Bridge of Orchy peaks

Peaks: Beinn Dorain (1076m), Beinn an Dothaidh (1004m)
Area: Glen Orchy, Central Highlands
This beautiful peak is a famous landmark that marks the entrance to the Central Highlands: a near-perfect cone that sweeps down to the A82. But although I'd driven past Beinn Dorain dozens of times, I'd never been up it (or its neighbour Beinn an Dothaidh) before. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for a quick run to stretch my legs after the Jura race. We'd all enjoyed a family walk round Glen Nant yesterday, and all drove over to Bridge of Orchy at midday in changeable conditions of squally showers with some hope of a clearance later. Kate dropped me off at the station, giving me two hours for both peaks while they went in search of lunch. I felt quite good for the runnable but not very scenic path up Coire an Dothaidh, making very quick progress up to the rocky terrain around the head of the cwm as it closes in on both sides. Sadly, the weather also closed in at this point and I got a real soaking as I gained the flat bealach between the two peaks. Torrential rain and fairly brisk winds for the onward route, which weaves up a flat ridge to two steepish snowfields. Then an interesting and intricate onwards route to the right of some crags and the main ridge: occasional fleeting views down to the A82 far below. This twists around until eventually curving back on itself to the summit in 60 minutes from Bridge of Orchy. A brief but memorable clearance gave views south over Beinn Challum to Ben More before the weather closed in again. Superb running led back to the bealach, then a very boggy slog up the less interesting (but still shapely) peak of Beinn an Dothaidh - the second Munro. Misty on the summit, so I pelted back through the bog to meet the family at the station just as the sun came out (2:18 in total).

Jura fell race

Race: Isle of Jura fell race (28k/2370m)
Peaks: Dubh Bheinn (530m), Glas Bheinn (562m), Aonach Bheinn (500m), Bheinn a'Chaolais (733m), Beinn an Oir (785m), Beinn Shiantaidh (757m), Corra Bheinn (573m)
Time/Position: 4.36.57 (69th from 213)
Probably the most interesting and memorable mountain race in the British Isles. A magical event, with a superbly challenging and scenic course accentuated by its location on this inaccessible island: just getting to the start is an adventure in itself. We finally managed to combine the race with our usual Whit family holiday in Scotland, and we all thoroughly enjoyed the journey via Dumbarton to Tarbet and the north of Kintyre to the Port Ellen ferry. A nice day exploring the delights of Islay, including several calling corncrake, then we took the small ferry across to Jura and a sunny but windy camp near the little river running down to the sea from the island's only hotel. Venison lasagne was good ballast for the race, which started in perfect sunshine next morning, the few remaining tendrils of mist peeling away from Beinn an Oir as we began the long but gradual climb into the wilds leading up to the first hill of Dubh Bheinn. The views of sea and mountain soon become spectacular: out over Islay, then over to Kintyre, Ben Cruachan and Mull. Lovely running past beautiful little lochans over the steeper second peak of Glas Bheinn led to the highlight of the day: a perfect runnable ridge to Aonach Bheinn with the sea glistening below, Colonsay coming into view and the first Pap (Bheinn a'Chaolais) towering above the deep cleft of Astaile. The first very steep descent follows, losing thousands of feet down to the deep and wild valley of Gleann Astaile. Here lies the only water source, so I drank tactically from the stream and filled a collapsible bottle which I sipped on the massive climb up Chaolais. Hard to exaggerate the steepness and length of this quite intricate ascent up the first of the Paps. A little cloud passed over the summit, giving some shade, but it was a superb place raised directly above the Atlantic and the beautiful beaches of Colonsay (the Irish hills of Antrim visible in the distant south?). The next descent was one of the roughest I've ever experienced, steep and exciting initially, then a combination of unhelpfully large scree and small boulders. A 'controlled fall' down this, starting to pick up a few places after a very slow start, led down to another superbly wild col between the two highest Paps and above Gleann an t-Siob. Then it is straight into the next big climb up the wonderful highpoint of the island, Beinn an Oir (Hill of Gold). This has a little light scrambling to ease the pain, and if anything is steeper than Chaolais. The climax of the hill is a narrow and bouldery ridge, and more stunning views now focused on the wild north and west of the island - completely uninhabited and untracked. An easier descent leads to a short and mercifully flat, broad col, before the third and final Pap of Beinn Shiantaidh. I was tiring now, and ate a bit on the climb (no water source, so I was glad I'd been so diligent at the stream on Chaolais). The descent from Shiantaidh is perhaps the worst of all, certainly the most notorious, as a direct line to the final peak leads over a crag. This means that a circuitous route down arduous shifting boulders, intertwined with good runnable scree, leads to a long and easy contouring route (far from direct) down to the remote Lochanan Tana and the cruel final climb up the 'extra' peak tagged to the end of the route. This was hard, steep and heathery, and a few sweets on the summit of Corra Bheinn were welcome. Hot sunshine now for the very long and very boggy descent down to the road: arduous and knee-deep mud in places. After the final checkpoint at the Three Arch Bridge (crowds, people, tarmac!) a 5k+ section of road leads past a series of lonely white-sand beaches to Craighouse and the finish at the Distillery. Went past 6 or 7 on the road but still finished miles down the field: still, I had no intention of racing even if I'd been capable of doing so over this distance. It was lovely to jog round in 'holiday mode' and savour the views. A truly wonderful circuit: I'd always felt that the Laugavegur in Iceland (done in 2008) would never be beaten as a mountain running experience, but this got very close to it (and my other longstanding favourite - the Jungfrau marathon).

Llandegla Mountain Biking

MTB route: Bwlchgwyn-Llandegla Black/Red-Bwlchgwyn
Distance: 25k
Extended the normal route by cycling up from below Bwlchgwyn, then met Rich and repeated the Red Route, but branched off for the recently completed 'B-Line' Black Extension. This is quite exciting, particularly as I struggled with what is now virtually non-existent suspension on my front forks. Some steep North Shore type obstacles, and many big ramps and sharp climbs. All in glorious warm sunshine. Enjoyable, as was the excellent barbecue at the cafe afterwards. This stood me in good stead for a wild camp with E that afternoon. We tried several secluded camping spots in Idwal, all of which were too windy, made an evening meal on a bluff overlooking Nant Ffrancon, then retreated to the valley for an excellent camp (in advance of a Capel-Crafnant partial walk next morning).

Clwydian race route

An attempt to link various fell race routes into a longer training circuit, ostensibly to check on the condition of the forthcoming Hotfoot race - which I've taken over the organisation of this year. It was also hopelessly late last-minute training for the Jura fell race (in 8 days time!), so a tad worrying as I struggled on the climb up Moel y Gaer after the descent from Penbarras (Hotfoot up Famau route). Superbly clear evening views over Snowdonia compensated, and I felt better for the ridge along from Famau over Dywyll (now following the Llangynhafal Loop route). From the end of this section, I descended the bridleway towards Cilcain (Clwydian fell race route), then contoured along to descend the normal Collie route. I met Huw et al, and we then ran back up to the top of Famau (Collie classic route!), then down to Penbarras and my car. A lengthy but slow outing.

Thurstaston MT race

Race: Thurstaston Multi-Terrain Challenge (6m)
Time/Position: 37.09 (11th from 121 [3rd V40])
A disastrous pacing error saw me blow up completely half way along the horribly long bridleway leading to the finish. I had to walk for a while on the fields as several chasers flew past: desperately unpleasant, particularly as I normally pride myself on my (slow) pacing. This part of the Wirral was almost Hebridean-feeling this evening, as the sun set over the Dee estuary and the Welsh hills beyond. Beautiful weather and a great race, with superb running along the beach for 1.5 miles: I was feeling quite good for this section, and was up in 6th place as we left the sand and headed up twisting roads to the woodland. I started to struggle a bit on the little paths through the trees, then lost it completely on the very long, very straight bridleway that leads to the finish at the visitor centre. Obviously went off too fast, or perhaps feeling the effects of over-racing (four races in ten days).

Ras Moel Eilio

Race: Moel Eilio fell race (8m/3000ft)
Peaks: Moel Eilio, Foel Gron, Foel Goch, Moel Cynghorion
Time/Position: 1.22.16 (8th from 56 [3rd V40])
This turned into a painfully slow 'survival-mode' plod across the ridge into a ferocious headwind and torrential rain. The effect was like a horizontal power shower switched to 'cold', and brought back fond memories of similar outings in the past (OMM Borrowdale, 1000m peaks 2009, Foel Fras, Mynydd Troed etc etc). It was no worse than any of those, but it was worse than might have been expected given the forecast and the lowly nature of these hills above Llanberis. The field was small but fairly strong and although I managed a reasonable pace from Llanberis along the tracks to the ridge, as soon as we turned up towards Moel Eilio the headwind tore into us and made running (for me) almost impossible. Just a heads down plod to the top of Eilio, then the wind got really fierce. The crosswinds were almost dangerous as we crested the little spur above the gullies on Foel Gron: I was blown over here, and a minute or two later I fell quite badly on the descent from Foel Gron, saturated scree and grass helping me slide and minimising loss of flesh. Finally, at the head of Maesgwm the wind turned and helped a bit for the long climb up Cynghorion although I was mildly hypothermic by this point. The steep descent back to the valley was a rather stiff and cautious affair as a result, and I couldn't catch the two runners in front on the long run in along the track down to Llanberis. Great job done by the marshalls in difficult circumstances. Peter and I recovered with a bowl of chips and mug of tea in Pete's Eats.

Dinas Bran hill race

Race: Dinas Bran hill race (4.5m/1200ft)
Time/Position: 32m (4th from 50)
Over 11 years since I first did this race, and the second 'lap' doesn't get any easier. I vividly remember my shock in 2003 when I realised we had to climb Dinas Bran twice. It's actually a very short climb, but my girth was maybe a bit wider in those days. Today, a small field set off round the school then headed up the very steep metalled road to the open hill. I kept it going at a very slow pace and found myself in third with (seemingly) nobody close behind. The route takes the lovely wooded path on the far side of Dinas Bran then climbs the steepest slopes to the ruined castle. From here, a quick zigzag descent led to the second lap. At the bottom of this, I was overtaken almost silently by another runner. I stayed with him for the second lap, but he pulled away on the climb and I couldn't quite catch him on the descent (five minutes from the top to the school?). A chilly evening, with a spot of rain at times.

Llangynhafal Loop

Race: Llangynhafal Loop fell race
Time/Position: 45.01 (4th from 84)
The final climb on this race is always pretty desperate, and so it proved again - my first proper fell race since early November and perhaps my sixth running of the event. Nice running contouring the vale at the start leads to Nant y Ne and a long, but gradually uphill (and therefore draining) run to the base of the infamous gully. Nowhere near fit enough to run up this at present, so just concentrated on staying close to 3rd placed Neil from Ambleside. At the summit of Famau, he took off - and I lost even more ground on the descent and the fast running along the ridge to Moel Dywyll. I resigned myself to 4th place and wasn't caught, but slowed considerably on the desperate final climb. The final descent is steep, but grassy, fast and always exciting! Nice event, very well organised by Huw this year.

