Glyderau loop

Peaks: Glyder Fach, Glyder Fawr
Area: Glyderau, Eryri
A tad illicit but also memorable, this was just before the easing of restrictions. From Conwy, however, it's a local outing. I didn't fully realise that the honeypot areas like Ogwen and Snowdon really had been sealed off (in fact I had rather hoped to do the Snowdon Horseshoe in total isolation). Instead, I found a stile without a sign, hopped over and jogged up towards Bochlwyd crag, over the stream and steeply up to the lake. Total isolation and very memorable, particularly up to Bwlch Tryfan and Bristly Ridge with nobody anywhere near. Bristly gave the usual entertainment, and all the mist lifted for the jog across the Glyder plateau to Fawr. Down to Llyn y Cwn then good running to Idwal and across the hill to the same stile - 1.45 for the whole loop.

Yr Eifl

Peaks: Garn For, Garn Ganol, Tre Ceiri
Area: Yr Eifl, Llyn
I've only been up Yr Eifl two or three times before, and I don't think I've ever done it from the top of Nant Gwrtheyrn. It gives a wonderful little outing, the essence of Llyn, following the runnable track poised above the sea, then ploughing steeply up to the wonderfully located summit of Garn For, which is even closer to the sea than the other peaks. From the top, it looks directly down to the northern coast of Llyn, as well as the coast east to Ynys Mon. It is rather like a miniature Brandon, reminding me of that mountain's position above the Atlantic Coast of the Dingle. Good paths and good running lead across to the main summit of Yr Eifl, actually called Garn Ganol, although sadly the mist had rolled in. Then it was across to the remarkable Tre Ceiri, which has such a powerful atmosphere and such stunning hillfort remains (150 separate dwellings, all 2000 years old) that it is surprising how little known it is. Then a sprint back to the car above Gwrtheryn. It really is a lovely miniature range of peaks. I then had time to drive through the tortuous lanes of northern Llyn to Garnfadryn, where I jogged up the eponymous peak, another hillfort and one of Wales' most magical locations. That is quite a claim, but it is a stunning spot - a perfect miniature summit with views over a patchwork of fields and isolated hamlets straight down the far end of the Llyn to Bardsey. Sea on both sides: Porth Neigwl, and the other isolated mini-mountain volcanic plugs hereabouts like Mynydd Rhiw. In the other direction, Yr Eifl and Eryri, under a thick blanket of dark grey cloud. It would be a tremendous place to spend the night.

JM's three hour challenge

The latest in a line of point score challenges from Mr Morris, although unlike a conventional mountain marathon he didn't reveal how much the checkpoints were actually worth. So after a very early start, I selected an obvious long looping approach which took in some obscure terrain to get to his CPs with his map as guide. After a very early start and a poor night's sleep, I felt tired for the jog over Penbarras to the Vale of Clwyd side (flushing a black grouse), then picked up a series of checkpoints all along the lower slopes on this side (some familiar from the 2019 Sheeptracks route) before eventually rising to the pass below Moel Arthur. From here, I headed back to the start via the normal OD path and a few detours down to checkpoints on the Friday night 'voie normale'. I had a little time left before the three hours was up, so bagged more checkpoints up Foel Fenlli. Around 21k, just over 1000m of ascent, but slowed by the awkward terrain and route-finding - in that sense, it felt like a real score class mountain marathon! It's been a few years since I've done one in anger, although I used to do the Rab every year - as well as the OMM and Saunders on occasion.

Drum from Conwy

Peaks: Carnedd y Ddelw, Drum
Area: Carneddau, Eryri
Another stunning period of weather, and a slight easing of the Welsh lockdown, so I visited St Asaph and then Conwy. I'd like to have camped in the northern Carneddau, but stuck closer to the rules with a midsummer evening run instead. My vague plan was to run up Foel Fras, I realised quite quickly that I was tired, however, and the long haul up the lanes to Llangelynin old church felt hard (although enlivened considerably by an adder slithering across the road). After the church, I felt a bit better for some of my favourite paths and tracks through the little valley below Tal y Fan and across to Cae Coch. The sun was dropping but it was still very hot with no wind as I plodded up to Bwlch y Ddaefaen. A strong breeze caused a major drop in temperature as I crested Carnedd y Ddelw and it was almost chilly on Drum: I had to shelter in a grassy depression looking out over the Orme and Tal y Fan (1:40 to the summit of Drum from Hod). I descended the ridge to Pen y Castell before cutting down into the tussocky and untravelled valley to the north, and rehydrating at the Afon Tafolog (I'm not actually sure whether this valley is called Cwm Tafolog or not). From here, the terrain stays awkward until reaching the tiny road from Llanbedr y Cennin. Over the bridge, then down steeply into Rowen, before a tiring return along the minor road to Ty'n y Groes, and then the main road back to Conwy. About 30km/1000m.

