Bowstones fell race

Race: Bowstones fell race, Poynton (11k/1063ft)
Time/Position: 47.47 (23rd from 389)
We all really enjoyed this fine coda to the running year in 2015, so went back again. But whereas last year I felt quite good on this fast and runnable race, which is almost closer to a trail or multi-terrain event, I struggled from an early stage this year. I still had hamstring damage from the Jubilee Plunge although can't really blame that for my travails which were more fundamental in nature! The route is eyeballs out throughout, with no really steep climbs: it goes gently up into Lyme Park, then embarks on a steady climb interspersed with a wooded descent that eventually leads to a short ridge on the edge of the Peak. I lost around 10 places on the climb, struggling to run, but gained a few on the descent back to the Cage Tower and Lyme Park: eventually finishing around a minute (and 10 places) down on last year.

Y Garn walk

Peak: Y Garn
Area: Glyderau, Eryri
The traditional post-Christmas walk with Rich. Just a short one this year, although conditions were superb with a hard frost in the valleys and perfect clarity from the summits. The East Face of Tryfan would have been wonderful, sheltered from the cold (but fairly gentle) westerly. Rich fancied Y Garn though, so we walked along the valley to Ogwen Cottage then up the very familiar steps towards Twll Du. Emerging into the sunlight at Llyn y Cwn was very welcome: memories of my solo summer wild camp in this wonderful spot. Delightful winter sunshine for the plod to the summit, and lunch with a raven for company. Excellent views over Llyn, in particular. We completed the mini loop in familiar fashion, down Banana ridge and back to Idwal. An ideal gentle outing to stretch the legs after all the festive races.

Jubilee Plunge

Race: Jubilee Plunge (2.2m/-1361ft)
Time/Position: 12.39 (8th from 81)
The shortest and physically easiest race of the year, yet always the most damaging in terms of recovery! I'd avoided it in favour of the 5k handicap last year, conscious that my poor descending and overstriding leaves my legs in shreds for a week even if I hold back. It is one of the most enjoyable outings of the year though, and I have always liked the village pub. A convivial trot to the top of Moel Famau for this most eccentric of race starts in front of the usual crowd of curious onlookers on the Jubilee Tower: nice weather with low sunshine and milky high cloud. I started mid-pack, the intention being to take it easy and save my legs. This backfired in a fairly obvious way as I found myself way behind on the first steep drop then felt obliged to push on the ridge to try to gain some places. By the time you reach the narrow track branching off towards the Vale it is all too late. I could see Steve, Andy and Chris below me and knew I was unlikely to catch up! It is a fantastic grassy descent back to the road but I avoided the 'shortcut' as nobody else seemed to be taking it. The flatter fields back to the pub suit me a bit better and I ended up half a minute down on my best time. My fourth time at the Plunge, and the third short enjoyable race in four festive days.

Round the Walls race

Race: Round the Walls, Chester (6k)
Time/Position: 23.53 (10th from 491 [1st V45])
With the walls under refurbishment in two places, the race route must have been hard for the organisers to work out this year. There was no ice this morning though (always a concern on this race as it means the walls can't be run). Instead, just a nice sunny day as we headed off for a lap of the car park then short loop of the Roodee (as in 2014). From here, the race headed down Sealand Road then up past Telford's and the locks to take the cobbled canal towpath before joining the walls much higher up near the cathedral. Flying along the walls is what this race is all about, it always gives exciting racing, and I managed to gain a few places and get close to a compact group of five who were themselves well behind the lead five runners. Brilliant running past the clock and down to the Dee, and although I couldn't catch the faster group in front I just squeezed into the top 10 for the second time. Kate enjoyed it too: my fifth time at this race, which works so well as a bracing family outing on Boxing Day morning,

Wepre Parkrun

"Race": Wepre Parkrun (5k)
Time/Position: 20.16 (6th)
My Parkrun debut, after almost 500 'formal' races since 1982. Legs were a little tender after yesterday's exertions in the Berwyn storm, but these are not races, merely 'timed runs'. A little lap (on which I have previously marshalled) with a sharp climb leads to two longer laps each containing two longer climbs. The course is quite challenging and would make an excellent hard XC course with one or two more laps. I really enjoyed it, despite my jaded limbs which remained creaky and tired throughout, and despite the fact I recorded my slowest ever 5k time by quite a considerable margin! In fact I was three minutes slower even than this year's best 5k time, but this is certainly not a quick course (in fact, some say it is the hardest UK Parkrun). It is the 32nd week at Wepre, so I was rather surprised to break the course record for my V45 age category. Very nice inclusive event: neatly followed by our usual Christmas Eve walk.

