Brecon Beacons

Peaks: Corn Du, Pen y Fan

Area: Brecon Beacons

A perfect way to break the journey down to Cardiff with M, this short outing from the Storey Arms ticked off another iconic Welsh peak for the young man. I've been up Pen y Fan at least four times previously, but never from this side - it has always been from more interesting directions before, at least two of these have been during races (Pen y Fan and the tough AL Brecon Beacons race) and a couple of hillwalks from the northern valleys. After an embarrassing error in a conifer forest, we ploughed up the giant track which leads from Pont ar Daf up the featureless western slopes. This is quick and direct but not exactly inspiring, although it improved at the col, with a short, steep climb up sandstone shelves to Corn Du, which we had to ourselves. It was around 4pm, quite cold and windy, with mist just above the summits. Nice views down to the Bristol Channel and across to the Carmarthen Fan. We nipped across to Pen y Fan where we had a snack enjoying the superb view down to Brecon and across to Cribyn: memories of various races hereabouts. The descent was very quick, and we continued refreshed down to Cardiff.

Farndon 10k

Race: Farndon 10k

Time/Position: 35.54 (6th from 351 [1st V50])

A last-minute decision to do this as a final sharpener before London, hoping that decent recent form would allow me to dip under 36 for the first time in a few years. It did, but only just, and I was rather disappointed in the performance, being unable to hold my early pace. I was hanging on for the entire middle section of the race, essentially, all very different to Vyrnwy last week. I went off a little too fast, perhaps, and the positions were sorted within a mile. There was no way I could catch the two in front, and I ran the entire race in isolation, again unlike last week. I have never found it a particularly fast course, and don't enjoy the uphill drags, regardless of how mild they are. Around 6k I felt I might blow completely but just about held it together and had a slightly better finish. I was rarely comfortable, however, and it didn't feel like a good performance (time puts me 10th V50 in the all-time north Wales rankings).

Vyrnwy half marathon

Race: Vyrnwy half marathon

Time/Position: 1.18.04 (35th from 825 [1st V50])

I was convinced that I had a decent time in me this year, despite the six consecutive disappointing 80 minute half marathons I've run since entering my 50s. At times, that had looked like a ceiling, but today I felt strong and controlled throughout - and thoroughly enjoyed it. I ran 1.18.25 the last time I did the event in 2011 so it was really pleasing to go slightly quicker than that today. More importantly, it's also one of the most satisfying races around, in a landscape that I always enjoy: I spent a fortnight working in Llanwddyn in the 90s. It was also nice to go with Dave and Kathryn today, with the event a little more commercial than it used to be! The uphill start is fine, and actually forces you to think hard about pacing. After the dam I just set a nice 6 minute mile pace, and a good group of around eight formed. A slight headwind so it would have been nice to swap leads, but three of them later thanked me for my solid pace setting! The great thing about Vyrnwy is the way the road hugs the shore, even at the wilder far end, and I accepted I was on a decent day at the turn around - this is always a great feeling, not all that common, and something to be savoured as you power along in a good strong group. Almost certainly a negative split, as you know you have a very fast final mile to look forward to after the dam. Felt pretty good, and won my category (joint 5th in the all-time north Wales V50 rankings).

King John's Castle

Race: King John's Castle fell race

Time/Position: 39.49 (3rd from 42)

I came second at this race when it was run clockwise a few years ago but only had vague memories of doing it this way round, anticlockwise - apparently the standard direction for the race. Whatever, it is definitely easier this way round and I really enjoyed the outing, one of several different options this weekend. I've over-raced recently, so deliberately took it fairly easy initially, up the long climb from the village up towards Moel Llanfair. Once at the saddle between Llanfair and Gyw, most of the hard work is done. This has always been my favourite part of the Clwydians, and I pelted down the track below Llanfair and kept a slow but steady pace going up to the top of Moel y Plas, moving into third place. I took the circuitous descent rather than the direct and found it better, less awkward. Fast running down the track to the final cross-country section, which is something of a sting in the tail as the terrain is tricky and overgrown through meadows, copses, nettles and little limestone walls. 

