a fixed rope. I've climbed on this slabby 15m high crag before, and did eight routes at lunchtime today - including the delicate HS slab on the right with a nice crux at the top of the route (Oaklands 4C?). Felt good to be back on the rock, would really like to pick up the rock climbing this summer. Some bouldering as well, but this crag is too slabby to be much good as a workout, even for me. Running hasn't gone well since the Pipe Dream fell race. Did a tough intervals session with Buckley on Tuesday which seemed to exhaust me (in combination with the race) for the rest of the week. Also made my hamstring tweak a lot worse - I'll need to be cautious for a bit now, but with Moel Wnion race tomorrow that looks unlikely. Ran around the lanes and bridleways of Moel Maenefa (above Rhuallt) yesterday: found it tough going, legs felt the lead particularly on the climb back up Rhuallt hill on the old road.

Pipe Dream fell race, Creigiau Gleision circuit

An active and enjoyable weekend in Conwy. Saturday was a nice day: bracing and sunny for a change. We (myself, Rich and Mike) went up to Llyn Crafnant and walked the skyline ridge, a cracking discovery which I first did only three or so years ago. Along the lake to the nice rocky path up Crimpiau, then over Craig Wen to the broad and boggy ridge leading to the lovely peak of Creigiau Gleision. I've always liked this hill: its isolated position gives tremendous views over Ogwen and Wyddfa. Cowlyd a nice deep blue foreground. The weather was photogenic: nice cloudscapes. I was using sticks to conserve energy because I was planning a crack at the Pipe Dream fell race next day - indeed I could see the eponymous 'pipe' (a pipeline that climbs the hillside from Dolgarrog) from Gleision! So next day, we headed off en famile for Dolgarrog. The race was a real contrast with Moel y Ci last week, although both were 5 miles long: much steeper (1700ft climbing) and less varied, but still a cracking excursion. It goes very steeply up the hill from Dolgarrog, following the pipe, then gets more runnable across the open hill in strong winds and rain to the small summit NE of Moel Eilio. I turned a complete somersault after tripping on a tussock on the first section of the descent. Then a full pelt, very fast, rather tretcherous (in this weather) descent back to Dolgarrog via some very steep wet paths, tracks, small roads, fields, streams and woodland. Finished in 43:30 for 16th place (from 46), a pleasing performance, then we all went to Betws - but the rain stayed torrential all day.