Bronwen from Wayfarers

Peaks: Cadair Bronwen

Area: Berwyn

The Berwyn in winter is a boggy place: you don't expect dry feet. This route really maximises Cadair Bronwen and avoids the worst of the bog by taking the famous Wayfarer's Pass up to Bwlch Llandrillo. I've been up here before, but it must have been decades ago: it is well over 6km of gentle, continuous climbing from Llandrillo up to the Bwlch. Muddy throughout, but as an unclassified 'road' it is much more comfortable than my usual 'direct' route up Bronwen. I got to the bwlch in around 44 minutes: it is actually called Nant Rhyd Wilym, but to be fair it has had its English nickname for decades and the memorial to 'Wayfarer' at the top is bilingual. From here, a small boggy path leads over lumpy terrain towards Cadair Bronwen. This is a surprisingly long haul and was made much harder today by a fierce headwind. This became really problematic for a while, although generally speaking I got the weather exactly right with a late start (midday), the forecast clearance after a dreadful morning materialising bang on time. A steep and boggy final climb leads to the summit of Bronwen in fierce winds which continued down to Bwlch Maen Gwynedd. Fortunately it dropped a bit as I contoured the valleys across to Moel Pearce. I had the option of shelter (but bog) descending the valley or exposure (with less bog) by taking my usual ascent route towards the superb Moel Ty Uchaf stone circle. I opted for the latter, still boggy, and was rewarded with sunshine which lit the stone circle to perfection. Back to Llandrillo in around 1.55 for the round.

Round the Walls

Race: Round the Walls

Time/Position: 24.20 (22nd from 407 [2nd V50])

One of the races I have done most often over the years (well over 10 times) so it was a relief to be released from covid isolation and feeling reasonably well in time for it (particularly after its covid cancellation last year). That said, I wasn't quite 100% so wasn't too surprised to find myself slowing after a fast Roodee circuit: the gentle climb to Northgate felt unusually hard and I felt a definite lack of speed and sharpness. The walls are now open in their entirety for the first time in many years, and the racing is always brilliant along them and under the Eastgate clock. Wet weather today also had a role in the slower times. I lost some ground on the Roodee bike path sadly, and finished in my worst position for years at this race.

Taith Brenig

After the unwelcome bout of Covid, it was a huge relief to be able to join the traditional pre-Christmas run. We downscaled our original plan (the entire Brenig Way route in a day), partly because of the Covid but also because the weather wasn't great, with low cloud and drizzle all day. This route is perfect in that kind of weather, however, because it is sheltered and the conditions lent a special atmosphere to the forests and hidden valleys. We started from Cyffylliog along the river bank of a tiny Clywedog tributary. The route then becomes a little tenuous and hard to follow until a long section through Clocaenog, dank, misty and atmospheric in these conditions. There was a huge amount of storm damage from Arwen in November - hundreds of trees down - and this set the tone for the day, crawling under trunks, climbing through branches. The small valleys leading down to Melin y Wig and Betws Gwerfil Goch are a delight, draped with mist. We popped out in Maerdy after a very pleasant few hours jogging, a nice way to recover.

Pen direct

Peaks: Pen yr Ole Wen

Area: Carneddau, Eryri

My first outing post-Covid, so this was all rather tentative. The weather has been glorious across Snowdonia with a blocking high established and numerous cloud inversions (while I was ill and isolating!). No inversion today, but stupendous clarity and astonishing stillness (not a ripple on Llyn Ogwen) as I jogged alongside Ogwen before taking the always brutal direct route up Pen yr Ole Wen. I suspect I have only ever been up this a few times - during the 3000s a few years ago, and after youthful scrambles - as opposed to scores of ascents of the east ridge. Deliberately capped my heart rate but got to the summit in 47 minutes. Superb views: IoM, Wicklow Hills clearly visible, perfect clarity. Very relaxed jog/walk down the east ridge to finish, then a warm down round Capel Garmon.

Greenfield parkrun

'Race': Greenfield parkrun

Time/Position: 18.55 (1st from 54)

Although this event started a while ago, there have been very few events as a result of Covid. Therefore the new V50 course record I set should be seen in that context! I thoroughly enjoyed the course, even though it is an out-and-back, very fast down the valley along a tarmac path. On the way back, two short detours take in Basingwerk Abbey and a small lake with a short offroad section. Kate didn't enjoy the gradual climb back up the valley: it does go on a bit, slowing times considerably, but stays relatively gentle throughout.

Birkenhead 5.5m

Race: Birkenhead Park 5.5m

Time/Position: 32.05 (43rd from 291 [1st V50])

This was disappointing, the same time as I recorded in 2019 although I feel I am going better this year. My PB for the course is at least a minute quicker than this: it is a circuit I have done many times. The league is more competitive now, of course, but I think I once finished 12th in Birkenhead! I was a little too quick on the first lap, which may be some explanation, and I chose not to wear the vaporflys, which might be another. After two slower laps, I felt better for the last lap and did at least have the consolation of first over 50: category wins are never easy in the league, the last one for me was as a 'young' V45 a few years ago!

Drum from base

Peaks: Carnedd y Ddelw, Drum, Pen y Castell

Area: Carneddau

After a fierce battering yesterday, confined to the old Ogwen road and the side of Crimpiau in 50mph westerlies and torrential rain, today was far nicer. Using Tal y Bont as a starting point for forays into the Carneddau is something I've done a few times, and it does have certain advantages: no driving up tiny lanes for a start, and a lot more elevation to get into the hills. I headed up past the Bull and then continued up the very long drag to Cae Coch below Tal y Fan. This gives around 5k of more or less continuous climbing, with great views of Dyffryn Conwy. It was cold and clear, some snow on the tops, all nicely bracing. I got to Cae Coch in 23 minutes, a CR, and then continued to Bwlch Y Ddaefaen and straight into the climb up Drosgl to gain the Carneddau proper. Some snow on the top of Carnedd y Ddelw, and more for the very cold crossing to Drum. The northerly wind was rather painful so I didn't have much time to take in the superb views of a snowy Foel Fras. A superb descent through the snow to the skirting path round Pen y Castell down to the old tracks above the Dulyn. This was all superbly enjoyable, so I took in the hillfort of Pen y Gaer (wonderful panoramic views down to the valley and up to the Carneddau). After this, the only flaw as damage from Storm Arwen meant I had to bushwhack through impenetrable paths - obscure enough at the best of times - through multiple fallen trees to regain the road back to Tal y Bont.