Mold 5m

Race: Mold 5m (Border League race 5)

Time/Position: 29.26 (26th from 218 [1st V50])

Coming into the false flat finish, which has often ruined times on this race for me in the past, I felt pretty good and was initially pleased with this outing. However, although it felt like a fast pace I was again stuck at 3.40km and ended up at least a minute down on my best times for the course (which I have done many times, although it hasn't always been an accurately measured 5 miles, as it is now). A much smaller field than usual, for various reasons, hence a slightly higher finishing position. I ended up adrift of a biggish group of younger runners but was not under pressure from behind, which is very unusual for the league! In retrospect, I think I was too cautious on the climb to Nercwys, and perhaps also on the return past the Butcher's Arms, perhaps conscious of not blowing towards the finish. A 45 point lead for me in the category standings at present with two races to go, Buckley as a team slightly adrift in 2nd or 3rd place.

Tal y Fan from Conwy

Peaks: Tal y Fan

Area: Carneddau

A slight variant on the time-honoured route from Hod to the top and back. I took the Hendre road in glorious early morning sunshine, but where it gets really steep at the road fork I headed due west rather then up to the old church. This is relentless but surprisingly runnable and leads up to the normal track from Sychnant. This gives some respite: and I was now in my favourite micro-landscape at my favourite time of year. Cerrig y Ddinas looking beautiful and Tal y Fan ahead. I took different combinations of tracks at whim, first heading for the quarry past Maen Penddu. Then up the steep slopes to the ridge, across to a breezy and chilly Tal y Fan summit with glorious spring views across the Carneddau and down to Conwy and the Orme. I continued in the same improvisational vein, dropping off the summit down the path to the north, then heading north-east past the reservoir to a direct line that dropped straight onto the Druid's Circle. From here, I sauntered along below Maen Esgob, down to Sychant and back to Conwy for breakfast: just over two hours.

Snowdon/Yr Aran

Peaks: Yr Wyddfa, Yr Aran

Area: Snowdon

The Watkin path is generally regarded as the hardest route up Snowdon. To say I rarely do it is an understatement: in fact I think I last did it in the late 90s with Kate - her first time up Snowdon. More beautiful early spring weather today, and I parked at a quiet Pont Bethania, intent on a modestly paced but continuous timed effort to the top. The vertical interval is a good 1000m from the base, some explanation for its reputation, although the Llanberis tourist path is similar, and my race PB for that is 1.21 or so up and down (2011). What makes the Watkin different is the climax, however, which is unusually steep and awkward (particularly given the fact that it was the first 'designated' footpath in Britain when it was opened in the nineteenth century, therefore politically quite important). It begins gently enough, through delightful woods to the waterfalls leading into Cwm Llan. From here, the views open out to Cwm Tregalan, with Lliwedd on the right and Snowdon looming ahead. The path then swings east up steep zigzags to gain Bwlch Ciliau. The next section is familiar from Pedol Peris - rocky and awkward ground leading to Bwlch y Saethau. The race takes a direct ascent, but I stuck to the awkward scree of the Watkin, which leads steeply up to the Bwlch Main ridge and then the summit. Exactly 80 minutes to the top, much slower than almost all the other routes (although I was admittedly a little slower than normal today). After overheating on the lower slopes, very hot for March, a keen wind made life a little uncomfortable so I embarked on Bwlch Main ridge almost immediately. Again, it is years since I was last here so it was quite novel and really enjoyable. It's nicely defined, with great views across Llechog to Hebog and Yr Aran, my next objective. After the rocky upper section it eases along Allt Maenderyn as Yr Aran is approached. From the bwlch by the little quarry lake, I ploughed up Yr Aran in 17 minutes - a bit tired. Many years since I have sat on Yr Aran so I enjoyed the superb views back to Snowdon and down Nant Gwynant. A little path then followed the wall down towards Pont Bethania - I broke off to gain the very steep disused quarry incline which rejoins Watkin just above the woods: 2.35 for the round.

