Western Tatra

Peaks: Grzes (1653m), Dlugi Uplaz (1682m). Rakon (1879m), Wolowiec (2064m) 

Area: Western Tatra, Poland

This was a magical day in stunning autumnal weather. I had never visited the Western end of the Tatra before so got the Witow bus after breakfast to the base of the Dolina Chocholowska, a long valley which heads right into the heart of the range for at least 7km with minimal climbing. It is metalled for much of the way and a bike would have helped. That said, it was really enjoyable as the sun climbed up to provide some warmth. This increased after the Chocholowska refuge and the sharp, lengthy climb up to gain the main ridge was almost hot at times. Far less wind than yesterday, and these peaks are much more gentle than the central part of the range - grassy, endless ridges, rather like a grand version of the Carneddau, superbly runnable if you have the legs (I didn't). I reached a saddle between Bobrowiec and Grzes before heading up to the summit of the latter: a crowded but absolutely beautiful spot with low juniper bushes and crystal clear views down beautiful valleys to both sides. The Chocholowska was stunning from this vantage point as were the Slovak valleys to the north and west above Zuberec. The ridge then traces the Slovak border and the low sun and autumnal ambers lent it all a magical feel over the minor summits of Dlugi Uplaz and Rakon. From here, great views over the rockier Slovak peaks in this area, like Ostry Rohav and Placlive. From Rakon, Wolowiec rises steeply - clearly the focal point of the Western Tatra and a major objective for the hundreds of hill walkers out on this glorious Sunday. It is steep to the summit, but the reward is a tremendous view east to the bigger peaks. The ridge stretches out in front, but I had a difficult decision to make. I deliberately failed to pack a headtorch so I wouldn't be tempted to finish in the dark. However, the onward ridge looked achievable. It would have taken a lot out of me, however, and the descent may well have been arduous so I took a cautious approach and descended the side valley of the Wyzni Chocholowska Potok instead. This was lengthy enough, but didn't take long to regain the treeline and then the hut. This sadly had a weird ordering system requiring a knowledge of Polish! So I jogged back down the Chocholowska instead - cold as the sun dropped - stopping for a superb home cooked sausage from a Goral hut near the road head. I continued refuelling back in Zakopane with a giant plate of golabki, pierogi and pork, washed down with gluhwein as the temperatures dropped away to -3c that night.

Koscielec

Peaks: Koscielec (2155m)

Area: High Tatra, Poland

My third trip to the Tatra spread over 22 years. Very late in the season to be visiting any kind of 'high' mountains, but conditions were superb for the first few days, apart from strong winds at times, and a few small patches of verglas on north-facing slopes. Kate and I first visited Zakopane in 1999, when 'Eastern Europe' retained a touch of mystique. I later did a long traverse of the Slovak Tatra in 2007 with Pete Jordan. It's a perfect destination in many ways, which combines interesting folk culture with fantastic scenery, and is also very convenient (easy public transport from Krakow Airport). I didn't want to bother with buses this morning, so after breakfast in my Zakopane lodgings, I walked briskly up towards Kusnice and the entrance to the National Park. The cable car (which Kate and I used last time) was shut, meaning the path towards Hala Gasienowca was even fuller than it would normally be. I felt good, and passed hundreds of walkers as the path climbs up gradually to a viewpoint at Boczan (just a spur really). Above this, it got very windy indeed as the path emerges from the tree line and weaves up a broad ridge towards the obvious pass and path junction of the Przelecz miedzy Kopami. Views opened out over Giewont (which I did in 1999, the 'sleeping knight' and the signature peak of Zakopane). The path then descends towards the Murowaniec refuge but there was no time to waste, so I continued up towards the amphitheatre of peaks surrounding the azure blue lake of Czarny Staw Gasienicowy, a stunning spot. Bitter windchill, but exhilarating in otherwise perfect weather. After a short breather I began the business end of the day: Koscielec itself. This towers above the lake and becomes more and more impressive from the very steep climb up to the forepeak of Maly Koscielec at 1863m, a superb location from where Koscielec towers as a classic pyramidal peak. A delightful narrow ridge with low bushes forms a beautiful gangway down to the pronounced col of Karb. Then comes the final climb, in the shade so rather cold throughout! The path, well populated with early aspirants, weaves around continually with a short easy chimney early on, then a few mild polished slabs higher up. It gets mildly exposed just before the summit, which is small and in a stupendous position below the main Orla Perc ridge. In effect, Koscielec is a satellite peak of the magnificent Swinica (which Kate and I climbed in 1999, the zenith of her mountaineering career), but it is so shapely that it retains its identity among its higher neighbours. It was pretty chilly in the wind, unsurprisingly, although the few patches of verglas on the climb didn't cause any issues beyond very cold hands on the granite (they swelled up later). The descent was simple, back down to Karb and then the Murowaniec refuge for a superb lunch - I went for the local Kwasnica soup with cabbage and sausage, a Goral speciality. The hut was crowded, but as superbly atmospheric as I remember the huts from the 2007 trip. Refreshed, I jogged back to the Kopami pass but then took the path down the Jaworzynca Valley through stunning autumnal scenes as I regained the treeline: ambers, reds and oranges all the way back to Kusnice and then my hotel (26k, 1650m in 4.5 hours).

