Cylch Llangollen Round

Peaks: Eglwyseg Mountain, Cyrn y Brain, Moel y Faen, Moel y Gamelin, Moel Morfydd, Moel Fferna, Vivod Mountain, Y Foel (33m/53k/5300ft)
Area: Berwyn/Eglwyseg
This is one of the best outings in North-East Wales. It is occasionally organised as a challenge walk but would work well as a long race hovering somewhere between short ultra and very long fell race - similar to the Haworth Hobble or Long Tour of Bradwell. It would have been more sensible to get a final long road run in today, with the Chester marathon imminent, but the weather was absolutely perfect - a wonderful late summer day - so I couldn't resist a solo outing over something I've wanted to do for a while. I did half of it with Peter and Steve on Christmas Eve - but that first half from Pontcysyllte to the Ponderosa is the easy bit. A gentle run up through Trevor woods to gain the Panorama and superb early morning views of the crags, Dinas Bran and the vale. From here, it gains the escarpment above Trevor Quarry with the usual expansive views in crystal clear air. Great running along the edge of the crags; there is a more direct route here, which I missed, thereby adding a little more to the day's total! Over the top of World's End, then up the Offa's Dyke path towards Cyrn y Brain. Fantastic views to Snowdonia from the top, unusual clarity. A pepsi and a bakewell tart at the Ponderosa, hardly a balanced brunch, but some fortification for the long but always fun haul over the very familiar hills of Moel y Faen, Gamelin and Morfydd. From here, the Round diverges from the Gamelin race route to head north of Bwlch y Groes towards Bryneglwys (a small navigation error lost me time here), before curving round the northern edge of the hills to Bwlch Coch. From here, a small path through woodland eventually gains wonderful views of the Dee Valley with Carrog nestling below - this section was new to me, amazingly. Another pit stop at the excellent Grouse pub, ham sandwich this time, and then it was over the river to Llidiart y Parc and the very long haul up Moel Fferna from the north. I remember trying to do this many years ago and finding the paths blocked in several places. Now, it is all clear. The conifer forests gave some shade, although it never got uncomfortably hot, just glorious running conditions. It is at least 5k uphill to Fferna, the day's highpoint - which always gives a nice sense of space and remoteness - I have never seen anybody else on this hill. The route then joins the North Berwyn Way, which we have done twice already this year, so it was a familiar plod along the excellent tracks east above the Ceiriog Forest to Vivod Mountain. I was beginning to tire by now, and dehydrated despite a pint of water and a coke in the Grouse (I only carried a map and jacket all day). The final leg was tougher than expected: a tiny path through bracken below Y Foel (taken by the Ceiriog Canter if memory serves), before a horribly long road section from Finger Farm above Glyn Ceiriog. Apart from the wonderful views of the Ceiriog Valley, this was dire: tiring and dehydrated. But it is at least direct, heading directly east with a couple of welcome off-road diversions before dropping steeply to Froncysyllte, and a finish over the aqueduct. Not the fastest of times, 6.5 hours of running, but given that I was alone and didn't want to empty the tank before the marathon, not too bad.

Wirral Multi-Terrain Series, Arrowe Park

Race: Wirral MT Series (Race 4: Arrowe Park)
Time/Position: 28.22 (44th from 197)
In this year of ultras, anything short and fast is a humiliating experience. Three years ago I came 9th at this race, but was 35 places down on that today, the fourth time I've done this enjoyable race around Arrowe Park on the edge of Birkenhead. It felt like a useful session in advance of the marathon.

D'Aguilar loop, Brisbane

Not really a run, as this was too good to hurry, and more to the point I was busy familiarising myself with an entirely unfamiliar avifauna. I was staying in Woolowin, my second night in Brisbane (after an earlier layover on the outbound leg), and took a combination of train and bus out towards 'The Gap'. From here, a jog uphill gains the edge of D'Aguilar national park. Obviously, this was a mouth-watering prospect, but I'm afraid it will have to wait until we are in a position to visit Australia properly! Instead, I contented myself with the Walkabout Creek visitor centre and a walk round the lovely Araucaria Track. This skirts the Enoggera reservoir for a while and takes a big loop through hoop pine and eucalyptus forest. Dozens of bird species - superb fairy wren, bell bird, brush turkey, comb crested jacana and many, many more. In addition, two huge lace monitors (goanna - giant 6ft lizards), water dragons and short-necked turtles.

Vanuatu run

My last day in the South Pacific, and a beautiful clear dawn. I'd already done a bit of walking to the Mele Cascades, round part of Lelepa Island and a few other delightful locations. Today, I jogged from my lodgings on the Erakor Lagoon past a huge Chinese building down towards the Bay of Erakor itself. The usual issues running in developing countries - uneven surfaces, discontinuous pavements, holes in the ground. I then took a circuitous route through villages back to the middle of Port Vila, where I had Tuluk and Laplap for breakfast, sitting on the seafront in warm sunshine.

Bukit Timah, Singapore

The mighty highpoint of Singapore, all 164 metres of it. As a layover outing, it's an ideal little leg stretcher (and an area that I missed when I was last in Singapore six years ago). After an early arrival at Changi, I entered the reserve early, around 8.30am in typical weather - bruised sky, humid, threat of rain. The rainforest is actually well preserved here, although the route up is typically Singaporean, manicured and immaculate. After walking up the steep steps to the summit (very jet lagged having not got much sleep on the flight from Heathrow) I jogged down and had a nap in one of the open shelters: very relaxing, listening to the soft tropical rain and the breeze through the ferns. Then it was down to begin the dining tour: roti prata for breakfast, then satay bee hoon for an early lunch.