Prestatyn parkrun

'Race': Prestatyn parkrun

Time/Position: 18.53 (1st from 132)

My V50 course record from May last year still stands, somewhat surprisingly. The Prestatyn coastal course has changed slightly since then, with less time in the dunes away from the prom, so I wondered if it would be quicker. I wasn't very fresh after a full Collie run last night, and the dunes section is now a bit more awkward I felt, with grassy sections and sand. It's only short though, so not much of an excuse. I caught the guy in first place at the point the route heads out towards Talacre for a new extension. Felt comfortable throughout, but also not really able to push the pace for whatever reason, finishing 6 seconds down on my own CR. Warmed down with a delightful 10k hilly jog up Moelfre Isaf then over Mynydd Bodochrwyn in the 'empty quarter' east of Llanfair TH.

HK-Ruthin

A shorter variant on my 'compass point' linear runs from home. Over the years, these have included HK-Denbigh, HK-Hilbre, HK-Llangollen and HK-Pheasant. Ruthin is much closer, only 25k by the quietest route which had to be on road today after a great deal of rain (which caused yesterday's cross-country to be cancelled). It does involve a fair amount of climbing though, initially up to Buckley to avoid the busy main road. From here, the familiar undulations and fast descent to Mold. Then comes the hard climb up to Gwernymynydd and Loggerheads before branching off for the crux climb through torrents of water up to Bwlch Penbarras. Lovely views today, and then comes the steep descent down the old road to Llanbedr and all the way down to the middle of Ruthin (just over two hours). Relaxation followed.

Chester parkrun

'Race': Chester parkrun

Time/Position: 18.57 (3rd from 209)

I'd been looking forward to the cross-country in Colwyn Bay today, a selection race for the internationals in Glasgow next month. But torrential rain saw it cancelled, so the preparation was wasted. Can't be helped, though, so a slow plod around a muddy 'B+' course at Chester kicked off the weekend instead, combining nicely with our open day.

Ladybower 'half'

Race: Ladybower 25k trail

Time/Position: 1.59.46 (17th from 605 [1st V50])

I wouldn't normally do a commercial 'trail' race (I don't even like the americanism, generally speaking). But this was another rather nice prize, chosen after my category win at the Nantwich 10k earlier this year. Even better, I thoroughly enjoyed the outing and felt much better than I have done recently, in fact it ended up as perhaps this year's most enjoyable race. This was largely because it was such an excellent route, very well marked and organised, and perfect weather helped (very lucky again, as it rained all day on Friday). A big field set off at 9am (early pre-6am start from home) from Bamford along the old railway (which I remembered from the Half Tour of Bradwell a couple of years ago). Then a climb up to the dam wall at Ladybower, and a mixture of trails and paths led north along Derwent Lane as the lake becomes quieter and more remote. Eventually, it left this and headed steeply up the slabs by Grindle Clough. After a boggy traverse path a superb descent (dry, sandy and very fast) led to the road up to Hollow Meadows. From here, the route stayed high and scenic, heading up to Stanage End - the 'remotest' part of the famous crag and a place of special significance for me, as it was here that I did some of my first rock climbs in the late 1980s. No time for nostalgia, however, as the path across the top of Stanage followed (more memories, this time more recent ones of the Full Tour of Bradwell ultra in 2018). Running alongside gritstone edges is often tricky, with deep puddles and lots of tricky boulders blocking easy progress: especially today after Friday's deluge. At the end, though, a fast descent down Long Causeway and a rapid final section via Coggers Lane back to a circuitous finish in Bamford. I thought I was much higher up the field, perhaps 7th or 8th, so was rather surprised that so many runners were ahead of me. The runners behind were much closer than I thought too! Winning my category was a bonus though, especially on such a great race. It reminded me strongly of the Red Kite trail race in mid-Wales, on which I also had a good outing a couple of years ago - around the same distance, a similar combination of runnable but tough terrain.

Siabod from Dolwyddelan

Peaks: Moel Siabod

Area: Moelwynion, Eryri

The most obscure and tiring way up Siabod, by some margin. Even I had never been up from Dolwyddelan before. It starts well, on steep paths above a stream then firetracks through conifer forest to gain a small but distinct route curving westwards onto the open hill. Above, Siabod looms and the south-east ridge comes into view, a good target. The weather was superb: tendrils of mist in the valley from an early cloud inversion, melting away into a clear autumnal sky, great views over the Moelwyns and Machno hills. After a little gorge the path becomes indistinct and hard to follow, the terrain complex and lumpy. It doesn't last long, though, and I soon gained the SE ridge a little way up from its base. This always gives a nice, basic scramble and did so today: I had it to myself in glorious weather. I was tired though, after intervals on Tuesday and a Coed Talon social last night. From the empty summit, I took the long westerly descent all the way down to the col below Carnedd y Cribau, superb views of the Snowdon group. A horribly steep descent on tussocks led to lonely Lluniau Diwaunydd, one of Eryri's more obscure locales. Perfect clarity, but the price for the solitude is bog and very awkward progress along the shore to finally gain a long twisting track down to Blaenau Dolwyddelan, then a cross country bonus path avoiding the road and providing brilliant views of the castle. A little over 2 hours for the 16+k loop, definitely the hardest and quietest route up Siabod: I saw nobody.

Fferna loop

Peaks: Moel Fferna

Area: Berwyn

A tiring but enjoyable trot around the northern Berwyn. I've been intermittently exploring these obscure hills for years and this was yet another variant: you are almost guaranteed to have them to yourself. The initial road run from Corwen to Llidiart y Parc is a little tedious but fine, with a good pavement and views of the Dee and Old Railway to keep your mind off the A5. Then comes the long haul up Moel Fferna, probably the crux of the 55k Llangollen Round which I have done solo twice. It takes some time, through pheasant woods to gain the featureless open hill. Some mist on top of Moel Fferna, and I was really tiring for the run along the North Berwyn Way towards Cynwyd, made harder by the fact that the paths were largely under water! A descent through the woods gains a sharp right turn to the well-marked tracks the ultimately lead to Liberty Hall, the ruined hunting lodge which is really a minor top. I was really tiring now, so didn't enjoy the long descent back to Corwen as much as I should have done. I have only ever done this in ascent - it is a great route, taking in the viewpoint at Pen y Pigyn.

Ruthin parkrun

'Race': Ruthin parkrun

Time/Position: 18.33 (2nd from 96)

After a full, and fairly quick, Collie classic outing last night I felt compromised this morning. I had pondered going back to Bala but I was too tired to make it worthwhile so settled for a perfunctory plod around the Ruthin course instead. I ran 17.59 here in February but was nowhere near this today. Headed to Corwen after a Chatwin's breakfast bap.

Caernarfon 10k (BL 1)

Race: Caernarfon 10k (Border League race 1)

Time/Position: 36.44 (38th from 315 [2nd V50])

Having missed almost the whole season last year, it was great to be back. I was a little disappointed with the time, a few seconds slower than the North Wales champs on the same course in August: brand new shoes, more specific training and decent conditions should have seen me run faster. Still, I scored in 8th place for Buckley and was a fairly comfortable 2nd V50 in the usual competitive league field. I also felt more comfortable than I did in August, albeit still at my post-50 'ceiling'. Farndon last year remains the only exception to that ceiling. I always enjoy the course, and have done it many times, although far more often in the opposite anticlockwise direction. This is probably only the 3rd or 4th time I've gone clockwise - it is potentially faster and there was a bit of a tailwind along the Foryd, which can be enjoyed as long as you have held a little back on the early hills.