Manx Mountain Marathon

Race: Manx Mountain Marathon (50k/8500ft/AL)
Peaks: North Barrule, Clagh Ouyr, Snaefell, Beinn y Phott, Carraghan, Colden, Lhargee Ruy, Slieau Ruy, Greeba Mountain, Slieau Whallian, South Barrule, Cronk ny Arrey Laa, Lhiattee ny Beinnee, Bradda Hill
Time/Position: 6:19:44 (11th from 85)
There are not many things more appealing or satisfying than a long race across the spine of an island, taking in virtually every peak. This is a classic and long-established event: a genuine fell race rather than some ego exercise for yuppies. I've wanted to do it for years, but was always thwarted by the Easter start. So a change of dates this year offered a great opportunity to give it a go. I knew I didn't have the legs or recent mileage to properly race it over this distance, but I did think the climbing should be OK given the Alpine/Scottish days I've had this year, as long as I took it all very slowly! We (Dave, Jez and myself) arrived from Liverpool on Friday, then had an unpleasant alarm call at 5.15am to catch the bus from Douglas to Ramsey. A superb sunrise over the Irish Sea as we jogged along Ramsey prom: an amazing weather window in a diabolical week with widespread flooding, my 2012 weather luck holding yet again. That said, after the climb through the forest and up through very boggy moorland to the steep summit cone of North Barrule, the wind picked up and made life rather unpleasant. Not a direct headwind, perhaps, but enough to make progress pretty difficult along the fine ridge. Through watery eyes, there was a great impression of being on an island: sea on both sides of the ridge and excellent though cold and boggy running along the crest to Clagh Ouyr. This was the windiest spot on the route, and it was a battle just to stamp the checkpoint on the summit. From here, a fast descent led to the Black Hut on the TT route and a steep climb up Snaefell. By now, I was well behind the leading runners and some way ahead of those behind, so route finding became an issue, particularly as a little mist was playing around the summit of Snaefell. I took an ultra cautious bearing before enjoying the superb fast descent down to Bungalow and Brandywell. A short climb up Beinn y Phott, some food, and prospects were looking good. Gentle jogging, just enjoying the unfolding and ever-changing scenery as we gradually headed south over Carraghan before an awkward and tussocky descent led to the beautiful glen at Injebreck. Wonderful warm sunshine as we crossed a little river, then a tough, heathery and lengthy climb up Colden: one of the race's toughest sections. The ridge over Lhargee Ruy and Slieau Ruy was boggy and windy, but went well to a long descent down to the very pretty, pastoral and sun-drenched valley of the Greeba. A level bridleway led to St John's, the half way point. The stiff climb up Slieau Whallian was another crux: I was completely alone for the steep haul through conifers to gain pleasant open hillside and the start of excellent seaviews towards to western coast, which got better from the very boggy and long climb up South Barrule. The final section, from the Round Table to the coastal path, was the finest of all. A wonderful scenic contrast with the mountainous early sections. Classic Celtic coastal scenery, still very hilly indeed as we climbed over Arrey Laa. Indeed, my favourite part of the entire race was the 'bonus' hill, new for this year: Lliattee ny Beinnee, particularly as I got my second wind here. The path skirted the cliff edge, with brilliant exposed views over the sea at Eairnyerey and a terrific fast descent down to the lovely little cove of Fleshwick Bay. One more steep climb up Bradda Hill, tiring now, before the delicious final grassy descent to Bradda Head and the welcome site of the finish at Port Erin. Jez was already there, so we retired to the Falcon's Nest for some fine Manx ale, sunny sea views, and a good feed, before meeting Dave a little later that afternoon.

Barrel run

'Race': Colomendy Barrel Run
Time: 14:54
An informal novelty event organised by John M from the Collie, involving a deep river crossing, the painful transportation of an awkward beer barrel and some appalling smelling running clothes. After a rather long (7 mile!) warm-up out towards Rhydymwyn, I acted as guinea pig for the race proper as I had to get home early. The route was a lot of fun, down towards the steps from the pub, across the Alyn (fairly deep after lots of rain) before picking up the beer barrel at Loggerheads. John had helpfully left the stopper out, so ancient vinegary beer trickled down my ear and into my remaining hair as I hoisted it on to my shoulders. The smell was quite repulsive, so I rapidly shifted tactics and held the barrel in front of me for the rather public run up the main road to Cadole and the pub!

Ala Archa walk, Kyrgyzstan

A whistlestop research trip to the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan, which just happens to be characterised by superb mountain scenery. After an early morning arrival at Manas airport, I made my way to the rooftop restaurant of the hotel to stunning views of the Ala Too range which tower above the capital Bishkek. Although I had little time at my disposal for leisure, I soon arranged for a taxi to take me up to the Ala Archa valley, which is well known as the most accessible way of penetrating the mountains from Bishkek. Sure enough, in around an hour we arrived at the roadhead in a superb valley. The Ala Too is essentially a subsidiary range to the legendary Tien Shan 'celestial' mountains which rise to 7,400m at Pik Pobedy on the Kyrgyz/Chinese border. Here, the mountains were a lot lower, at around 5000m, but the superb crystal clear weather still allowed for some cracking views up to Korona and Free Korea peak from our highpoint near the roadhead. It was, naturally, very frustrating to be unable to get onto the peaks properly - but I was just glad to have had the opportunity to get up here. My young driver, Joldosh, had perfect English having spent a year working at Pret a Manger in Kensington! He'd brought his partner along for the ride, so we all had a delightful walk down through the juniper woods (after which Ala Archa is named), to the glacial Ala Archa river which was a remarkable light blue colour at this point. The trees were just beginning to turn to autumnal shades and the weather was wonderful. It was 30C+ in Bishkek, but here light breezes and the altitude rendered it delightfully comfortable, with deep blue skies and crystal clear views. Walked up and down the valley for a while, realising with some frustration that it would have been relatively simple to have nipped up one of the lower peaks in a day, particularly as the conditions were so good.