Dyserth climbing

Crag: Dyserth Castle Slab

Routes: Jason and the Aga Nuts (f5:led), Leo Saw Us Rex (f4:sec), 36 Bolts to Happiness (f5:led), Siamber Wen (f3:sec), Llywelyn ap Gruffydd to Neil Crud (f6b:led), Isabella Rose (f6a:sec), The Purple Ladies Versus Godzilla (f6a:led), Tegengle (f6a:sec), Genesis (f6b+:led)

A surprisingly competent and efficient sweep of every route on the slab in a couple of hours. Our short evening visit concluded with a clean 6b+ lead of the oldest and best line here, Genesis. Shamefully, this grade has always (since the age of 20) represented my absolute leading limit, so I was rather surprised to manage it after eight months away from all climbing (except last Friday!). That said, it feels to me that all the routes here are slightly overgraded given that the French system is supposed to reflect overall difficulty rather than merely the technical crux: they are certainly generous, although technical slabs are always more flatteringly graded than pumpy steepness. Vic and I began with mileage on the easy short routes right of the main face, up and down a few times. I then led the longest line on the crag, a surprisingly fine 20m+ f6b up the far left of the main slab. Neatly sustained, with a few nice technical moves on small positive holds - delicate and absorbing in places, particularly where the route steepens at a little overlap. More like 6a+ though. The loose groove line to the right looks awful, and is indeed a tad unstable, but it gives some surprisingly enjoyable crisp technical moves at f6a: we both quite enjoyed it. I led the overgraded 6a up the vague right-hand arete, a good climb, and seconded its twin route Tegengle. It was then time for Genesis, which was for many years the only route here at E3 (now retro-bolted). It embraces the main challenge of the slab, straight up a blank steep slab of compact limestone. The excellent friction, unusual for British limestone, means that it is easier than it looks. It goes easily via some huge pockets up to a steepening. Then some technical moves on small positive crimps lead to an awkward crux with a difficult clip: luckily my right-hand had a decent crimp and my feet were high up on crystals, so I could clip the bolt cleanly with my much weaker left hand! One more hard move gains a couple of finishing jugs. Good climb, but again probably 6b at the most. Nice to clean up the slab after my first visit last year left 'unfinished business'. The sun finally came out as we packed the gear away.

Gran Fondo Conwy

Cycle Sportive: Gran Fondo Conwy (Mawr/104m/169k)
Time/Position: 8.25 (134th)
As with all the other bike sportives I've done, my task is just to finish, not to be competitive - rather like a celebrity chef 'running' a marathon. That said, I am still a little surprised by just how slow and off the pace I remain on these things! This event was hard to ignore, as it starts and finishes on the quay in Conwy and took an appealingly challenging route, with multiple sadistically steep hills, through familiar territory. Set off at 7am in a beautiful morning, contrary to weather forecasts which had made wardrobe decision tricky. An easy amble round to the Orme, followed by a time trial (competitive) section clockwise round Marine Drive with the usual superb sea views. This was a nice opportunity, the opposite of the Nick Beer 10k race route, but I didn't want to push it given the likely rigours of the day ahead. Climbed reasonably quickly up to the highpoint, stopped to check on a crash victim during the fast and superb descent, and finished the time trial in 14 mins. A headwind led over the Little Orme, before I got into an excellent group for the eastward coastal amble through the Bay to Pensarn and the first (far too early) feed station. I met Vic and his friend David here, and we rode together for much of the rest of the day, which was excellent. The route headed back west (a surprise to me, should have done more research!) then inland up lovely lanes to Betws yn Rhos before a series of short, sharp climbs led to the long descent to St Asaph and support from mum. Along the back roads to Denbigh (and Katharine), up Vale Street towards the viscious triple climb (very steep in places) through Prion and Saron to the beautiful undulating top road above the Brenig. Quiet roads and beautiful scenery: rather cloudy but no rain. This was the first real 'mountain stage', a very tough haul to the day's highpoint at 550m, and I was glad to have a long and greedy feed at Llyn Brenig. It got a bit cold here, partly because we spent a long time relaxing (the non-competitive vibe continued all day) so we headed off back to Bylchau before enjoying a brief descent as the road drops towards Llansannan. This is the route that the Tour of Britain took last year, and we knew that a horrible climb awaited after the village. This was the second major climb of the day, straight up and brutal, followed by a series of undulations along this truly beautiful stretch of road to Llangernyw. I had a gel, then felt very good for the familiar main road along to Llanrwst, now in warm sunshine, then along to the second feed in Trefriw in a small group of riders. This leg was far easier than the leg to Brenig, but we still took our time at the feed station. This was the right decision, as the route's crux followed - east from the Conwy valley up to Llanddoged, then all the way up to the A548 junction. Done in its entirety I think this might be the hardest climb in North Wales (Bwlch y Groes perhaps excepted), with a sequence of desperately steep and sustained ramps. But I will have to go back fresh (ie not 80 miles in) to check! Once you are finally on the broad 'ridge' above the Conwy valley, the B road heading north to the coast is glorious. The views to the Carneddau were hazy, but the sun was out, the sky was blue, the land was green, and the sea was in front. The route wasn't finished, though, and after the descent to Mochdre we headed south again along the valley - a dreadfully busy road, easily the day's low point - to Tal y Cafn, then back over the Conwy and up via several more hills and a lap of the town to finish (still all together) on the quay. Progress was startlingly slow, and I finished two-thirds down the field at best, but a very enjoyable day nevertheless. A bit more training on the bike would help, but where to find the time?

Pot Hole climbing

Crag: Pot Hole Quarry
Routes: Tre Ffynnon (VS 4b:TR), Unaided (VS 4b:TR), Grizzly (VS 4c:TR), Major (HVS 5a:TR), Vetta (HVS 5a:TR), Ego Variant (E1 5b:TR)
First time on rock since September: a long lay-off even by my standards. This was a very brief evening workout at a venue I've been visiting for nearly a quarter of a century. Went up and down a few polished VS's on the right of the crag before dispatching old favourite Vetta at HVS in light drizzle. This got heavier as we tried to avoid the easier crack lines on neighbouring routes like Major (HVS) and Ego (E2?). Predictably, I felt weak throughout - although perhaps not quite as weak (or clumsy) as I had expected, reasonable footwork always helps at this venue. Steady rain then kicked in, so I got changed into running gear and ran from Cadole to Maeshafn and beyond, before joining the normal Friday night run up Moel Famau - 14 miles in total. Very wet.

Deeside Border League

Race: Deeside 5.5m (Border League race 7)
Time/Position: 31.31 ("8th" from 250)
Another one for the ever-expanding book of strange race incidents. This time, the climax of the border league season was unfortunately spoiled by what may have been a marshalling or signposting error. I'd missed the sixth race, and it remained quite tight in the category. As luck would have it, I felt good from the start and was really enjoying it: picking up places and feeling better than I have for some time. Then, during the second lap, I started to realise something was wrong: in that we shouldn't have been doing a second lap. We carried on anyway, and started to lap slower runners. Cue chaotic scenes as a marshall tried to make us do a third lap! Some of us knew where the finish was, so headed for it, only to find that the second group on the road had done the third lap. Confusion reigned: a shame, as this was the last race of the season and there was still a bit to play for.

Rivington Pike fell race

Race: Rivington Pike fell race, Lancashire (5.2k/700ft)
Time/Position: 21.06 (55th from 356)
One of the oldest fell races of all, dating back to the nineteenth century and following a classic route from Crown Square in Horwich to the open hill beyond. The pike is a notable local landmark well seen from the M61 and beyond, and the race attracts a top quality field (today it incorporated the under 20 champs and so there were lots of very fast young lads at the front!). The conundrum presented by the route is obvious: how to maintain a quick enough speed on this ultra short race whilst not going too far into the red. The initial road section is only gently uphill and therefore very fast. So I was already blowing as I ran through some woods to enter Old Will's Lane, which curves upwards quite steeply and punishes the weak (like me). After an easing, the race heads straight for the pike up steepish cobbles (memories of two weeks ago!) to a final steep grassy bank. Round the summit tower in 13.10, then a flat out dash along the outward route. I got down in 7.50 or so, but was miles off the pace in a very impressive field. Great atmosphere, with spectators and support all the way up, not unlike the Tour of Flanders in the sense that the event is an expression of local identity with deep roots in the area.

Yr Eifl/Carneddau run

The worst day of a glorious sunny week, which was rather annoying. Grey skies and low cloud as we all set off for Tre'r Ceiri above Llanaelhaearn on Llyn. I was last here well over 10 years ago with Rob, and well remember the superb views from the top: some of the best in Wales. It was all a bit dank today, and M complained bitterly all the way up - refusing to go to the top. But the hillfort and ancient hut walls are amazingly well preserved, and E and I got the views down the peninsula to both coasts from the summit. After lunch, I jogged across to the weaving path up to the main summit of Yr Eifl at 564m. Sadly, a coastal mist had rolled in and although this little hill is spectacularly poised directly above the sea, I could have been anywhere. We headed back along the coast for paned a teisen in Aber, and I then did an extra run through the Carneddau back to Conwy while the family drove home. I started off up the Foel Fras race route to pick up the Drum track. Along here with a helpful tailwind, always a gloriously open place to run, to Bwlch y Ddaefaen. From here, I branched off along the Pen fell race route at Cae Coch. This is one of my favourite places to run, and the sun came out as I enjoyed the soft grass gently downhill past Caer Bach to the old church at Llangelynin. The only problem is that this route finishes with a long road section down through Henryd back to Conwy.

Conwy 'three peaks' run

A relaxing evening run up the 'three (mini) peaks' in soft sunshine, from the castle up to the top of Mynydd y Dref, then along the ridge to the top of Penmaenbach, before upping the pace a bit to the the pond at Pen Pyra then down to the top of the Sychnant Pass. A quick belt up to the top of the highpoint of Allt Wen for the usual glorious views, then back via the bridleway. A great little loop, with coastal scenery on one side and the Carneddau on the other.

London Marathon

Race: London Marathon
Time/Position: 3.09.12 (2208 from 36000)
Bit of a 'Hamlet moment' as my 6th London marathon came to an undignified end in the riverside Portaloos with 5k left to run. Ended up 20 minutes down on target time, having suffered from my old bete noire, an upset stomach which started just after half way and ended with a desperate search for a privy as I hobbled down the Strand. I haven't suffered from this affliction for several years, and it doesn't happen when you are well trained of course: there is no way I would have achieved sub 2.50 today, as I just didn't have the training in my legs. Started off reasonably well, enjoying the wonderful crowds (better than ever in today's perfect spring sunshine), and kept to a very precise 6:30 mile pace, going through half exactly on target in 1.25.16. But whereas I found that pace very comfortable at the Trimpell 20 last month, I never felt good today - blowing a bit even as I went over what is usually the race highlight, Tower Bridge. Then the familiar stomach cramps kicked in, and although I revived a bit through 16-17 miles at Canary Wharf, it was game over for a PB. The day turned into a nightmare as I searched for a toilet in vain. But after the 'hamlet moment', which was quite relaxing (!), I felt better and rather enjoyed the final 5k in the usual electrifying and unparalleled atmosphere along the Embankment and past Big Ben as I just concentrated on a sub 3.10 qualifying time.

