Brenig/Alwen giant loop

An excellent hard training session yesterday, and a valuable long run in preparation for forthcoming events. Neil and I had been planning to do a double loop of both lakes for a while, and conditions were ideal yesterday: mild, overcast, light winds. We began with an exact copy of the Brenig race route, a comfortable largely off-road clockwise circuit, which we pleasingly completed in 65 mins. This was only 4 or 5 mins slower than my race time (2007?). We then continued up the hill, over the road and through the newly laid out forest path down to the Alwen dam. Still felt quite comfortable, and really enjoyed the path - new territory for me - out towards the wild NW end of the lake in the heart of Hiraethog. Over the bridge and a cruel climb up to a miniature windy ridge. Started to suffer slightly, but recovered to maintain the pace as the route gradually descends back to the dam. A hilly slog back along the track and road back to the Brenig car park. Exactly 2:30 for the round, perhaps a tad over 20 miles. Eased tired limbs with a lunchtime jog up to Frodsham crags today, a brief but good bouldering session - one route, along with some harder low-level traverses.