Bangor XC

Race: Bangor XC (North Wales Cross Country League, race 3)
Time/Position: 35.50 (32nd from 152 [4th V45])
A long break from racing, over a month since the Flintshire 10k. Very little running in South Africa, and a heavy cold on returning, so my struggles in the two intervals sessions I've managed since recovering were hardly surprising. This was, therefore, merely a damage limitation exercise! A perfect winter day, with a hard frost and snow on the Carneddau. Felt I should have been up on those hills, and that feeling intensified as I began to struggle on the second lap. I last did the Bangor course 10 years ago, and it has changed since then: possibly a tad shorter, but more intense, with a sharp climb on all four laps. The course was muddy, slippery and demanding today despite the weather. I finished way down the field, which was a shame as I missed the second race in the league last month, but at least I didn't fall apart completely as I had half expected.

Clywedog trail run

A very pleasant outing on a beautiful crisp winter morning. Starting from Minera, we initially went too far across the river, adding a steep extra climb, but eventually joined a contouring path which eventually led down to Bersham via beautiful woodland. Astonishingly, and slightly shamefully, this was new territory for me. The Clywedog trail continues in this vein, broadly following the river through the edge of Wrexham, although urban scenery rarely intrudes. Peter and I continued through Erddig and nice parkland scenery to the end of the trail at King's Mill, then turned round for the long return leg along the riverbank. Just over half marathon distance in total.

Quartzkop

Peak: Quartzkop (1750m)
Area: Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Just a short jog, glad to be able to expend some energy after several days driving round the wonderful Kruger National Park. This morning, I left Satara Camp in Kruger very early, driving into Limpopo then through the huge township of Bushbuckridge to Graskop. After breakfast, I headed up to the famed God's Window viewpoint. Here, the warm air of the Lowveld rises to meet the cooler air of the high plateau of Mpumulanga at the start of the Panorama Route and Blyde River Canyon. At this time of year, early summer, mist is the inevitable result. So, instead of the vast view over the Lowveld, a misty subtropical atmosphere prevailed. Still very atmospheric, with ever changing views over the top of the clouds and the plateau clear. I quickly realised that the path continued past God's Window to take in the subtropical cloud forest beyond: all moss and dripping vegetation, reminding me of my trip to Panama earlier this year. Above, typical Highveld scenery and vegetation as a plateau is reached. Great running here, with cloud to the right over the Lowveld and huge views left over the plateau towards the Blyde River Canyon. I kept on going to the highpoint, some interesting birds, then jogged back to resume my tour of the region. Later, I took in the Three Rondavels, Blyde Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes and many more sites in this wonderful area before staying in the hills above Graskop, near the famous Berlin Falls.