Koppenberg/Muur cycling

Road Cycling: Koppenberg, Muur van Geraardsbergen/Kapelmuur, Denderstreek
Distance: 40k
After another night sleeping in the car, it was quite easy to get up early and negotiate the road closures around Oudenaarde as the atmosphere and anticipation built in advance of today's professional race. My target was more modest: to head to Melden and do the unique Koppenberg climb in its entirety after fallers had prevented me doing so yesterday. I did a little warm-up through the village, then was straight onto the climb - gentle at first, then brutal steep cobbles through the trees. I stayed in the saddle, churning it over and getting to the top. Great to do it before the race came through - all the barricades already set up and the atmosphere building. There was one more thing to do before watching the race: ride the even more legendary Muur in Geraardsbergen. This was the climax of the Ronde for many years, but was controversially removed (essentially for commercial reasons) two years ago. It's a fair trek over, but I had one of the indigenous Mattentart pies for breakfast, then headed through the town towards the bridge over the Dender. Then the climb starts - unique and intriguing, it is basically an amalgam of various old cobbled roads and alleys. Past the church, then left up smooth cobbles, then narrowing and twisting right to a very narrow and very steep section (moss between the stones). It then eases before kicking up again for the final section. The word iconic is overused, but this cobbled bend with the Church at the top is one of the most famous images in cycling. I loved this climb, and enjoyed the views from the top (very light drizzle) before heading back to town for a steady warm-down along superb cycle paths by the banks of the Dender river. These took me out into quintessential Flandrian countryside: tranquil and ultra-relaxing. Later, I watched the race over lunch in a Brakel bar before heading up to watch it live on the Valkenberg.

Tour of Flanders Cyclo Sportive

Cycle Sportive: Ronde van Vlaanderen, Belgium (135k:160k)
Time: 6.08
Unlike the Tour de France, I can't claim to have been watching the Ronde for 25 years. But when I first saw the professional race on TV five years ago I realised it was something very special indeed: a uniquely arduous, dramatic sporting event and the celebration of a distinctive culture (my cup of tea, in other words). Expectations were therefore high as I registered at first light in the Qubus in Oudenaarde (having driven down via London and the Dover-Dunkirk ferry, arriving in Flanders late at night and sleeping in the car). I'd only done one ride in training (and that was only 80k at most), and was worried about mechanical issues on the cobbles, but I was optimistic that general running fitness would see me through. Still, I thought it best to start conservatively, and did so, riding in a series of steady groups as the route starts nice and gentle along the banks of the Schelde. Prospects looked very good, as the sun began to peep through high clouds (I was dreading rain so was very relieved by the forecast). The route then heads off towards the cobbles and the hellingen (the local name for the vicious cobbled climbs that form the backbone of the race). Soon, we were into the climbs - the Wolvenberg came first, a steep climb but on tarmac, just a light aperitif. The first section of cobbles (Ruiterstraat) was, inevitably, a brutal shock to the system - the first time I had ever ridden on them, the constant pounding is extraordinary, it feels like your brain is leaking out of your ears. I was expecting to puncture constantly, and was always amazed to emerge onto tarmac unscathed: riding the cobbles is a unique experience. Then came the Molenberg, a more accurate taste of what is to come: very short but very steep with some of the worst cobbles of the event, huge gaps between the slabs. Still, I was pleased to feel quite confident on the hellingen, and found I was passing quite a few riders on the climbs. Quite quickly, we were onto the Kerkgate, a very long (almost 3k) section of brutal cobbles, dust thrown up, painful yet also absorbing as you plot the best line through and try to maintain a decent pace in a biggish gear (which makes it 'easier'). The scenery here was delightful: rolling hills, blue skies, and neat little hamlets hidden down side valleys. The tarmac sections were tranquil: easy to get in groups and churn away. Then the lengthy cobbles of the Paddestraat, more weaving to get the best line (and some use of the storm gutter!). The respite didn't last, however, as a sharp turn heralds the Haaghoek, a particularly nasty 2k section of cobbles which leads straight into the climb of the Leberg. Great stuff, followed by another sunny respite with the easier tarmac climbs of the Valkenberg and the juddering concrete of the Boigneberg, followed by the longer cobbled climb of the Eikenberg. After a second feed station near Oudenaarde (the route is basically two big loops), a lovely flat track (in an excellent group going at my pace) led to Melden and arguably the most legendary of all Flemish climbs: the Koppenberg. I glanced up from the smooth track and saw it rising up to the left into the woods. All rather exciting. I knew that this hill is considered almost unrideable by some, and because it is so narrow (much less than 2m) and steep (22%), if one rider dismounts, everyone has to. So I tried to get a space in front of me. After an initial gentle section, it kicks up alarmingly into a wooded trench. I knew I could do it, and powered up - only to faced with a wall of walkers and fallers on the steepest section. So I had no choice but to dismount. This was very annoying, but a guy was helping those that wanted to get get back on their bikes, so I was able to continue to the top (vowing I would come back tomorrow morning to do it again!). Then the climbs come thick and fast - the climax of the pro race. The Steenbeekdries is followed by the short but very steep Taaienberg, then the Kaperij. We passed briefly into Wallonia after the Kaperij (lovely scenery from the top of this), and the French-speaking world, before a super-fast and exhilarating descent down towards Ronse. The comes the longer Kanarieberg and the Kruisberg (a very old feature of the Ronde, a long but fairly gentle climb on regular cobbles). Finally the easy tarmac climb of the Karnemelkbeek leads to the ultimate climax: the wonderful Oude Kwaremont (sharp cobbles leading up to a battering on more flat cobbles) before the final climb up the perfectly straight and brutally steep Paterberg. I was determined to get a clear run, and did so, really enjoying this atmospheric finale. I felt very fresh, so picked up the pace for the final 17k to the finish, getting in some good groups but just failing to break 6 hours - perhaps I should have spent less time at the feed zones! The timed section was 135k, but there is a lovely little ride through the very atmospheric old centre of Oudenaarde, complete with tens of thousands of bikes and cyclists, through to the finish zone. I then cycled back to the car, then back in to the museum and a surprisingly quiet bar for an Ename and a sandwich. A fantastic event - freed from any pretence to be 'competitive' (in contrast to running) I enjoyed every second and was delighted to feel comfortable throughout. Didn't even have any mechanical issues, although I will never know how I avoided puncturing for 160k!

Clwydian road/hill run

Last long run before London. Still can't face 20 miles on the road, and will no doubt pay for my lack of discipline with yet another failed attempt at 2.45 in a fortnight. Instead, I mixed it up tonight with an interesting road/hill hybrid. I left Cadole for Gwernaffield, then quick running downhill to an extra loop round Mold. Through the town centre, then up to Gwernymynydd, up steeply to the Owain Glyndwr, then Maeshafn. I then left the tarmac for the route back to Cadole. One more extra loop before a five minute break to shovel some food down before joining the usual Friday night run up Moel Famau. With Huw, Rob and Peter we chased down John M, arriving at the top in a reasonably quick 40m. Slowed a little for the descent, then a lot for the final climb back to the Collie from Loggerheads! Perhaps 18-19 miles, but obviously very hilly, so it must have done some good - for the long summer fell races if not for London.

Kinnerton-Llandegla MTB loop

Mountain Bike: Higher Kinnerton-Bwlchgwyn-Llandegla-Red MTB Trail-Cefn y Bedd-Higher Kinnerton
Distance/Climb: 70k (1000m)
A very early morning attempt to squeeze some hopelessly late training in for the imminent Tour of Flanders. I arranged to meet Rich at Llandegla but cycled there from home at first light in beautiful cold, crisp and pin-sharp conditions. The ice was melting as I got into the steady ascent from Cefn y Bedd to Bwlchgwyn. This kicks up steeply in places, and is far harder on the knobbly tired mountain bike. Still, I thought it would do me some good - surely quite similar to the short, sharp climbs of Flanders. I added an extra very steep climb: from Bwlchgwyn over to Gwynfryn, then extended the approach to Llandegla MTB centre. Met Rich, then enjoyed an excellent blast round the old favourite 19k Red Route. Punctured on the long climb, then found the outer reaches almost unrecognisable from my 30 or so previous visits: wind damage may have altered the route? Some superb flowing singletrack and exhilarating fast descents, and a very different lakeside route back to the Centre. Tried to push the climbs as much as possible for training purposes, but was a little tired after an early start from home with lots of climbing (not to mention yesterday's race). After a brief snack, I headed back down a different route - the bridleway to Bwlchgwyn. From here, a quick descent to Cefn y Bedd then home.

Deeside Border League

Race: Deeside 4.4m (Border League race 5)
Time/Position: 24.43 (16th from 233)
Consistently average again in this season's Border League: my third consecutive 16th place! This is a very short, but sharp circuit - which heads from the old college in Connah's Quay up the painfully steep Kelsterton Lane (which I cycled up earlier this month). This gives two sharp kicks, tough to keep the pace going after a predictably fast start. I did pick up a couple of places though, and one or two more on the steep and wet descent back to the athletics track at the college. Cold throughout, with hail and sleet showers. Moved up to third in category, but will miss Round 6 due to the Tour of Flanders.

Trimpell 20

Race: Trimpell 20 mile (Lancaster)
Time/Position: 2.09.02 (20th from 502)
I really wasn't looking forward to this, seeing it purely as 'something to be done' in preparation for London. However, in the event it proved a very enjoyable family day out, albeit remarkably expensive for what was essentially a traffic free romp along the River Lune. The day was windy, which was yet another reason to start off ultra cautiously, and I was very conscious of my usual lack of long road runs (ie none) so far this year. So I just aimed for 6:30 mile pace throughout. This felt very comfortable as we turned round in the badlands of Morecambe then had the wind at our backs for the very pleasant but very long leg along the Lune, looping through the edge of Lancaster and way out east to near Claughton. My caution was probably wise, as the return leg was a bit of a battle into a headwind, although the route stays quite sheltered for the most part. I was aiming for sub 2.10, and had a little cushion, but kept slowly plodding away until the final lap round the athletics track: genuinely surprised to feel comfortable throughout, and even more surprised to really enjoy the race. This was only the fourth or fifth measured 20 miler I've ever done, and the first flat one, so it unsurprisingly took 15 minutes off my PB.

