Peckforton 50m loop

Flatter and longer this morning, although I felt a little tired in windier than anticipated conditions. It is all very simple from home to Rossett and Holt, and this continues through all the lovely Cheshire villages to the hard-to-cross Whitchurch Road. From here, more lovely quiet lanes give a gradual climb to Beeston followed by the undulating road on the other side of the Peckforton Hills to Bickerton and then Malpas into a headwind. After lunch in Malpas, I headed to Bangor on Dee and then home via Wrexham industrial estate. I did a version of this loop as a solo 50 mile ultra run at the height of lockdown: still one of the most memorable things I've ever done despite the fact that I started and finished at home!

MF TT from DC

My continuing heel issues mean I'm not running much, so when I do it has to count. The Beast race is this evening, a race I have done many times over many years. But I decided it would be unwise, so donned road shoes instead (far more comfortable for the heel) and took a time trial approach to the long (5k) climb up Moel Famau from Llanbedr DC. This is a notoriously steep climb by bike (the feared 'old bwlch') and is obviously pretty tough on foot too! I despatched the full tarmac climb from village to Bwlch Penbarras in 14.42 before immediately embarking on the standard path up to the summit. This took a little longer, 15.41, giving a 30 minute ascent from church to summit, not too bad for an injured old man. After a brief rest enjoying the emerging sunshine, I pelted down the Hotfoot descent in eight minutes before descending the grassy valley to lovely Coed Cadw and Llanbedr Hall. A great lunch in Ruthin followed.

Llangollen 70k loop

Gradually increasing the cycling mileage, trying to replicate steady Alpine climbs where that is vaguely possible. As such, the long ascent from Pontblyddyn to the Horseshoe Pass isn't bad, and I enjoyed it despite the traffic. Superb fast descent to Llangollen and then round to Ruabon where I had a sandwich in milky sunshine. From here it was into Wrexham and then out to the border at Lavister before climbing back home. I backed this up two days later, joining Peter for a Clwydian climbs special, leaving Mold for the long climb up to the Moel Arthur col from Nannerch (ideal). Down into Ruthin for coffee and cake, and then up the gentle climb of the 'Mantel' which runs parallel to the Shelf and was new to me on two weeks I think (although I have run up it I suspect). Back to Mold via Llandegla and Treuddyn.

Bethesda-PyP

The weather has been unsettled recently, which isn't ideal given my urgent need to increase the cycling mileage. I have done a few routes maximising the climbing around Hope Mountain, but the savagely steep, short potholed lanes don't really replicate the demands of the typical Alpine col! This morning's ride didn't either but it still felt a bit more worthwhile. A heavy shower had just cleared as I left Bethesda for the long but nicely gentle haul up to Ogwen Cottage. I have run this in the past, and descended it on a bike, but I can't remember ever cycling it from this direction. It is quick and efficient and I then had a headwind which made the sprint to Capel absolutely superb. Around 34 minutes from Bethesda to Capel, exactly 14 minutes from Ogwen Cottage to Capel: what seems fast to me just isn't by most cyclists standards, and as ever I find the contrast with running to be horribly stark, even given the obvious fact that one is my competitive sport, the other isn't. Anyway, the weather had now cleared to wonderful sunny but blustery conditions and the inevitable headwind hit for Dyffyn Mymbyr, which wasn't much fun as a result. Climbed up to PyP for a mini Alps training session and then enjoyed the always wonderful descent down the Pass. At Llanberis I got onto the Padarn cycling path and then climbed up to Clwt y Bont and Deiniolen via steep obscure lanes through council estates until I was up on the open hill above Mynydd Llandygai with its wonderful views to the Carneddau and Elidir. From here it is another fast descent, although I took the absurdly narrow and overgrown Lon Hafoty in error before finishing up Hen Durnpike back to the car.

