Cross Fell/Greg's Hut

Peaks: Cross Fell

Area: Pennines, Cumbria

A cold morning, with a heavy frost on the car. I felt it would be prudent to get some of the long return journey done first, before an outing, so headed into Cumbria down scenic roads that were new to me (through Slaggyford to Alston). The weather was beautiful, but cloud patterns suggested that wouldn't last. After the Hartside Pass, Cross Fell developed a cloud cap, but I decided I was so close to Kirkland that I would try it from there. It is England's highest ground outside the Lakes, of course, but I had never been up it before. From the small hamlet of Kirkland, I took the bridleway north, but left it early for an impromptu directissime up the steep-sided Kirkdale valley. This was quite kind underfoot, although very steep to leave as I took in the spur of High Cap before joining the standard 'Pennine Journey' bridleway. The mist came down on the high plateau, with a notable windchill developing. I headed to Greg's Hut first, a famously isolated bothy just north of the Cross Fell summit plateau, and then finally located the surprisingly indistinct junction with the Pennine Way that leads south to the summit. The weather worsened rapidly: wind, thick mist, very poor viz, and hoar frost. I ploughed up to an elaborate cairn in very poor visibility, which I later found wasn't the true summit, it was 11 metres lower! Mildly annoying, but no matter, as I enjoyed the long, looping and very runnable descent down the proper bridleway popping out of the mist above scenic Ardale Beck back to Kirkdale.

Hadrian's Wall run

Last year's enforced staycationing saw me ponder the few places in the UK I had never visited. While I had been to Northumberland before (one of our first 'family' holidays as a group of four in 2004), this was centred on the coast and the Cheviot hills. I had never visited Hadrian's Wall or the wonderful country around it. This was only a micro break, or perhaps even a nano break, but after arriving the night before I was able to sample a fairly long stretch of the most interesting sections by taking a running approach. Sadly, the run coincided almost precisely with Storm Malik, which brought 60mph westerlies crashing down from the west. It was dry, however, and started to brighten up as I set off from the superb Sill youth hostel, heading past Vinolanda before turning west past Cranberry Brow. This was all to avoid the main road, and it worked, apart from a horrifying headwind that made progress impossible at times. I knew it was coming, however, and as soon as I turned north past Hill Top, it became a crosswind, and then a wonderful tailwind as I gained the wall proper east of Cawfields. My journey along the wall then became superb - the sun was out, the wind stayed strong - and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. A few rises lead over hilly country to a trig at 345m directly above my hostel (I could see this section from my room). From here, a glorious descent to Steel Rigg and the most scenic section along the rocks above Crag Lough. The path was closed through the woods due to storm damage but I took it anyway, and then climbed up to the incredible Roman fort of Housesteads. I took a short break to visit this, then a long climb led to another highpoint trig at Sewingshields. From here I descended to the Old Repeater and Grindon before finally having to face the headwind again for a long return down the Stanegate, a famous Roman road which was unhelpfully (but unsurprisingly) straight as a die alongside Grindon Lough. Eventually it dropped down to the Roman 'town' of Vinolanda, and then back to the hostel for a satisfying 28k loop, with a surprising 1550m of ascent. After a break in the cafe, I walked a few more sections of the wall further west.

Glyderau traverse from Bethesda

Peaks: Carnedd y Filiast, Mynydd Perfedd, Foel Goch, Y Garn, Glyder Fawr

Area: Glyderau, Eryri

An idea that has been knocking around my head for a while. A loop of the Glyderau from Ogwen Bank just outside Bethesda. I have traversed the entire range before, but always as a point to point. This is a little more practical, but does involve some road running. We set off up the A5 then branched off up the old road before gaining the boggy and very steep open hill before Tai Newyddion (much further north than I have slogged up in the past). The initial climb was predictably nasty, but then we located a little path (human) which curved upwards above a shallow cwm on the quarry side and gained the main route to the summit of Filiast. Misty and cold, no place to linger. Indeed, the forecast today was completely wrong - a cloud inversion had seemed likely, but in fact all the hills were draped in thick, freezing mist. A quick jog over the Mynydd Perfedd and then we took in the summit of Foel Goch (I always like the zig zags on this). Down the fence direct before a hoar frosted climb up Y Garn (the familiar Pedol route from the north). A small nav error down to Llyn y Cwn, quickly put right, and then up the notorious screes to Glyder Fawr. Finding Y Gribin from Fawr is not easy in thick mist, so I used it as a good traditional nav test, leaving the main Glyder Path to head north to the big cairn that marks the top of the ridge. Good down scrambling through the mist and frost until the weather finally cleared above Bochlwyd. We took the refurbished stone slab path direct to Ogwen from the waterfall steps and then enjoyed a relaxing 8km downhill road run along the old road back to Ogwen Bank - 21k/1400m/3 hours, back for lunch.

Wepre parkrun

'Race': Wepre parkrun

Time/Position: 20.15 (1st from 97)

Felt like running through treacle at times today, despite good conditions on the course for the time of year. I was around 45 seconds down on my course PB, perhaps my 6th time at Wepre, but was lucky enough to finish first at the 'timed run' (not a race!). Not sure why things seemed so slow today although it will never be a remotely quick course with all the climbs, and I did have a particularly bad night's sleep. 

Four Villages

Race: Four Villages half marathon (Helsby)

Time/Position: 1.20.41 (48th from 1040 [3rd V50])

My 5th time at this race, spread over 16 years. My weird slow consistency recently over the half marathon distance continues. Remarkably, my last four halves (all done since September) have all taken 80 minutes, just a couple of seconds between them despite very different courses. I was quite pleased with this performance, however, as I've done little speed work since Covid and wasn't sure how I would feel today. The course was a little different this year, definitely a tad faster in theory, and the weather was perfect as it often is at this race: cool with a light breeze. The basic nature of this race remains despite the alterations, flat and fast rural lanes initially, building to a few sharp hills around Manley which tend to ruin times (for me anyway), but a fast downhill finish back to Helsby makes up for some of that. I ran 1.18 on the course in 2013 but was nowhere near that today.

Dash in the Dark

Race: Dash in the Dark (Race 2)

Time/Position: 25.50 (5th from 47 [1st V50])

A little more sluggish than race 1 in November, finishing two places further back. The course was a tad longer tonight, however, and I was conscious of saving some energy for Sunday's four villages. The weather was perfect: a full moon and cool, dry conditions. I caught fourth place after the lake, but was always conscious of three or four close competitors just behind. A few little adjustments to the route due to the storm damage kept life interesting.

Conwy to Pensarn

The little brother of the Conwy-St Asaph route I did in marathon training last September. This time, it was a 22k post-Covid stress test to see if I was in any kind of shape for next weekend's Helsby half. The outing was notable for some appalling weather - so bad in Rhos on Sea that I couldn't see the sea despite being right next to it, strong winds and comically heavy torrents of rain. Around 1.36 (not a direct route) at a steady pace, meeting Kate in Pensarn.