Horseshoe 'four climbs' circuit

Road Cycling: HK-Penbarras-Shelf-Llandegla-Horseshoe-Llangollen-Trevor-Minera-HK
Distance: 80k
If I'm behind with the marathon training, I am even further behind when it comes to the cycling: the Tour of Flanders (Ronde) starts in less than a month! Virtually no time spent on the bike all winter, so I had to use at least part of this weekend for some quality time in the saddle. I left HK at 8am, enjoying the novelty of dry and quiet road. I headed up for the sharp climb through Gwernymynydd then up to Bwlch Penbarras in around 50 minutes. The sunshine gave way to cold and cloudy conditions in the Vale as I dropped down towards Ruthin to pick up the obscure lanes which lead to the Shelf. Only the second time I've done this, for me the most enjoyable road climb in NE Wales. Rutted surface, so good training for the cobbles of Flanders. Wonderfully quiet, superb riding up to the Clwydian ridge then down through Llandegla to start the climb to the top of the Horseshoe Pass. From here, more welcome sunshine for the easier riding through Llangollen to Trevor. Back via Rhos, Minera and Cefn y Bedd before enjoying an additional 10k with E in the warmth of low-altitude HK! Felt like this morning outing was of some value, but the Ronde is twice as far and twice as hard.

Clwydian run

Behind with the marathon training, as ever. Couldn't face 20 miles on the road, so Jez and I did an early evening quick paced blast from Cadole down the leat, through Cilcain, then the long climb along the tracks to Moel Arthur. Daylight and sunshine was a tremendous novelty, even if my hands froze. From here, an excellent blast back to meet the normal run from the Collie bang on time. My hands were so cold I struggled to eat my espresso chocolates, stowed in the car as a 'pick-me-up'. Slowed considerably for the subsequent climb up Moel Famau and back. Maybe 18 miles all told, so I'm still way behind in terms of London training, but at least the 3000ft+ of climbing puts me ahead of schedule for the summer's long fell races.

Birkenhead Border League

Race: Birkenhead Park 5.5m (Border League race 4)
Time/Position: 31.17 (16th from 247)
I quite like this four-lap circuit of the park, but there is something rather odd about it: my time has been virtually the same for the last three races held at this venue. Just one or two seconds difference each time. I started quite slowly today, and gradually picked it up over the last two laps (I can never remember how many laps are involved until it's too late). Jez went off really quickly, and I couldn't close the gap. We are in a tight battle for second with Richard from Wirral, who also went off quite quickly. I pulled it back so Jez, Richard and I were in a line on the last lap - but another runner then sprinted past in the last 50m! Still good and tight in our category after four races, a challenging and enjoyable BL season.

Buenos Aires run

Up at first light, ready for a day exploring one of the world’s great cities: an exciting prospect. I packed a light rucsac and jogged past the Obelisco, across the immense 12 + lane central highway , then down to the Plaza de Mayo, the centre of the city surrounded by grand buildings including the famous Casa Rosada. I jogged gently through the new dockside development of Puerto Madero and located the wetlands marking the entrance to the Costanera Sud nature reserve. It hadn’t opened yet, but I still got guira cuckoo, crested duck, water rail and others before stopping for an unhealthy yet enjoyable breakfast of Coke and ‘Milanesa’, breaded pork cutlet. After this, the reserve opened and I spent a very happy couple of hours jogging around, birding every inch of it, and enjoying the superb views of the city rising above the Pampas and the wetlands, palms, jacarandas and lilies. Birds were many, but highlights included glittering-bellied emerald and white-throated hummingbird. Good views of the River Plate further out on the reserve.

Patagonian Mountain Biking

MTB Route: Puerto Madryn-Punta Loma-Puerto Madryn
Distance/Area: 40k+, Chubut, Patagonia, Argentina
Having arrived in Puerto Madryn on the Patagonian coast this morning after a 20 hour bus ride from Buenos Aires (preceded by a 14 hour flight from Manchester via Amsterdam) I hired a bike from El Gualicho, keen to avoid ‘downtime’. I picked up a reasonable looking Raleigh mountain bike, and cycled down to the coast, and along it to pick up the dirt track to my planned destination – the sea lion colony at Punta Loma. This was 20k away, but I hadn’t realized that would all be on gravel and energy-sapping sand tracks, into a headwind and quite hilly over what were presumably giant ancient dune systems. My bike started slipping gears immediately and it turned into an unexpectedly adventurous and tiring outing – I looked on it as highly unconventional training for the Tour of Flanders. A headwind was distressing, and the road surface very hard going. I saw a dwarf armadillo (pichi), my first, disappearing into shrub, then stopped for photos of a superb dune system above the sea. Birdlife was scarce, but I did get Chilean swallow, black-chested buzzard and Patagonian mockingbird. After a sharp and tiring hill, a flat section led to Playa Parana and a shipwreck (Le Folies). Two more long uphill drags over Cerro Avanzado led to a spectacular section of coast and the entrance to Punta Loma. My nationality ‘Gales’ not questioned; just entered into the book with a respectful nod. Another 800m drag led to the viewpoint over the colony: a fantastic sight and a sensory overload. Deep blue skies, emerald green sea, crashing waves, hundreds of South American sea lions, adults and infants groaning, roaring, sleeping and swimming. Fantastic to see them in their natural state, not performing in a zoo. This was just days before the adult males go ‘foraging’  for food thousands of miles out into the South Atlantic, and the perfect time of year following the breeding season. Of equal interest to me was the colony of breeding rock cormorant, a specialist and geographically restricted species: giving superb close up views. Numerous kelp gulls completed the exhilarating scene. Puerto Madryn looked very distant indeed, my bike was malfunctioning and slipping gear, and a storm was gathering inland. It seemed best not to linger. I pulled my buff further over my head in an effort to protect myself from the fierce sun (it didn’t feel hot this close to the sea, but the air temperature was actually 30C+). The ride back was better initially, with more of a tailwind. But after cresting the final hill and reaching the numerous new builds on the far southern end of town, my rear gear mechanism sheared off completely – leaving the bike useless. I was at least 5k from home at this point, so walked with the bike to the Punta Cuevas (where the Mimosa migrants landed and sheltered in 1865: the visit to these bleak caves had the air of a pilgrimage for me) before heading back to the Welsh museum with a new one.

Wrexham half marathon

Race: Wrexham 'half marathon' (14m)
Time/Position: 1.23.16/1.18.59 (26th from 450) 
Another cock-up at the Wrexham half, bringing back memories of two years ago when a misplaced sign saw the first 40 runners go wrong at the 9m point. This time, the problems occurred immediately and can't really be blamed on a narrow-minded farmer. We went left after a few hundred metres, then the shouts went out and the entire field performed a giant angry U-Turn. We were then behind the tail-enders, all hopes of a PB gone. I spent the next mile trying to weave through hundreds of runners and get some clear road in front of me, but realised we'd all gone wrong again when I went through the first mile in 9 minutes! No idea who was to blame, possibly nobody, but it was all rather vexing as I had plans for sub 77m and had trained specifically for this. The rest of the race was a non-event: I just concentrated on keeping a decent 6 min/mile pace churning over. We ended up doing just short of 14 miles, and worked out half marathon time via other people's GPS results (just sub 1.19 in my case, so well off target anyway).

Famau storm run

Just the normal weekly route up Famau from the Collie, but this was particularly memorable and notable for its appalling conditions. Jez and I had already agreed to meet at 5pm, and I just crossed over the M6 Thelwall Viaduct en route from work before it closed due to the winds. By the time we crested the hill above the leat, we were into the teeth of the ferocious gale: falling debris and some trees already down. The leat itself was nicely sheltered, but it was a biblical struggle to gain the open hillside above the farm. This was actually the safest place to run in these circumstances, with no debris or trees. However, we were blown down and intermittently blasted backwards by the 85mph gusts. I wonder if we broke the world mile record on the descent with a tailwind? Airborne at times in the dark and howling night, with the wind cutting a swathe through the trees as if a tornado had ripped through. Chose a safe route back away from trees: a memorable run.

Llangollen run

A reprise of the 'strike day' run I'd done with Kate in December. We trotted up Moel y Faen in low cloud and light drizzle, then along to Moel y Gamelin past dozens of Brummie school kids. Then down the little path parallel to the Conquering Hero to the little road further north. From here, Kate ran back to the car and I followed the bridleway (reverse of the Gamelin race route) all the way to the tarmac lane then up to lonely Bwlch y Groes. The double climb over Moel Morfydd and Moel y Gaer is very steep from here, but it gives access to a glorious descent down the Conquering Hero to Llantisilio and down the banks of the swollen Dee to lunch in Llangollen.

Abergele Border League

Race: Abergele 5m (Border League race 3)
Time/Position: 28.00 (16th from 272 [3rd V40])
A brief weather window in the midst of an appalling stormy spell. This was a clever improvisation of the usual flat coastal route (which I have always liked) after part of the path was washed away. It made for slower progress, into a headwind initially, then inland up a surprisingly sharp climb to take in a zig-zagging route through the caravan site before returning to Pensarn. I stuck with a small group into the wind, then caught Jez at the 3m point. The field was pretty strong again, and I slowed initially on the homeward leg until I got my second wind at 4m. Felt quite strong for the last mile and picked up two more places to finish just 3 seconds outside my 5 mile PB. Very tight in our category after three races, two points between 2nd and 4th!

Four Villages Half Marathon

Race: Four Villages (Helsby) Half Marathon
Time/Position: 1.18.47 (39th from 1820)
This was a PB course for me back in 2006, then again in 2007. But my memories of the event have always been rather spoiled by the fact I contracted pneumonia after racing here in freezing fog in 2007: hence the delayed return. Shame, because it's a great event and one of the few remaining uncommercial half marathons in the region. As such, it attracts a strong field: very competitive at the top end, and there are always small, well-paced groups to work with. Conditions were perfect: 6C, light breezes, sunshine. Sadly, I didn't have the legs to take full advantage. I started off conservatively, exact 6m/mile pace, then picked it up a bit before starting to tire unexpectedly at the 8m point. After a gel, I got my second wind and really enjoyed the long gentle climb through Alvanley before the fast, largely downhill finish. One minute outside my PB, so there is a chance I could record a PB at the flatter, faster Wrexham course next month.

Crafnant Skyline

Peaks: Crimpiau, Craig Wen, Creigiau Gleision, Gleision North
Area: Carneddau, Eryri
A rare opportunity to observe M outside his natural habitat. This was a scouting weekend to the Alpine-hut style Cornel in Crafnant, so I went along to help and thoroughly enjoyed this lengthy and painfully slow circuit of the skyline hills. I had big plans for M after taking him up Tal y Fan aged nine weeks: but almost 12 years has elapsed since then! A group of six of seven Scouts left Cornel for the gentle, boggy walk up Crimpiau in steady humid drizzle. Not pleasant, but compared to my two festive runs in Snowdonia it felt subtropical. A few complaints, boot stuck in swamps and the like, but eventually Paul and I got them all to the top of Crimpiau. A long descent towards Ogwen and a superb clearance revealed a snowy Carneddau and Tryfan. From here, a very boggy crossing of the Creigiau Gleision ridge (bad memories of John B's hypothermia on this circuit last April!). The boys seemed to be enjoying themselves, albeit not necessarily focused on the matter in hand: they reminded me of a group of young terriers. The rain stopped for the crossing, to be replaced by two snow showers as we descended. Very wet underfoot through the woods. I jogged round the lake to finish, loosening my legs in preparation for a hard 12-miler tomorrow.

