Carneddau fell race

Another enjoyable fell race yesterday, and a much more ambitious undertaking: the Carneddau race from Bethesda up Carnedd Dafydd, Carnedd Llewellyn, Yr Elen and Gyrn Wigau. One of my favourite areas, and I really wanted to do a race over multiple peaks to assess how I would cope. Unfortunately, this was another British championship race so a little disheartening in terms of finishing position. But I only ever intended to take it easy, just to see how I would cope. Ran all the way to the Dafydd headwall in torrential rain, then steep walking to gain the summit in just under an hour from Bethesda. Then great running across a very misty and cold (4 or 5c) ridge to Llewellyn, through the gloom to Yr Elen and then the cruel finish over Foel Ganol and down to a very boggy Cwm Caseg before the final climb over Gyrn Wigau - agonising - then down north-west in another deluge to Bethesda. Finished in 2:26:19 for 115th place (from 178). Compare this to last Wednesday in the Clwydians - 14th place from 73 in 41:17! Off to Provence tonight.

Druid fell race

My summer fell race/peak bagging campaign started well here. A great little race and a promising performance. Not sure where I finished but think I might have been top 15 or 20, in around 40 mins. The 5 mile race starts from the Druid pub in Llanferres and heads past Clwyd nursery and a very dark and muddy wood towards the OD path and steep route up Foel Fenlli. Then contours round with superb views down to the Vale of Clwyd, to ascend the steep Penbarras side back to the top of Fenlli (like the old Clwyd Gate-Fenlli race). Then a fast and steep (now sunny) descent to the woods with a little more climbing. Suited me quite well and a good preparation for Sunday's potentially very challenging Carneddau race.

Glyder Fawr

Tim is back from NZ for the first time in 5 years or so, and after a few drinks on Saturday night we met Steve in Ogwen for a sociable outing up Glyder Fawr via Bochlwyd, the False Gribin spur and the crest of the Gribin ridge. The mist cleared on the ridge, but the rock was rather wet: still, it was a shame we didn't have time for anything more ambitious and I left the climbing gear in the car. But it was a day for chatting and nostalgia, reminiscing about former (and planning future!) days in the hills, more than anything else. Running is going quite well, I've got some big fell races next week - then comes our fortnight in Provence followed by a trip to the Tatra with Pete that we've just organised.

Cyffylliog MTB challenge, Famau run

Decided on a whim yesterday morning to do the Cyffylliog MTB challenge (largely because the children woke up very early and the weather was nice). My bike wasn't up to it really, so I had to do the short route (25 miles) and even that was tricky in places with no suspension and no rear brake! But the event was well worth doing, a nice route with some good singletrack and interesting, scenic riding throughout. Particularly enjoyed the riverside (Clywedog) track at the end. I'll come back to do the long one with a functioning bike next year. Running is now almost entirely off road: myself and Shane enjoyed an excellent run up Moel Famau from Loggerheads last Thursday, via the gorge and Ffrith mountain. A great circuit in the evening, feeling quite good.

Hope Mountain

A fairly relaxed week following the marathon disappointment. Managed about 20 miles last week, recovered pleasingly quickly after the marathon and managed a few good paced runs and even some hill reps yesterday. Today, had a trot up Hope Mountain from the village via some overgrown footpaths (rather disappointing) and ferocious dogs (one attacking me on the way down from the trig point). Jogged over to Waun y Llyn, then down to the village. Nice to have it so close, but hardly ideal for the training I need for forthcoming fell races (I intend to concentrate on fell races over summer).