Round the Bays 30k

The reverse, anticlockwise, version of a marathon training run I last did a couple of years ago. This also had some hilly variations, leaving Pabo Lane to head to Glanwydden, and then up the brutally steep Derwen Lane which brings you out at the top of Penrhyn Bay and ultimately the Little Orme. From here, delightful plodding along the Llandudno prom then around the Orme with seals groaning below and fulmars on their nesting sites. I didn't feel particularly brilliant, and had hoped to run a bit further, but I got it done.

Cadair Bronwen

Peaks: Cadair Bronwen

Area: Berwyn

A very pleasant afternoon outing with Morgan, temporarily home from Manchester. The weather was far better in the east, so we took the familiar steep road up from Llandrillo past fields of lambs to the crossroads. It has been a dry March, so the plod up Bronwen was less boggy than usual. A cold wind blew on the summit, -10 windchill according to the forecast. It wasn't that bad but it was still too cold to relax so we descended to Ffordd Saeson and took the contouring path round to join the ascent. We took in Moel Ty Uchaf stone circle on the way down, in a stunning sunburst, perfectly timed, illuminating the hillside. Then a very pleasant, albeit chilly, pint overlooking the Dee at the Grouse in Carrog.

Green Man 'race'

Not really a race, but a pairs event hatched from the fertile mind of John Morris. I remember doing a hare and hounds type event that he organised years ago, following sawdust arrows, and this was similar. It was a pairs event, so Hayley and I teamed up for a very enjoyable trot. I think we got every route choice 'wrong', although they were entirely random, following the arrows on a pointless extra loop, then down a very steep mountain bike track. Excellent fun, and we were first team back to the 'Green Man' (hidden in an obscure part of the woods) in 41 minutes as dusk fell.

Snowdon Horseshoe

Peaks: Crib Goch, Garnedd Ugain, Yr Wyddfa, Lliwedd

Area: Snowdon, Eryri

The classic horseshoe, done the conventional way round this year rather than the more unusual clockwise direction taken last spring. In our late teens, back in the 1980s, we developed a tradition of doing the Snowdon Horseshoe every spring: it didn't last long but it doesn't have to be much to become a 'tradition' when you're young! I've revived it recently - indeed I recall a stunning outing in perfect full winter conditions on St David's Day a few years ago. I moved pretty quickly this morning, up to a breezy Crib Goch summit in 44 minutes (after cycling up to PyP from the Cromlech layby). A wonderful crossing, taking good lines with the ridge almost to myself after passing lots of early starters lower down. At Bwlch Glas I encountered the inevitable crowds so wasted no time, just passing the summit then down to the Watkin Path for a steep descent to Bwlch y Saethau. I had forgotten the quality of the scrambling up Lliwedd if you stick to the crest as it has been quite a few years since I did if from this direction. Then a long and tiring descent from Lliwedd to Llyn Llydaw, on comfortable steps lower down but awkward higher up. Then the final 3k run down the Miners to PyP: a respectable 2.40 for the round (2.21 moving time) which is substantially quicker than when we used to do it as young men!

Capenhurst 5m

Race: Capenhurst 5m (Borders League race 4)

Time/Position: 29.36 (80th from 401)

The standard Capenhurst two lapper, and almost certainly my slowest ever time on a course I have done many times. One of my worst ever finishing positions too, but I'm not too discouraged because this indicates I'm about where I want to be as I begin to ramp up the training en route to my next birthday and new category! I didn't have much of a plan aside from maintaining a good consistent sub-6 minute mile pace. As such, I felt reasonably comfortable and my HR started to drop towards the end, which I'm taking as another positive. Lovely spring weather: cold, crisp and sunny. Always a hyper-competitive field, with around 100 runners going sub-30.

Heswall-Penyffordd

Another one of those 'making marathon training interesting' routes I have thought about for a while. Just before lockdown, I ran from Kinnerton to West Kirby, continuing to Hilbre as a walk. This was considerably shorter at 17 miles, and in reverse, first using the Borderlines train service to my planned start in Heswall. It went pretty well, although I should have just gone direct to the Wirral Way, rather than what I did - which was run direct to Two Mills. Not great, although you can stay off the road. Then it was off down Woodbank Lane (amazingly quiet given its environs) across the border to the Deeside industrial estate. From here, through Queensferry and then it gets hilly, up to Hawarden and through Tinkersdale to Penyffordd and the car at the station.

Moel Fferna-Dee Valley run

Peaks: Vivod, Moel Fferna

Area: Berwyn, Eryri

Another of my occasional exercises in maximising a mountain. In this case, Moel Fferna from Llangollen, quite a lengthy haul with a very long extension back along the meandering course of the Dee. Beautiful early spring weather, which has always been my favourite time of year in the Welsh hills. A bit of haze today, but delightfully still with birdsong as I climbed up onto the bridleway that marks the start of the North Berwyn Way from Llangollen. This is very steep, and very old, and eventually emerges into the upland plateau leading to Vivod: very open ground and always enjoyable running, with lots of space and fairly gentle gradients. I was on top of Vivod in around 41 minutes from Llangollen, so not too bad as it is 6k and almost 2000ft of elevation. I felt pretty good and then really enjoyed the next section of the Berwyn Way through conifer woods and open ground to the top of Moel Fferna, a much more remote hill. I have generally run this the other way round in the past, from Cynwyd, but both directions are great. Big skies as ever from Moel Fferna, which I have hardly ever seen anyone on in more than a dozen visits. The descent to Carrog is wonderful, albeit tricky in places, and I then had to wake the 90-something chap serving in the ancient 'garage' to buy unrefrigerated lucozade and chocolate! Thus fortified, I crossed the Dee bridge below the Grouse Inn and embarked on the long second leg, along the undulating but extremely quiet lanes north of the Dee that eventually lead to Rhewl, then the Horseshoe Falls and back to Llangollen along the canal. Just under 20 miles, so good marathon training quite apart from being another delightful three hour Berwyn loop.

Pendle Round

Race: Stan Bradshaw Pendle Round (15k/600m)

Time/Position: 1.23.30 (60 from 251)

Many years ago, I did the full Tour of Pendle from Barley - I still remember how long and complex the route was. We also did the fell relays here around more recently, still at least a decade ago! So it was a little surprising that hardly any of this classic race rang a bell, although that might just be the ageing process. Whatever, it was a really enjoyable event, which was especially pleasing given the extent to which I have been struggling in the hills recently. I was quite conservative in my approach, perhaps expecting more of a battering by the route and very conscious of recent struggles I've had in fell races - in particular, I'd anticipated a brutal sting-in-the-tail which never really materialised. I started fairly well, and tried to keep a decent pace going over all the way to the trig on Pendle itself, 24 minutes from Barley. Then comes a glorious looping gradual descent down Pendle Moor with Clitheroe far below to the west. This is boggy but really enjoyable with sunny spring-like skies above and classic northern English scenery throughout. Eventually, Apronfull hill is reached before a steep descent via Badger Well to the little lake of Churn Clough. Above this, a very steep climb ended quickly and gave way to contouring across to Stainscomb. Then the final climb up a shallow valley to Driver Height. I began to lose ground here, with at least 10 runners passing me, despite finding it easier than expected. But no matter, I enjoyed the very muddy and awkward descent back down to Lower Ogden and the lane back to Barley. Not a very appropriate St David's Day outing, but I was back on Welsh soil in good time!