Arenig run

Peaks: Arenig Fawr
Area: Arenig, Eryri
Yet another diabolical day of driving sleet and gales. A real sense of deja vu as Peter and I set off from the quarry car park in conditions that were, if anything, even worse than on the Carneddau this time last week. At least the icy wind helped us on the long run along the road to the start of the old race route, which branches off up a track to Llyn Arenig. This was hard work from the start, and we were already cold and soaked by the time we got to the bothy. This provided welcome shelter for us to get some more layers on, and as a result the long climb up the ridge was a little more comfortable (relatively speaking). The sleet turned to wet snow as we gained height, and the wind continued to howl through the crags and into us. Very poor visibility as we jogged along the weaving path which fortunately skirts below the main ridge line and was therefore relatively sheltered. The summit was no place to rest, so we pelted down to the north on a rough bearing to make a little traverse - eventually emerging in boggy wilderness above the quarry and negotiating our way down a steep gully (a temporary waterfall) to the quarry. The cloud base was so low that we were almost still navigating when we reached the car. It was still hammering down as we left: the forecast clearance never materialised.

Jubilee Plunge

Race: Jubilee Plunge downhill fell race (2.2m/-1361ft)
Time/Position: 12.07 (10th from 75)
This unique race produces a level of muscle damage out of all proportion to it's short length and duration: no doubt a sign of my inflexibility! It's a very exciting event, though, albeit one that I'm never likely to do well on. A very pleasant trot up from Llangynhafal with Jez, Huw, John and others - under beautiful blue skies - to the eccentrically positioned start on top of Moel Famau (with a holiday crowd looking on with curiosity). An insanely fast start along the OD path to the north: then the best route to the finish at the Golden Lion pub breaks off left down narrow and exciting tracks. I then took a different route, contouring the hillside directly down to the gate at the bottom of the valley. Sadly, thick bracken makes this no quicker than the normal route and, after a slow vault of the gate, I found myself further behind the small group of runners in front. Try as I might, I couldn't close the gap: 10 seconds separated fifth place and me in tenth. The beer in the Goldie was as good as ever.

Round the Walls race

Race: Chester Round the Walls ('4m')
Time/Position: 22.10 (18th from 450)
The hardest frost of the winter, probably the first truly icy morning since April, meaning that yet again I was unable to sample the full event: the third time this has happened. But if the Walls were out because of the ice, I had already assumed the Roodee would be waterlogged. This was indeed the case, but whereas last year the race avoided it as a result, this year four aquatic laps were planned as an alternative to the icy walls. In my post-Xmas haste I had only packed my racing flats, and the slip-sliding nightmare that ensued was richly deserved. Really struggled to keep my footing, and longed for my fell shoes to give some grip. Nice short family outing, though, an opportunity to get some fresh air.

Carneddau run

Peaks: Moel Wnion
Area: Carneddau, Eryri
Our scheduled pre-Christmas Snowdonia run precisely coincided with the worst of an unusually deep depression and wild storm. It all made for a memorable outing, albeit far shorter than planned. Peter, Jez and I left Aber in torrential rain, benefiting from the shelter of the village and woods until we emerged towards the top of the tarmac start of the Foel Fras race route. Here, the wind was gusting to 80-90mph: and was directly in our face as we skirted Foel Dduarth heading up to our 'bad weather option' of Llyn Anafon. We were blown over a few times as we attempted to 'jog' into the upper valley - memories of the legendary OMM in 2008 and many other occasions - before giving up and heading back down to the car park. We then adopted another default plan, heading to Aber Falls. An astounding volume of water at the Falls, seemingly a wall of spray reminiscent of Yosemite. Quite exhilerating, though, and the rain eased a little as we ran along the top of the valley. As we descended back to the coast, Peter suggested trying to get up Moel Wnion on the assumption that we may get a tailwind. This worked, and we ploughed up the sheltered Afon Gam stream valley before ploughing up the boggy slopes of Wnion in a crosswind. After sheltering in the cairn to give some respite from the constant battering, we enjoyed a superb fast descent (with tailwind) down the Foel Fras race route climax. Dried off with a pint in the Albion.

Wigg Island Border League

Race: Wigg Island, Runcorn 5.5m (Border League Race 2)
Time/Position: 31.36 (14th from 282)
Must admit I'd never heard of Wigg Island before this race. Despite the post-industrial surroundings of the Mersey and Runcorn Bridge, it's been converted into a nature reserve and was a fine new venue for Helsby's border league fixture. Fewer fast young lads at the sharp end of the race, so my finishing position was a little more respectable than at Tattenhall. That said, I didn't feel particularly good for the three and a half laps, struggling to hold my pace especially on the short sharp climb at the far end of the island.

Cardington Cracker fell race

Race: Cardington Cracker (15k/800m/AM)
Time/Position: 1.27.56 (23rd from 259)
After feeling so awful on last week's race, I decided to go down to Shropshire with Huw and Andy at the last minute for this race - just to see if I felt any better. The answer, sadly, was no - and I came in a full five minutes slower than the time I recorded in 2011. The usual big field set off in perfect conditions, still and cool, from the chocolate-box village of Cardington. I set off steadily, and felt reasonably good for the ultra steep first climb up the Lawley: best to crawl on all fours at times! After the fast descent, I started to slow slightly on the second big climb up the Stretton side of Caer Caradog. The descent from here to the woods below Hope Bowdler hill is superb, and in 2011 I remember flying along this final section which takes in one more climb up Hope Bowdler then a long undulating ridge (the kind of terrain that is fantastic if you are going well and picking up places - the opposite was the case today!). Towards the end I creaked into some kind of life, but it was far too late. This really is a superb route though, and a great event.

Wrexham Cross Country

Race: Wrexham XC (North Wales Cross Country League race 3)
Time/Position: 33:50 (41st from 143)
A dreadful performance, around 20 places down on my two previous outings on this course. As usual, I've already missed too many of the North Wales series to count, but thought I'd try to help the team on this - the usual fast and flat four lap course around playing fields on the eastern edge of Wrexham. In contrast to last year's icy rain, is was cold and dry today: but I started to struggle on the second lap then lost a dramatic amount of time and places on a very tough final lap. Really suffered, despite the extreme flatness of the course: my worst race for some time.

Tattenhall Border League

Race: Tattenhall '10k' (Border League Race 1)
Time/Position: 35.11 (24th from 339)
Worst finishing position in the league for two years, but rather suspect that this was an unusually strong field - as the season openers often are. Lost quite a lot of ground on the steep double climb up to the Peckforton Hills and only really started picking up the pace in the last couple of 'false flat' miles. Felt quite good towards the end but couldn't quite close the gap to a small group containing Jez, Darren et al. Alongside Caernarfon, this is probably the most scenic, and best, BL course: 200m shy of 10k, but the hills make up the shortfall!

Ras Rhobell Fawr

Race: Rhobell Fawr fell race (10.3k/600m/AM)
Time/Position: 60:45 (3rd from 43 [1st V40])
On a soft Autumn day the scenery around Dolgellau is exquisite, so this was an excellent day trip topped off with a superb leg-loosening jog around the Precipice Walk. Sadly, I didn't really get going on the race itself until the final descent down the tracks and paths from Bwlch Goriwared, but luckily this part of the descent favoured a bit of road speed so I was able to hold off the challenge from a few young lads to hold onto third position. It's a great race: up muddy forest tracks above the strangely named Afon Babi to gain the open hillside at the Bwlch. I moved into third position quite soon, but didn't feel good on the main 1500ft climb: worse, I took some awful lines after the bog of Ffynnon Sion - heading away from the wall too early, meaning I went up the western forepeak and several other steep knolls unnecessarily. A young lad passed me near the cairn, but I regained third as I tried to take the best line down to the right: I lost my nerve, though, unsure of the route so retreated to the 'handrail' of the wall, taking more inefficient lines back down to the bwlch. I was so slow that three younger runners were just behind at Bwlch Goriwared, but I was just able to hold them off as I finally sprang into some kind of life for this final fast section back to Llanfachreth. Very wet and muddy underfoot! I ended up third, and first Veteran. After soup and prizes in the village hall, Adair and I set off for a superbly enjoyable warm-down around the famous Precipice Walk, which I last did with Kate after Ras y Gader some years ago. A violent hailstorm cleared as we started off, and the autumnal colours under dark skies gave fabulous, ever-changing views back up to Rhobell Fawr, then over Coed y Brenin, then Mawddach and Cader Idris.

Abergele 5m

Race: Abergele 5m (North Wales Championships)
Time/Position: 28.57 (6th from 187 [3rd V40])
Glancing at my watch with 400m to go, I thought I was on for a decent time here - at the very least a PB for the course. But, weirdly, I ended up 6 seconds slower than my 2011 and 2012 times and a minute down on my 5m PB. There is something rather strange about this course, which is notoriously tough with one long, gradual hill for the first two miles and one short, very sharp climb at the three mile point. The strange part is that I always end up with virtually the same time, whether I feel good or bad during the race. It's an excellent, and well organised event though, which always incorporates the North Wales championships and, as such, tends to attract a strong and competitive field especially among the Veterans. Could only manage bronze today, to add to last year's silver and 2011's gold in the champs - but, more positively, 6th is my best ever overall position at this race. There was a bit of a headwind at times today, which may account for the lost seconds.

British Fell Relays

Race: British fell relay championships, Llanberis (Leg 2, 15k, 1000m)
Time/Position: 1.33 (40th from 180)
Peaks: Moel Cynghorion, Foel Goch, Foel Gron, Moel Eilio
Buckley's third appearance at this great team event - which this year came to the hills west of Llanberis and was therefore virtually home territory. As usual, our small club struggled to get a team together and once we did it became tricky to assign runners to legs. In the end, Eddie set off on the fast first leg for his first ever fell race - and the rain began in earnest as Simon and I waited for him in the holding pen. Unlike last year, when I took the navigation leg, this year I was on the long (15k) 'pairs' leg across the Moel Eilio ridge. In another contrast with Church Stretton and Llangynhafal (our two previous relay champs) the 'HQ' this year was the Glyn Rhonwy quarry and a flat expanse of slate waste. Slightly grim, but good views of the hills and the approaching weather systems sweeping down from Pen y Pass! Strong winds soon flattened the big club's gazebos - but our 3ft high tent remained intact throughout. We got a real drenching as we waited for Eddie, then set out for a very fast initial 5k southwards along the paths west of Llanberis towards Hebron station. This flat, fast stuff is more my terrain than Simon's, but it was all very muddy today - flowing water at several points along the paths. The brutal climb up the northern slopes of Cynghorion came immediately afterwards - it was a matter of getting my head down and trying to stay with Simon's relentless uphill pace. Hands came in useful! Once we reached the checkpoint on the summit, the wind tore into us, and this made for tough running along the rest of the ridge in poor viz. Painful horizontal hail and 70mph gusts made this a classic test. We did OK, and seemed to be passing a few teams, although our finishing position was a bit disappointing. I know the ground here fairly well, and was looking forward to the long final descent. Simon eats this stuff for breakfast, but I kept with him reasonably well and we plunged down the final very muddy slopes (a waist-deep quagmire, perfect for spectating schadenfreude as runners plunged in!) to hand over to Huw and Dave for leg 3.