Llantysilio mountain race

Race: Llantysilio mountain race

Time/Position: 1.03.25 (9th from 68)

My return to this lovely little race was long overdue: records suggest my last outing was 11 years ago. A perfect early spring morning with a helpful tailwind for the long climb from Rhewl, which takes a tortuous route through some farms to a heathery ridge, then more flat fields before the final long climb up to the ridge on the Corwen side of Moel Morfydd. The wind then became a brisk crosswind for the always demanding ridge to Gamelin. When I last did the race, the final descent just doubled back from Gamelin and plunged straight down to Rhewl. Now, it is much more satisfying: continuing down a steep, plummeting descent towards the Horseshoe before contouring back west to gain a very steep and exciting final descent down awkward terrain to regain the road above Rhewl. This all means times are not strictly comparable - a relief as I was much, much slower today! 

Carneddau East

Peaks: Foel Grach, Carnedd Gwenllian, Foel Fras, Drum

Area: Carneddau

Tal y Bont has become something of a new 'starting point' for my regular Carneddau forays over the last few years. It really maximises the climbing and adds the lovely quiet roads poised above the Conwy valley to the mix. High milky cloud today, and no heroics, just a gentle pace up to Cwm Eigiau, which has been a favourite location of mine for 34 years. The road is brutally steep in places but I got to the lake in a little over 30 minutes from Tal y Bont. From here, I took the path past the cottage at the head of the valley and then curved eastwards below Craig yr Ysfa. I have strong memories of doing Great Gully here in the rain many years ago with Tim: it is probably Wales's best known gully climb, an ultra-traditional and unforgettable outing. I'd forgotten how deep and dark it looks from below! Nothing so dramatic today, as I plodded up the supposed 'llwybr' which leads up past Ffynnon Llyffant (the highest lake in Wales, last visited for the cwm's easy winter gully climbs 30 years ago, although we skirted it during our bothy trip more recently) to the main Carneddau ridge below Foel Grach. This is so obscure as to be practically undetectable, but the angle is reasonable even if the terrain underfoot is tussocky. I upped the pace a little for the short climb up Grach, descending past the refuge to the even shorter haul up Carnedd Gwenllian. It was cold but with a reasonable tailwind, which helped for the boggy trudge up Foel Fras. I kept a decent pace going on the descent and the climb up Drum, but began to feel rather ill over Carnedd y Ddelw and slowed dramatically as last night's takeaway curry caught up with me. Unpleasant scenes at Bwlch y Ddaefaen although I recovered a little for the5k jog back down the quiet lanes to the Bull and Tal y Bont.

Chester 10k

Race: Chester 10k

Time/Position: 36.38 (31st from 3050 [1st V50])

As is the case with the half marathon distance, since turning 50 I seem unable to lift the pace beyond basic six minute miles, even at 10k. This is unfortunate, but is at least consistent! I went off fast today in a deliberate attempt to record a better time: the race starts from the Roodee then down Sealand Road before making its way up the main Parkgate Road out of the city. This went well up to 5k with a tailwind, going through Mollington in 17.45. The gentle descent back to the university also went reasonably well, despite the headwind, although I then lost a significant amount of time on the gentle climb past the campus gates. A great finish through the city, past the cathedral to the cross. It was nice to win my age category at a big local event, rather like the Conwy half in November.

Wrexham XC

Race: Wrexham XC (North Wales XC league race 4/North Wales champs)

Time/Position: 33.42 (24th from 112 [2nd V50])

Although I was a minute down on almost all previous appearances on this course, I felt I had a decent, controlled race today. It may have changed, but only very slightly (I was amazed to find it has been eight years since I last turned out at Wrexham). It is one of the flattest of all XC courses, four big, twisting laps of the Morgan Llwyd playing fields. After a tooth extraction yesterday, I was pleased to feel pretty good but just concentrated on keeping a decent pace turning over. Due to the pandemic, a decision was made to combine this final fixture with the North Wales championships, which I always try to do. I finished second in the champs, and on the day, but first V50 in the league season (my previous best league position being third V45 on two occasions) based on the races at Treborth, Oswestry and Wrexham.