Tremadog climbing

Crag: Upper Tier, Tremadog
Routes: Falling Block Crack (S 4a:led), MTN (S 4a:led), Mistook (VS 4c:sec), Madog (VS 4c:sec), Quatre Fois Direct (VS 4c:sec)
With a long flight to Kyrgyzstan tomorrow, and a distinct lack of climbing all year, my heart wasn't really in it today. We only had the morning at our disposal, and I wanted some relaxed leading to try to get back into the swing of things, so we headed to the Upper Tier near Pant Ifan. In my many trips to Tremadog, I have never bothered with it before as it seems such a poor relation to the bigger classics on the main crags. However, it is a lovely spot giving better views than the other crags - along with a much longer (but scenic) walk-in. Groups can be a problem, but we had it to ourselves. More rain as I led the obvious line of Falling Block Crack which takes a juggy wall to a wide crack with one tricky move. MTN gave more relaxed climbing, which was just what I needed. A slabby crack to a ledge before a thin final crack up a second wall led to a mantel finish. Mistook is quite technical at the start, up twin cracks, then finishes up a slabby wall. All these routes are longer than I'd expected, 25-28m, and they pack quite a lot of climbing in: good pitches. Madog took a wet wall on Moelwyn style bubbly rock before taking a right-leaning crack - excellent jamming - to the top. Vic's final lead was the best, another gently technical thin crack before a superb finish up the harder right-hand finishing crack taken by neighbouring route Meirionydd.

Bwlch y Moch climbing

Crag: Craig Bwlch y Moch, Tremadog
Routes: Kestrel Cracks (VS 4c:sec)
Over a year since my last trip to Tremadog and the weather this evening was exactly the same as it was then. The usual pattern is to head here for good weather, but drizzle turned to steady rain as I arrived at Eric's. We had very little time, so Vic suggested heading up to Kestrel Cracks, which I've done before and know stays reasonably dry. As I've done very little climbing this year, I seconded him up the steep but juggy groove which leads to a strenuous back-and-foot move over the little bulge at the top. It was all fairly dry, but steady rain at the stance made the second pitch an unappealing prospect. It's not as good anyway, so we abbed off and retired to the Ship in Portmadog for refreshments.

Clwydian run

An attempt at a longer run to increase the mileage before the forthcoming Manx Mountain Marathon and OMM elite. Not very successful, yet again, and I felt sluggish throughout. Left Cadole for the Leat path then up to the bridleway before dropping down to Cilcain and following the Excalibur route over to the base of Moel Arthur. An extended route over and round the summit, then along OD to Dywyll and Famau before dropping back down via a few extensions back to Cadole. No more than 17 miles, so not a good confidence boost.

Moel Wnion fell race

Race: Ras Moel Wnion (British Championships)
Time/Position: 45:47 (41st from 98)
Perhaps the strongest field I've ever competed in, after 260 or so races. I remember doing some British Championship races many years ago, but I think this was probably more competitive as it was the final race of the season. It was also a Welsh Champs counter, and unfortunately I had to do it because of my disastrous error at Mynydd Troed in April - which rendered my score effectively null and void. The start today, from the fields above Aber, was relentless - going up the track to the west of the Foel Fras race descent. Quite demoralising as I found myself well down the field, feeling very rough, to make matters worse! I struggled all the way up the climb, suffering in the heat (a sunny and hot day for once) and not going at all well. The plateau at the top was a little better, and the usual tremendous sea views enlivened the return trip, as did the views of the Carneddau. Predictably, however, I lost even more places on a very sluggish descent and recorded my lowest finishing position for at least six years, barely squeezing into the top half of the field. I remember doing the old Moel Wnion race in 2007, but that went up from Rachub and included a cracking descent which took in Moel Faban.

Caernarfon 10k

Race: Caernarfon 10k (Welsh 10k Championships)
Time/Position: 36:00 (14th from 201 [2nd V40])
Although this was my slowest 10k for almost three years, I was quite pleased with the performance having been selected to run for North Wales again this year. As with my last appearance in Cardiff 2010, the timing of the Welsh 10k Championships presents a bit of a conundrum: after a summer racing and climbing in the mountains, how do you convert effectively to road without doing any proper speed work? I haven't worked out a solution, so this went as well as could be expected. I felt far more comfortable than at Capenhurst last week: after a quickish first km (3:18) I got into a small coherent group and we plodded along the seafront around 30m behind the tight lead group. Worked a bit with Jez into a light headwind, but (knowing the course well from the border league) I was concentrating on saving energy for the tough second half. After a sharp hill I hit the 5k point at 18:00, the slow pace some reassurance that I wouldn't blow on the second half. In the event, I kept exactly the same pace going over all the hills, and passed a couple of runners on the final sharp climb after 8k. Shame there were no other regional teams present, as our North Wales Veterans team put in a decent performance. We ended up winning the gold medal by default, and I came away with category silver in the Welsh and North Wales Championships.