Treborth XC

Race: Treborth 5m (North Wales XC league, race 2)

Time/Position: 33.50 (34th from 155 [2nd V50])

A different route, albeit using the familiar Treborth XC terrain today, with a new climb through the woods below Menai bridge on every lap - steep and sharp. Conditions were standard cross country, muddy on the playing fields. I opted for spikes but the big descents along the gravelly paths through the woods favoured fell running shoes, so it was a tricky conundrum. A disappointing finishing position, but this may reflect the strength of the field.

Flintshire 10k

Race: Flintshire 10k

Time/Position: 36.15 (3rd from 235 [1st V50])

My fifth 10k of the year, and yet again I was unable to run quicker than a basic 3.40/km pace. That said, I was pleased with this outing, as it is not a quick course. Quite apart from the two long hills, there's also a twisty section through a housing estate with barriers and even some mud patches. I've done the race a lot over the years, and it's had a lot of different iterations, this being a version of the original course I did for the first time in 2005. I went well on the first lap, keeping a decent pace on the Ruthin Road climb and then picking up the pace for the fast Maes Gwern descent. By the end, I had worked my way up into third place with the first two out of sight, way ahead. I struggled on the second lap, particularly on the climb, but felt OK for the run-in, just managing to stay ahead of a young lad who was catching me on the descent. I've been 3rd overall once before at this race, and it was also nice to get the V50 title in the North Wales Championship (somewhat compromised by a border league clash on the same day).

Y Garn

Just a quick one with around an hour available. I parked at Ogwen Cottage and went for the direct approach up what I've always known as Banana Ridge. I have descended this dozens of times but rarely been up this way, apart from to approach the winter gully climbs in Cwm Clyd. It is actually much better in ascent: steep but direct on an engineered path up fairly kind steps. At the lip of Cwm Clyd (a classic hanging valley, maybe the best example in Eryri) it levels off briefly before the final narrower ridge. Some gusts and light rain: the mist right down to 500m or lower. I got to the summit proper in 39 minutes from Ogwen cottage, then down to Llyn y Cwn in nine minutes. A brief clearance and then the mist dropped again for the very familiar descent past Twll Ddu to easier running round Idwal and back to Ogwen.

Breidden Hills

Race: Breidden Hills fell race (11k/700m).

Time/Position: 1.17.36 (27th from 100 [2nd V50])

This was a race too far for me: the brain was willing but the legs were not. I started off reasonably well but then the marathon caught up with me, so I ended up jogging to the finish and enjoying the route - its typical borders scenery bringing back nice memories of my summer on Offa's Dyke. I last did the race 10 years ago during the Welsh Champs campaign - in both my previous runnings of it (2010, 2011) I'd taken 62 minutes and finished comfortably in the top 10. Very different today, although the course is now harder with 100m more climbing. I felt OK initially, remembering the very long but fairly gentle climb which takes you out of Wales towards Kempster's Hill. From there, the route twists south-west back into Wales over the superb ridge which leads over Middletown Hill to Moel y Golfa. This is rocky in places, with a mini slabby crag at one point. A steep descent from Golfa led to a steep climb back out where I began to struggle properly, really feeling the fatigue. The run-in was just a gentle job, losing places and the category prize as I slowed to a crawl through the woods and the last sharp dig to Rodney's Pillar. A great direct descent back to the finish in Criggion.

London Marathon

Race: London Marathon

Time/Position: 2.53.21 (1278 from 40,000)

My 10th London, with those races spread over 20 years since my debut in 2001. Despite those experiences, and the fact that it was my 25th (or so) marathon, I had little idea of what time I might run today. I've been in reasonable shape recently, but have struggled at both 10k and half marathon, and (as usual) hadn't bothered with many long runs on tarmac (only two, in fact). A narrow sub-3 seemed the most likely outcome, although I was conscious the weather was close to perfect - cool and dry initially, sunny and fairly windy later on. I felt good immediately, and went on to have one of the most enjoyable running experiences I have ever had in 600 races. There is little better in the world of running than feeling good and comfortable in this particular race - I've only achieved it 2 or 3 times myself. I was very conservative, but this allowed me to run the fabled negative split which I have only done a couple of times before. I started in wave 1 near the front and immediately noticed far more space than usual, which helped keep to the racing line. There were a series of waves (one of the Covid measures) which was both good and bad: good in the sense that there was more space than usual, bad in the sense that I was passed by a lot of fast runners for the first five miles or so. By Cutty Sark, the field had settled down and despite smaller crowds than usual the atmosphere was still really good. I felt comfortable and was holding back to a certain extent, just concentrating on keeping a solid pace ticking over (around 4.05-4.10 mins per km). The highlight of the race is always Tower Bridge for me, and that was particularly the case today, post-Covid so even more special - along with building confidence that I was having a pretty good race and was becoming increasingly confident about maintaining the pace despite my recent tribulations on half marathons. I took a few gels on board and kept the pace going round the Isle of Dogs, which was quiet - more like it used to be when I started doing London. I began to pass a lot of people and was conscious of picking up the pace a little, more so when I saw Kate, Eve and Frances at 19 miles (Canary Wharf). After this, the run for home was superb - I was tiring but never felt in danger of blowing (again, unlike recent halfs). I may have left a little too much out on the course, which is what some people say about negative splits, but feeling comfortable and enjoying it is more important - and I ran my quickest miles along the Embankment and through to the finish. I was 66th in the V50 Masters World Championships (which London hosted this year, leading to a special number and medal, which was nice) and about the same overall in the category. It was a pb by around 40 seconds, although that old PB was recorded at Manchester in 2013 which was expunged from the records because it was short. So my existing 'official' PB was the 2.55 I ran in London in 2016.