Deiniolen 10k

Race: Virtual Deiniolen 10k
Time/Position: 36.56 (8th from 225 [1st V50])
My V50 debut, albeit not in the way I'd envisaged. My diary had multiple races planned, all long since deleted, so anything is better than nothing. Deinolen was one of them, and as it happens I've never actually done the real race as it tends to clash with other things. I did it all by the book this morning, no negative elevation, 5k from HK down Stringer's Lane to Burton, then back. The race involved a phone app, which counted down and worked well, but it was a real pain running whilst holding the phone! I took a conservative approach to the pacing and was a tad disappointed with the time, as I ran a lot faster than this a month or two ago.

Langdale Horseshoe from Elterwater

Peaks: Pike O'Blisco, Crinkle Crags, Bowfell, Pike O'Stickle
Area: Langdale, Lake District
Of all the classic Lakes 'horseshoe' races, Langdale is more or less my last remaining gap (having previously done Ennerdale, Wasdale, Borrowdale, Kentmere, Grisedale, Coledale and Anniversary Waltz). So under lockdown, it seemed an obvious choice given my border location. I decided to extend and alter the race route, though, to make it a little longer and more aesthetically pleasing. So I parked in Elterwater, a village I have always liked, and set off along the riverside path to Chapel Stile then climbing up to contour the slopes of Side Pike to finally gain the tiny road up from Wall End. This leads to the main path up Pike O'Blisco, a nice little peak at the end of this side of the valley and the obvious starting point. I'd left home very early, and it was still only 8am, but it was blisteringly hot initially, very sweaty work in direct sunlight. Later, however, high cloud rolled in and took the edge off the temperature. I enjoyed the Pike, superb views from the summit, and then had Crinkle Crags to look forward to (all this side of the valley was new to me, the only major peaks in the Lakes I hadn't done). The high cloud made the traverse a little more comfortable, although it stayed warm for the run past Red Tarn to pick up the path leading to Crinkle Crags: great views over the Langdale Pikes on one side, and Coniston Fells on the other. I ploughed up towards the little peaks of Crinkle Crags, I suppose the closest thing the Lakes have to the Glyders. It was all very enjoyable, twists and turns until the main summit at Cold Pike. Then, down to the Three Tarns and a steep haul to Bowfell, the day's highpoint and a fine mountain. As far as I can remember, I have only been up Bowfell once before - and I think that was midwinter's day in 1992, after doing the classic Bowfell Buttress rock climb in sub-zero conditions and verglassed rocks. It stayed with me, but I'd never been back. I had the summit to myself, it was still early morning in semi-lockdown, with views across to Scafell and the Pike. I pondered continuing to Esk Pike but eventually settled on a run to Ore Gap then across the corner to the path down to Angle Tarn. From here, I took the lengthy diversionary path towards Langstrath and the indirect climb to the Langdale Pikes, eventually emerging below Pike O'Stickle on the other side of the valley. This gives a nice scramble, and another place I haven't been for decades. Views straight down to the bottom of the valley. Flies sent me away to Loft Pike where there are superb views to Gimmer, for me one of the best crags in the Lakes (last visited two years ago, ticking classics with Vic). I dropped down to the stream below Harrison Stickle then pelted directly down to the Old Dungeon Ghyll. A long run-in down the valley road to Elterwater.

Virtual Team Relays

Race: Virtual Team Relays
Distance: 5.2m (30mins)
The weekend of the Castles Relays, which had obviously been cancelled a long time ago. This was an informal replacement idea put forward by Builth Wells Runners (I think), whereby teams of 20 or so raced virtually over the course of a long summer day. My slot was 2.30pm, and I felt rather tired after recent training. I kept a steady pace going and just aimed to cover at least five miles in my 30 minute slot. I managed this, and a little more, on a leg from home to Saltney and then down Boundary Lane for a few hundred metres. Buckley finished 8th team, I think.

Eglwyseg Round from Bwlchgwyn

All my carefully considered plans for V50 races have been blown out of the water, so there's not much left apart from variations on some of the long local loops I have done in the past. This was one such. I have done several variations on rounds of the Eglwyseg valley over the years, usually starting in Llangollen. This time I parked in Bwlchgwyn, taking small paths towards Minera and finally up to the World's End road which winds across Ruabon Moor. This is always peaceful, especially so under lockdown, with great views towards Berwyn. Dropping down to World's End, I joined OD for the path under the crags, which I have always considered to be the best scenery and best running in north-east Wales. In Llangollen, I got a pie and chocolate milk (a very rare shop visit) which gave something of a boost for the very long run back. This takes the canalside path to the Chain Bridge, then the lanes to Rhewl before the brutal Conquering Hero. This is always the crux of these rounds, and was again today - an unrelenting climb, initially on tarmac and then on grass up to the bwlch below Moel y Gamelin. The route to the summit is even steeper, and a squall blew in at this point - cold, windy and rainy for the haul over Moel y Faen, down to the Ponderosa and up Cyrn y Brain. From here there was still a long run-in through Llandegla forest back to Bwlchgwyn. Nearly 40k, 1200m, 3:47.