Club 5k handicap

It's been a while since I last did a handicap event, but I do remember doing this course a few years ago. It leaves the bottom Famau car park by the track climb towards Cilcain, a hard effort in itself, before a very fast descent curves round to the base of the main track. After this, I had forgotten how long the next climb is - and it now has an awkward rolling surface of fairly large stones. I started with Jez and Gerard, and finished between them in mid-pack, which is where I almost always finish in handicaps! 9th from 21 in 20.33, the 4th fastest time. Not too bad given the 180m elevation and awkward surface.

Princes parkrun

'Race': Princes parkrun

Time/Position: 18.38 (4th from 358)

I seem to be unconsciously ticking off the parkruns within a 30 mile radius of home, and this was a particularly enjoyable example, combined with some social visiting and a little tour of the 'Welsh streets'. That came first, on the warm-up through the little terraces on the edge of Toxteth. Then came the parkrun, Dave L's local, a very pleasant two and a half lap circuit of Princes Park (Sefton Park's smaller relation) in blustery conditions. It was the standard post-50 performance and I was first in the age-graded race, whatever that means. I've done far more parkruns this year than ever before - I was only ever an occasional parkrunner in the past as I always felt they interfered with proper races, but as I ease off for the 'fallow year' they will make an excellent replacement.

Round the Walls

Race: Round the Walls (4m)

Time/Position: 24.03 (14th from 556)

The third consecutive Walls race for which I have been recovering from illness. In 2021 I was recovering from Covid, in 2022 glandular fever, and this year a short but unpleasant vomiting bug which struck after Friday's long run. To my surprise, however, I had a good outing - and felt fresh and perky throughout. Perfect conditions for a change, albeit a bit wet on the Roodee, and it was the same course as last year - the most satisfying of the many variants I have raced on my 13 or 14 appearances at this race, one of the oldest in the area. I pulled away from Jez on the racecourse and then upped the pace, perhaps to an unwise extent, for the riverside path to the Grosvenor Bridge. Then it is up on the walls at Lower Bridge Street. I had a great circuit, and as ever I really enjoyed the exciting racing along the walls, taking a couple more places and keeping a decent pace ticking over to the finish back on the Roodee. I was beaten by a mystery V50 but finished ahead of all V40s and V45s. Kate and Morgan had excellent races too, M finishing comfortably in the top quarter despite a distinct lack of training. 

Llandygai-Eirias Park

The traditional pre-Christmas long outing, our decision today was made for us because 50mph+ westerlies were raking north Wales and rendering the mountains out of bounds. A linear run seemed advisable, along the lines of our North Llyn epic of 2020. I parked in Llandygai just outside Bangor and Jez and I set off along the North Wales Path, following which was our basic plan for the day. It is quite poorly marked, but we found our way under the A55 then alongside the Ogwen, fairly raging after much rain. The path weaves up towards Bethesda through some unfamiliar terrain but with a very familiar backdrop of the high Carneddau, shrouded in mist. After a long but intermittent climb it finally heads eastwards along the minor Aber-Tal y Bont road before branching off for superb running along the tracks that encircle the northern edge of the Carneddau. These contour high above the Menai Strait and always give exhilarating running, but particularly so today with the tailwind. The route then kinks south towards Aber Falls, hard with a headwind. Again, I had done this section before and it is brilliant, delivering us to the foot of the falls. Back down the tourist route then up along the Foel Fras climb towards Bwlch y Ddaefaen. I began to tire a bit for the next section which was much harder than I had anticipated. It descends to the deep valley of Nant y Coed above Llanfairfechan, then climbs up to the Druid's Circle in pretty grim weather, before taking a slightly circuitous route to the top of Sychnant. I was really tiring, partly because I hadn't felt great since Wednesday night, partly because the NWP took longer than anticipated. Whatever, I took the road back to our planned break in Hod, and Jez joined me five minutes later - 20 miles down, but well timed for a bite to eat. After this, fresh socks and road shoes represented rebirth, and we initiated 'plan b', a direct route back to the second car at Eirias Park (where Jez had parked this morning). I felt much better through Junction and then up Pabo Lane to Mochdre, despite its rather painful little gradients. Then an easier finale through the mean streets of Colwyn Bay to Eirias Park. Almost 44k/1500m elevation, rather surprisingly. An excellent and memorable outing to add to the pre-Christmas tradition which goes back many years now.

