Carneddau walk

Peaks: Pen yr Olau Wen, Carnedd Dafydd, Carnedd Llywellyn
Area: Carneddau, Eryri
The classic circuit of the main Carneddau peaks in superb winter conditions. Nice to enjoy a relaxing winter hillwalk as a change from all the running. Unusual clarity of light as Rich and I approached Ogwen with the snowline at around 400m. A decent dump of snow had occurred a few hours after the walls race on Boxing Day, perfect timing, and had been followed by cold anticyclonic conditions. No ice build up yet though, and no freeze-thaw, so a ridge walk seemed better than winter climbing today. Completely windless as we negotiated the bad step to gain the east ridge of Pen, Rich clad in short-sleeved t-shirt. Truly alpine in tone: with a pleasant lunch on the summit enjoying the views over to Snowdon. Deep blue skies for the ridge traverse over Dafydd to distant Llywellyn: some mild sport on the ridge. Cold on the summit of Llywellyn as the sun began to drop: more mild winter mountaineering on the scrambly descent of the always excellent ridge to the bwlch near Craig yr Ysfa. Back to Ogwen via the Llugwy track. I've probably done this route 20 times over the years, often in fine conditions of sun and snow, but this matched the best of them.

Round the Walls

Race: Round the Walls, Chester (4.7m)
Time/Position: 25.15 (10th from 430)
With a sharp frost forecast it seemed very unlikely that the full route would be on this morning. I've done the race at least five times, and have only once done the walls - such is the sensitivity of the route to adverse weather. However, we woke to dull skies and no frost, so the race was on. Kate and I set off with enfants spectating (with a distinct lack of interest) from the Roodee grandstand. The Roodee section was limited this year, with a sprint out to the first furlong marker, then back via some loops near the grandstand to climb the steps to Nuns Road. Then came the walls - really exciting racing. There was a group of four or five some way in front of me, then myself and Gary Norgrove. Great racing round the walls and through the recently opened clock tower. I felt OK as we started along the long final straight, next to the Dee, round the Roodee, and a few extra loops on the very muddy racecourse.

Gamelin/Cyrn y Brain run

Our now traditional pre-Christmas mountain run coincided (as it did last year) with an appalling forecast. But whereas last year we carried on regardless, this time discretion got the better part of valour: Peter and I abandoned ambitious Carneddau plans for a circuit of the Moel y Gamelin race route (in reverse, so as to benefit from the tailwind over the ridge). The plan worked well, sheltered from the worst of the wind along the tracks north of the hills. Then we climbed up to the ridge at Bwlch y Groes after extending the race route slightly. Superb running with a strong tailwind, despite low cloud and poor viz, over all the tops: Moel Morfydd, Moel y Gaer, Gamelin and Moel y Faen. From a drizzly and rather grim Horseshoe Pass, we continued to the top of Cyrn y Brain (the meat of the Ponderosa race). No more than light rain throughout, surprisingly, and even some slight glimmers of sunshine as we descended for tea in the cafe. A nice relaxed festive outing combining two well-known race routes: 13 or so miles, 3000ft of ascent, following on nicely from yesterday's enjoyable Buckley Christmas outing in the Clwydians.

Leicestershire hill run

A very pleasant introduction to the small but neatly formed Charnwood hills near Loughborough with Steve. We left the Coombs' household in the middle of town and, surprisingly quickly, reached open fields and a bitter wind. From here, a gentle climb to woodland led to a good descent down to a hidden valley. Nice, almost Pennine, scenery. After running along this valley, a sharp 'fell-race like' climb led past some little crags up to Beacon Hill. Not quite Leicestershire's highest point, but a decent view over the flatlands to the east and south. From here, excellent running down tracks and bridleways led back to Loughborough.

Tattenhall border league

Race: Tattenhall '10k' (Border League race 2)
Time/Position: 35.18 (17th from 314 [2nd V40])
After turning my ankle badly at the Dash in the Dark on Friday, the frozen peas had worked their magic and I felt OK to start one of my favourite Border League courses, a nice lumpy 10k into the Peckforton Hills. Clearly, there's a weakness in the left ankle after I went over on it at Rhobell Fawr last month: but keeping it nice and straight on a road race is comfortable (slippery tree stumps and bare rock, not so much). A stiff wind seemed likely to offer some resistance for the long and very familiar 'false flat' that leads back to the finish in Tattenhall. So I tried to save something. This worked initially, after going reasonably steadily up the steep hill I passed three or four runners: but, as usual, I was caught out at the end by my lack of finishing kick. Two of those I'd passed surged to the finish before me. Slightly down on last year's time, but not a bad performance in the circumstances. Buckley doing well this year: first veteran team and second in the first division at present.