Camping with Morgan

Recovery post-marathon has gone pretty well, probably my most comfortable ever recovery apart from the Jungfrau marathon last September. I felt pretty good by Wednesday, and had a constructive and pretty quick eight miler round Shordley and Golly in the sunshine on Saturday. Went camping in a lovely campsite between Llanbedr DC and Rhewl on Saturday evening, with Morgan. Eve a little upset not to be going, but I'm going to have to buy a bigger tent before both of them can go. Beautiful weather again - virtually no rain or even cloud for weeks, months...

London marathon, Eglwyseg climbing, Border League races, Brecon Beacons hill runs

Another very busy week at the end of easter, culminating in the London marathon yesterday. Supposedly 23c at midday, certainly felt very demanding and I suffered badly in the last 10k: although I think lack of long runs in training was as much to blame as the heat. So my 3:39 was disappointing - I'd hoped to get under 3:20 - but not entirely unexpected. Still, a tremendous day for my seventh marathon and second London, six years after my first. Support was superb throughout, really memorable. The week before had been a bit busy. I'd gone climbing at World's End on Thursday 19 April, shunting a few routes I haven't done before including Flakeless Groove (HS), White Crack, Scarface Groove and a few others. Nice to be back at a favourite venue, probably 16 years or so since my prime! Then went for a run along Offa's Dyke to near the summit of Cyrn y Brain. On Sunday 15 April I had a disappointing performance in the 6th and penultimate border league race of the season, on roads I knew well (from Northop College, so the hilly course should have suited me). Finished 66th in 26:59 (4.3m), my second worst of the season, although I am now 14th senior man in the league. Buckley have an unassailable lead at the top of division one. A work trip to Swansea at the weekend saw me off on an opportunistic 2.5 hour run around the Carmarthen Fan peaks on the way down (13 April). Started from Glyntawe after a 3 hr drive from home. Ran up Fan Hir, then over Fan Brycheiniog and Bannau Sir Gaer before the long run south over trackless moorland back to the sinkholes and then the car. Changed into shirt and drove to the conference! Next day, drove back from Swansea via Brynamman in hot sunshine and enjoyed a quick opportunistic walk/jog up the isolated hill of Garreg Lwyd. Hot but rather hazy unfortunately.

Creigiau Gleision scramble

With the beautiful weather continuing, I couldn't resist heading off to Snowdonia yesterday. I wanted to visit the obscure, rather strange crag of Creigiau Gleision which is usually intimidating and wet - but today was bone dry. I did the Mushroom Garden scramble, which was interesting and enjoyable. It leaves the Eastern Gully at a slabby wall, then twists and turns up the left arete of the gully, passing some tottering towers and scree couloirs. Generally good rock, though, with interesting route finding. I then ran up Foel Goch, then over to Elidir Fawr and across Mynydd Perfedd before a hot and sunny descent. About 2:20 for the round, a nice blend of running and scrambling with an exploratory feel.

Chester Spring 5 race, Pandy rock climbing, Berwyn hill runs, Moel Siabod, Llandegla MTB circuit

A busy Easter weekend, characterised by perfect weather. Started badly, with a poor performance at the Chester Spring 5, badly affected by the allergy-induced asthma the new house has induced. After 2 x 6 minute miles, I was on to break 30 minutes, but then slowed to a jog and came in 2 minutes down on target time (around 31:50). Next day dawned blue and sunny. I drove to Pandy Outcrop, a crag I've never been able to find before, and shunted the superb granite slab of Schmutzig - probably the best severe in 'Clwyd'. Two more good routes on this lovely piece of rock, in a wonderful location above the Teirw valley. I then drove to Cwm Maen Gwynedd for a run around the ridge from Mynydd Tarw over Foel Wen, Tomle and Cadair Berwyn, and back down the valley. Got sun burned on a 2:15 outing. Up Moel Siabod next day with Rich and Mike. Then round the Llandegla red MTB circuit with the crowds on Easter Saturday. A 2 hour run around Dodleston, Pulford and Rossett from the house suggested my lungs were clearing on the Sunday, and I had a rest yesterday - with a family walk along the Dee from Eccleston. I'll try some intervals with Buckley tonight - see what my lungs are like.