Widnes parkrun

'Race': Widnes parkrun

Time/Position: 18.02 (4th from 256)

The scenic delights of Widnes ('the dirtiest, ugliest and most depressing town in England' according to an 1888 source) lured me to Victoria Park, venue for what I had been told was a fast, flat parkrun. It was indeed but sadly I felt a little lethargic this morning. Still, it was nice to see Dave L and I did quite enjoy the three-lap circuit of the park, which goes past a duckpond and has plenty of space for overtaking. I would say Bala is a tad quicker, for me anyway, but this is still potentially a very fast parkrun and a nice little outing from home.

Skiddaw

Peaks: Little Man, Skiddaw

Area: Skiddaw, Lake District

As with Langstrath, it's been decades since I was last on Skiddaw. I do remember being a little uneasy about whether I had actually been to the true summit or not that day in the 1990s, as the clag was very thick (and it has to be said that it's not the most exciting mountain). Today, going via Little Man, I realised that I had almost certainly only climbed the forepeak of Little Man that day so had actually never properly done Skiddaw (although the memory is naturally hazy). After another nice evening and breakfast with Vic in the Borrowdale Hostel, I set off for the car park at Latrigg above Keswick and Applethwaite. The weather seemed to be clearing a little after a wet night, although there was a lot of hill fog around. I adopted a jogging approach, intent on a fairly quick trip to the summit before driving home. The huge path is pretty steep initially, and after one spectacular clearance to the east when the sun broke through the mist, I re-entered the clag which remained set in. After the initial steepness, it all eases as it continues upwards. I took the left-hand branch towards Little Man, where I realised this was very likely where I had actually got to all those years ago. I realised this because, in the mist, it seems a very distinctive peak. In reality, there's a fairly long descent before a long section of treacherous sheet ice/neve in the col between the two peaks. The final haul to Skiddaw proper takes some time and I reached the trig in 56m from the car. I descended direct down the quickest possible line, superb running, in 27 minutes. About 1.23 in total.

Esk Pike maxed

Peaks: Esk Pike

Area: Borrowdale, Lake District

As with Great End this time last year, Esk Pike is a lesser known peak surrounded by more famous and distinguished mountains. And as with Great End, I couldn't remember doing it before. So, again as with Great End, I decided to make it the target of a longish loop to maximise its value. I wanted to go from the door of the hostel (my favourite in the Lakes) so did so after a nice breakfast with Vic. I jogged to Stonethwaite and then embarked on the track to Langstrath. This, rather like its name suggests, feels a little Scottish and is not typical of the Lakes. It kinks markedly to the west quite quickly and opens out to a broad valley with views of Esk Pike and Bowfell at the head. I had only been up it once before, with Tim in the late 90s, when we came to do Cam Crag Ridge, a well known scramble. That was an option today, but the weather was shaping up nicely so I wanted to go further. A mid-layer of mist was giving some spectacular views and it was cold and crisp, infinitely better than yesterday. Langstrath is gentle but long, and it narrows towards the top when the path becomes surprisingly vague (most people head up Stake Pass before the upper section). I was heading for Angle Tarn but unfortunately entered the mist at this point - it was so thick that viz was dramatically reduced and I had to be quite careful to find my way to the lake. In fact I virtually walked into it before I properly saw it, such was the denseness of the mist. The main path from Mickleden represents a huge contrast, engineered and very popular (although not today!). As I climbed above the tarn, the mist began to peel away with stunning views of Bowfell as it poked through into a blue sky. A little higher I found the turn-off for Ore Gap (I was here just after lockdown for my solo Langdale Horseshoe) and ploughed up this, some verglas at the top. It clouded over as I turned right for the rocky summit of Esk Pike but the summit still gave great views to Scafell Pike, the Langdale Pikes and Skiddaw, as well as Morecambe Bay in the distance. A nice little terrace gives a comfortable descent to Esk Hause. From here, I perhaps should have extended the day but I didn't want to overexert myself and was moving quickly. Great Gable made a superb backdrop to the rest of the descent, which is very comfortable and fast. It is also familiar down to Styhead Tarn, another major crossing point and familiar from several classic long fell races that I have done. From the tarn, I got down to Stockley Bridge and Seathwaite in around 25 minutes, then continued along the road to Seatoller and back to the hostel. Over 21k but less than 900m elevation - in 3.10. A delightful amble around Rosthwaite and the Derwent followed, more convinced than ever that this is the best time to visit the Lakes, mid-week in mid-winter.

