Clwydian run

A good longer outing in the Clwydians yesterday, the final significant outing of the year: still enjoying the excellent spell of stable, cold weather. Started from Cadole with Neil, running along the leat all the way to the Pantymwyn road. Then along the paths to the centre of Cilcain, up the lanes to Pedair Groesffordd and up to the Arthur col. Then the full Famau ridge along OD via Moel Llys y Coed and Moel Dywyll to a very cold summit, with significant wind chill. Down to Penbarras, then the forest car park, and back to Cadole via the normal path to Loggerheads. Went for a family walk to Aber Falls today, with intervals in the evening: yet more perfect cold and clear weather. So a good year draws to a close. Hard to pinpoint the highlights, but the Laugavegur has to be at the top, followed by the Capelet traverse, sub-3 at Edinburgh and the other PBs, some good, varied climbing, the Rab MM and the two classic long Welsh fell races.

Arenig Fawr

Peaks: Arenig Fawr (2802ft/854m), Arenig Fawr south
Area: Arenig, Eryri
The superb spell of anti-cyclonic weather continues, with cloud to the east but all the Welsh peaks crisp and clear. Far too cold for rock climbing, all the snow gone, so it had to be a hill-walk. Ambled up to Llyn Arenig Fawr with Rich and Neil, then the enjoyable ridge to Y Castell and great views of a hoar-frosted mountain framed against a deep blue sky. The summit ridge was desperately cold, a bitter east wind cutting into us and rendering lunch a trial of endurance. Fantastic crystal clear views to Wyddfa, Rhinog, Moelwyn, Cader. Finger-length frost crystals coated the fence as we jogged up to the south peak before gratefully ducking out of the wind towards Nant y Pysgod and the long valley track north to the road. Jogged back to the car. Always a lovely traverse, made particularly good by today's weather and a couple of pints in Bala.

Rosey Nosey fell race

Race: Rosey Nosey fell race (3.75m/600ft)
Time/position: 27.10 (4/13)
My 35th and final race of the year today. A very enjoyable and friendly festive outing from Graianrhyd, leaving the pub south along the bridleway to Llyn Cyfynwy, down south to the road then along the tracks (and very awkward, completely trackless deep heather) to the mast on the little 'summit'. Then back via the lakeside and icy paths. Managed a very predictable 4th place, couldn't quite stick with the pace of Neil and Jez. Another nice addition from Martin, with enjoyable after-race drinks at the pub.

Hope Mountain run

A good-paced run up Hope Mountain from HK today, conscious that I'm not going to do much over the next few days! A few runs in London last weekend, and a run up Moel Famau on Friday to complement the long Llangollen run. Rather mild and dull in the hills today.

The 'horseshoe horseshoe'

Peaks: Cyrn y Brain, Moel y Faen, Moel y Gamelin
Decided to extend last week's Llangollen-Ponderosa run this morning, with a significant extension along the Gamelin ridge. Left the town with Neil in mild, breezy conditions, to gradually climb up to the OD path below Dinbren. Then the fantastic contouring running below the Eglwyseg crags to World's End. Feeling slightly tired after yesterday's climbing, but we set a fair pace across the heather to the boggy summit of Cyrn y Brain with the wind picking up and ominous black clouds threatening. Down quickly to Ponderosa in 90 mins from town, then the steep double climb up to the summits of Moel y Faen and finally Moel y Gamelin. These climbs are tough enough from the top of the pass, but even worse after running from Llangollen! Took a 2 minute break on Gamelin with the entire route visible. Descended steeply into the wind to the col, then great running SE down the Conquering Hero bridleway to Rhewl. A final off-road sting in the tail led to Llandynan then down a narrow hillside path to Llantysilio farm and the excellent riverside path back to Llangollen (2:40?). Hard to imagine a better running loop than this in NE Wales, would make a great race.

North Buttress, Tryfan

Peaks: Tryfan
Routes: North Buttress (D) Led p.1,2,3,4
The sustained period of high pressure and decent winter climbing conditions ended just as my leave kicked in. Rather annoying, but a nice forecast meant a possibility of rock climbing with Alwyn. In the event, the weather was not ideal: snow patches, low cloud and a strengthening westerly wind. So took the bold decision to go for a long route on the east face, in an attempt to stay out of the wind and retain some feeling in our hands. I think North Buttress was among the first multi-pitch climbs I ever did, 17 years ago almost to the day. It's a nice easy route, ideal in these rather marginal conditions. I led off up the first groove, which was wet except for the holds on the edge of the groove. Didn't waste much time as my hands were losing all feeling, but enjoyed the big holds and unique Tryfan atmosphere. A steep rib above the groove leads interestingly to the stance. Also led the second pitch up a crack in the next groove, followed by a traverse left to a higher rib. The third pitch was soaking wet, but easy. We then scrambled up to Terrace Wall on wet snow and old neve. Far too cold and snowy to continue, obvious risk of verglas, so continued up North Gully. This was a tad awkward, in trainers on old frozen snow patches, but also satisfying. The summit was windy and verglassed, so we retreated down the south ridge and back along the terrace. Agonising hot flushes as the blood returned to my fingers.

Border League, Mold

Race: Mold 5m (Border League round 3)
Time/position: 29:04 (25th/248)
Semi-paralysed by a ludicrously stiff neck and upper back, but strangely came away from the usual hilly 5m circuit around Nercwys with my highest ever Border League finish. Felt much better than on the 10k last week, perhaps because the hilly course suited me better. Went for it up to Nercwys, then tried to hang on and pick up as many places as I could on the 'descent'. These tactics worked quite well: an encouraging outing. A pint in Grianrhyd was a nice way to warm-down. Ran up Famau in freezing mist on Friday morning, but otherwise a low mileage week affected by a mild cold.

Llangollen run

Peaks: Cyrn y Brain
More crisp, cold weather, so it seemed an obvious choice to head to Llangollen and run up through the woods to the OD path below the Eglwyseg crags (as with the long Llangollen-HK epic Dave and I did during Iceland preparation last June). We enjoyed the superb contouring path below Craig Arthur in low winter sunshine. Rather icy as we approached World's End, but superbly clear. Since we were both recovering from colds, taking it easy, it seemed sensible to follow OD up to the edge of Llandegla forest, then follow the broad path (some snow, lots of ice) along the fence to the top of Cyrn y Brain - and great views to Arenig, Rhinogau, Shropshire. A cold descent in low winter sun, then thawed out in the Ponderosa (90 mins). An obvious extension would be to take in Gamelin, then descend back to town.

Helena Tipping 10k

Race: Helena Tipping 10k, Wrexham
Time/Position: 36:46 (19th/269)
Managed a 10k pb by the skin of my teeth at the Helena Tipping 10k in Wrexham yesterday. Shaved 7 seconds off the time set in Mold last year, to at least give the satisfaction of setting pbs at marathon, half and 10k during 2008 (this was my first 10k of 2008!). Rather disappointed not to have gone quicker, though. Very similar to last year's conditions: very cold, although sunny and quite icy this year, which unsurprisingly caused problems - particularly on the notorious fifth mile, which seems far longer than the rest. Went through 3 miles in 17 mins dead, on for a good time (exactly as last year), then slowed considerably to mile 5 before picking it up for a reasonable finish to dip inside my pb. We ran up Moel Famau on Friday night in an unfavourable combination of conditions: dark, misty, windy, snow/slush/ice...