Flintshire 10k

Race: Flintshire 10k (Mold)
Time/Position: 37.07 (7th from 495 [1st V40])
It was fairly obvious that this was never going to be a PB course: a new route which is essentially an extension of our Border League 5 miler. Perhaps best described as a fell race on tarmac, I reckon it must be close to 600ft of climbing squeezed into 3k. I thought it might suit me, and had gone surprisingly well in my first intervals session since March last Tuesday, so seemed to have some form. Given the steepness of the hill, I started conservatively from Mold then just tried to maintain the effort and keep it going for the very steep (17%?) slopes beyond Nercwys. From here, the race turns back down towards Nercwys but remains 'fell-like' with an equally steep and slippery descent. The rain got a little heavier as myself and Gary had an excellent battle throughout the run-in - couldn't quite catch the two lads in front. I started to feel a stitch developing on the fast descent, but it never became crippling as we rejoined the normal BL run-in back to Mold. I last did this race three years ago (when I also won my category), but think the new route gives it a bit of character! At the prize giving, Buckley won first team and I got first V40, despite the fact that I was three minutes slower than my PB.

Rab Mountain Marathon

Race: Rab Mountain Marathon, day two
Peaks: Grasmoor, Sand Hill, Outerside (Derwent Fells, Lake District)
Time/Position: 180pts in 4:29 (17th from 213 [2nd V40])
I ate my porridge by the light of the moon above the High Stile ridge, keen to make an early start. As with yesterday, I didn't really consider many route choices as the day provided an opportunity to head up some peaks I've never done before. One of these was Grasmoor, and I had already resigned myself to starting the day with the 2500ft slog to the top - not because I felt it was the best route choice, but because I've never done it before and the weather was again so good that it seemed wrong not to enjoy the tops (but when I found out what the prize for first V40 was I wished I'd been a little less romantic and a little more hard-headed about the route planning!). The first control was at a hidden sheepfold in Cinderdale Beck: and rather than slog through the heather like a number of other runners were doing, I took the path further south and contoured in, before contouring back out through the gruelling heather to the Lad Hows ridge up Grasmoor. This is relentless, and a strong headwind (that had woken me several times last night) didn't help one bit: a brutal way to start the day, and all for 25 points at the summit cairn. Wonderful views compensated, with the same clarity of light that we all enjoyed yesterday. I felt a little tired running down to Coledale Hause - completely new territory for me - the contoured too high above Eel Crag, meaning I had to drop down awkward terrain to dib the next checkpoint in a sheepfold. A tiring climb, hot already, back to the Hause and up Sand Hill (a subsidiary summit to Hopegill Head. Then I left the crowds behind for the excellent ridge NE over a forepeak towards Grisedale Pike. No need to go up this, as the control was hidden deep in remote Grisedale Gill to the North East. So a long and trackless traverse past the tourist path led down into this unfrequented valley for another remote and demanding checkpoint. Draining, very awkward terrain then made for snail-like progress back up to the Grisedale Pike ridge and all the way down to the 200m contour at the bottom of characterless Coledale Beck. Then came the crux of the entire weekend - a desperate and somewhat pointless slog direct up the northerly slopes of Outerside to get the control on the summit. Not a sensible route choice and a rather demoralising experience. Still, it meant I could take a long contouring descent on a narrow and intermittent sheep trod to get more points below Causey Pike before a short heathery climb to the little spur of Rowling End. I had at least half an hour to play with, and could have got a 20 pointer in Rigg Beck, but was quite tired so played it far too safe and descended to Stonycroft Gill and the finish above Stair. Inevitably, I lost a few places due to poor route planning and over-caution today - but it hardly mattered in the context of a great weekend, the 7th consecutive year this event has experienced benign, dry weather.

Rab Mountain Marathon

Race: Rab Mountain Marathon, day one
Peaks: Catbells, Maiden Moor, Grey Knotts, Fleetwith Pike, Haystacks, High Crag, High Stile
Time/Position: 310pts in 5:31 (13th from 213 [2nd V40])
After missing the Rab last year, I was keen to give it a good bash again, particularly after my disastrous showing on home soil in the Carneddau in 2011. This turned out to be a magical weekend of stunning weather and fantastic running in the most beautiful corner of the Lakes, with superbly challenging route planning and the usual low-key atmosphere: my 5th appearance at this great event. The HQ was at Newlands Adventure Centre, which I'd last visited 25 years ago to the day on a Manchester University geography field trip, Fresher's Week 1988! After a good night's sleep in the back of the car, and a large breakfast, I set off from Skelgill: it was a beautiful clear morning, so I didn't really think much about route choice - I just wanted to get on the ridge as soon as possible just to enjoy it. As such, a quick slog up and over the Catbells ridge revealed the famous view of Derwent Water. Possibly the best view in England, so I continued south along the ridge to savour it a little more, over Catbells to Hause Gate - fantastic easy running - before contouring round (slightly unnecessary) to another control below Maiden Moor. From the summit, I picked a good and fast line down Narrow Moor to a hidden control well down the Borrowdale side of High Spy, at Nitting Haws. I remember struggling to this point into a ferocious headwind during the infamous OMM of 2008. From here, a long traverse on tricky terrain led to Launchy Tarn, before an easy leg picked up more points at the little quarry familiar from the Borrowdale fell race final climb up Dale Head. Fast running down to Honister Pass, then up an excellent hidden trod to gain big points at a high knoll above Seatoller: very distant from start and finish! From here I took another efficient line SW, spying out a narrow ledge that traversed diagonally above Raven Crag (Gillercombe Buttress) to gain the Grey Knotts/Brandreth ridge. Nobody else took this line, which had some scrambling, but it landed me bang on the control at a little pond. It was all going so well, something had to go wrong: and it did so immediately. I didn't properly plan the next section: so dropped down to a control at Dubs Bottom before embarking on the draining climb direct up to the summit of Fleetwith Pike. I had planned to go directly across to High Crag, but the height loss and sheer steepness rendered this completely ludicrous, so I effectively had to retrace my steps before picking up the path over Haystacks. Clearly, I did this section in completely the wrong order. I was furious with myself, and reckon it cost me between 20 and 40 points. Still, the traverse of Haystacks was a delight, one of Lakeland's finest corners. It was very hot now, and I stripped to the waist before dibbing the control at exquisite Blackbeck Tarn. Tiring lumpy terrain leads over the crowded summit of Haystacks to Scarth Gap, before the very steep climb up High Crag. I've been this way at least twice before, once in a ferocious blizzard, and knew it would be the crux - especially in this heat. But the views of Pillar are superb, and a 40 point checkpoint awaited me on the summit. I got to High Stile efficiently, the highpoint of the ridge, then headed for home directly down a very steep gully on Chapel Crags to Bleaberry Tarn. I was tired now after five hours of running, so was pleased to take the zigzag path east of Sour Milk Gill to Buttermere. Then it was 3-4k back along the roads and a bridleway to the overnight camp at Cinderdale Common. I found myself in 13th place overnight, second Veteran: just 20 points behind the leader, about what I lost due to my stupid route planning error. The camp was in a lovely spot above Crummock Water: hot and sunny, with superb views back up to High Stile.

Swansea Bay 10k

Race: Swansea Bay 10k (Welsh Championships)
Time/Position: 36.05 (80th from 3000 [8th V40])
Not even a season's best time, which was the minimum target today: my third appearance for North Wales in the national 10k championships. Instead, this quickly turned into my worst performance in the vest and I couldn't even break 36 minutes on a flat course. We'd stayed overnight at Steve's in Llanwrthwl, and not got much sleep, which didn't help. I was also inclined to blame last week's Pedol Peris epic, but the real reason is probably just lack of sufficient training and intervals in particular - having not trained with Buckley since March. The Swansea Bay 10k is a massive and excellent event, though, possibly even bigger than the Cardiff 10k, with over 3000 runners going from St Helens along the road to Mumbles then back along the seafront to Swansea. Conditions were almost ideal, still and cloudy, although it did become hot and humid on the return leg (for me anyway!). A fast start saw the first 3k covered in 10.30, and a gentle hill led to the edge of Mumbles and the 5k mark in 17.35 or so. If I'd maintained this pace, I'd have managed a respectable time, but although I initially started to gain on some team-mates I struggled again after the 8k mark and was really suffering at the finish. Not a great performance, but it's always an honour to run for the region and the event itself was really good with a big race atmosphere and excellent support from across Wales.

Craig Rhiw Goch climbing

Crag: Craig Rhiw Goch, Lledr Valley
Routes: Reign (S:led), Congl (VS 4c:sec), Congl Direct Finish (HVS 5b:sec), The Riparian (E2 5c:sec)
A small but exquisitely formed crag on the banks of the Lledr. I've wanted to do these routes for years, but have never got round to it, partly because the crag is not the easiest venue to find. Once you work it out, though, it's just a few minutes from the road, which makes its unpopularity even more baffling than other nearby venues like Crafnant and Swallow Falls. I imagine it's something to do with its absence from modern selective guidebooks (although it is in my old tried and tested Williams guide). We only had a couple of hours spare late on, but that was enough time to do the routes, although it would have been nice to linger as it is a delightful spot in oak woodland right next to a beautiful stretch of the Lledr, a constant rushing presence. Reign is a very pleasant Severe, but the first few feet are a bit dirty now - and the rock was greasy after recent rain. But a steep 30ft wall is then taken on excellent holds to a little spike, then a ledge on the left before a juggy rib leads up to a final slab. A neat little route which, to repeat a theme from this summer's esoteric climbing trips, needs more traffic. I had to clear the mud from cracks to place gear higher up. Congl takes the obvious central groove, with a tricky move up the initial wall to gain a narrow slab which merges with the main groove and gives good easy climbing to a steepening. After one thought-provoking move which needs careful footwork, a ledge is reached. Vic traversed left on the normal finish, but I was able to take the excellent direct finish up the steep continuation groove. This is not as hard as the given grade (VS+ 5a I'd say) but gives a fine steep finish on small positive holds. The Riparian is even better - a superb 100ft pitch with varied technical climbing. It is never very strenuous, but absorbing throughout and a feasible lead. The initial steep slab is delightful, never overly obvious, but little flakey holds and neat thoughtful footwork allows the thin groove above to be gained. The crack here is slim but positive and leads to a right-leaning crack which I assumed was the crux. Instead, it goes easily to a resting foot ledge before a slim groove leads to two pockets. Then comes the crux, near the top: a fierce pull on the pockets with little ripples for the feet gains a good jug and easy finishing groove. Immaculate climbing. Then it was off to Cadole for the Friday night Clwydian run, followed by a rest before Sunday's Welsh 10k championships in Swansea.

