Camping with Morgan

Recovery post-marathon has gone pretty well, probably my most comfortable ever recovery apart from the Jungfrau marathon last September. I felt pretty good by Wednesday, and had a constructive and pretty quick eight miler round Shordley and Golly in the sunshine on Saturday. Went camping in a lovely campsite between Llanbedr DC and Rhewl on Saturday evening, with Morgan. Eve a little upset not to be going, but I'm going to have to buy a bigger tent before both of them can go. Beautiful weather again - virtually no rain or even cloud for weeks, months...

London marathon, Eglwyseg climbing, Border League races, Brecon Beacons hill runs

Another very busy week at the end of easter, culminating in the London marathon yesterday. Supposedly 23c at midday, certainly felt very demanding and I suffered badly in the last 10k: although I think lack of long runs in training was as much to blame as the heat. So my 3:39 was disappointing - I'd hoped to get under 3:20 - but not entirely unexpected. Still, a tremendous day for my seventh marathon and second London, six years after my first. Support was superb throughout, really memorable. The week before had been a bit busy. I'd gone climbing at World's End on Thursday 19 April, shunting a few routes I haven't done before including Flakeless Groove (HS), White Crack, Scarface Groove and a few others. Nice to be back at a favourite venue, probably 16 years or so since my prime! Then went for a run along Offa's Dyke to near the summit of Cyrn y Brain. On Sunday 15 April I had a disappointing performance in the 6th and penultimate border league race of the season, on roads I knew well (from Northop College, so the hilly course should have suited me). Finished 66th in 26:59 (4.3m), my second worst of the season, although I am now 14th senior man in the league. Buckley have an unassailable lead at the top of division one. A work trip to Swansea at the weekend saw me off on an opportunistic 2.5 hour run around the Carmarthen Fan peaks on the way down (13 April). Started from Glyntawe after a 3 hr drive from home. Ran up Fan Hir, then over Fan Brycheiniog and Bannau Sir Gaer before the long run south over trackless moorland back to the sinkholes and then the car. Changed into shirt and drove to the conference! Next day, drove back from Swansea via Brynamman in hot sunshine and enjoyed a quick opportunistic walk/jog up the isolated hill of Garreg Lwyd. Hot but rather hazy unfortunately.

Creigiau Gleision scramble

With the beautiful weather continuing, I couldn't resist heading off to Snowdonia yesterday. I wanted to visit the obscure, rather strange crag of Creigiau Gleision which is usually intimidating and wet - but today was bone dry. I did the Mushroom Garden scramble, which was interesting and enjoyable. It leaves the Eastern Gully at a slabby wall, then twists and turns up the left arete of the gully, passing some tottering towers and scree couloirs. Generally good rock, though, with interesting route finding. I then ran up Foel Goch, then over to Elidir Fawr and across Mynydd Perfedd before a hot and sunny descent. About 2:20 for the round, a nice blend of running and scrambling with an exploratory feel.

Chester Spring 5 race, Pandy rock climbing, Berwyn hill runs, Moel Siabod, Llandegla MTB circuit

A busy Easter weekend, characterised by perfect weather. Started badly, with a poor performance at the Chester Spring 5, badly affected by the allergy-induced asthma the new house has induced. After 2 x 6 minute miles, I was on to break 30 minutes, but then slowed to a jog and came in 2 minutes down on target time (around 31:50). Next day dawned blue and sunny. I drove to Pandy Outcrop, a crag I've never been able to find before, and shunted the superb granite slab of Schmutzig - probably the best severe in 'Clwyd'. Two more good routes on this lovely piece of rock, in a wonderful location above the Teirw valley. I then drove to Cwm Maen Gwynedd for a run around the ridge from Mynydd Tarw over Foel Wen, Tomle and Cadair Berwyn, and back down the valley. Got sun burned on a 2:15 outing. Up Moel Siabod next day with Rich and Mike. Then round the Llandegla red MTB circuit with the crowds on Easter Saturday. A 2 hour run around Dodleston, Pulford and Rossett from the house suggested my lungs were clearing on the Sunday, and I had a rest yesterday - with a family walk along the Dee from Eccleston. I'll try some intervals with Buckley tonight - see what my lungs are like.

Maeshafn climbing comeback, Waun y Llyn MTB loop

Managed a couple of shunted routes in lovely spring sunshine at Maeshafn on Monday: the old classic Shattered Crack (HS) among them, 16 or 17 years after I first did it! Followed this by a nice run up and over Moel Findeg. Still having some breathing issues, so yesterday went for a mountain bike ride instead. Explored our new area via a circuitous route from the house up Waun y Llyn via Horeb. Did some bouldering on the excellent sandstone outcrop near the top, then rode over Hope Mountain and down to Cymau, then Hope and back home. It's the Chester Spring 5 mile road race tonight.

Cilcain run, Eve on Moel Famau

Struggled a bit over the past week, possibly due to mild chest infection or mild asthma from the new house carpets! Bit of a concern, with London less than three weeks away. Ran a disappointing 18:33 on the Buckley 5k (training) route on Tuesday. Blew up with 2k to go and had very raspy lungs. A tough long run on Saturday was also not ideal: ran with Shane and James from the club (Mold to Loggerheads, Cilcain, Pantymywn and back). A hilly circuit, but found it a struggle, especially as I tagged the Mold border league 5 miler to the end, over to Nercwys and back. I was out for nearly 2.5 hours but it didn't feel like the big session it needed to be. Did manage a 40 mile week though. Yesterday, Eve and Morgan came up Moel Famau with me from Bwlch Penbarras in perfect spring weather. Eve's been talking about it for a while, and her legs only gave out for the final section!