Bowstones

Race: Bowstones (11k/1200ft)

Time/Position: 51.29 (47th from 459 [2nd V55])

Massively down on the three previous times I've done this NYE event, but those were 8-10 years ago! This was a personal worst by several minutes but it was still an enjoyable outing, just a bit frustrating that I struggle so much on even gentle hills these days. Conditions were good, cold and icy in places. I wore an old pair of fell shoes, which weren't ideal, and started fairly well up the tracks from Higher Poynton. I slowed on the gradual double climb to the ridge, and then also lost time on the descent, not able to open up in the way I used to on this race. I slipped on ice twice, which didn't help - once quite heavily on my knee just before the woods, and once above the 'Cage', which takes the route round to Lyme Park manor house with superb views over to a vague cloud inversion above which the skyscrapers of Manchester rose. My injured heel and ankle also came into play on the run-in, which felt more like a hobble at times. Despite all that, a nice way to conclude the year, which went fairly well in the new age category - final rankings were as follows: 5k (41st in UK, 2nd in Wales), 5m (21st UK, 2nd Wales), 10k (54th UK, 3rd Wales), 10m (40th UK, 1st Wales).

Cwm Caseg horseshoe

Peaks: Gyrn Wigau, Foel Grach, Carnedd Llewellyn, Yr Elen

Area: Carneddau, Eryri

I have always called this the Cwm Caseg horseshoe, although it has never been popular. I probably first did a version of it in the late 1980s and thought it would be a good route to introduce M to Carnedd Llewellyn, which he's never done. Easterly winds have prevailed for a while now, and this was another day of stunning conditions: thick clag to the east, searing sunshine west. We parked at Gerlan and went up Ciltwllan to the sharp climb up Gyrn Wigau. I've only discovered this recently - a dry, simple and quick way to gain height. From the top, stunning views of our route, with fog banks spilling over the ridge and down into Cwm Caseg. We both wanted to sample the variety so contoured Drosgl and Bera Mawr on the ancient marked Carneddau highway to get views of the cloud bank: absolutely stunning, a thin layer of cloud descending into the remote cwm. Thick tendrils of hoar frost and iced streams made life a little tricky and we soon entered the freezing mist. This then took quite a while to get out of! A thin sun sometimes penetrated but for the most part we remained under it until finally emerging near the summit of Foel Grach. M had never experienced this before, and it is always magical. We also had a glory/brocken spectre to the north, another first for M. Thick banks of cloud east and north, but clear ahead to Llewellyn which looked Alpine under a thin layer of snow. We had lunch on the top of Llewellyn, watching the cloud rolling over the Dafydd ridge - quite a few people up here, almost all of whom had come up from Ogwen (we saw nobody on our route, only here on the summit). Yr Wyddfa and the top of the Glyder ridge were clear, along with peaks to the north and west, but everything else was under the blanket. Then came the wonderful ridge over to Yr Elen, one of my favourite hills, savouring the view back over Cwm Caseg, and then the trot down the ridge in beautiful light. The bog in Cwm Llafar always spoils things a little, but much of it was frozen today. Back in Gerlan with plenty of time left to have a nap then pick up K!

Round the Walls

Race: Round the Walls (4m)

Time/Position: 25.00 (23rd from 488 [1st V55])

Having won my category at age 40, 45 and 50 (five or six in all) I was keen to try to add a V55 win at this, one of my favourite races and an event that means a lot to me. Always really enjoyable, a great family outing and a brilliant way to start Boxing Day. I've done it almost every year since 2009 or so: and today's conditions were up there with the best, cold and frosty but luckily mostly ice-free. I started off too fast for the Roodee lap and started to struggle as we climbed onto the walls at Handbridge. A little later Jez flew past on the steps and I couldn't hang on to him on the gentle climb from the clock up to the tower. I love racing hard on the walls, and still think the current incarnation of the route is the best. I felt a bit sluggish throughout the walls section though, which was disappointing, getting slower each year, but I did win my category by over a minute. Morgan, Kate and Eve all enjoyed it, and the usual relaxing day followed.  

Nantlle west

Peaks: Mynydd Graig Goch, Garnedd Goch, Craig Cwm Silyn

Area: Nantlle Ridge, Eryri

With an easterly airflow shrouding most of the region in mist and low cloud, I tactically headed as far west as possible this morning. A much longer and more awkward drive for me: in fact I have only ever been up in Llanllyfni for various classic climbs in Cwm Silyn. This time I parked near Llyn Dulyn in glorious sunshine then trotted up the vague southerly ridge that leads to the top of Mynydd Graig Goch, Eryri's most westerly hill, in 25 minutes or so. Superb views of the entire Llyn peninsula, although better was to come. Easy terrain then leads to the steep climb up Garnedd Goch, quite shapely from this side. Cloud was spilling over Hebog and prospects looked good, so I continued out to Craig Cwm Silyn, which proved a stupendous ringside seat for the stunning display which followed. Mist filled the valleys to the east, forming then gently dissipating, the peaks of the Nantlle ridge always clear with Yr Wyddfa shimmering above even thicker cloud banks. Across lovely Cwm Pennant, the mist spilled in waves over Hebog and its neighbours. I reminisced about the defunct Pedol Cwm Pennant race, the first edition of which may have been my best ever performance in a longish fell race. I spent half an hour watching the show before trotting back to Garnedd Goch and then taking the direct descent to the car.