Haweswater loop

The hinterland west of Shap is where the Yorkshire Dales meets the Lakes, or that's how it seems to me as an outsider. I have been here before - once to climb on Gouther Crag, and twice for mountain marathons based around Wetsleddale. This was a perfect way to break the journey to Borrowdale today - the weather was abysmal, the high tops out, and it gave a brilliant little outing. I remember running down the far end of Haweswater in one of those mountain marathons, most likely the Rab in 2010. Today I parked in Burnbanks and took the full 10 mile circuit of the lake anticlockwise, remembering that the valley is the site of the drowned village of Mardale Green, the Cumbrian equivalent of Tryweryn. The western shores are traversed by a little rocky path, flooded in places today, and have a wonderful wild feel at the far end, accentuated today by the weather conditions which remained dreadful, torrential rain throughout. The path gets quite narrow, surprisingly so, as Mardale Head is approached, all completely empty. The lakeshore twists and turns up here, until it finally reaches the road head. From here, it is quiet and undulating tarmac all the way back. Almost 17k/337m in 1.41. Then a leisurely drive to Borrowdale via Penrith as dusk gathered.

Wrexham BL

Race: Wrexham 9.5k (Border League race 3)

Time/Position: 33.58 (56th from 334 [1st V50])

The last time this fixture was held was just days before the first Covid lockdown in March 2020: it was a weird occasion and I actually packed it in after one lap (partly because I had done Ras yr Aran the day before). It takes a different industrial loop to the old rural circuit a tad further east. But despite the familiarity of the unglamorous industrial estate, I quite enjoyed this and had a grand old battle with Jez for the category win. It was nip and tuck the whole way until I pulled out a small gap in the last mile. Pace was a little slow, but it was great that the race went ahead after a hard frost, fog, and lengthy cold snap. Currently leading the V50 category after three races, with Buckley comfortably in top team spot in the overall and veterans competitions.

Baschurch XC

Race: Boreatton/Baschurch 7.5k XC (NW League race 2)

Time/Position: 30.17 (54 from 177 [3rd V50])

Three consecutive Saturday cross-country races, in three different vests, allowing me to briefly indulge my Tour de France fantasies. In the red of Wales two weeks ago, the green of North Wales last week, and the blue of Buckley in the North Wales league today. As with the other two races, this was a pretty average (at best) performance, sluggish throughout. I still remember the last event at Baschurch, which was a classic mud bath complete with river crossing and wall jump. This was nearby in Boreatton, not quite as memorable but still a good course albeit a bit short. It had a few tough climbs and was (surprisingly) not all that muddy, so I wore fell shoes rather than spikes. I slipped on some of the soggier corners (around a little lake) but probably gained the time back on a short gravel track section. A lovely day, with far-reaching views over Shropshire from this big PGL centre in the grounds of an old stately home. I found the pace hard to handle again, and finished miles down the field after a particularly slow final lap of three.

Moel Gyw Blind Relay 80th

'Race': Moel Gyw 'Blind Relay' (4m/800ft)

Time/Position: 33.10

John Morris's 80th birthday, so he'd organised something suitably memorable to mark the occasion - a headtorch 'blind relay' from the Raven Inn to the top of Moel Gyw and back. Tokens were handed out randomly in the first field, meaning you didn't know who your partner was until the end. I think my partner was Tim Hargreaves and I think we may have been joint first or second, but none of this was entirely clear, which seemed appropriate! We did win a Hulson's pork pie and some cash, which we immediately gave back (the cash not the pie). The route took the usual KJC race route until the bwlch, after which it headed north to take an obscure 'path' through the heather to the top of Gyw: this is where we began to catch up with the tail end of the first group, leading to chaotic scenes on the 5 inch wide micropath. I thoroughly enjoyed the descent back to the pub, around 11 or 12 minutes from the summit direct via the turnip field. It always feels as though you are travelling ridiculously fast when racing by headtorch, an illusion of course. A very nice evening.

Welsh regional XC

Race: Welsh Inter-regional Cross-Country Champs 9.5k (Dolerw, Newtown)

Time/Position: 41.27 (89th from 180)

Another week, another championship cross-country fixture. This was a huge contrast with Glasgow for several reasons, although my performance was similarly 'adequate', nothing more. The last time I represented North Wales in the regionals was 2016 in Brecon, quite a gap. Compared to the internationals, the regionals are a lot less intense, but the (very large) field is still very strong and the conditions in Dolerw park on the banks of the Severn were appalling after a lot of rain. The course took one smallish loop with the usual frenetic argy bargy at the start, then three slower big laps around the edge of the park - and after several earlier races conditions had descended to 'quagmire' in numerous places, knee deep mud at times, ankle deep for much of the rest. This kind of thing is uniquely draining and a gradual slowing is inevitable. I lost some places on the last lap but never imploded fully, although never felt particularly strong either. So although it was almost the opposite of Glasgow in XC terms, it felt similar in terms of performance - mildly disappointing but not disastrous. I scored in 4th place in the green and orange vest for the 45-55 North Wales team, and we did enough to win the silver medal, which was a nice bonus.

