Cardiff Parkrun

'Race': Cardiff Parkrun (5k)
Time/Position: 18.09 (9th from 405 [1st age-graded])
A weekend in Cardiff coinciding with dire weather: torrential and continuous rain, with the Taff very high indeed (although not quite over its banks, which was fortunate as this route takes the Taff trail). I ran north along the trail initially for a warm-up, having done 44 miles of it during the Brecon-Cardiff ultra this February. The race itself takes the trail south into Blackweir Fields and Bute Park - the reverse of the Cardiff 10k (which I remember fondly from 2010, as it was the first time I'd represented North Wales and what was then a big pb, 34.45). By contrast, this was my worst position ever on a parkrun, although that is more a reflection of the strength of the field than the time, which I was fairly pleased with. Potentially, a very fast course - flat throughout, although wet and slippery today.

Carneddau run

Peaks: Drum, Foel Fras
Area: Carneddau, Eryri
After dropping Kate off in Llandudno, I drove to Aber and began the familiar climb up the road towards Drum. This is a 5 mile constant climb, and I felt tired throughout. Progress was slow, and the weather worse than forecast: claggy with some drizzle. I have done this climb many, many times however, and always enjoy it. The top of Drum was a little hostile, although I've been up in far worse, and this continued for the long haul up Foel Fras. From here, I decided to drop down the very awkward slopes down to the upper Cwm Afon Goch. This is a wild and trackless place, with tussocks and bog, and no path. Even lower down this tight cwm is awkward. Above the falls, I picked up the pace and continued the run all the way down to the coast and Menai Strait: 20k, just over two hours.

Colwyn Bay XC

Race: Colwyn Bay 6m+ (North Wales XC league, race 2)
Time/Position: 41.40 (34th from 181 [3rd V45])
I have fond memories of a one-off fell race called the Fox Trot that was staged across these hills (a mile inland from Eirias Park) in 2010. Staging an XC fixture here was inevitably going to put it in the 'hilly' category and having missed it last year I was keen to sample the course. We have had a very wet October, so the ground was saturated, very muddy in places. I went for spikes, which weren't ideal on the cobbled track along the base of the valley after an initial loop to spread out the field. The race then takes on a long climb, more akin to a fell race than a standard XC, very steep in places before weaving through woods to gain a farm then a glorious descent with the sea in front. I remembered this from the Fox Trot - and for XC it really helps recovery before the second lap. I tend to struggle with the constant changes of pace that characterise most XC courses so quite enjoyed the unusual nature of this route. It was also, of course, a mud-bath throughout.

Caernarfon 10k

Race: Caernarfon 10k (Borders League, Race 1)
Time/Position: 37.22 (55th from 355)
The standard of the league is definitely going up. Just a few years ago, I finished 13th with a time of 35.52 on this course, probably my favourite of all the BL routes. Today, 50 runners went under 37 minutes. As such, I am quite pleased with the time, as it is more or less where I want to be at the moment, although I'm hoping to be 90 seconds quicker by my 50th birthday in May. I would (just) have finished first V50 today, as it happens, but was 6th or 7th V45! We set off along the seafront, which I always like with views to Yr Eifl and the Menai Strait, I felt more comfortable than I have done, after a little bit of recent speedwork as I transition from ultras and mountaineering. With the hilly return through the interior, I couldn't quite stick to sub-6 minute mile pace and slipped back a tad, although never too disastrously. Very wet towards the finish, and torrential shortly afterwards.