Carneddau walk

Peaks: Pen yr Olau Wen, Carnedd Dafydd
Area: Carneddau, Eryri
A pleasant short outing with Rich. Mild drizzle as we set off, an enormous contrast with the superb winter climbing conditions this time last year. The slopes up to Cwm Lloer were very boggy, then wet scrambling gained the ridge. Drier weather made lunch on the summit more comfortable, but a biting cold wind and lowering cloud base spoiled the ridge walk to Dafydd. My first rest day for quite a while, as I continue to push the running mileage, partly because of the bad weather (hence lack of other options!) and lack of races.

Llangollen Skyline run

An excellent longer run, the culmination of recent attempts to up the training slightly following the final race of the year at Tattenhall. Neil, Jez and I set off from the Ponderosa in bracing sunshine, jogging up to the top of Cyrn y Brain before enjoying the superb descent down to World's End and along Offa's Dyke to Llangollen. Some flat respite along the canal towpath to Rhewl, then a desperate sting in the tail up the 'Conquering Hero' path, which stays unrelentingly steep until the summit of Moel y Gamelin. From here, fine running along the ridge over Moel y Faen back to the Ponderosa. Neil and I did a version of the same 16m route, starting from Llangollen, two years ago: it is perhaps even more challenging this way round and I would like to put it on as a race some time. Good urban running in London last weekend, followed by a pyramids session on Monday and a 12-miler round the forest tracks on Tuesday. I intend to do the Famau run Friday, then run back from Llanfair DC to Cadole on Christmas Eve - should manage a 55 mile week.

Tattenhall Border League

Race: Tattenhall 10k (Border League race 3)
Time/Position: 35:41 (17th from 271 [3rd V40])
Poured with rain throughout this race, just as it did the last time we were here for the Tough Team in June. I was hoping for at least a top 20 finish, given reasonable current form, but should perhaps have done a little better on a course that theoretically suits me. Started off relatively slowly, intending to push it on the long double climb into the Peckforton Hills. This tactic worked reasonably well, although I lost a place on the fast and very long final run-in to the finish at the Sports Club. I took a minute off my previous best for this course and I'm now wondering whether I could get close to my 10k PB on a flatter course. Very tight overall in my category after three races: just three points between 2nd place and me currently in 4th.

Cardington Cracker fell race

Race: Cardington Cracker (9m/2600ft/AM)
Time/Position: 1:23:06 (12th from 291 [3rd V40])
Another end-of-season away day, but in the more familiar territory of the Shropshire Hills this time. That said, this is only the third time I've raced in this very pleasant mini-range around Church Stretton. This is a classic outing giving superb running in places: our carbon footprint was pleasingly small, too, with six Flintshire runners in one vehicle! The race takes in some of the terrain traced by the Stretton Skyline, which I did in 2009, but uses very different routes up the two key hills of the Lawley and Caer Caradoc. We began from the village through stubble fields into a freezing headwind which then helped us a bit for the ferocious climb up the Lawley from the east: hands and knees at times, but mercifully brief, as with all these hills. A superb descent, well remembered from the Skyline race, with me in 18th position at this point. Good running across fields and a wood led to the almost equally steep climb up Caer Caradoc. I was starting to pick up places, although my underdressed right arm, leg and face (exposed to the icy wind) began to freeze up as I crossed the ridge. Caradoc is a lovely little hill, enlivened today by sweeping hail and sunbursts over the Long Mynd to the west. The final climb up and over Hope Bowdler hill is gentler but drawn out, with superb airy running throughout. I passed a few runners and thoroughly enjoyed the long, gently descending run-in back to Cardington - just failing to catch the chap in front. Won the first V40 prize at a raucous village hall later on, although the truth is that I was off the pace and really only 3rd.