Hart Fell

Peaks: Swarte Fell, Falcon Craig, Hart Fell (808m)

Area: Moffat Hills, Southern Uplands

My original plan had been to combine the cross-country champs with a few mountains in the Arrochar Alps. However, Kate agreed to join me for the long weekend so it seemed inefficient to head north this morning, despite perfect November weather - hard frost, crystal clear initially. Instead, we headed south from Govan and branched off at the time-honoured halt of Moffat. Despite numerous visits over the years, I'd never actually done Hart Fell. So Kate dropped me off at Capplegill (a four house hamlet) and after some deliberation I found the 'route', a tiny path up the very steep hillside adjacent to steep Hang Gill (all the names in these parts have much in common with northern England). A sustained and very steep climb led to an easing but then horrible tussocks and bog slowed progress again, all quite tiring after yesterday's race, at which I had obviously put in a big effort! Finally, at the plateau of Swarte Fell, everything improves dramatically. Superb views down to the deep Blackhope valley, very steep on this side (crags even). On the other side rises Saddle Yoke, with mist curling over its summit and that of White Coomb beyond. At the head of the valley Hart Fell looked quite distant and I wasn't sure if I would make it in the time I had (90 minutes!) while Kate went shopping in Moffat. I ran across the plateau, sticking to the edge where I could, then comes an easy climb over Falcon Craig (it is spelled like that). From here, Blackhope gives way to a shallower upper cwm (Cold Grain) below a broad col (the intriguingly named 'Hass o' the Red Roads'). From the col a final steep climb leads to the true Hart Fell 'summit', a vague highpoint clearly above the trig to the north. Hart Fell is a giant whaleback essentially, but I had nice views of the Lowther Hills and Solway Firth. The sun came out and the views improved further as I hobbled through the tussocks on untravelled and pathless terrain down Cold Grain (the upper cwm) to the top of Blackhope. This was all rather splendid, excellent scenery, surprisingly wild for these hills, even mildly dramatic in places with craggy hillsides and plummeting rivulets. It would have been nice to complete the Blackhope horseshoe (which looked excellent) but I didn't have time so made a beeline for the track that I had spied from above. On gaining this, good running led all the way back to Capplegill and I made up for lost time (although it still took 1.45 for the 12k/760m route so I was slightly late).

International XC Glasgow

Race: British+Irish Masters Cross-Country Championships, Tollcross Park (8k)

Time/Position: 30.23 (48th from 68)

My aim on turning 50 was always to be picked on merit for Wales (as opposed to 'substitute') and to give a decent performance in the international cross-country championships. That was completely stymied by Covid, which meant 2020 and 2021 were cancelled, and then I got glandular fever which put me out of contention for last year's race in Dublin. So this was my first opportunity, and I was pleased and honoured to be selected albeit at the effective end of my current age category before the 'fallow year'. I still have nightmares about the 35-50 race at Aintree four years ago, where I was moving at interval pace but looked behind me after 500m to see an empty field as I battled to stay in touch with the group. Belfast in 2012 was pretty tough too, and I was probably at my best then. This year I wanted to at least vaguely compete in the 'older race' and not get completely blown away. Inevitably, there's a temptation to go off too fast as the field is so competitive and so small - there really is no hiding place. It was a beautiful autumn day in Glasgow, cold and crystal clear, and the course was conducive to fast running despite two hills and around 300ft of climbing. Conditions underfoot were better than I'd expected too. This all meant that I ran the first 2k lap in 6.53, far too fast for me at present (3.24k pace) although trying to keep pace with Jez, who I was ahead of last week. I struggled through the second lap snd then knocked back the pace a tad, a bit of race management! The long drag on the third lap was probably the toughest part of the race, after which I perked up for a better last lap. I felt I should have been half a minute quicker than this and was totally eclipsed within the age category, but that said I was at least vaguely competing, as I'd intended, and I did score for the team. I haven't actually done a proper cross-country race for quite a while due to the reasons above - two more to come in the next 14 days.