Y Garn

Peaks: Y Garn

Area: Glyderau, Eryri

Another iconic Welsh peak ticked off for M, adding to his growing list. Always a huge pleasure to introduce the young man to a new hill - he would be a couple of years older than me on my first time up Y Garn, but pretty close really. The long period of high pressure is now over, but low cloud seemed to be lifting a bit as we walked round the shores of Idwal. Then it was the familiar haul below Twll Ddu to Llyn y Cwn, with mist clearing a little. The easy slopes to the top were also misty but there was a spectacular clearance on the way down the NE ridge: a nice reward with the cloud parting and views of Idwal and Ogwen Cottage.

Wirral MT Series, Royden Park

Race: Wirral MT Series (Royden Park)

Time/Position: 30.28 (19th from 359 [2nd V50])

Probably the hardest and most varied of the four Wirral multi-terrain fixtures - I missed this last year but did the other three. I ran 50 seconds quicker than this in 2015, with terrible DOMS following the Ben Nevis race. I do wonder whether it was a tad shorter then, without the first tiny field perhaps, as I went off pretty hard on the first lap (which heads up to the awkward little sandstone ridge above Thurstaston, lots of rocky steps, then drops down to a flat sprint through the woods). Started to blow on the second lap, admittedly, but perked up in the woods and finished three seconds behind the first V50, couldn't quite catch him.

VB half marathon

Race: Village Bakery half marathon (Wrexham)

Time/Position: 1.20.52 (85th from 1385)

Undoubtedly a race too far. I don't know how many times I have done the VB half over the years, perhaps eight or more, and I was well prepared for this in every way apart from one: putting in too much of an effort on Friday night combined with the double header earlier in the week and the two mountain days. As a result, it was yet another 80 minute half marathon, almost unbelievably my 6th in the past two years: no matter how I approach them tactically, no matter what the course is like, I run 80 minutes, around three minutes down on my 2013 PB, every time. I was reasonably conservative today, but never felt particularly lively, although I did perk up around the half way mark and felt quite strong over the back end of the course as it heads towards Holt. But the gentle climb up Francis Lane, which goes on for almost 3k, finished me off (as it did last year) and I saw my target time of 1.18 disappear.

Deeside ORGP

Race: Deeside ORGP (race 4)

Time/Position: 24.54 (3rd from 54 [1st V50])

Although I was fairly confident that the V50 series win was sewn up, I initially thought I might be in with a chance of the overall series win (by default, that is, as you have to do at least three races to count). I was wrong, as it happens, but it meant that I went much harder than I had intended to, with the VB half marathon coming up on Sunday. As with the previous two races, Jez and I were neck and neck, and pushed each other on nicely. Two other runners were out in front, and the route was taken anticlockwise this time. I moved into third just after Hawarden Bridge and stayed there around the meadows to the finish, although conscious of being pushed the whole way. A good session and a great series, but possibly a little too close to Sunday for comfort. I think I finished second overall in the series, first V50.

Glyder Fawr combination

Peaks: Glyder Fawr

Area: Glyderau, Eryri

Idwal Staircase is a giant sluice, a watercourse that tumbles down from the upper slopes of Glyder Fawr into a broad, slanting gully that marks the end of the Idwal Slabs. I had only ever done it in winter before, on fragile ice, because I have always concentrated on the proper rock climbs hereabouts, not the scrambles. But I have done so little climbing since Covid that I feel mild scrambles are the way to reacquaint myself with the art. After such a dry summer, I felt it might even be completely dry. After a gentle jog from Ogwen, it was clear that it was - and I was up the main staircase in less than five minutes, a lot of fun in these conditions, just the sort of gentle, juggy reintroduction to rock that I needed. From here, the route moves left to a series of slabs. I went too far up initially, then baulked at the left-hand line, instead settling for a combination of a steep but grassy gully, very narrow, and the right-hand side of the upper slabs. At the top, this gains Senior's Ridge. I was tiring slightly, just walking, but enjoyed the broad ascent, which I rarely do. At the top I took some of the steps direct, lovely rough rock. The mist was down around the top of Cwm Cneifion, so I just contoured round the top of it, always the best way to locate the Gribin. Trotted down this as the mist cleared, then took the left-hand cut through to Idwal rather than the steps from Bochlwyd. Very steady and slow throughout, feeling tired and trying to conserve energy.