Nant Ffrancon round

Another 17 miler in preparation for Marathon Eryri but this time with an attempt to replicate its demands and profile more precisely. I parked in Bethesda and ran up the A5 all the way to Ogwen cottage in just over half an hour, felt OK but my HR was very high. I then ran alongside Llyn Ogwen to the Milestone Buttress, then back to the old road on the other side of the Afon Ogwen, the opposite side of Nant Ffrancon, all the way down to Lon Las Ogwen and the Slate Trail. Off-road and undulating to the Old Turnpike road and then a long extension through Tregarth all the way to the service station on the A55. Back up the draining climb to Bethesda. Still not long enough, but well over 1000ft of climbing.

Tattenhall BL

Race: Tattenhall 9.8k (Borders League 1)

Time/Position: 37.04 (76th from 448 [1st V55])

The start of my 20th season in the league, on the familiar Tattenhall course. After last week's post-injury 'range finder' I tried again to start steadily, but in the always ultra-competitive league that is easier said than done! As a result, I started to feel uncomfortable fairly quickly, unsurprising after the injury and lack of training. Dark Lane was again too fast, which meant a very tough climb up Harthill Lane and Road, always one of the hardest of Borders climbs. I managed to hold it together by dropping the pace, and kept it steady through Burwardsley to the run in. I lost a few places but nothing too disastrous until the last few hundred metres, where - as last week - I really struggled. Still, nice to win my age category on the opening race as the pace will hopefully pick up when I resume proper training. Miles down the field, but actually only 90 seconds slower than my 2022 time on this course, when I had a bit of a flier and was on good form.

Pen y Fron climbing

Crag: Pen y Fron

Routes: Professor Plumb (f6a:led), With the Crowbar (f6b:sec), In the Pandy (f6b:sec), Leete Entertainment (f6a+:sec)

Second visit to this useful 'new', if slightly scruffy, local venue. Given my limited strength and lack of climbing, it seemed prudent to start with a lead, and I chose what I think was Professor Plumb at a mild 6a (probably easier). Quite steep but with good rests on good flat footholds. As with lots of the routes here, the climbing is better than it looks with a bit of thought usually required, and often hidden (but usually good) holds. Peter then led the two routes to the right, which were both steep and quite awkward in places, before leading the best of this bunch, Leete Entertainment, which takes a groove below what looked initially like a slab but which was actually a fairly steep headwall. Nicely direct with some good technical climbing and high steps, though-provoking and challenging for me with limited upper body strength.

Gyrn Wigau

Peaks: Gyrn Wigau

Area: Carneddau, Eryri

Just a 50 minute time-pressed blast from Gerlan but actually quite interesting, partly because of the superb clarity of light, but also because I don't recall following the narrow lane of 'Ciltwllan' before. It leads directly up to the wonderful tracks of the Carneddau, and means you can get to the top of Gyrn Wigau in half an hour or so. I was a bit tired after recently getting back into my normal training routine as the achilles issue eases - a quicker than usual social run from Llanfynydd last night, for example. The track is well-defined and steep in places and leads to the rocky top of Wigau, a grand seat for views over the central Carneddau, but also down to Yr Eifl and across the whole of Anglesely. Very clear conditions in a bracing fresh breeze. After sitting down and enjoying the view I ran back to Gerlan - 10 minutes from summit to the top farm.

Llangollen canal 18m

Another 'last chance' long run by way of very late preparation for Marathon Eryri. A beautiful morning with tremendous clarity of light, so I probably should have headed for the hills, but it was important to get the mileage in so I parked in Acrefair and ran to Pontcysyllte after which I took the Llangollen canal all the way to Horseshoe Falls near Rhewl. This wasn't as far as I thought it would be, so after doubling back round and through Llangollen, I hadn't done enough so ended with a few very hilly miles over to Ruabon and back - 18 miles in total at a steady but unspectacular pace, heel feeling OK.

Guilden Sutton 10k

Race: Guilden Sutton 10k

Time/Position: 37.51 (16th from 221 [1st V55])

Given the achilles injury and all the travelling, it was very hard to judge form coming into this, as I have barely done any speedwork or racing for two or three months. So I set myself a modest sub-38 target (coincidentally I last ran this long-established race way back in 2007 in 38.04 so that made the sub-38 plan even neater). It isn't the quickest of courses, with a couple of sharp climbs and some steady drags, so I was pleased to feel pretty good, much better than I have of late. Starting from the village, a big lap goes round Pipers Ash to the edge of Chester before looping back round to the main Tarvin Road. I was determined not to go out too quickly, mindful of the way I was hanging on towards the end of the Colshaw Hall 10k in June. But I still pushed a bit too hard on the second lap and then consciously eased off along the Tarvin Road, because I knew a long drag back to the village awaited. This worked, and I felt OK right up to the last 1k where I began to blow a bit, and the sharp climb to the finish was particularly tough as a result.  Two went past me in the last few hundred metres, and there were others in my category not far behind. A slow time but nice to win my category on another of the longest established local races (1982 in this case) and a good marker as I try to get some post-injury form back over the next few months.

