Two Lakes run

An extended training version of the Two Lakes half marathon which I had enjoyed last May. Over the years, I've done various routes and races here: from the complete 20 mile figure of eight round both lakes, to the various shorter races that loop the Brenig and Alwen. A group of four of us started from the Brenig car park, along the dam to pick up the race route. A lovely tailwind eased progress along the far shore of Brenig, waves so high you could almost surf in the lake! As we turned west along the muddy paths and steep tracks that lead to the far side of the lake, the run became gruelling as we battled the fierce headwind. A sheltered bridleway then leads over the road to the superb long track that makes directly for the bridge at the far end of Llyn Alwen. This was tough underfoot and into a headwind the whole way: some rain too. The steep climb beyond the lake is always tough, but we kept a reasonable pace going and stuck to the half marathon route throughout. Almost 15 miles in total, including the extension.

Conwy Parkrun

"Race": Conwy Parkrun (5k)
Time/Position: 18.10 (1st from 180)
A windy week, and today was no exception: my second foray into the world of the Park Run along tracks I know very well. After celebrating our anniversary last night, Kate and I jogged to the start from Rose Hill Street in heavy rain and strong winds. So easy and convenient. These events are not races, but as 'timed runs' they do feel a bit competitive! I was in second place for a while, then took the lead after about 500m, and managed to stay there. My time was slow, but quicker than on the very hilly Wepre course. This Conwy course is excellent and scenic: along the riverbank then towards the castle, before heading up to Deganwy. Strong winds made the return leg tricky and hard going for a while.

Venetian run

Not as glamorous as it sounds, but still an interesting brisk run with at least a small aquatic element! After two days of walking round Venice and trips around the lagoon, I left our hotel on the borders of Favaro and Mestre at 7am. A drizzly, foggy morning: I followed the tram tracks at tempo pace into Mestre Centro, then down Marco Polo road to follow a good canal side path for a while. I took a diversion on the way back through a pleasant misty park and some side roads, back in time for breakfast and what turned out to be an eventful journey home.

Glyder traverse

Peaks: Carnedd y Filiast, Mynydd Perfedd, Foel Goch, Y Garn, Glyder Fawr, Glyder Fach, Foel Goch, Gallt yr Ogof
Area: Glyderau, Eryri
The full traverse of the Glyder ridge from Bethesda to Capel Curig: a very enjoyable outing despite the claggy and drizzly conditions. With two cars at our disposal, some kind of point-to-point run became a possibility. I have done versions of this route before, not least on the second day of the Rab Mountain Marathon a couple of years ago, and once when we did a kind of long Nant Francon horseshoe. But I can't remember doing the full Glyder ridge in its entirety: it is a fine and very varied route in terms of terrain. From the bridge over the Ogwen, we (me, Peter, Steve and Hayley) ran along the road to Tai Newyddion then straight up the steep hillside right of the crags. This is relentlessly steep, and uncomfortable underfoot with thick heather, but gains height rapidly. Above, boulder fields allow for much more enjoyable progress as we entered the mist. No more views until we were just above the car park in Capel Curig! We reached the top of Filiast in around 50 minutes, then enjoyed the easy grassy running over Perfedd and along to Foel Goch: the same route as I took with M and the scouts last month. Good progress, despite a strong cross/headwind, through the mist to a rather cold Y Garn. After a quick snack we pelted down to Llyn y Cwn before one of my least favourite climbs: the Pedol Peris route up Glyder Fawr. Because our pace was that bit slower than on the race, this went far more easily, and we scrambled to the top of Glyder Fawr before the careful nav across the often confusing Glyder ridge: slippery in the drizzle. We scrambled to the main summit of Glyder Fach, then tried to locate Vic: who had run up to join us from Ogwen. Easier said than done in visibility of a few metres! But a bearing took us right up to the Cantilever where we met up with Vic: very satisfying. So now we were five, for the very long descent back to Capel down the empty ridge in the gloom of gathering dusk, the mist even thicker. Good compass work throughout with no mistakes, always good practice to run on a bearing down a featureless whaleback ridge! Past lonely Llyn Caseg Fraith, over Foel Goch, then Gallt yr Ogof, before the fast but boggy descent to Capel Curig: dropping out of the clag at around 200m for the first time since the lowest slopes of Filiast. Steak pie and real ale in Conwy aided recovery.

Nick Beer 10k

Race: Nick Beer 10k, Llandudno (Welsh 10k Championships)
Time/Position: 37.14 (32nd from 675 [2nd V45])
The first time the Welsh 10k championships have been staged in the north since Caernarfon in 2012. As such, this was a good opportunity to try to get a decent finish in my category (I won the silver V40 medal in Caernarfon, but was outside the medals both times I've done the championships amidst strong fields in the south). Conditions were trying today: a stiff and bitterly cold easterly, exactly the same as Twin Piers last month. Some big waves crashed into the Orme as we rounded it on this most scenic of 10k routes. The tailwind was some help for the steeper slopes up to the lighthouse, but this has never been a quick course for me. The long descent down to West Shore, always enjoyable with great scenery, helps regain some time but it was then back into the headwind for the crucial 7-8k section. This was hard work as a result, and the final sprint down the prom wasn't much better: so the slow time was hardly a surprise! I came second V45 in the race, but was first Welsh qualifier so got the gold medal to go alongside the 10 mile championships last March.

Oswestry XC

Race: Oswestry XC (North Wales Cross Country League, race 5)
Time/Position: 40.50 (31st from 141 [3rd V45])
The first time I have ever completed a full season in the cross country league. All three previous races this season had been pedestrian and this was no exception: indeed, I struggled even more than usual on this route, which takes two big laps of a long and challenging course from the Marches School in Oswestry, with two sharp climbs and a couple of boggy sections. A headwind in places didn't help matters, with lots of changes of pace of the kind I always find hard to handle! All good fun, though, and satisfying to complete the season after well over 10 years of just doing one or two league races. I ended up 3rd V45 overall, with Buckley third team and second veterans team.