Berwyn horseshoe

Peaks: Mynydd Tarw, Foel Wen, Tomle, Cadair Berwyn, Moel Sych, Moel yr Ewig, Godor
Area: Berwyn, Denbighshire
After a dry interlude yesterday (and a walk up Conwy mountain with the children), another depression swept in today. Dubbed Storm Barbara, it was another example of unfortunate pre-Christmas timing. In the event, however, Jez and I arrived in Cwm Maen Gwynedd just after 9am, and the worst of the weather had yet to arrive. We wasted no time, and injected a bit of pace for the steep climb up Mynydd Tarw: tarmac, then track, then steep fields. But the climb gets you onto the ridge very quickly: probably my fourth time round this excellent horseshoe. I thought it would make a good choice today, relatively sheltered in the east, and always with the option of dropping into the valley if things get too extreme. Ferocious gusts as we ran across the boggy terrain to the north: over Foel Wen and its tops, blown into the fence a few times. But it stayed dry initially, with a surprisingly high cloud base. After Tomle, Ffordd Saeson gave a few minutes respite before the main Berwyn ridge into the teeth of the gale. However, it wasn't quite as bad as I'd expected. Jez coped with the conditions better than I did, but we made good progress and even got some fine views to the south as we skirted Cwm Maen Gwynedd. The usual bog on top of the ironically named Moel Sych, then we took the great contouring narrow path down to Moel yr Ewig and along the ridge in deteriorating conditions: heavy rain and gale-force winds throughout. From Godor, an excellent fast descent back down to the valley bottom (2.15 for the round). Warmed up in front of the fire in The Hand, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog.

Carneddau run

Peaks: Foel Dduarth, Yr Orsedd, Drum
Area: Carneddau, Eryri
The familiar diabolical weather on our pre-Christmas outing, although it was particularly unfortunate this year after two weeks of stable conditions. Options were by definition limited, but it was at least dry as we set off from Aber. The steep tarmac start to the Foel Fras race is never pleasant, but you do gain height quickly. The very steep climb up gorse to Foel Dduarth is demanding, but again over quite quickly. From here, the grassy ridge always gives superb running over to Yr Orsedd. The wind picked up at this point, and the black clouds gathering to the west moved overhead. As we dropped down to the main Drum track, horizontal hail and icy blasts made life very difficult. Conditions got progressively worse as we climbed towards Drum: painful hail, poor visibility and ferocious gusts. At the summit of Drum, the wind whipped across the ridge: conversation was impossible so I gestured to Peter that a descent to Cwm Anafon was on my mind! He seemed to agree. Problem was that this was into the teeth of the gale: hard work initially, very hard to see. But I have used this as an escape route before and it works well. Half way down, the wind eased and in the cwm it was much gentler. We were finally able to communicate as we ran back north then extended the run down old tracks to end up on the A55 itself. Dried out in the Albion, Conwy.

Welsh XC Championships

Race: Welsh Regional and Masters Cross Country Championships, Brecon (9.5k)
Time/Position: 34.53 (49th from 133 [7th V45])
Having been selected to run for Wales for the first time since 2012 in November, and then being unable to make it, this was a welcome opportunity to at least represent my region. I've run for North Wales three times at the 10k road championships but, although I've been picked for cross country before, this was my first actual XC appearance in the regional champs. The course was a new one, round the fields surrounding the Penlan centre outside Brecon. The day was dank and drizzly, but the going was relatively kind underfoot. Better still, the course (three long and tortuous laps) suited me fairly well, with long flat sections to hammer out some kind of rhythm. A few twists and turns and a couple of short, sharp hills kept it interesting. Having struggled a bit to maintain the pace at Bangor last month, I ran conservatively but didn't feel too bad for a change (albeit still slow!). I picked up a few places on the second and third laps and finished in a reasonable position for my age, scoring in second place for the North Wales V45-55 team (although we just missed out on the team medal, by a very small margin).