Border League, Cader scramble and ridge run, Tarren hills run

A pleasing performance, a return to some kind of form at last, in Wednesday night's final border league fixture: a 4 mile race in Deeside. Wanted to maintain my 9th position in the league, and managed it with a time of 23:30 for 50th place from the usual very strong final fixture field of 275. Very satisfied with a top 10 finish, maintaining 9th place overall with a final score of 249: pleasingly consistent over the season, with six top 50 finishes. Buckley finished 2nd in division 1. Next day, went to Aberystwyth for a conference. Started at 6am, so was able to squeeze an outing in on the way. Parked at Minffordd and ran up to Cwm Cae in low cloud. Located the Tapia Llwydion scramble/climb, and romped up the nice 200ft slab in rock boots (bit of diff at the start, then grade II scrambling), easy but damp, good fun. A couple of steeper towers led to broken ground and then the plateau in thick mist. Ran along the ridge to Mynydd Moel, then the continuation ridge (very pleasant, not done before) to emerge from the cloud below the summit of Gau Graig - interesting views to Waun Oer. Then ran down the very steep ridge back to the bridleway, cutting my thumb and twisting my ankle. Back to Minffordd in 2 hours, washed in the toilets and got to Aber before the conference had started! Next day, left the conference at 5pm and arrived Abergynolwyn 5.45pm. More new territory for me, up Nant Gwernol to Foel Fawr, then along the forest tracks - nicely runnable - to the gully leading steeply to the NW ridge of Tarren Hendre. Great remote feeling hills, especially this time of night. Lovely springlike evening, cuckoos calling, as I ran along the wonderful ridge leading over Pant Gwyn to Foel y Geifr. Exhilerating stuff, with magnificent views to the Dyfi valley right, and Cader Idris left. Over Foel y Geifr to a path through some trees to a steep climb up Tarren y Gesail. The sun illuminated Bardsey, as well as a narrow band of sea. Good running down to Bryn Eglwys quarry and back to Abergynolwyn in 2:30 hrs (quite a tough 10 mile round).