Maeshafn climbing comeback, Waun y Llyn MTB loop

Managed a couple of shunted routes in lovely spring sunshine at Maeshafn on Monday: the old classic Shattered Crack (HS) among them, 16 or 17 years after I first did it! Followed this by a nice run up and over Moel Findeg. Still having some breathing issues, so yesterday went for a mountain bike ride instead. Explored our new area via a circuitous route from the house up Waun y Llyn via Horeb. Did some bouldering on the excellent sandstone outcrop near the top, then rode over Hope Mountain and down to Cymau, then Hope and back home. It's the Chester Spring 5 mile road race tonight.

Cilcain run, Eve on Moel Famau

Struggled a bit over the past week, possibly due to mild chest infection or mild asthma from the new house carpets! Bit of a concern, with London less than three weeks away. Ran a disappointing 18:33 on the Buckley 5k (training) route on Tuesday. Blew up with 2k to go and had very raspy lungs. A tough long run on Saturday was also not ideal: ran with Shane and James from the club (Mold to Loggerheads, Cilcain, Pantymywn and back). A hilly circuit, but found it a struggle, especially as I tagged the Mold border league 5 miler to the end, over to Nercwys and back. I was out for nearly 2.5 hours but it didn't feel like the big session it needed to be. Did manage a 40 mile week though. Yesterday, Eve and Morgan came up Moel Famau with me from Bwlch Penbarras in perfect spring weather. Eve's been talking about it for a while, and her legs only gave out for the final section!

Higher Kinnerton running

Just starting to enjoy new running routes from our new house in Higher Kinnerton. Not easy to keep up with marathon training in current chaotically busy circumstances, but on Sunday I did manage a fairly long run from the house to Lower Kinnerton, then Bretton, then Saltney, through Curzon Park to Handbridge, then over the bridge and around the Roodee to the Dee path all the way back to Saltney Ferry. Over the bridge, then back to Bretton, then Gorstella, and then home. A great circuit. The individual border league standings are now through: I've climbed to 16th senior male in the league, with 208 points. All quite tight and competitive, with two races left to go.

Border League: round 5

Quite pleased with my performance in the 5th round of the Border League last Sunday. The race was Buckley's home event, a hilly (and windy) 5 mile course from Mold out to Nercwys and back. It suited me quite well, and I came 48th from the usual strong field of 253, in 30:42 to score in 10th place for Buckley. We are now miles in front at the top of division 1. We finally exchanged and completed on our house in Higher Kinnerton yesterday, so are in the process of moving in and ending the itinerant lifestyle we've lived since January 8th!

Penmaenbach Quarry

Another quick climbing trip this morning, using the shunt again. I visited Penmaenbach quarry, a bolted venue above the A55 which I've often looked at and pondered. The belays at the top weren't brilliant, so I just did the obvious groove line in the middle of the lower quarry. Not bad, more awkward than it first appears: probably about HS 4b, with some tricky bridging in places. I then did some good bouldering higher up, and climbed the free standing pinnacle via the longer easy 'arete'. A reasonable venue, might repay another visit, ideally with a partner. After this I did a short recovery run along Marine Drive. I've been feeling quite good this week, with a good 10 mile trip from the Nova in Prestatyn along to the Foryd in West Rhyl in steady rain. Enjoyable despite the squalour. All bodes well for this Sunday: the fifth border league fixture.

Moel Wnion fell race

A slightly disappointing performance on the very enjoyable Moel Wnion fell race on Saturday. My third fell race in two weeks - this one is a classic round, although I didn't realise it covered the entire ridge above Rachub (near Bethesda) until I was actually on it! Cue a degree of pain as I struggled up the three subsidiary summits (Gyrn, Llefn and Moel Faban), after putting all my energy into getting up Wnion. The last hill, Faban, was particularly traumatic and I lost a few places here. Still, that's not the point. It was a great outing in nice weather: rather windy but sunny and clear. A spectacular place to run and a corner of the Carneddau I don't know very well. The race is only short, although steep (AS, 4m, 1600ft) and we all went for a family outing up Allt Wen again when I'd finished. A useful warm down, and Morgan and Eve both made the top without complaint again, although it was far too windy really. I was able to continue marathon training on Sunday - with a 2 hr slog out to Rhos on Sea and Penrhyn Bay via Mochdre and Glanwydden. Then back over the Little Orme, along Llandudno prom to Mostyn Street, West Shore, Deganwy and back. Felt quite good: hamstring feels OK again.

