HK-Moel Famau-HK marathon

Another attempt to make the most of a bad situation after yet another race cancellation. I have run up Moel Famau twice from my front door, but have previously always been picked up in Mold. This time I went to the summit and back. I suspected it would be close to marathon distance - in the event it was almost exactly that, despite completing a satisfying loop rather than retrace my steps on the 'descent'. I went through Penyffordd, a sharp climb in itself, then the back roads to Padeswood golf course, through Llong to Mold. To avoid the bypass I went past the Alyn to the industrial estate in dire weather - torrential rain and howling wind, so bad that I considered shortening the day. It passed through, however, and the rest of the day was blustery and cold, with the occasional sunny interval. A cross-headwind made life difficult for the entire outward leg - and I struggled on the hill to Cadole. Here, I stopped for a planned feed point at the garage - double espresso and cereal bar for the steep climb up Moel Famau. It is half marathon distance exactly to the summit from my front door, and it was cold and empty on top. I pelted down the Collie classic route, then up through the woods slowly to Pantymwyn - wet and cloying underfoot. On reaching the tarmac I felt reasonably good, and the return went well through Gwernaffield and Mold (second feed stop at the garage). Up the steep climb to Buckley, then back down to HK. The distance was 42.35km, a tiny tad over marathon distance, with 983m of climbing. Given that 3225ft climb, the time of 3.53 doesn't seem too bad.

North Wales 5k championships

Race: North Wales 5k champs (Buckley)

Time/Position: 17.27 (19th from 127 [1st V50])

Yet another virtual race, but for once I didn't do this one solo, but with a group of Buckley Runners on a one mile circuit round the common. It's been some time (several years) since I trained with the club, so it was particularly nice to do this around the three lap course. The pace was spicy from the off, but it went quite well and I was fairly pleased with my time: half a minute outside my PB set many years ago. The problem with measuring virtual races accurately was obvious, as we all finished in different places and my watch was still slightly short despite the extra distance!

WFRA virtual fell race

Race: WFRA virtual fell race, Moel Famau from Collie (7m/500m)

Time/Position: 1.00.30 (4th from 45 [1st V50])

A virtual fell race is obviously even harder to get parity on than the numerous virtual road races I've tried this year. The rules for this were, essentially, 7 miles with 500 metres of climbing, and less than a mile of tarmac. This is about the same - statistically - as our classic Friday route up Moel Famau from the Collie, which I've been doing for many years. I opted to do the 'reverse' version, which is much steeper (and less runnable) on the climb but perhaps a tad quicker with a long grassy descent. I felt quite good, and descended well to get inside the hour for the classic route from the pub (many years ago breaking the hour was seen as a major challenge and a few of us managed to get under it - I think my all time PB is just under 58m). I tried to get it to 7 miles on the tarmac but my watch recorded 6.91 miles. My time was the quickest overall but I was penalised two minutes for being 0.09 miles short and relegated to 4th!)

London Marathon Virtual

Race: Virtual London Marathon (Flintshire west to east)

Time/Position: 3.04.23 (721 from 45000 [59th V50])

My 9th London Marathon, and I embraced the challenge of keeping it entirely within Flintshire in this most dystopian of years. My initial plan was to run from Conwy to St Asaph, but the new lockdown put paid to that (as it happens, the wind direction was unfavourable anyway). So I decided to run the entire length of Flintshire, but keeping it all as flat as possible by sticking to the coast. I reccied it with M the day before in torrential rain, to make sure the dual carriageway could be avoided. It could, and the route worked a treat, starting on a side road outside Gronant and heading through Ffynnongroyw to Bagillt. The decaying Fun Ship made a fine stand-in for the Cutty Sark, and the first 10 miles passed smoothly despite a slight headwind, some sunny intervals made life warm in the coast (carrying phone and gels, a real disadvantage). I stashed water outside Flint, which helped, then met Chris (and Peter briefly) outside CQ, with Flintshire Bridge standing in for Tower Bridge at the half-way mark. Busy streets through CQ and Shotton were a good distraction, and we veered off to the Blue Bridge at Queensferry. Chris did a superb job of pacing, his offer of help was unexpected but very welcome, and he even held my water bottle (another stashed in CQ). The Dee path proved the crux, tough going, but I kept a decent pace just about ticking over. Through Saltney Ferry then back to Bretton, into Cheshire very briefly at Lower Kinnerton, then the tiring haul back to HK before a welcome (and planned) downhill finish through Moor Lane back to the border. A great, satisfying route. I'd been targeting the 3.15 V50 qualifying time, so to get 11 minutes inside this was a real bonus (only 10 minutes down on my 2.54 PB). A novel and interesting 22nd marathon experience.