Castles Relay (Caernarfon-Penygroes)

Race: Welsh Castles Relay (Stage One - Caernarfon to Penygroes 8m)

Time/Position: 52.42 (19th from 64)

I had the honour of starting things off for Buckley at the Castles relay this year. In three previous participations in this unique event, I had never experienced a Saturday stage before, let alone the actual start, so the ceremony of beginning right in front of the castle before a mini-lap down to the Foryd was a surprise. Then it was straight into the very familiar terrain of the Border League/10k route out along the coast. Muscle memory kicked in and I started off at a modest six minute mile pace along ground I have often run much quicker on. Sadly, even this is too much for me at present and I paid a price later on as soon as the road started to rise towards Llanwnda. Mercifully, the stage had been shortened and so the lack of distance in my legs was brought to a halt at Inigo Jones instead of Penygroes. Just as well as I couldn't run another stride. I was pleased to finish in the top 20 less than a minute behind Tim and was only passed by one despite my pace slowing around Llandwnda, so it wasn't catastrophic - which is also suggested by the fact I am second fastest over 55 for the 8k Strava segment from Caernarfon to Llanwnda. But this still may mark some kind of retirement from competitive running, perhaps not permanently but certainly for a while. I did what I wanted to after turning 55 a year ago and managed to get another year out of my legs despite the insertional achilles injury which I now interpret as the bodywork failing first as a warning to stop pushing the engine!

Llandegla ride

The first real attempt to increase cycling distance this year in advance of my summer trip. Up to Llandegla and then the long descent to Bwlchgwyn then Llay before extending across the border to Pulford and Dodleston. I was a bit time-pushed this morning and there is, obviously, an urgent need to increase the climbing and distance over the next couple of weeks as this was still less than 60k.

Lochnagar quintuple

Peaks: Lochnagar (Cac Carn Beag), Carn a'Choire Bhoidheach, Carn an t-Sagairt Mor, Cairn Bannoch, Broad Cairn

Area: White Mounth

For various reasons I had been saving Lochnagar for a different trip but it was too obvious an objective to avoid on this, my final day of the trip. The forecast was a little mixed again, with low cloud forecast for eastern hills, but I drove to Spittal of Glenmuick via Ballater anyway. This was new territory for me, and I had a superb night's sleep in temperatures that were at least 20c colder than home on the same night. This area of the Mounth lends itself to a running approach, so that's what I intended to do as I started off around 7.30am. However, given my slowing in the hills and the rigours of the last few days, I wasn't sure how I would go. In the event, it went very well despite almost constant clag and no views until the final descent, which really was quite unlucky. This is a 30k circuit over five munros but the terrain is generally kind underfoot and there isn't too much elevation gain (1300m). Unsurprisingly, the route up Lochnagar itself is on a very clear path for most of the way - it skirts Loch Muich and then weaves its way up to an obvious col below Conachcraig. It was then into the mist for a steep section (known as The Ladder) up a well made path which eventually emerged below Meikle Pap at a plateau. Good running west and then north up another steepening to the forepeak before heading out to the true summit (90 mins) which has a rocky top section and was atmospheric in thick mist. This was a real shame though as I had no views of the famous cliffs. The mist threatened to clear but didn't, so I scampered back to the lower peak and then branched off south-west on a good runnable path. This was glorious despite the weather and I was feeling good - the second munro (Boidheach) was an easy out-and-back, after which I continued westwards. A tight stream valley (Allt an da Craobh Bheath) gave me a drink from some giant snowfields and I briefly emerged from the mist with views down to the Dubh Loch. Lovely contouring then led to another detour, slightly longer this time, out to Carn an t-Sagairt Mor. Another clearance as I descended led to some views over Glen Callater to Carn an Tuirc and other hills I had done before. The terrain continued to be runnable (or at least joggable) as the route decisively turns south-eastwards over the final two peaks, which are quite well defined and seem to represent some kind of linguistic boundary. Cairn Bannoch had a nice rocky top and I finally had a semblance of a view at Broad Cairn, the final peak and 16th munro of this short trip. It was grey and gloomy,  but did give me some kind of idea of the broader context. I could see Mount Keen further east, as well as other unfamiliar valleys (to me) like Glen Doll and Glen Clova. The descent from Broad Cairn was surprisingly rocky and awkward initially, but led to a huge track which eventually branched off to a superb gently descending contouring path above Coire Chash. Here, finally, the weather decisively cleared for superb views over the Dubh Loch and its steep valley fringed with crags. All five mountains fringe this valley, at least partially. The path descends all the way to the Loch Muick lakeside and leaves a very long and quite tiring finish along the undulating and sometimes awkward path along the loch. This is probably harder than it would have been to stay high on the plateau for longer, but at a side valley the path becomes a very runnable track. It was now quite warm and very sunny, I passed 50 or so red deer, and got back to the car park 4.20 after setting out on this very enjoyable circuit. I had a bath in the River Muick then drove home, fine after my nourishing nine hours of sleep.