Winter conditions, Glyderau

Went for a family walk up Moel Gyw from Llanarmon on Easter Monday, but thick mud, freezing wind and sleet made this impossible. Instead, I trotted up to the summit on my own, only to realise that full winter conditions had finally arrived in Snowdonia: obvious thick cover, the first all winter. So next day I headed off before 7am, and walked up into Cwm Bual via the awkward stream valley. Good thick cover in the cwm itself, which became excellent as I moved towards Esgair Gully. I've been curious about this deep, twisting grade I gully for years and was able to satisfy that curiosity in good snow conditions. Plodded up the slower slopes and entered the gully itself, ice smears adding to the powerdul atmosphere. Easy snow climbing, rather deep in places, leads via various twists and turns to the top section after which I downclimbed back to Cwm Bual, wanting a day on the tops. Contoured up to a spur which led to the plateau - waist-deep drifts and a bitter wind. Ploughed on to the summit of Foel Goch then across to Y Garn in a near white-out. Quite heavy snow, so paced down to Bananda Ridge. Dropped out of the wind, very deep snow at the top of the ridge, but a delightful descent back to Nant Ffrancon and drizzle. Managed a good intervals session in the evening, surprisingly - consistent 3:21 pace.

Ras yr Aran

First real fell race of the year today, with the Aran race from Llanuwchllyn. Sadly, 60mph winds and an iced-up ridge meant the race had to be shortened. But it still went to the lake just below the summit of Aran Benllyn, missing out the ridge to Fawddwy. Actually, we had a weather window for the race itself - windy but relatively benign with some sunshine and almost alpine conditions where the snow was lying. There was a fair covering higher up, with some ice. My performance was average at best, climbed quite badly - feeling it in the calves - but descended reasonably well into the wind: finished in 1:14:55 or so, slightly disappointing, especially given my rest day yesterday. Some good runs last week, including a longish Clwydian outing with Neil on Wednesday.

Aber-Conwy eight peak run

After work yesterday, M and D drove to Conwy and dropped me off at Aber - for a run in beautiful spring sunshine over the peaks back to the house in Conwy. Up Foel Dduarth in 23 minutes from Bontnewydd, then along the delightful runnable ridge over the steep Foel Ganol (great views straight down into Cwm Anafon), then Yr Orsedd (small flock of chough) and Pen Bryn Du to the track up Drum. Arrived at the rather chilly summit of Drum an hour after leaving Bontnewydd. Then exhilerating running along the next ridge via the top of Carnedd y Ddelw to the steep descent to Bwlch y Ddaefaen and some much-needed warmth. A steep slog (walking now) gained the top of Foel Lwyd, and then the rare treat of running the length of the rocky ridge over the top of Tal y Fan and down to Llangelynin and, eventually, Conwy and a fish supper. Around 2.75 hrs for the satisfying circuit, quite a bit of climbing, beautiful weather, and a good sharpener for the Aran race next Saturday.

Rhayader 'round the lakes' 20 mile race

Had no intention of racing the Rhayader 20 mile race on Saturday: just wanted to enjoy it, to finish in comfort, and achieved that nicely. It's a great event, leaving the town (in constant drizzle and low cloud) to climb up to 500m at the summit of Penrhiw-wen. But the climb is fairly gentle, if rather long. Then tremendous running, initially in mist, down to the Craig Goch reservoir with wild, far-reaching views. Then down to Penygarreg, the next lake, where I suffered from a stomach upset - my bete noir - which lost me five minutes as I searched for a quiet spot in the woods. Felt fine afterwards, and picked up places continually around Carreg ddu and Caban coch to the steep hill at mile 19. Kept it going to finish in Rhayader in 2:33:39 for 74th place, from 322. Lost at least 5 mins and never really felt I was pushing the pace, so quite pleased. Stayed the night at Steve and Jenny's in Llanwrthwl, and had a nice walk along the flooded Wye next morning. On Friday night, I joined the Colomendy run again, but just jogged along the leat in preparation for Rhayader. Ran for eight continuous days up to Rhayader, which is also pleasing.

Mold border league, Moel Famau run

Another setback to marathon training last week, when I caught a bug of some kind. Got over it reasonably quickly, but lost two full days of training. That said, I joined the Colomendy run on Friday night and felt fine - a really enjoyable outing for four of us up Moel Famau with showers sweeping in over the Vale, but clear sunshine east. Then gave the border league a good bash on Sunday, but finished disappointingly far down the field in 43rd (from 230) in 29:41. I was a minute slower than this last year, for the same hilly five mile circuit around Nercwys village - but was only five places up. Must have been an unusually strong field, because I felt I'd run a good race. Still, I'm now 12th senior male in the league, Buckley are second in division one: all to play for. Took the children up Waun y Llyn in the afternoon: bracing.