Lowther Hills

Peaks: Lowther Hill, Green Lowther

Area: Lowther Hills, Dumfries and Galloway

An obscure microrange tucked away in the south-west between Galloway and the Southern Uplands proper. But despite its obscurity it wasn't my first visit - I came here for the 2007 OMM, a learning experience which went fairly well until Gary got a touch of hypothermia and we packed it in before day two began. Today, by contrast, the weather was delightful, cold, sunny and frosty as we drove up the Mennock Pass from our hotel in Dumfries (Caerlavarock yesterday, somewhere I've wanted to visit in November for decades). Kate was up for a hillwalk, and I was resting before tomorrow's high-pressure race in Glasgow, so an amble up the Southern Upland way was ideal. Misty at first as we set off from Wanlockhead, famously the highest village in Scotland, a somewhat counterintuitive fact, but a fact nonetheless. It's an atmospheric and very quiet lead mining village, and the path heads up between a weaving private road. That gives a clue to what awaits at the summit, a giant radar station. This was doubly weird today, as the mist didn't clear - so why saw a glint of light and then the giant golfball appeared in front of us through the mist! I was confident it would clear eventually, so we took in the side road (literally a tarmac road) to Green Lowther, which has additional masts and other unsightly hardware, before returning to the golf ball - and on the return it did finally clear, some spectacular effects as the mist peeled away and views opened out across to Galloway west and Tinto east, which is always recognisable (I jogged up it 4 or 5 years ago). A very pleasant ambling descent with Kate, although my hands were frozen, red raw.

Birkenhead BL

Race: Birkenhead Park 5.5 (Borders League race 1)

Time/Position: 32.30 (62nd from 480 [1st V50])

A record border league field, and by my reckoning one of the most competitive ever, up there with the post-Covid Capenhurst 5m race (when I ran 28.40 but finished 60th). I'm not too far off 100 appearances in the league now, so do have a fair amount of races to draw on by way of comparison! This was similar to that Capenhurst race, although more pedestrian from me, a slightly odd race where I felt unusually comfortable by recent standards (where I have often been hanging on for dear life) but didn't really feel able to push the pace for whatever reason. After the usual frantic start and quick first lap, the field settled down and Jez and I embarked on a miniature battle of our own. As usual in the league (and especially in this fixture) the tiniest slackening sees others fly past, and a slower third lap lost me a few places. I had opened up just enough of a gap to finish 1st V50, which is never easy in the league, although certain elite supervets were absent. Well down on my course PB, but it wasn't a personal worst either, and the course was very wet and slippery today. 

Dash in the Dark

Race: Dash in the Dark, Race 1 (6k+/200m)

Time/Position: 30.10 (6th from 97)

One of the nice things about these races from Llandegla is the constant course alterations, almost never the same route twice. I have been doing them for many years, although missed last season through illness. This route seemed meatier than that of two winters ago, with an initial descent (like old times) followed by a long climb to the northern edge of Llandegla. From the edge of the road, the route climbed back towards the lake where it took a confusingly circuitous route around the eastern edge before a long southern loop through the forest to finish back at the centre. All of the sections were familiar from previous events, but weren't necessarily taken in the same order! Ian H pelted off very rapidly to win overall so I just concentrated on keeping a reasonable pace ticking over with Sunday's border league fixture in mind.

Prestatyn parkrun

'Race': Prestatyn parkrun

Time/Position: 18.53 (1st from 132)

My V50 course record from May last year still stands, somewhat surprisingly. The Prestatyn coastal course has changed slightly since then, with less time in the dunes away from the prom, so I wondered if it would be quicker. I wasn't very fresh after a full Collie run last night, and the dunes section is now a bit more awkward I felt, with grassy sections and sand. It's only short though, so not much of an excuse. I caught the guy in first place at the point the route heads out towards Talacre for a new extension. Felt comfortable throughout, but also not really able to push the pace for whatever reason, finishing 6 seconds down on my own CR. Warmed down with a delightful 10k hilly jog up Moelfre Isaf then over Mynydd Bodochrwyn in the 'empty quarter' east of Llanfair TH.

HK-Ruthin

A shorter variant on my 'compass point' linear runs from home. Over the years, these have included HK-Denbigh, HK-Hilbre, HK-Llangollen and HK-Pheasant. Ruthin is much closer, only 25k by the quietest route which had to be on road today after a great deal of rain (which caused yesterday's cross-country to be cancelled). It does involve a fair amount of climbing though, initially up to Buckley to avoid the busy main road. From here, the familiar undulations and fast descent to Mold. Then comes the hard climb up to Gwernymynydd and Loggerheads before branching off for the crux climb through torrents of water up to Bwlch Penbarras. Lovely views today, and then comes the steep descent down the old road to Llanbedr and all the way down to the middle of Ruthin (just over two hours). Relaxation followed.

Chester parkrun

'Race': Chester parkrun

Time/Position: 18.57 (3rd from 209)

I'd been looking forward to the cross-country in Colwyn Bay today, a selection race for the internationals in Glasgow next month. But torrential rain saw it cancelled, so the preparation was wasted. Can't be helped, though, so a slow plod around a muddy 'B+' course at Chester kicked off the weekend instead, combining nicely with our open day.