Glyderau traverse (Capel-Bethesda)

Peaks: Gallt yr Ogof, Foel Goch, Glyder Fach, Glyder Fawr, Y Garn, Mynydd Perfedd, Carnedd yr Filiast

Area: Glyderau, Eryri

Our traditional pre-Christmas outing, slow but mountainous in tone this year (these festive outings have varied a lot over the years). I have done this route in reverse before, but I don't remember taking the main boggy path from Capel up Gallt yr Ogof before. I've always descended this in the past, and even that is long and gruelling. As a climb, it is fairly relentless. Our quad entered the mist almost immediately, and the day stayed clagged in (pretty thick) until just above Bethesda. There was very little wind though, and we made our way through the bog onto the main ridge. Eventually, we skirted below the summit of Gallt yr Ogof and the gradient eases over to Foel Goch. Once the main climb up Glyder Fach is reached, the ground becomes rockier and a bit more comfortable. Allan was lagging behind a bit so we waited for him a few times, not wanting to get separated in the thick mist. The Glyder plateau is always confusing in mist, even though I've been coming here regularly for over 37 years! But Tom and I ploughed on to the day's highpoint on top of Glyder Fawr where we waited for Jez and Allan. The wind now picked up, a cold easterly (hence my decision to take the ridge in the reverse direction). Steep scree down to Llyn y Cwn and then the slog up Y Garn, tiring now. It looked like it might clear for 30 seconds or so but we were soon enveloped again. The path skirting Foel Goch is probably the nicest running on the entire route but unfortunately Allan fell and hurt his leg early on, so the pace really slowed from this point as we waited. A sharp climb to Perfedd and then a very tricky descent from Carnedd y Filiast. It is always hard to follow the paths down to Ogwen from here, so we took the nose of the ridge towards the Bethesda quarries. This is a path, but it is rocky, heathery and very awkward throughout: a really tough way to finish. A switchback remains really tricky, slippery rock slabs and the like: we all fell at least once, and I rolled my ankle. Finally, Lon Las Cymru and a civilised finish back to Bethesda via a little bridge over the Ogwen. Just time for a quick recovery pint at the Albion.

Ruthin parkrun

'Race': Ruthin parkrun

Time/Position: 18.39 (4th from 107)

Another pedestrian performance, my slowest time at Ruthin in four visits. I felt a bit sluggish from the word go and was around half a minute down on the time I had wanted to run. Nothing too disastrous, however, and as with last week I did take the V55 age category course record, for what it's worth (not much). First age-graded, for what it's worth (not much!). The twists and turns on this course do tend to break up the tempo, but the Clwydian views always make up for it. A very nice family brunch followed.

Elidir Fawr

Peaks: Elidir Fawr

Area: Glyderau, Eryri

After a busy term and late finish, a tiny 'home microbreak' was all I had time for, appending a night at Pen y Pass to our neo-traditional festive Nant Peris hut night. I parked in Dyffryn Mymbyr then walked in to the PyP hostel in dreadful weather, 60 mph gusts and torrential rain, the path mostly under water. The concept was just to spend some relaxing hours staring at the appalling weather in a place I know very well (but I've never stayed at PyP before, having never needed to). As such, it worked a treat and it was especially nice with my Marathon Eryri memories still fresh. A private room with the wind howling outside, a pleasant meal and a peaceful night: lovely place to stay for a change. I woke early for breakfast then left at first light for a light run up to the green hut and a loop of Llyn Llydaw (similar to the New Year race which I have never done). In my new Walsh's, this was awkward, wet and rocky and awkward throughout until I regained the Miners Path. Back down to the hostel to check-out, still dry, and then a jog back to the van before the rain started in earnest. I drove down to meet the hut crew in Pant y Fron at midday, and after a snack we had a good afternoon at the Beacon. After a pleasant evening in the Vaynol and in the hut, we set off for Elidir via the Quarries and up the cables. The weather was much better: windy but dry with mist on the tops but wonderful light to the west: Hebog and Nantlle looking superb framed against a golden horizon. I sheltered in the caban at the top of the cable slabs and then we all walked up to a misty and cold summit. After a snack, I jogged back down to the hut and was in Conwy by 1pm.

Greenfield parkrun

'Race': Greenfield parkrun

Time/Position: 19.23 (2nd from 69)

Half a minute down on my one previous running of this nice course, which heads downhill in a very fast start with the Dee estuary stretching out in front. A loop around the Abbey then leads to the long, hard drag back up to the start: it is a pretty tough route as a result. I have recently 'refound' all the age category parkrun records (just out of interest!) and this was enough to take the V55 course record.

Trac Mon 5

Race: Trac Mon 5m (Border League race 2)

Time/Position: 30.14 (55th from 317 [1st V55])

A workmanlike outing on this good, novel course which loops around a smooth-as-silk motor racing track, exposed to the full force of the prevailing wind near Rhosneigr. I had done it twice before, including (I think) the first time the league ever raced here when I ran it in exactly 28 minutes. It might have been a slightly different route then, however. I was a little conservative today, as both big laps contain a steepish climb, and was disappointed with my time. That said, it did the job, I was first in the category and managed to score in 9th place for Buckley, not easy at my age!