Foel Goch circuit, Moel Arthur, Treuddyn run

After bruising my ankle playing football last week, I wasn't sure whether I'd be able to get my long run in on Saturday (crucially, my last before the next crop of races). But I managed a rewarding 19-20 miler from HK to Hope, then over the shoulder of Waun y Llyn to Pontybodkin, then steeply up to Treuddyn (really this is just one long hill, into the teeth of a gale today!). Then south on Ffordd y Blaenau to Cae Hic, before enjoying the long descent to Llanfynydd - entirely new ground for me. Then up to the summit of Waun y Llyn and back to HK. A real contrast with recent long flat runs to Chester - windy but sunny, very hilly and rewarding. Felt good throughout. Next day went up Moel Arthur with Eve (Morgan refused to join us) - my first time up Arthur for many years, Eve's small legs coped well with the steep climb. Followed up with a splendid circuit of the 'Foel Goch hills' northeast of Bala. Snow showers forecast, but just the tiniest dusting on the tops, the mildest winter I've ever known. Headed up Cwm Da from Pandy in sunshine, then broke off for the steep climb up the subsidiary hill of Orddu - top reached in 90 mins from my house. The round pleasantly to the windy summit of Foel Goch (great views of snow showers in central Eryri, Aran and Arening). Then a run east to Garnedd Fawr, which feels remote, before finally jogging up Moel Emoel, a shapely summit, one of the best small hills in Snowdonia - great views over the Bala peaks. Then back via Nant Cefn Coch in around 2.5 hrs.

Famau, Penmachno MTB, Dee/Chester run

A varied weekend, useful training. Joined the regular hill run from the Colomendy pub up Moel Famau and back via Loggerheads on Friday evening - very enjoyable, followed by a pint or two. Then met Rich on Saturday morning, intending to do the new Penmachno loop two on the mountain bikes. But the weather was appalling, and it took all our will power to even start loop one in howling wind, low cloud and squally icy rain. Good fun in places, at least before our hands lost all feeling. Bike riding well after the service, so it was a shame loop two was out in the conditions. But at least the shorter route meant I could do the necessary long run on Sunday. Managed another 20 miler - this time from HK over the top to Hawarden, down to Queensferry, over the bridge and along the Dee path all the way to the Roodee (a very long haul: overtaken by heavy rain and cold winds on the most exposed section, nasty). Then over the river to Chester golf course, through Curzon Park to Grosvenor Bridge, over Handbridge and back through Saltney and Bretton. Felt good, optimistic for the forthcoming marathons etc. A family swimming trip in the afternoon proved an excellent way to warm down.

Wrexham half marathon

Perfect conditions for the Wrexham half marathon yesterday: calm, sunny and cold. Not many races of this distance around, so I was pleased with a big pb of 1:21:51 (more than three minutes quicker than my last half, and my sixth consecutive pb over the distance). Felt reasonably good throughout, but lost time between 10 and 11 miles before picking up the pace for a strong finish. The time essentially brings my half mara pb in line with my 10k pb. Always a strong field for this event, so I was only around 60th from 550 or so. Followed up with an early morning jog up Waun y Llyn from Hope in - yet again - glorious sunshine. Was tired, inevitably, so spent some time jogging around the more obscure paths across the plateau, finding some good looking climbable crags and enjoying the Clwydian views.

Llanferres skyline run, Famau, Dee long run

Beautiful weather all weekend: terrifyingly mild, but perfect crystal clear conditions in the Clwydians and elsewhere. Had to do a long run on Saturday, so ran with Shane in the sunshine from HK to Hawarden, then Queensferry to Garden City. Then the long flat haul along the Dee path (wind against!) to Saltney Ferry, then back to HK via Bretton. Then I tagged the Honkley/Golly 10k loop on to the end for a satisfying and necessary 19-20 mile outing. Next day went up Moel Famau with the children in superb conditions: cloud inversion in the Vale of Clwyd and to the east. Perfect warm sunshine on the ridge. Followed up with an early morning fell run, 10 miles or so traversing the 'Llanferres skyline', from the village up to the OD path beneath Fenlli. Down to Clwyd Gate and along frosty tracks to the Garreg Lwyd col below Moel Gyw: superb views to Arening Fawr, Cader, Arans, Snowdon, Llewellyn - and all Eryri peaks. Then on the OD path west of Moel Llanfair above the vale to the climb up Moel y Plas. Cut east here to join the bridleway down to Llyn Gweryd and Llanarmon yn Ial. Then across the fields to the road and up the bridleway to Bryn y Gloch. Stunning views, perfect still weather as I picked my way across the Bryn Alyn hills above Bryn Haidd to eventually locate the exposed path that drops to the Pot Hole Quarry bridleway near Pant Ddu. Then west along the track back to the car.