Conwy Mountain shunted climbs

Experimented with my newly purchased Shunt on Conwy Mountain crag today: a clever piece of climbing equipment allowing for safe ascents of a fixed rope. I've climbed on this slabby 15m high crag before, and did eight routes at lunchtime today - including the delicate HS slab on the right with a nice crux at the top of the route (Oaklands 4C?). Felt good to be back on the rock, would really like to pick up the rock climbing this summer. Some bouldering as well, but this crag is too slabby to be much good as a workout, even for me. Running hasn't gone well since the Pipe Dream fell race. Did a tough intervals session with Buckley on Tuesday which seemed to exhaust me (in combination with the race) for the rest of the week. Also made my hamstring tweak a lot worse - I'll need to be cautious for a bit now, but with Moel Wnion race tomorrow that looks unlikely. Ran around the lanes and bridleways of Moel Maenefa (above Rhuallt) yesterday: found it tough going, legs felt the lead particularly on the climb back up Rhuallt hill on the old road.

Pipe Dream fell race, Creigiau Gleision circuit

An active and enjoyable weekend in Conwy. Saturday was a nice day: bracing and sunny for a change. We (myself, Rich and Mike) went up to Llyn Crafnant and walked the skyline ridge, a cracking discovery which I first did only three or so years ago. Along the lake to the nice rocky path up Crimpiau, then over Craig Wen to the broad and boggy ridge leading to the lovely peak of Creigiau Gleision. I've always liked this hill: its isolated position gives tremendous views over Ogwen and Wyddfa. Cowlyd a nice deep blue foreground. The weather was photogenic: nice cloudscapes. I was using sticks to conserve energy because I was planning a crack at the Pipe Dream fell race next day - indeed I could see the eponymous 'pipe' (a pipeline that climbs the hillside from Dolgarrog) from Gleision! So next day, we headed off en famile for Dolgarrog. The race was a real contrast with Moel y Ci last week, although both were 5 miles long: much steeper (1700ft climbing) and less varied, but still a cracking excursion. It goes very steeply up the hill from Dolgarrog, following the pipe, then gets more runnable across the open hill in strong winds and rain to the small summit NE of Moel Eilio. I turned a complete somersault after tripping on a tussock on the first section of the descent. Then a full pelt, very fast, rather tretcherous (in this weather) descent back to Dolgarrog via some very steep wet paths, tracks, small roads, fields, streams and woodland. Finished in 43:30 for 16th place (from 46), a pleasing performance, then we all went to Betws - but the rain stayed torrential all day.

Moel y Ci fell race, Great Orme run

Competed in my first fell race of 2007 on Saturday: Ras Moel y Ci, from Tregarth near Bangor. Supposedly about 4 miles and 900-odd ft, but the general feeling was that it was more like 5 to 5.5 miles. A great route though, with a very enjoyable mix of steepish bouldery fields, along with a fair amount of fast downhill tarmac and tracks, and a steep moorland climb to the summit plateau. Then an exciting steep descent to boggy forest paths, tracks and fields to finish. I kept it fairly comfortable, but retained my position on the descent to come 25th from a field of 79 in 46:10. Next day, I felt strong enough to continue my marathon training with a superb run from Hodeston in Conwy around the North Wales coast path to the Great Orme. Ran all the way along Marine Drive, fantastically enjoyable in the wind - with seals below and fulmars cackling on the cliffs above - before emerging among the Sunday strollers in Llandudno. Quite a contrast. Then all the way along the prom to the retail park and back via Llanrhos and Deganwy to Junction and Conwy in about 1:49.

Halkyn climbs and more

An interesting trip to the post-industrial landscape of Halkyn mountain yesterday. We've had a few family sledging trips up here, and I ran around the mountain recently - but had noticed a few limestone outcrops dotted around, so explored them yesterday. There are three small crags, seemingly natural rather than quarried (good rough limestone), to the north of the road near an old lead mine. They are in what seems to be a natural sinkhole, but are sadly nowhere more than 20ft high. The left hand buttress seemed most promising, but all routes were simple - although fun given how little climbing I now do: I climbed the arete (Windmill arete, M - all tiny microroutes named without too much imagination!), crack to the right (Cloddiau crack, HD), and easy wall right again (Halkyn Steps, D). There is a harder arete on the crag to the right, and an excellent bouldering wall to the south of the road - about 50 metres long, 15 foot high - with a splendid VS/HVS traverse at mid height which I enjoyed immensely, especially as the landing is grassy and friendly. It's a fascinating area: there seem to be few natural caves dotted around which might be worth exploring. After my bouldering, I went for a fell run around the mountain, short and easy as I'd done a hard intervals session with Buckley the day before. My time for the Wrexham half was confirmed as 1:25:33, 82nd in the race, and 25th in the North Wales championships.

