Rhes y Cae 10k

Race: Rhes y Cae MT 10k

Time/Position: 38.31 (1st from 60)

A very rare overall win - only my 4th ever, excluding parkruns. Admittedly, this was a fairly informal affair, attached to a village show, but at my age I'll happily take it. More importantly, it was a great route, really varied and enjoyable. A young lad went off fast and I followed, down a long bridleway (Ffordd y Graig) which becomes a small road south of Lixwm. Some climbs led to Ysceifiog, then the run for home, north of Lixwm to pick up Ffordd y Bwlch back to the showground. Around 600ft of climbing, so it's never going to be a fast course, with perhaps a quarter of the route off-road down bridleways and paths. I led from around the first kilometre and was fairly pleased with my time in the circumstances - always quite memorable to cross the line first, despite the informality of the race! It worked well as a rural outing for Frances, particularly as we then did a circular route up Moel y Parc from Bodfari in weather reminiscent of April - bright and very breezy.

Yr Wyddfa

Peaks: Yr Wyddfa

Area: Snowdon, Eryri

After the race shortening last month, I came back for a rare outing on my least favourite route up Snowdon. The weather was grim, yet again (an awful spell of summer weather), but not as bad as it had been on race day. Cloudbase: just above Llanberis, although it did slowly lift. Sadly, I found that I was still suffering on the hills - I just seem unable to keep any kind of pace ticking over on longer hills. As a result, I basically walked to halfway house, then tried to up the pace for Allt Moses. This went well to the tunnel at Clogwyn, but then I slowed dramatically for the rest of the route to the summit. Weather was poor throughout, very wet initially. I tried to match old times back down to halfway house (and failed) and then walked back to Llanberis. How I ran 1.21 on the race in 2011 is completely beyond me.

Wirral Seaside 5k

Race: Wirral Seaside 5k (Leasowe)

Time/Position: 17.53 (13th from 225 [2nd V50])

Dreadful weather this evening - constant rain, crosswinds and lying water. I decided against the Ponderosa, as I have done that many times, instead opting for this - another long-established race (actually a summer series) that I have never done, despite often doing the September Wirral series. It gave a splendid outing, out to Leasowe lighthouse and then eastwards along the seafront towards New Brighton. After a pleasant warm-up with Dave, I was pleased to feel pretty good for the easterly romp along the seafront towards Harrison's Drive (one of the more familiar September races). The race often benefits from a strong westerly, which sadly was not present today - instead a crosswind, not particularly helpful, from the south/south-east. Some water on the route, and lots of sand, and this slowed times a bit. Still raining heavily at the finish, but a nice chat with Dave as we took the long jog back to the car in Leasowe.

Chester parkrun

'Race': Chester parkrun

Time/Position: 18.35 (4th from 167)

A perfunctory run round the B course in the rain before the bluedot festival, hopefully the start of a block of speed training in advance of some road races. I think I prefer the B course, particularly with a smaller field (as it was today) because the overtaking is a bit easier.

Green grass fell race

Race: Green green grass of home, Llangynhafal (5.3m/480m)

Time/position: 49m

Another dreadful struggle, on a course I ran in 43 minutes the last time I did it in 2015 (after running to the start from Cilcain). I do wonder whether the route is slightly different, though, or the bracken far higher, as I'm not convinced this was 6-7 minutes slower! That said, I did feel Snowdon in my legs - I had predictably developed a dreadful case of the Doms after Saturday's descent. I could barely remember the course, which starts at the familiar place above Llangynhafal, but I went reasonably well up the track until it gave way to bracken. Then comes the very fast descent down the Clwydian hills route, before the wheels came off on the long climb back up to join OD on the ridge. I couldn't remember this at all - and found it hard, very overgrown and a real battle. I revived a little for the ridge and the Tir Gofal traverse, before slowing again over Moel Dywyll and the bracken descent back to the start.

