Cerro La Asuncion/Quebrada trail

Peaks: Cerro La Asuncion (3335m)

Area: Cordillera de Talamanca, Costa Rica 

Despite the altitude, this is just a short scramble from the top of the famous Cerro de la Muerte (peak of death) road. The road is now metalled and civilised, and we had intended to arrive much earlier to take advantage of the clear morning weather. However, we were delayed by three hours by a roadblock which prevented us leaving the Savegre valley (due to a lorry that had driven into a ditch, we think). So we enacted 'plan b', heading back down to the bottom of the valley and doing the Quebrada trail from the upscale Savegre hotel. This climbed steeply up a track, where I had a close encounter with a coyote, and led to a stunning viewpoint over the cloudforests of the lower valley. From here, a side path marks the start of the Quebrada ('ravine') route through more pristine forest down to a tight lower valley before contouring the hillside back to the track. After this very rewarding unexpected delay, the road reopened and we managed the very steep drive back out and up to the top of the pass. From here, I scampered up Asuncion in a matter of minutes and was still in time for views, although the cloud was building in characteristic fashion. The altitude did make it a tad harder than it would normally have been, and it was steep in places. Great views across to Chirippo and some of the way down the Pacific side. This is where we then headed, via a giant descent to another roadblock in roasting San Isidro (but that is another story!). At Hacienda Baru, the temperature had climbed to a draining 38C, quite a challenge after a 5C morning watching more quetzals in San Gerardo de Dota!

Rio Savegre

The valley of the Rio Savegre is close to paradise on earth, a cliche admittedly, but one that seemed apt as we began the steep descent after driving from Alajuela at the start of our Costa Rica soujourn. In Panama eight years ago, I failed to find a resplendent quetzal, one of those birds I have always wanted to see. This morning, however, we located one just above the wooden hut we were staying in: a truly memorable experience after hearing it calling in the pristine cloud forest. That habitat characterises the entire valley. After the quetzal, I embarked on a downhill jog to the end of the valley, seeing another male quetzal en route. At the bottom, a track goes alongside the river and leads to a loop around dense cloud forest. A little side path leads to a stunning waterfall surrounded by dense vegetation. After this, I eventually rejoined the tarmac road which then climbs, steeply and tiringly (1000ft elevation on this route), back to our hut at Casa Monge.

Hoylake BL

Race: Hoylake 7.5k (Border League race 5)

Time/Position: 27.51 (63rd from 363 [1st V55])

A somewhat predictable outing on the same course as that used two years ago. This all 'went to form' in the sense that I was well down the field again, but retained my 100% category winning record for the season. Two years ago I went out too hard on this course and faded at the end, so I dialled it back this time and enjoyed the easterly leg out towards the gravel path that leads to Leasowe lighthouse. This meant I had some energy left for the return and worked well with a couple of other runners to maintain my (lowly!) position. I have a 121 point lead now in the category, so my 4th ever season win is now guaranteed regardless of the final race - which seems in doubt anyway.

Yr Aran from Craflwyn

Peaks: Yr Aran

Area: Yr Wyddfa, Eryri

There was ice on the inside of the van window when I woke, so although I slept for almost 10 hours I kept briefly waking with a cold nose, as you do in these circumstances. I parked up at Craflwyn as the sun rose, absolutely beautiful with views of Hebog framed by early spring blossom. Good laid out paths lead upwards in civilised fashion until the inevitable happens and you have to plough up the trackless hillside. I knew this would happen but was curious about this side of Yr Aran, very obscure and untravelled. It was pretty horrible, and it was hard work fighting through heather and bog to get to a shallow cwm between Craig Wen and Yr Aran. I made my way to the obvious col, at which you join a narrow path. This leads very pleasantly up the nicely defined west ridge to the summit, which I had to myself at 8.30am. One of the best views of Yr Wyddfa, and after a rest I jogged down the steep nose towards the Watkin Path which I reached via the very steep mining incline I remember taking last time I was here. Through the woods to Nant Gwynant, and then along the perfect path that leads along the far side of Llyn Dinas: stunning in the morning light, another wonderful early spring day, always my favourite time of year.