Pedol Peris

Race: Peris Horseshoe fell race (18m/8500ft/AL)
Peaks: Elidir Fawr, Y Garn, Glyder Fawr, Lliwedd, Snowdon, Moel Cynghorion

Time/Position: 4.13.16 (55th from 200)

The hardest Welsh mountain race of all - some explanation for the fact that it's been five years since my last attempt at this event. Sadly, I didn't have anywhere near the right amount of hill mileage in my legs for this, but gave it a bash as it was part of the Welsh and British championships this year. As such, the quality and size of the field was remarkable and the pace very high as we set off - rain clearing - from Llanberis. This is one of the unique things about the sport - unlike even the highest profile 10k, here you are competing directly with the very best in a relatively small field. As a result, you get instantly blown away by superb athletes and it puts you firmly back in your rightful place (55th in my case!) The sheer scale of this event meant I deliberately took it as easy as was feasible on the inclines through the quarries, always atmospheric, to Elidir Fach. Skirted this, then took the longer line to gain the misty summit of Elidir in 48 minutes from Llanberis. Superb running around the head of the cwm as all the mist cleared away from the Glyderau. This is the route's highlight, best enjoyed when fresh! I slowed for the sharp haul up Y Garn, then tried to keep a steady but sustainable pace for the rough descent down to Llyn y Cwn and the steep climb up Glyder Fawr. Although it was taking a while to find my rhythm on the climbs, once I did I started to feel reasonably strong and I got to Pen y Pass via the long 'red spot' descent from Glyder Fawr (missing the 'short cut' from the glacis and wasting more time) in 1.56. The real race then begins: in 2008 I suffered badly from dehydration over Lliwedd and had no wish to repeat the experience. This time I was more cautious, jogging the Miner's Track to Llyn Llydaw with a full bottle of water, then scrambling over Lliwedd, trying to keep pace with Adrian from Eryri across Bwlch y Saethau and directly up the rocky East ridge into the mist on Yr Wyddfa. The summit of Snowdon was as crowded and surreal as ever, and I dodged the crowds from the cairn and leapt onto the railway to ensure I didn't miss the turn for the Snowdon Ranger path. Indeed, if the race just descended to Llanberis from Snowdon it would be relatively easy - but it doesn't, so the crux is this brutal final leg. I fell quite badly on the screes of the Ranger path - the momentum meant an inevitable somersault with head-on-scree contact. Never pleasant, but I managed to minimise the blow and continued, a little shaken. A painfully slow descent and tough climb back over Moel Cynghorion - now out of the mist - in 3.47. Had 13 mins left to break 4 hours, which wasn't going to happen. Instead I got even slower down to Maesgwm and through the deep stream, developing an appalling stitch for the final 'fast' run through Coed Victoria to Llanberis. This lost me even more time as I was reduced to a crippled jog, removing bumbag and bent double in an attempt to relieve the pain. Then came a desperate effort to recover in time to represent North Wales at the starkly contrasting Welsh 10k champs next week.

Gorbio climbing

Crag: La Balme, Gorbio, Provence
Routes: De Bouche a Oreille (f5:led), Signe Ascendant (f5+:led), Le Bonheur Est Dans le Pre (f5+:sec), Les Mots Pour le Dire (f5+:sec), La Lyceene (f6a:sec), Tango Passion (f5:led), Peut-etre (f6a+:led)
Just another Provencal venue with beautiful views in every direction, a tranquil ambience, and an abundance of three-star classic climbs up a wonderland of perfect sculpted limestone features. We liked it! A tortuous road leads from La Turbie round the edge of Monaco's grotesque excess and up into another world. Gorbio is a perfect 'village perche', protected from tourists by its awkward location. We parked above the village and walked into the crag through small allotments and copses. The crag is one of many at the head of this typical Provencal limestone valley - and is wonderfully tranquil. We had a few hours before the sun hit the face, so got to work immediately. The crag is characterised by a series of slabby ramplines that head diagonally leftwards and break the other theme of unrelenting steepness. The limestone features are just beautiful and lend themselves to stunning climbing up these lines of weakness. De Bouche a Oreille was a perfect example: it took a sort of 'tube' of waterworn limestone with a steep wall plunging away to the left and another curving above the ramp to the right. It gave a remarkably aesthetic climb, on beautiful cream and grey shaded limestone, using little pockets and tiny pinched holds to make progress up the slab. A wonderful start, but eclipsed by the massive Signe Ascendant to its right, which gave a monster 35m+ E1 pitch up another ramp line. This started more steeply, up a very awkward vertical groove which gives access to the main slab. This gave quite extraordinary climbing: tiny edges led to a flake crack which soon closed, necessitating a series of heart-stopping moves left to the very edge of the slab poised above a gigantic overhanging wall. For the grade, a remarkable position, very exposed considering this was just a single pitch route! Very delicate climbing up the edge led to another flake which allows you to move back right to the lower-off. Le Bonheur, the similarly graded route up the centre of the same slab, goes more easily up to the central flake crack. This is quite positive until it closes up, then a very hard move up the blank slab gains the continuation of the line: a little more disjointed that Signe Ascendant but another three-star classic. Vic then led Les Mot Pour le Dire further right. This is a shorter route, 20m+, which takes a sharp rib initially before a sequence of superb technical moves up an inclined wall, quite reasonable but sustained and thought-provoking up tiny stalactites and pockets. The quality of the hard, grey limestone was remarkable: immaculate climbing, as was the superb groove of La Lyceene to the right. Tufa pillars and flowstone features: despite the 6a grade, this seemed one of the easier routes on the crag. By now the sun was well and truly on the face, and it was getting pretty uncomfortable. We made our way through the trees to the far end of the crag, and both led Tango Passion, an easier and shorter route up three distinct walls, then Peut-etre as a suitable climax to the trip. After an initial wall, this takes a steep and very technical wall on tiny flake holds and small pockets. Probably the hardest sequence of the trip, 6a+, around UK E2 we thought, coinciding with the hottest weather: it was like inching up a vertical frying pan. I had to steady myself whilst clipping the bolts sadly, partly as a result of the extreme humidity, but we both made the lead before retreating to the medieval alleyways of the village and, later, a well earned dip in the Med before our flight home.

La Turbie climbing

Crag: La Dalle a l'Oiseau, La Turbie, Monaco
Routes: La San Nom (f4+:led), Le Rappel (f4+:sec), La Tribu de Chantal (f5:sec), Le Diedre des Limaces (f4+:sec), Plien la Vue Directe (f5:sec), La Radine (f6a:led), Combien ca Coute? (f5:sec), UNR (f4:sec), L'Envolee de Jeanine (f5:sec), Diedre de la Republique (f5+:sec), La Dextre (f5:led)
After a night in the centre of Cuneo, I was desperate to salvage something from the trip after missing out on the main objective yesterday. However, prospects looked bleak as it started to rain in the main piazza of Cuneo as we left the hotel. This became absolutely torrential as we crossed into France after the Tende tunnel, so we were forced to abandon our designs on the granite crags above St Dalmas and Sospel. Instead, we drove all the way to La Turbie above Monaco in a remarkable deluge which luckily  stopped as we arrived at the car park poised above Monaco's stadium. After walking down the zigzags that lead to La Dalle a l'Oiseau, just one of the many crags that litter the hillside above Monaco, the sun came out and the rock was miraculously bone dry. Still desperate to salvage the trip, I went straight for the classic line of the crag: the soaring groove line of La San Nom, which despite its French grade gives a superb 35m long British VS pitch. Pocketed slabs give way to the main groove, which has two steeper sections taken on big holds, then some easy bridging, before a steep crux move just before the top to gain a final juggy wall. A tremendous pitch, neatly sustained at a fairly gentle standard - but interesting throughout. Le Rappel is another long pitch up superbly positive pockets and flakes, while La Tribu de Chantal is a little harder - we did the top half, which finishes up an awkward prow via some tricky moves. Vic then led the obvious corner/diedre to the left, which gives some polished bridging and is rather overshadowed by the arete to its left taken by the superb Plien la Vue Directe. This is a fantastic, photogenic line - quite elegant but rather polished especially higher up. Easy slabs lead to a small platform, then delicate moves up the crest of the vertical arete with stunning views out over Cap Ferrat to distant Esterel. The sun was now warming things up quite dramatically, and I was feeling reasonably strong (by my pathetic standards) so upped the grade with a lead of La Radine on the right of the crag. This gave sustained and excellent 6a climbing, quite technical up a steep series of positive but tiny edges to gain a pocket. This just took two fingers, and a steep pull gained bigger holds and a short easy slab. A final groove led to the top: great stuff and another satisfying, clean lead, arguably British E2. The other routes up this wall were lengthy pitches in a similar vein but much easier (L'Envolee took the crack separating the slab with the steeper walls to the left). Vic then led another obvious classic corner line, the polished Diedre de la Republique, with tricky bridging and a surprisingly strenuous and awkward crux right at the top. We were tiring after hundreds of metres of steep and sustained climbing, but I wanted one more lead so went for the unheralded but excellent La Dextre. This looked scrappy from below, but actually gave a very varied and long pitch, up steep pocketed limestone walls to gain a layback before another wall led to the top. Ran back up the steep zigzags to the car by way of hopelessly inadequate training for next Saturday's Peris Horseshoe race!

Viso Mozzo

Peak: Viso Mozzo (3019m/9,904ft)
Area: Cottian Alps, Piemonte, Italy
This peak is completely overshadowed by Monte Viso and was a very disappointing consolation prize for me after abandoning the main climb. The day had started encouragingly after a 4am breakfast and an efficient start under clear starlit skies. All very atmospheric, particularly as we reached the chains and via ferrata section that leads up a series of steep ridges to gain Passo Sangatte. As the first glimmers of light allowed us to see the onward route, the mist came down around the upper cwm. Worse, I was suffering from a nasty stomach bug and had managed very little sleep. After some half-hearted slogging up the base of the cwm I decided to call it a day and - after months of planning - retreated back down the chains to the hut, after which I climbed up Viso Mozzo in disconsolate mood. I did, however, have the bonus of some stunning photographic scenes as the mist cleared on a number of occasions. Spectacular views up mist-draped rock walls, thousands of feet high, along with several brockenspectres as the sun backlit my shadow on the clouds below. I sauntered down to Pian del Rei where I walked up the neighbouring valleys and bathed in the source of the Po as I waited for Vic.