Ras Yr Wyddfa

Race: Ras yr Wyddfa/International Snowdon race (shortened)

Time/Position: 54.34 (118 from 468 [4th V50])

I 'retired' from this event after running a few seconds under 1.22 in 2011. I was fairly certain that I would never be able to better that, and I still think it remains one of my better mountain running performances. In the event, I never got to put the theory to the test today after 'emerging from retirement', as the nasty conditions meant the race was shortened to the start of the climb to Clogwyn, about 1km beyond halfway house. This all meant that the pace was more frantic than it might have been, especially the descent. I climbed well initially, but only to the top of the steep tarmac out of Llanberis. After that, I reverted to recent type, struggling to hold any kind of decent pace. I reached halfway house in 28.15 from the start, then slowed for the windy and very wet final trudge to the turnaround (35m). The descent went much better though - still very wet with high winds swirling around unpredictably, but a pretty quick 13.07 from halfway house to Victoria Terrace in Llanberis, a little more of course for the whole descent which gets very fast indeed in some places, particularly the steep tarmac but also higher up where it was so enjoyable that it almost made up for the shortening. There is a price to be paid for this sort of thing: muscle damage lasting several days!

Mala Paklenica

This is the wilder side of Paklenica, vastly quieter than the main gorge we visited for climbing in 2019. I knew this, but was still guilty of mildly underestimating it. It runs parallel to the main canyon and is both smaller and tighter: rock climbing is banned. It begins innocuously enough, with a well-marked path along the base - very hot initially. It then begins to weave around and becomes quite technical in places. One large chockstone/drop has to be overcome by a scramble up the right wall, and another up the left. It was all surprisingly involved and time-consuming. Some traverses above the base of the gorge ease progress before a steep climb up scree and woodland on the left. After this, however, much more boulder hopping eventually leads to a watersource in a cave. Just when you think it is over, it draws you back to the base for the trickiest sections, some big boulders and awkward rises. At least it was all in the shade! It has a very remote, wild feel, and I adopted a highly cautious approach for obvious reasons. I saw nobody at all, for the entire outing, and above the gorge you are committed (but the going gets far easier). An easy dry stream bed leads eventually to a junction with the even wilder Orljaca. Instead, I took the side path northwest with views opening out to Sveto Bordo and the high peaks (which I had half wanted to do today - they would have taken hours though). Eventually, after a big climb zigzagging through the woods I reached a major, reassuring path junction at Skilijin Docic, a broad col/plateau. I headed southwest towards Rimenic, skirting just below the minor peak of Kuk od Dubrave. The going was far easier now, although still rocky. I disturbed an unidentified animal at one point. The route continued, through remote feeling terrain, staying fairly high on the plateau with nice open views contrasting with the canyon. After Riminic, it heads steeply down to Jukici, a long haul, after which a short road jog leads back to the park entrance. Around 2.5 hours, 15k/1500m (although again my altimeter may be a little out). 

Vidakov Kuk

Peaks: Vidakov Kuk (845m)

Area: Paklenica, Croatia

I did the eastern end of this ridge in abysmal conditions last time I was in Paklenica, April 2019, getting up Zoljin Kuk but never being entirely clear where I was. This could hardly have been a bigger contrast and made a perfect outing for Morgan to join me on. This is partly because of the minor road that climbs from Starigrad and allows for a civilised start, after a hefty burek breakfast. Yesterday I ran up little Veliki Vitrenik, which we could see from our balcony, and we all did the Mirila loop - both of which also use this same minor road. We parked way up at Zupanov Dolac and started up the path in hot weather, taking a short cut direct towards the peak. At a path junction, views open out into the main gorge, nice for M to see. The path hugs the craggy ridge of Vidakov Kuk, going well to the east before cutting back sharply up the ascent gully, which gives an easy ascent of an otherwise craggy and unassailable summit. Some iron steps overcome a chockstone, then good scrambling up the final gully up to a short ridge with some mild exposure. The small summit was superbly positioned with great views over Bojin Kuk and the Adriatic, giving us a new perspective on where we'd been. We descended the gully then looped round butterfly-festooned meadows (avoiding the short cut) back to the car - straight down for lunch and a swim.