Rhuddlan 16

Yesterday's disastrous outing combined with my recent achilles issue and my Peruvian trip has all rendered Marathon Eryri at the end of October an increasingly unlikely objective. I decided that today was the last chance to start training, albeit it is already too late to start properly. I set a minimum target of 15 miles, and would 'run to feel' having abandoned last Tuesday. I set off from Rhuddlan under cloudy skies and within the first mile realised I was back to something approaching normal, and my HR confirmed this. I kept the pace slow, however, and was also troubled by my achilles again (brought on by yesterday's fell shoe outing I suspect). But the heel improved as I climbed gently up to Meliden, fortunately. Through Prestatyn to the Nova Centre and then the long but enjoyable haul along the familiar territory of the prom all the way to Kinmel Bay. The forecast rain started in earnest here, along with a stiff breeze, so I doubled back seeking the shelter of West Rhyl back to Rhuddlan.

Henley Wood parkrun

'Race': Henley Wood (Oswestry) parkrun

Time/Position: 20.26 (3rd from 111)

My Garmin has been warning me all week with its metrics suggesting some kind of health issue. I feel fine, but had to abandon a planned long run on Tuesday and have concluded that it's not an infection, but a hangover from the somewhat ridiculously packed Peruvian schedule. Whatever the reason, I felt dreadful this morning on this route, which is flat but entirely off-road and twisty for two large laps in the woods near the Oswestry A5. I wore an ancient pair of fell running shoes, which didn't help matters, and started off fairly quickly to the point that I led briefly. But I knew pretty quickly that all was not well, and almost stopped before the second lap started. Possibly my slowest ever parkrun, certainly my worst ever 'performance', although - as ever - it's not a race! First age graded, for what its worth.

Castle Inn climbing

Crag: Castle Inn

Routes: Route 1 (f5:sec), Route 2 (f6a:sec), Milf Crack (f5:sec)

Having done only a handful of routes in the last couple of years, I remained passenger today on three routes that I have done many, many times in the past. Indeed, Route 1 is the climb I've done most often, and one which must have a claim to being the most frequently climbed route in North Wales, becoming quite polished now. I actually felt reasonably good, and did feel something of the old stirring when touching rock. More importantly, a very pleasant social morning (for a change) with Peter and Bart.

Vilcanota peaks

Peaks: Vinicunca (5039m/16,532ft), Hatun Ritiyop (5069m/16,631ft)

Area: Vilcanota Range, Andes, Peru

Despite climbing many Alpine peaks, and visiting the Himalaya and numerous other high mountain ranges worldwide over nearly 40 years, I am fairly sure I've never been over 5000m before so this was an interesting test, quite apart from being a spectacular day out. Vinicunca has become a major tourist attraction in recent years, as global warming has revealed its extraordinary geology (inevitably dubbed 'rainbow mountain' by the hordes of global travellers that want their picture taken in front of it). As such, it didn't hold much appeal for crowd-hating me, but it was also the only feasible opportunity for a day in the mountains given my very tight schedule in Peru. I also got it for free, so could hardly choose another option after arrival in magical Cusco. After a 3am start, and breakfast in Cusipata, we headed up a long gravel track to the roadhead, already really high. On Sunday, I had already broken my personal altitude record en route back to Arequipa from Chivay, when the van stopped at the 4910m Mirador de los Andes, a stunning place with views of seven volcanoes, one of which supposedly holds the source of the Amazon. I was breathless then, but since then had acclimatised further with visits to Puno, Titicaca and Cusco itself - in fact I had 'lived' at 3300m or higher for a few days by the time we set off. As a result, I felt OK and most of the route is just an easy stroll up an inclining path: exceptional views over the valley to the left up to Wasaqucha, Nevado del Inca, Takusiri and other glaciated peaks, a giant wall of rock and ice from this angle. Most of the tourists had no interest in those views, as they struggled (many on horseback) up to see the view they wanted for their social media posts. I suspended my cynicism though, as it's not as if I usually have to do things like this, and once I arrived above a steeper section at the obvious col below 'rainbow mountain' it is undeniably impressive. There was some breathlessness, inevitably, and what generally happens is that you feel OK for a while and then hypeventilate briefly as your body struggles for oxygen from time to time. I was well ahead of the hordes and the views were brilliant, out over the Red Valley and further north to the huge peak of Ausungate, with vertical shimmering glaciers and icefalls just visible through layers of cloud. It reminded me of Svaneti in Georgia, me going up small hills while massive 'expedition' peaks like Ushaia and Ushba loomed beyond them. After a while, the crowds did get to me but the day improved as there was an optional extension to the 'red valley' above Pitumarca, which I obviously took. Then, at last, I was free to fly and the crowds melted away. It was absolutely staggering scenery, the lazy cliche would be 'Martian', shades of deep reds throughout, with yellow patches and unnamed peaks rising beyond. A level trail led through red sand to a col, and then instead of going to another 'viewpoint', I saw an opportunity to finally plough up the mountain I had identified as an obvious extension: this was called Hatun Ritiyop (I assume this is Quechua) and was completely empty and vastly more rewarding: 16,631ft. A snow shower was coming in, so I scampered down to final views of the valley, an even deeper red from this angle. A shortcut regains the tourist path as the snow and hail got heavier and a rumble of thunder sounded. A nice lunch in Cusipata followed.