Wrexham half marathon

A pleasing performance in yesterday's Wrexham (Village Bakery) half marathon. I wanted to break 1:26 and did this fairly clinically at 6:30 mile pace, recording an unconfirmed time of 1:25:30, my fourth consecutive PB at the distance. This was 2.5 mins quicker than Helsby, although I pushed this a lot harder: I didn't have much choice, as I felt fine, conditions were perfectly still and sunny, and the course is largely flat. Went off too fast, going through 6 miles in about 37:50, slowing to 64:40 by 10 miles and then almost blowing up for a few difficult minutes. But just held it together to achieve my target time, almost to the second. I can feel it in my legs this morning, and intend to concentrate on the hills for a few weeks now.

Lake District/Bowland weekend

We had a brief 24-hour trip to the Lakes/North Lancashire this weekend. I managed a quick run up Clougha Pike, on the edge of the Forest of Bowland, from Jubilee Tower on the Saturday. About 30 mins to the top and back, frost and some snow preventing me from plunging into too many bogs. Conditions were grimmish. We went to Langdale the next day, the first visit for some years for me. Weather not ideal, but it cleared throughout the day. Morgan and I had a brief walk contouring the valley side as the mist cleared from the Pikes to reveal some snow, but not much (considering the amount on Halkyn mountain, Saturday morning: knee deep in places). I also had a quick run along the bridleways.

Pen y Cloddiau snowy run

At last, a cold snap - but me in St Asaph where it hardly ever snows. So today I headed to Bodfari for an excellent run in the snow up to Pen y Cloddiau summit in about 30 mins, down in just under 25. Thick snow higher up, starting to drift with quite a lot falling, a bitter wind and low cloud. An excellent outing and a good runnable route along Offa's Dyke path, exhilarating in these conditions.

Border League round 4, Allt Wen walk, Sychnant run

Still between houses and spending weekends in Conwy, trying at least to take advantage of the location. So on Saturday (3 Feb) we all went up Allt Wen in beautiful winter sunshine. This was Eve's first ever peak and she managed to walk the whole way - although she didn't much care for the 'prickles' (gorse). Fabulous views from the top: very clear. I did the 4th Border League race of the season on the 4th, and expunged the memory of my bad race in Prestatyn on round 3 with a better performance to finish 56th in the strong field men's race with a time of 37:04 (6 mile race around scenic lanes, Christleton near Chester). I scored for Buckley for the third time this season and we are now comfortably in front at the top of division one. I am 19th senior male in the league at present, although it's all rather tight. The next day I ran over the hills from the Sychnant pass on the old paths up to Tal y Fan, turning back below summit for the wonderful whaleback ridge north of Cefn Maen Amor. Fantastic sunny views down the valley, the sea below and in front: an exhilarating place to run in cold, still, bracing conditions. Had a reasonable 6 miler round St Asaph in more cold sunshine yesterday.

Tal y Fan run from Conwy, Welshpool-Clun OD run

We are spending weekends in Conwy at the moment, so I took the opportunity to run from the house (which is within the walls) to the top of Tal y Fan yesterday. A wonderful run, I'd always thought it would be too tough but in fact it went comfortably in one hour from kitchen to summit - where gale force winds and poor visibility made me feel a bit vulnerable without any warm clothing. Got back to the house from the top, via Llangelynnin church and Hendre, in 45 minutes. The ultimate challenge might be Foel Fras from the house? After work on Friday, I headed for Ogwen with snow climbing gear - but rain was falling and snow was melting, so I just went for a quick run up Carnedd y Filiast, abandoning near the top in slush and driving rain (me in fell shoes). Then ran along the cycle path to Bethesda. Feeling much fitter now, at last. This was proved, I hope, when I ran/walked a 20 mile section of the Offa's Dyke path on the 23rd, just two days after the half marathon. Lovely winter sunshine as I ran from Buttington near Welshpool to Brompton crossroads in around 2 hours, then via the atmospheric Kerry Ridgeway via isolated valleys - an ancient landscape, on the dyke itself - to Newcastle on Clun.

Four Villages half marathon

An encouraging performance in yesterday's Four Villages half marathon (Helsby) - my return to racing since my disaster in early December. I decided to take it fairly easy and go for sub-90 minutes, which I've never done before (my last half marathon was last May, there aren't many around these days). But conditions turned out better than expected, so I pushed it a bit while remaining comfortable and enjoyable throughout. Got round in just under 1:28, which is pleasing and gives me a platform to beat in forthcoming flatter halfs. At least I've got a bit of form back.