Dinara (Sinjal)

Peaks: Dinara (1831m)

Area: Dinaric Alps, Croatia

My lengthy detour to Knin was centred around the grand massif of Dinara, which includes the Croatian highpoint but also represents a scenic contrast with the Velebit as it sprawls along the Bosnian border. Rather than the distinctive rocky landscape of Velebit, Dinara's character is more subtle - broad ridges and broken limestone faces. After breakfast at Slatki Snovi, a short drive led through Kijevo to the roadhead at Glavas, close to the Bosnian border. From here, the summit is invisible and I knew I was in for a long haul of 8-9k over a fearsome vertical interval. The old fortress at Glavas is gained quite quickly, a spectacular location which once controlled this border route, then a pleasant open valley which was a tad cooler after a very humid start. The unpromisingly named peak of Slime, on the border, was draped in cloud, which was a bit worrying, as were towering clouds over Kalun to the south. In the event, though, there was nothing to worry about and it remained a far better day than yesterday - which was lucky, Above the valley, a spring, and then a traverse through rough limestone to high pastures (some ruined enclosures) and then a shallow ridge of limestone. This is a steep and tiring climb and leads to the crags of Osjak, which lend the mountain a dramatic rocky west face which I could see from the balcony in Knin. The route then levels off through a series of green, grassy hollows, one of which contains the Grubac hut, a superbly equipped open bothy which it would have been nice to have stayed in. From here, the rest of the route was excellent - really enjoyable. I could see Knin far below, the crags of Osjak lent some definition to the broad ridge that bent round to the distant summit. It was reminiscent of the Carneddau, and in places the ridge narrowed and became very well defined, easy going on limestone. Cloud was drifting in and out, adding some atmosphere. I past a couple, the first people I had seen, but remained mindful of the distance and relative remoteness, solo, all day. The climbing keeps coming though, and a forepeak finally gives access to the true summit - marked by a tiny 'pillbox'. Superb views, although intermittent cloud interfered to an extent. The range stretches out across the Bosnian side, wild and remote. The crags lead down to Knin. All delightfully open and airy. I should have gone down a different way, but instead I retraced steps - still enjoyable, although close to 17k and well over 1600m of climbing (close to 1900m according to the Garmin, which can't be correct). I stopped at the hut for a break (it had a well but actually I'd carried enough, along with the spring in the valley). Back in Glavas, I had a bite to eat then headed back to Knin for some relaxation before the family's arrival tomorrow morning.

Zir

Peaks: Zir west top (770m)

Area: Lovinac, Croatia

I was woken in Krasno by an unexpected sound: rain. A front came in during the night and the weather was clearly unsettled despite the perfect cloudless clarity of the past two days. Very lucky indeed, as today was a transition/rest day, with my next stop well to the south in Knin. From the motorway, I spotted the conspicuous isolated limestone spire of Zir and thought it might be an ideal short little layover, a rest day outing. It didn't quite work out like that, as it is surprisingly hard to access, but I had to exit the motorway for Knin anyway, and saw signs for Zir, so followed them. The road became gravel, so I opted to jog towards it instead - this was tiring after the last three days so the pace was slow. It was fairly flat though, through farmland, and eventually I reached the path which twists in an annoyingly indirect way to the ridge. Another problem now presented itself: a thunderstorm was brewing. This was over Paklenica to the west but I am very cautious when it comes to lightning in the hills, always leaving a big safety margin, and Zir is a highly conspicuous spire rising from the plains. I passed a cave entrance through the woods and the route then gains a ridge of limestone. At the top of the west summit I called it a day, tired and with thunder rumbling around. I retraced my steps for a longer than intended outing (nearly 12k), then had lunch in the scruffy, historically Serb town of Gracac. The onward journey to Knin was marked by torrential rain which stopped when I arrived, so I was able to visit the beautiful Krcic waterfall in comfort.