Famau, Penmachno MTB, Dee/Chester run

A varied weekend, useful training. Joined the regular hill run from the Colomendy pub up Moel Famau and back via Loggerheads on Friday evening - very enjoyable, followed by a pint or two. Then met Rich on Saturday morning, intending to do the new Penmachno loop two on the mountain bikes. But the weather was appalling, and it took all our will power to even start loop one in howling wind, low cloud and squally icy rain. Good fun in places, at least before our hands lost all feeling. Bike riding well after the service, so it was a shame loop two was out in the conditions. But at least the shorter route meant I could do the necessary long run on Sunday. Managed another 20 miler - this time from HK over the top to Hawarden, down to Queensferry, over the bridge and along the Dee path all the way to the Roodee (a very long haul: overtaken by heavy rain and cold winds on the most exposed section, nasty). Then over the river to Chester golf course, through Curzon Park to Grosvenor Bridge, over Handbridge and back through Saltney and Bretton. Felt good, optimistic for the forthcoming marathons etc. A family swimming trip in the afternoon proved an excellent way to warm down.

Wrexham half marathon

Perfect conditions for the Wrexham half marathon yesterday: calm, sunny and cold. Not many races of this distance around, so I was pleased with a big pb of 1:21:51 (more than three minutes quicker than my last half, and my sixth consecutive pb over the distance). Felt reasonably good throughout, but lost time between 10 and 11 miles before picking up the pace for a strong finish. The time essentially brings my half mara pb in line with my 10k pb. Always a strong field for this event, so I was only around 60th from 550 or so. Followed up with an early morning jog up Waun y Llyn from Hope in - yet again - glorious sunshine. Was tired, inevitably, so spent some time jogging around the more obscure paths across the plateau, finding some good looking climbable crags and enjoying the Clwydian views.

Llanferres skyline run, Famau, Dee long run

Beautiful weather all weekend: terrifyingly mild, but perfect crystal clear conditions in the Clwydians and elsewhere. Had to do a long run on Saturday, so ran with Shane in the sunshine from HK to Hawarden, then Queensferry to Garden City. Then the long flat haul along the Dee path (wind against!) to Saltney Ferry, then back to HK via Bretton. Then I tagged the Honkley/Golly 10k loop on to the end for a satisfying and necessary 19-20 mile outing. Next day went up Moel Famau with the children in superb conditions: cloud inversion in the Vale of Clwyd and to the east. Perfect warm sunshine on the ridge. Followed up with an early morning fell run, 10 miles or so traversing the 'Llanferres skyline', from the village up to the OD path beneath Fenlli. Down to Clwyd Gate and along frosty tracks to the Garreg Lwyd col below Moel Gyw: superb views to Arening Fawr, Cader, Arans, Snowdon, Llewellyn - and all Eryri peaks. Then on the OD path west of Moel Llanfair above the vale to the climb up Moel y Plas. Cut east here to join the bridleway down to Llyn Gweryd and Llanarmon yn Ial. Then across the fields to the road and up the bridleway to Bryn y Gloch. Stunning views, perfect still weather as I picked my way across the Bryn Alyn hills above Bryn Haidd to eventually locate the exposed path that drops to the Pot Hole Quarry bridleway near Pant Ddu. Then west along the track back to the car.

Border League Abergele, Llanferres hill run

Quite a pleasing performance in the fourth round of the Border League yesterday in Abergele. I'd felt rough all week, with a mild cold, tired every time I ran including a poor intervals session with the club. But luckily I felt quite good on the day for the race along the seafront, finishing 35th from the usual competitive club field of 238 in a 5 mile pb of 29:33. Conditions windy and awkward, but could have been worse. Slackened off towards the end and lost a few places. Followed up with an early morning run from Llanferres in unpromising (and unforecast) conditions of sleet, snow and wind: very boggy underfoot. Felt very tired, so ran down the excellent track, well situated above the valley as the clouds swept in, to halfway house. Then up steeply to Penbarras and over the side of Fenlli on the OD path and back. Horizontal snow at one point on the descent. On Friday, I'd gone up to Llandegla for the second dash in the dark but was thwarted by thick snow on the road. Went sledging on Hope Mountain with the children on Saturday, and ran back to the house.