Border League Abergele, Llanferres hill run

Quite a pleasing performance in the fourth round of the Border League yesterday in Abergele. I'd felt rough all week, with a mild cold, tired every time I ran including a poor intervals session with the club. But luckily I felt quite good on the day for the race along the seafront, finishing 35th from the usual competitive club field of 238 in a 5 mile pb of 29:33. Conditions windy and awkward, but could have been worse. Slackened off towards the end and lost a few places. Followed up with an early morning run from Llanferres in unpromising (and unforecast) conditions of sleet, snow and wind: very boggy underfoot. Felt very tired, so ran down the excellent track, well situated above the valley as the clouds swept in, to halfway house. Then up steeply to Penbarras and over the side of Fenlli on the OD path and back. Horizontal snow at one point on the descent. On Friday, I'd gone up to Llandegla for the second dash in the dark but was thwarted by thick snow on the road. Went sledging on Hope Mountain with the children on Saturday, and ran back to the house.

Mileage increase

Another quiet weekend, so another chance to increase the mileage a bit. Consistent 40 mile weeks so far this year: not enough but closer. On Saturday, ran a reasonably paced 17 miler from HK through Bretton and Saltney to Chester, then down the half marathon route from Handbridge to Pulford, down to Rossett then back home via Burton Green. Recovery jog on Sunday, then an early morning run today up and over the top of Waun y Llyn from Hope, down to Coed Talon and back over Waun y Llyn from Llanfynydd. Not too muddy, mild and windless.

Dash in the dark

A cracking first race of 2008 on Friday night, when I ventured out in the wind and rain for the first Dash in the Dark race of the new series. Basically a night-time fell/trail race, run with headtorches, tremendous fun. Starts up the mountain bike track in Llandegla, then cuts across the open hill to a steep, hazardous descent to the lake. Round this, very muddy, to another steep descent then muddy climb back to the centre - about 4 miles, 750ft climbing, but feels longer in the dark, wind and rain! I finished in 9th place, about 29:29 (but an unsurprisingly smallish field of around 40). By chance, I'd reccied most of the course last Wednesday after picking my bike up from the mechanic: helped a bit. Felt a bit tired for the rest of the weekend, which was rainy anyway. But managed 6+ miles on the road on Saturday, then 12 miles on Sunday (Rossett circuit). Urgent need to increase endurance, as my spring/summer plans are now set: Rhayader 20, Paris marathon, Edinburgh marathon, Welsh 1000m fell race, Icelandic Laugavegur mountain ultra-marathon. Each event is progressively harder and should, theoretically, lead smoothly (?) into the next: - supplemented, hopefully, by smaller races, rides, climbs, and some ambitious peak-bagging trips in the maritime Alps and elsewhere.

Llandegla MTB

First mountain bike trip for a few weeks, round Llandegla red circuit for the 8th or 9th time with Rich yesterday afternoon. Muddy, rutted and extremely busy, but good fun nevertheless, and a nice still sunny day for once. A long 11+ mile, very hilly run from Mold to Cilcain, Pantymwyn and back with Shane on Saturday meant I felt a bit tired last night.

Northern Carneddau

A solo trip to the northern Carneddau yesterday. Set off in running gear from Aber, reaching the top of the falls in 15 minutes. But as soon as I got through the entrance to the Cwm Afon Goch an immediate violent pummelling from a ferocious southerly wind meant I had to change plans and cast around for an alternative to the route up Llewellyn. The wind was so fierce that I was being knocked backwards from time to time: running impossible! Instead, I secreted myself in a shallow gully leading to the Bera Mawr plateau. This was steep but relatively sheltered: a cunning solution to the prevailing conditions. On the plateau, the cloud base shifted in and out after lunch on Bera Mawr. I took a bearing across the plateau, but the mist soon cleared. The gale stayed fierce but was now at my back, so I ploughed up Drosgl in four minutes from Bera Bach, then a few minutes over th Gyrn Wigau (last visited as the 'sting in the tail' at the end of the Carneddau fell race in June). I watched the weather coming in over the main Carneddau peaks whilst lying down behind the summit rocks out of the wind. Finished by running over Moel Wnion and back to Aber full-pelt into the teeth of the gale, then down the Afon Gam and the falls. Managed eight miles or so on the roads this morning.

