Three countries ride/Vaalserberg

A unique and fascinating ride from Aachen taking in three countries as well as the Netherlands highpoint at the Vaalserberg. A great way to start the big trip, albeit compromised by the heatwave which meant I had to cut it short without properly engaging with the Dutch Limburg climbs which feature in the Amstel Gold spring classic. After the parkrun, I moved the van to the university and then cycled along to Vaals and the Dutch border. The climb up the Vaalserberg starts in town, through some steep streets to wooded hairpins and nice gentle climbing up to the famous three countries stone marking the border between Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. I couldn't help reflecting that I would soon be on much bigger climbs, like the Galibier! After the stone, the route dropped into Belgium - I assume Wallonia although some of the names were Flemish. They were about to play a world cup match so there were lots of flags and football shirts, in fact Gemmenich was probably the most patriotic Belgian town I've ever seen! After some gentle riding I passed north then east into the Netherlands and ended up on the Camerlig, which it turns out is considered the hardest climb in the country. It was now maximum temperature, close to 40c, so this was hard work and I was glad just to cycle down to Aachen after less than 40k, conscious of not burning too many energy matches at the start of the trip. The temperatures finally rose to 41.5c breaking the all-time German record.

Lousberg parkrun

'Race': Lousberg parkrun (Aachen)

Time/Position: 21.19 (4th from 41)

After two hours of post-ferry van sleep in a Belgian service station, and with temperatures already above 30c, a rather tricky route was probably the last thing I needed! It was the first part of my 24 day continental van trip, however, and as such an essential part of the plan. Almost all the neighbouring parkruns (including Tapijn, the one I planned to do) had been cancelled due to the extreme heatwave but this one is a shaded loop around the forested hill above Aachen so went ahead. It reminded me a little of Wepre with two hilly laps, a long drag initially through the trees before a narrow, rooty descent. One of my slowest ever parkrun times but excusable in the circumstances!

Cwm Cneifion scrambles

Peaks: Glyder Fach

Area: Glyderau, Eryri

All sorts of heat warnings are currently in place and it was indeed very hot and humid as I skirted Idwal in glorious, surprisingly clear conditions. I took the second path up the steep slopes towards the classic hanging valley of Cneifion. This eventually contours right towards Suicide Wall and therefore means that it included the wet top section of East Wall Gully, some nice scrambling. It didn't feel desperately hot but I was sweating like a pig emerging into the cwm, always a great place to be. A short amble led below the Cneifion Arete to the very obscure line of Pinnacle Crest. This is really just a collection of ribs on the side of the gully, but I really enjoyed it, probably a reflection of my current activity rather than intrinsic quality. It is always escapeable, and a little loose, but the sharp ribs are pleasing and rise to a more impressive top section. This gives way to a surprise, a tiny col with some really impressive rock architecture framing the view to Pen yr Ole Wen. The onward route is not obvious, but the side wall on the right actually gives a bit more easy scrambling up to join the Gribin for its scrambly top section. I was exhausted, for whatever reason, and dehydrated despite the fact that it was clouding over. I ploughed across the Glyder plateau and then down the screes to Bwlch Tryfan. I had expected this day to break my personal Eryri heat record but I'm pretty sure I've been on the tops in even warmer weather in the past.

Chester parkrun

'Race': Chester parkrun

Time/position: 20.03 (7th from 414)

The start of another heatwave and an open day at the university so I took the opportunity to do Chester for the first time in a while. It is the parkrun I've done most, but not since I turned 55. As a result I was surprised to see a variation on the old summer course, heading upwards towards the hospital before starting the two laps. It was pretty hot already and I couldn't hold any kind of pace (first age-graded though). Last night I had done another edition of John Morris's Green Man mystery tour with Huw from Bwlch Penbarras. We seemed to make better route choices than I did last year and had covered less than 5k by the time we found the Green Man!

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!