Pian del Rei-Rifugio Quintino Sella

Mist enveloped the car park as we arrived at Pian del Rei, so we enjoyed a very cool walk-in after a hot morning's cragging. Indeed, we felt quite at home up here - as the valleys above Crissalo have a distinctively Welsh feel: at least they did in these conditions. The walk-in to the Sella hut is lengthy but nowhere near as steep as Wednesday's slog to the Remondino hut. A few zigzags lead to a stream crossing then tranquil Lago Fiorenza. Vic and I kept to our own pace, and just above the lake I saw my first salamander, the endemic Salamandra Lanzei, which only lives in this corner of the Cottian Alps - an extraordinary sight, completely black and completely tame. I went on to see several more during the walk-in. A short climb up a narrow valley led to a long, looping traverse around the stunning, turquoise Lago Chiaretto. I was completely alone in the landscape now, the mist draping the walls of Viso to the right and the wedge-shaped Viso Mozzo directly in front: all quite dramatic. I waited for Vic and we continued upwards into the mist, weaving through some hostile moraines (dozens of alpine accentors, alpine chough and water pipits here) to finally gain views of the Lago Grande del Viso and the hut, which just materialised out of the mist. Rather chilly as we arrived, but a convivial evening followed, with superb roast beef and red wine as the rain hammered against the windows of the hut.

Po Valley climbing

Crag: San Leonardo, Piemonte, Italy
Routes: Spigolino (f5a:led), La Barbie (f5c:sec), Bugs Bunny (f5a:sec), Siamo Solo Noi (f5b:led), Siamo Pure (f5b:sec), Rodicchio (f4c:led), Super Mario (f5c:sec), Il Gufo (f5c:led), Vento Da Nord (f5b:sec), Liberati (f6a+:sec)
The upper Po Valley is littered with granite crags, and you don't have to drive far from Saluzzo to get to them. So after an excellent evening enjoying Dolcetto d'Alba and a range of aperitivos in the old town, we were keen to get some cragging in after breakfast. Monte Bracco is probably the finest crag in these parts, but we were mindful of the need to conserve energy after Argentera and before our attempt on Viso, so we settled for the similar but smaller crag of San Leonardo above the village of Revello. The walk-in became far more of a trial than it needed to be, because a jeep obscured the critical path junction which led to the crag. So we made a tiring and unnecessary detour to the shrine of San Leonardo on top of a big hill overlooking the Po Valley. Eventually, however, we reached the crag, which was ideal for our purposes today: perhaps 20-25m high, well-bolted, shady and tree-lined, all routes on solid gneiss. I kicked off with a lead of Spigolino, a little ridge as its name suggests, which gave delightful gentle climbing up an elegant rib of gneiss. Vic's lead of La Barbie was a steeper but varied line at f5c/HVS, which took a weirdly awkward series of interlocking reefs of granite before emerging onto a delicate and technical slab. Bugs Bunny took an easier groove further left. I then led another fine route, Siamo Solo Noi, which went easily to a small overhang taken on big holds. Great moves over this to another thought-provoking slabby finish. The left-hand line was marginally harder, particularly as the sun was now drenching the upper part of the crag and it was becoming quite hot. Rodicchio was an easy route on huge holds, while Super Mario gave some really excellent steep and juggy climbing up a series of quite powerful vertical cracks at f5c+/E1. The route of the day, from my perspective, came next - Il Gufo (the Owl), a big 80ft pitch taking an excellent natural line up the highest part of the crag. Initially, the route goes up an awkward wide chimney, which slants right and can be avoided by some steep and insecure (and rather green) shelves on the right wall. A few moves up the chimney then become necessary, before the route breaks out right up the now clean wall to an excellent sustained headwall with some tricky but elegant moves. Neatly sustained at f5c/HVS+ throughout: a pleasingly efficient, clean lead. A couple of shorter routes, including one at f6a+ which contained one very technical move off a one-finger pocket, before we retreated from the sun up the valley to a panini in Cristallo. We then took the tortuous road all the way to Pian del Rei at 2000m, where we began the long walk-in to the Sella Hut in temperatures that were at least 20c cooler.

Argentera

Peaks: Cima Sud, Argentera (3297m/10,817ft)
Area: Alpi Maritime, Piemonte, Italy
Routes: South-East Flank (PD II)
September means a late dawn this far south in the Alps, so there was no need for a 4am start. It's a shortish route, too, despite its status as the highest peak in the Maritime Alps, so we breakfasted in a dark hut at 6am and left in the half-light before 7am. Some mist was still draping the lower part of the Assedras cwm as we took the intricate route through the moraines before beginning the ever-steepening slog up towards the Passo dei Detriti. As its name suggests, this involves some appalling scree and moraine powder higher up. We managed to find a few more solid ribs to scramble up, and the ascent was enlivened by views of Nasta and more distant northern peaks above the Val di Gesso that I've climbed before like Malinvern and Fremamorta. Still, it was with some relief that we gained the Passo and stunning morning views over the rest of the Maritime Alps as the sunshine lit the ridge. But the views Gelas, Maledie et al, good though they are, are eclipsed by the prospect of the onward route - largely because it is such an outrageously improbable line for an easy scramble. No wonder it wasn't discovered until years after Coolidge made the first ascent of the peak by a much harder ice couloir further north in 1879. Essentially, it is a narrow ramp curving up to a couloir, almost invisible from below. We descended a little too far over the other side of the ridge initially, giving us a slightly awkward and exposed section of slabby scrambling to gain the main ledge line at two long fixed ropes below the walls of Cima Genova. The ledge line continues in this superbly atmospheric vein, poised between the upper walls and the small glacier/neve field above the Baus bivouac. A few quite narrow sections lead to a rounded slab then a short chimney. Above this, easier and less exposed slopes up to a much longer couloir, which has fixed ropes up its entire length but gives pleasant II+ scrambling up to the east ridge. This gives a short section of very easy scrambling to gain the summit. We spent a few minutes here enjoying fantastic views as far as Monte Rosa, with tendrils of mist accentuating the atmosphere of the walls plunging down to the south. It was very satisfying to pick out the peaks I've climbed in this area. We roped up for some of the descent, just to renew our acquaintance with moving together. The ledge traverse was misty initially, then clearing, giving some stunning effects. From the Passo, the descent back to the hut, then valley, is pretty arduous. I passed within a couple of metres of a huge ibex at one point, then a small flock of ptarmigan (still white) flew over. After a cold wash in the river, we drove for pizza in Borgo San Dalmazzo, then continued north to hotel and aperitifs in Saluzzo.

Valdieri-Rifugio Remondino walk

Over a period of two decades, I reckon I've climbed more than 30 peaks in the Maritime Alps. However, the one big omission from my CV has always been the Argentera, the highpoint of the range. So this short trip with Vic seemed a good way to put that right, by treating it as a short acclimatisation peak en route to Viso. It's a long drive from Nice across the border into Liguria then Piemonte. Pleasant though, especially if you break the drive with salad nicoise in a superb Tende restaurant. The drive to the roadhead at Terme di Valdieri is astonishing: it starts off well surfaced and not too steep, but ends in several miles of bouldery unsurfaced singletrack. Not for the faint-hearted, and not ideal in the tiny C1 hire car we'd just picked up at Nice airport! The walk-in to the Remondino hut at the base of the Argentera is short and sharp, but the scenery at the end of the valley is delightful. I know the other side of this valley (i.e. across the frontier ridge around Le Boreon) very well, just a steep walk away on foot, but hundreds of miles and a day's journey by car. After weaving up through copses, a huge boulder field allows steeper upper slopes below a superb waterfall to be reached. A final steep (and hot) pull gains the upper cwm and the hut in a spectacular position below the pinnacles of Nasta and Argentera. We were both tired after a 5am start from Wales, so a few glasses of wine and an excellent meal of local game (chamois?) and mash sent us off for an early night after enjoying a wonderful cloud inversion as tendrils of mist licked up the Val di Gesso.

Caernarfon 10k

Race: Caernarfon 10k (North Wales Championships)
Time/Position: 36.10 (9th from 211 [2nd V40])
It's always nice to have an excuse to head out to Caernarfon with the family, even though we'd just got back from a long drive to London via Leicester. This was an opportunity to clear the head, although I still had a long urban East End run through Leyton in my legs. As such, it was a workmanlike performance at best, a few seconds down on last year's time (when it incorporated the Welsh Champs) and even further down on my best time for the course. I know from past experience that it is easy for me to overdo it on the flat seaside section that goes on for over 4k, with great views of Mynydd Mawr and the Menai Straits. I have suffered on the hills that give the rest of this route its character as a result of this in the past. So I took it fairly easy, especially as there was a headwind, losing too much ground to others in the category perhaps and going through 5k in 18.00. But it did mean I felt reasonably fresh for the hills, and I did pick up a few more places before losing out in the final very fast section past the castle.

Moel Famau fell race

Race: Cilcain Mountain Race (5m/1237ft)
Time/Position: 36.56 (10th from 202)
Last year's time was a minute down on 2011, and this was even slower! Not sure whether this is symbolic of a gradual decline, or an unusually good performance two years ago. Whatever, today was my tenth running of the event and so an anniversary of sorts: there is surely no other race I have done 10 times. A superb day for it too, sunny and clear, and a huge field (200+) turned out. It is far from a typical Clwydian race, with its big cheering crowds and village show atmosphere, but I always enjoy it. It was hotter than usual today, and I may have gone off a little too fast. Struggled quite early on the zigzags and was much slower to the top than usual. I made up for this a little with a reasonably sharp descent, and managed to claw back a few places and hold on for the final climb back to the village to just squeeze into the top 10.

Castle Inn climbing

Peak/Crag: Castle Inn Quarry
Routes: School Mam (f6a:led), Route 1 (f5:sec), Route 2 (f6a:sec), Lili Marlene (f5+:led), Alone With The Moon (f5:sec), Right-hand Variant (f6a:sec), Open Legs (f6b:led), Finale (f5:sec), More Than This (f6a:sec)
A huge contrast with our last visit in February when we climbed 20 routes but the temperature never rose above -2c!. I've been climbing here for 22 years and have done the routes on the main face around 15 times, but it remains the closest thing to a French-style bolted limestone crag in Wales. We only had a couple of hours spare, so I kicked off with the overgraded School Mam, the newer direct line, which goes up small positive holds to gain a steepish crack which leads to a very juggy final wall which is far easier than it looks from below. Mick then led Route 1, which remains (by some margin) my most frequently climbed route: always entertaining and now with even more bolts. Route 2, even with its polish, remains another soft touch in my view, but I always enjoy the technical moves up the little nobules and the tiny pinch-grip stalactite on the flowstone. We moved further to the left, where I led the awkward line of Lili Marlene before seconding Mick up a couple of other short routes. I then led the short but intricate 6b to its left. I did this cleanly and quickly, but again feel that it is probably a tad overgraded. Small holds, and tiny ripples for the feet, allow for moves diagonally right to gain a superb sharp edge and easier climbing. The 6a arete left of Finale was also despatched cleanly and efficiently: a valuable short session in advance of next months Alps trip.