Glyderau

Despite the continuing poor weather, Rich and I did manage a quick trip up the Glyders on 30 December. We left Pen y Gwryd in mild clag, up the Miners Track to the broad ridge above Caseg Fraith then to the summit of Glyder Fach in thick mist, fairly cold. Then across to Fawr and back via the tenuous path skirting Cwm Ffynnon to Pen y Pass and a pint. The day before, we ran from Llangwyfan to Bodfari over the top of Pen y Cloddiau and Moel y Parc in a fierce westerly wind.

Christmas hill runs

A disappointing Christmas, weather-wise and activity wise, with this week dominated by mild, wet weather after last week's superb crisp and clear conditions (when sod's law dictated I was stuck in work or visiting relatives in unfavourable locations). Started well last Friday (21st December) when I ran up Foel Fenlli from Llanferres in superb conditions of penetrating frost and winter sunshine. Cloud inversion to the foggy east, but remarkably clear over Snowdonia as I sat in shorts on the perfectly still summit in temps of around -4C, early morning. Drove to London via Warrington following this, then (for the ultimate urban-rural contrast) ran from Chingford to Leyton via the chaotic centre of Walthamstow next day. Had a couple of days off over Christmas and Boxing Day. Yesterday ran up Fenlli from Llanferres again, with Rich, this time in mild blustery conditions. Took in Moel Eithinen on the way back. Another good run today in similar exhileratingly blustery conditions from Hope to Waun y Llyn, down the paths to Coed Talon, along the old railway line to Llanfynydd. Back up the steep bridleway to the top of Waun y Llyn and back down to Hope.

Helena Tipping 10k, Tal y Fan, Loggerheads run

My final race of the year ended rather disappointingly yesterday, crossing the finish line at the Helena Tipping 10k in Wrexham nine seconds or so outside my pb in cold conditions (2C). Official time was 37:03, finishing in 19th place (from 300). I had hoped for 30 seconds or so quicker, particularly given the frequency with which I've done intervals since the Flintshire 10k in September, and the fact that I matched this time over a much hillier 10k last week. Still, this was my 32nd race of an interesting and notably varied year. It was also a varied weekend: on Saturday, I went up Tal y Fan from Llangelynin old church with Katharine and Dad on an unusually cold day - frozen turf and an icy drive up, but beautiful views over the tundra-like northern Carneddau in welcome winter sunshine. Finished off with an early morning run from Loggerheads today, up the leat to Cilcain then round the side of Ffrith along frosty tracks. Felt tired after the race, but at least the frozen ground eased progress through the marshy bits...

Tattenhall border league, Ffrith fell run

Pushed it a lot harder in the third border league fixture of the season at Tattenhall on Sunday: a 10k hilly route from the village south-east to Burwardsley Hill and back. Course suited me quite well, I was well rested and had no feasible excuses not to give it a good bash. So in some ways my 36th place (from 243) in 37:08 was a disappointment. But it was my highest ever placing in the league and the competition is rather intense, to say the least, as you get a bit higher up the field! My time was close to my Mold pb, and this over a very hilly course. Scored in 4th place for Buckley. Pleasingly, had recovered sufficiently for an early morning run extending last week's fell route - this time starting from Waun y Llyn down the bridleway SW to birch woods and then Ffrith village. Then up the route I discovered last week above Nant y Ffrith, this time running to the summit of Pen Llan y Gwr: great views in all directions, including the distant Snowdon horseshoe with Lliwedd clearly visible in clear, sunny weather. The Pennines fringed the opposite horizon. A bitter wind made hanging round in running gear unwise though, so I continued the run down the hill NE - superb open fell running with fantastic views - to Pentre Farm to reascend the wooded path and bridleway back to Waun y Llyn. Delighted to have discovered these routes on my doorstep.

Foel Fenlli, Pen Llan y Gwr

Another quieter weekend, but managed to push the mileage a bit with a longish run around Llay and Burton on Saturday and a shorter outing on Sunday. Eve and I scampered up Foel Fenlli in gales and showers on Sunday: strong three-year-old legs and a game performance! Also had a remarkably muddy run from Frith to Llanfynydd, then south-west up ludicrously boggy tracks (knee deep viscous mud in places) to just below the top of Pen Llan y Gwr and down Nant y Ffrith. An interesting area: completely new to me, but should offer some good hilly training runs.

Full moon run up Moel Famau

A quiet weekend, not great weather, no races. But a full moon and clear sky allowed for a tremendous run up Moel Famau on Friday night. Always memorable to run in the hills at night, it was -3C at Bwlch Penbarras when I set off, the moonlight casting a clear shadow and illuminating the frosted fields and iced pools as I ran to the summit. A longish nine or ten miler on Saturday got me up to around 34 miles for the week, so getting closer to an acceptable training volume again.