Tryfan West Face

Peaks: Tryfan

Area: Glyderau

Lectures finished in the early afternoon and the forecast was glorious, so I headed off for a van nanobreak parking up in Ogwen just before 3pm. This gave sufficient time to plough up to the perfectly sunlit west face, Tryfan's 'Yin' side, which gives a range of interesting and relaxed scrambles with a mountaineering flavour. I have done most, if not all, of them over the years so headed up to Y Gully, probably the furthest from the road! But the very steep slog up isn't too bad if you take the right approach and pack light. Last time I did this combo I was heading to a wild camp near Caseg Fraith but today I carried almost nothing. The sun lit the face to perfection as I took the left edge of the gully up sharp holds to avoid the first big chockstone: this is slabby and enjoyable, and leads back into the gully. At the next blockage, I messed around in the damp gully before moving left on big holds then finishing up slabs in the gully itself. From here you can pick your way up the rocky upper section to join the North Ridge near the tower. After a break on top enjoying slightly hazy views and warm early spring sunshine, I trotted down to Bochlwyd and then a quick bath in Llyn Ogwen before eating my pasta salad in Mymbyr before a peaceful but very cold van night in Sygun.

PitP parkrun

'Race': Park in the Past parkrun

Time/Position: 20.13 (2nd from 89)

Another very muddy and slow edition of my local parkrun, a full two minutes down on my course pb recorded last summer. I wore a pair of old road shoes this morning so was slipping around a lot - I knew this would happen but my achilles precludes the wearing of fell shoes so I had no choice! Lovely weather, so the jog across the wet fields to the start was delightful. I felt better than I have recently, despite the slow conditions, and this continued next day when I did a time trial to the trig on Waun y Llyn from my front door, taking the most direct route across the wet fields and Fagl lane again. Exactly 27 minutes to the trig, after which I descended the very steep Porch Lane to Caergwrle and home via Rhyddyn Hill.

Newborough Forest parkrun

'Race': Newborough Forest parkrun

Time/Position: 19.19 (4th from 157)

This must be one of the most beautiful and satisfying parkruns in Britain, because it starts from the stunning Traeth Llanddwyn. Then, although it mostly stays within the forest, it takes a single lap on firetracks and sand. The start was tough, gently uphill with views of the island through the trees, to a steep, rooty dune (hard work) and then a long gentle climb to a highpoint. From here, it is a 2k blast through the trees. It was a beautiful morning, crystal clear with the novelty of frozen beach sand initially, and fantastic views across to the Nantlle ridge and Yr Eifl. M enjoyed it too, and it didn't take us long to get back to Henllys for breakfast and a swim.

Tour de Mynydd Mawr

Peaks: Foel Rudd, Mynydd Mawr, Craig Cwmbychan

Area: Nantlle, Eryri

Some highly obscure corners of the national park here, particularly on a deliberately long and winding descent past the very steep crag of Castell Cidwm. I set off from the Snowdon Ranger car park, nice to relive October's Eryri marathon, then jogged along to the end of Llyn Cwellyn before embarking on the long climb through the forest. I suspect I last did this with little dog Judy in the 1990s - I remember her having an unhealthy obsession with the crags of Craig y Bera! There are multiple footpaths heading upwards and I tried to take the logical line but still found myself crawling through overgrown woodland at one point. Eventually I reached the open hill below the steep climb up Foel Rudd, enlivened by a brief but superb sunburst over Rhyd Ddu to Yr Aran, with Y Garn (Nantlle) emerging from the mist on the right. The route heads up very steeply to Rudd, and then the familiar ridge to the main summit. This is excellent, and also taken by the Fron Four race which I've done a couple of times. Great views down to Craig y Bere on the left (I have done Sentries Ridge and Angel Pavement here, both memorable). It was quite windy and cold, with a little snow on the summit, so I didn't hang around but jogged down the spur north-east to great views directly down to Llyn Cwellyn. This spur (Craig Cwmbychan) is very obvious from the road, as is the shallow gully above Cwm Planwydd that I then took down to Castell Cidwm. This is extremely steep, with a tiny path some help, and plummets down to a small waterfall of the Afon Goch below the famously steep crag of Cidwm (I have never climbed here, too hard for me). An unbridged river blocks progress round the west side of Cwellyn so instead I had to jog along the muddy lake banks (track) all the way back to the far end of the lake.

Birkenhead BL

Race: Birkenhead Park Variant (Border League race 4)

Time/Position: 29.09 (79th from 391 [1st V55])

Although I didn't feel great today, unable to hold any kind of pace after a decent first lap, I did at least maintain my 100% category winning record in this season's border league. I set off with clubmates who I should have been able to work with, but could only hold the pace for one lap. It wasn't the usual Birkenhead Park course, but was instead a slightly shorter version with three laps using different paths to the normal fixture. My heel problems are still compromising training and that is really starting to tell now: as I'm only running 20 miles or so each week it is becoming difficult to maintain any kind of edge. The second lap was tough, and I consciously slowed for it before trying to up the pace again towards the end. Another very lowly finish, nowhere near counting for the team, but I now have a substantial 102 point gap on second place in the V55 category.