Tapering weekend

A quiet weekend, winding down now before the Paris marathon next Sunday. Joined the Colomendy run up Moel Famau on Friday. Very pleasant, if a little muddy after all the rain. Chased down by heavy showers on the descent. Followed up with a brisk 12 miler on the Sunday: from HK to Shordley, Llay, Rossett, Pulford, Dodleston and back.

Penmachno loop two

Took advantage of a weather window to head off for an early morning MTB sprint around the new loop two at Penmachno. We'd intended to do this last month, but were forced by the weather into another lap of loop one. Yesterday was bright and occasionally sunny. The new loop doesn't offer great riding, but has a real XC feel and gives a far better sense of 'place'. It goes north high above the Machno valley, to birch woods above Fairy Glen, then skirts the Lledr and up to a plateau with superb views over central Snowdonia. Still a bit of snow left. Then a long section of pedally singletrack leads back to rejoin loop one before the rocky section at Rowen. About 31km, a little under 2:50 for the circuit. Back home by midday.

Winter conditions, Glyderau

Went for a family walk up Moel Gyw from Llanarmon on Easter Monday, but thick mud, freezing wind and sleet made this impossible. Instead, I trotted up to the summit on my own, only to realise that full winter conditions had finally arrived in Snowdonia: obvious thick cover, the first all winter. So next day I headed off before 7am, and walked up into Cwm Bual via the awkward stream valley. Good thick cover in the cwm itself, which became excellent as I moved towards Esgair Gully. I've been curious about this deep, twisting grade I gully for years and was able to satisfy that curiosity in good snow conditions. Plodded up the slower slopes and entered the gully itself, ice smears adding to the powerdul atmosphere. Easy snow climbing, rather deep in places, leads via various twists and turns to the top section after which I downclimbed back to Cwm Bual, wanting a day on the tops. Contoured up to a spur which led to the plateau - waist-deep drifts and a bitter wind. Ploughed on to the summit of Foel Goch then across to Y Garn in a near white-out. Quite heavy snow, so paced down to Bananda Ridge. Dropped out of the wind, very deep snow at the top of the ridge, but a delightful descent back to Nant Ffrancon and drizzle. Managed a good intervals session in the evening, surprisingly - consistent 3:21 pace.

Ras yr Aran

First real fell race of the year today, with the Aran race from Llanuwchllyn. Sadly, 60mph winds and an iced-up ridge meant the race had to be shortened. But it still went to the lake just below the summit of Aran Benllyn, missing out the ridge to Fawddwy. Actually, we had a weather window for the race itself - windy but relatively benign with some sunshine and almost alpine conditions where the snow was lying. There was a fair covering higher up, with some ice. My performance was average at best, climbed quite badly - feeling it in the calves - but descended reasonably well into the wind: finished in 1:14:55 or so, slightly disappointing, especially given my rest day yesterday. Some good runs last week, including a longish Clwydian outing with Neil on Wednesday.

Aber-Conwy eight peak run

After work yesterday, M and D drove to Conwy and dropped me off at Aber - for a run in beautiful spring sunshine over the peaks back to the house in Conwy. Up Foel Dduarth in 23 minutes from Bontnewydd, then along the delightful runnable ridge over the steep Foel Ganol (great views straight down into Cwm Anafon), then Yr Orsedd (small flock of chough) and Pen Bryn Du to the track up Drum. Arrived at the rather chilly summit of Drum an hour after leaving Bontnewydd. Then exhilerating running along the next ridge via the top of Carnedd y Ddelw to the steep descent to Bwlch y Ddaefaen and some much-needed warmth. A steep slog (walking now) gained the top of Foel Lwyd, and then the rare treat of running the length of the rocky ridge over the top of Tal y Fan and down to Llangelynin and, eventually, Conwy and a fish supper. Around 2.75 hrs for the satisfying circuit, quite a bit of climbing, beautiful weather, and a good sharpener for the Aran race next Saturday.

Rhayader 'round the lakes' 20 mile race

Had no intention of racing the Rhayader 20 mile race on Saturday: just wanted to enjoy it, to finish in comfort, and achieved that nicely. It's a great event, leaving the town (in constant drizzle and low cloud) to climb up to 500m at the summit of Penrhiw-wen. But the climb is fairly gentle, if rather long. Then tremendous running, initially in mist, down to the Craig Goch reservoir with wild, far-reaching views. Then down to Penygarreg, the next lake, where I suffered from a stomach upset - my bete noir - which lost me five minutes as I searched for a quiet spot in the woods. Felt fine afterwards, and picked up places continually around Carreg ddu and Caban coch to the steep hill at mile 19. Kept it going to finish in Rhayader in 2:33:39 for 74th place, from 322. Lost at least 5 mins and never really felt I was pushing the pace, so quite pleased. Stayed the night at Steve and Jenny's in Llanwrthwl, and had a nice walk along the flooded Wye next morning. On Friday night, I joined the Colomendy run again, but just jogged along the leat in preparation for Rhayader. Ran for eight continuous days up to Rhayader, which is also pleasing.

Mold border league, Moel Famau run

Another setback to marathon training last week, when I caught a bug of some kind. Got over it reasonably quickly, but lost two full days of training. That said, I joined the Colomendy run on Friday night and felt fine - a really enjoyable outing for four of us up Moel Famau with showers sweeping in over the Vale, but clear sunshine east. Then gave the border league a good bash on Sunday, but finished disappointingly far down the field in 43rd (from 230) in 29:41. I was a minute slower than this last year, for the same hilly five mile circuit around Nercwys village - but was only five places up. Must have been an unusually strong field, because I felt I'd run a good race. Still, I'm now 12th senior male in the league, Buckley are second in division one: all to play for. Took the children up Waun y Llyn in the afternoon: bracing.

Foel Goch circuit, Moel Arthur, Treuddyn run

After bruising my ankle playing football last week, I wasn't sure whether I'd be able to get my long run in on Saturday (crucially, my last before the next crop of races). But I managed a rewarding 19-20 miler from HK to Hope, then over the shoulder of Waun y Llyn to Pontybodkin, then steeply up to Treuddyn (really this is just one long hill, into the teeth of a gale today!). Then south on Ffordd y Blaenau to Cae Hic, before enjoying the long descent to Llanfynydd - entirely new ground for me. Then up to the summit of Waun y Llyn and back to HK. A real contrast with recent long flat runs to Chester - windy but sunny, very hilly and rewarding. Felt good throughout. Next day went up Moel Arthur with Eve (Morgan refused to join us) - my first time up Arthur for many years, Eve's small legs coped well with the steep climb. Followed up with a splendid circuit of the 'Foel Goch hills' northeast of Bala. Snow showers forecast, but just the tiniest dusting on the tops, the mildest winter I've ever known. Headed up Cwm Da from Pandy in sunshine, then broke off for the steep climb up the subsidiary hill of Orddu - top reached in 90 mins from my house. The round pleasantly to the windy summit of Foel Goch (great views of snow showers in central Eryri, Aran and Arening). Then a run east to Garnedd Fawr, which feels remote, before finally jogging up Moel Emoel, a shapely summit, one of the best small hills in Snowdonia - great views over the Bala peaks. Then back via Nant Cefn Coch in around 2.5 hrs.