Deeside BL

Race: Deeside 7.3k (Borders League race 5)

Time/Position: 25.43 (47th from 384 [1st V50])

The real fallow year can now begin after a successful start to the new year, with several important events bleeding over from last year's racing. Of these, the continuation of the border league season was something of a priority (this was my 89th or 90th borders race). A cold and unusually early outing over the familiar Deeside course, from the usual manic start on the athletics track up the sharp Kelsterton hill. I had planned to hold back for this, but my immediate peers started off very quickly and seemed to be disappearing out of sight! So I pushed through and actually kept a decent pace going for the double (or triple) climb. After this, and the left turn on top of the hill, this fixture always becomes a flat out pelt back down Golftyn lane to the stadium - 3.25km pace or so, which seemed reasonably similar to previous efforts when I was younger and fresher. I caught Jez and some other team-mates at the turn, and we pushed on in a fairly tight group, packing well. With one fixture left, I have a 30 point lead in the V50 individual category, with Buckley now comfortably top of the first division overall, and miles ahead (1000+ points!) in the veterans competition. Some kind of modest grand slam looks on the cards with only one competitive race left.

Carsington Water trail half

Race: Carsington Water trail half marathon

Time/Position: 1.25.51 (5th from 359 [1st V50])

Rather unusually, I found myself in an exact tie for 4th place on this race by chip time. In the race itself, I was jumped on the line by a runner I'd just spent the last three miles trying to get past! It was another very nice event, and another free entry from the RunThrough stable of events (after winning my category at the Ladybower race in October). A damp and misty day on the edge of the Peak, which was unfortunate as I had been looking forward to some pleasant lakeside views. I started off slowly, in the spirit of the 'fallow year', and found myself in 7th place after an initial 5 mile doubling back route along the western shores of Carsington. Back to the start, and then a full lap of the lake, on which I started to feel pretty good after the steady start. As a result of recent rest days, I felt very perky and enjoyed the muddy running through potholes at the southern end of the lake and then the much tougher eastern side. I hadn't really done any research but had guessed things got harder here, and they did, with several sharp climbs and muddy, wet terrain. We began to catch the 10k runners, and then I caught a pair that had set off fast. I passed one at the 10 mile mark and then embarked on a fast finish, feeling surprisingly strong and upping the pace considerably. Still not enough for a finishing kick sadly! After taking the van on its first long drive (and an early start from home) I stopped in Ashbourne on the way back for a very gentle pootle on the gravel bike along part of the Tissington Trail.

Atalaya

Peaks: Atalaya East

Area: Yaiza, Lanzarote

I had already taken the broad runnable track from the open valley above Yaiza two days ago but this morning planned to run to the top of Atalaya and back. It's the highest summit in this part of Lanzarote but is disfigured by numerous masts. Sadly, on emerging from our guesthouse I found a drizzly morning with clag draped around all the tops: I could have been in Llanberis. I should have grabbed some more kit but instead headed up the broad track in a t-shirt hoping for a clearance. At the top of the track I took the northerly continuation along the broad ridge that is so obvious from Yaiza. This was outstanding: wonderfully runnable on a hard-packed volcanic surface. The weather was by far the worst of our short trip however, and I soon entered the mist. It was a little breezy and I was getting quite wet. Not cold, of course, but it doesn't need to be very cold in these circumstances. I skirted a side peak then ploughed up to the north-eastern top. This was broad and featureless, the characteristic black gravel of the island. I called it a day and plummeted back down the same way to Yaiza, emerging from the mist near the top of the track. After breakfast, we took the choppy ferry ride to Correlejo in Fuerteventura, where Kate and I undertook a 10k walk to the top of another miniature extinct volcano, Bayuyo, which gave excellent views of northern Fuerteventura (which I'd never visited before) and back across the Atlantic channel of La Bocayna to Playa Blanca.

Caldera Blanca

Peaks: Caldera Blanca, Quebredo, Montana Caldereta

Area: Tinajo, Lanzarote

The highlight of several short forays into the distinctive volcanic landscape of Lanzarote. Things kicked off yesterday with a run up the small peak of Montana del Medio, the mountain that loomed above our accommodation in Yaiza. I continued over the track up to another mini-caldera, the Gisela, before returning for breakfast. This was a longer outing with Kate, jogging through the lava from Macha Blanca white-washed village. This was awkward but enjoyable and we then took a nicely exposed direct slanting line up to gain the lip of the caldera with surprising ease. It is quite a sight: a perfect circular depression curving up to a higher summit (although still below 600m - all these hills are small). The 'ridge' (actually the rim of the caldera) was nicely narrow and well-defined - Kate and I made reasonable progress until shelved rock led to the summit. Two Canarian ravens and at least 10 berthelot's pipits provided the company, although there were quite a few other hillwalkers around. Views were a little hazy, with high cloud and occasional sunshine. This was a bit of a shame as the landscape is spectacular: huge black lava fields recalled the 'sandur' of Iceland, punctuated by isolated volcanic cones. We continued down the far side of the Caldera, almost completing the loop but I broke off for the side top of Quebredo before taking a direct line back to the base and a homeward jog through the lava fields. I took in the smaller Caldereta, running a complete loop of it and then catching up with Kate near the car. We refuellled with excellent tapas at a characterful tavern in Teguise.

Ruthin parkrun

'Race': Ruthin parkrun

Time/Position: 18.18 (1st from 107)

After my personal parkrun worst at Wepre a fortnight ago, this was quite a bit better, my third time at the Ruthin event and only 20 seconds down on my course PB. I was around a minute ahead of second place so wasn't really pushed and tried to keep a steady effort going in the spirit of the 'fallow year'. A delightful cool down along the banks of the Clywedog and 'Lady Bagot's Drive'.