Waun Oer-Maesglase ridge

Peaks: Mynydd Ceiswyn, Waun Oer, Cribin Fawr, Craig Portas, Maesglase, Moel Cwm yr Eglwys

Area: Maesglase, Eryri

Classic bank holiday crowd avoidance strategy, always very satisfying. This was particularly the case today in bracing sunshine on Easter Saturday, as I started from the busy car park above Tal y Llyn after dropping my gravel bike off in Dinas Mawddwy. It is years since I have been up on this ridge, almost certainly 1994 en route to Rheidol where I was working at the time. It is obscure, but as a point-to-point it gives a brilliant outing of around 14k. You start high, but tussocks and bog make the going awkward until gaining the path below Ceiswyn. This is a minor summit with great views over Cader. Then the going becomes delightful, not too boggy on a defined little path over to Waun Oer, marked by a large cairn with great views over Rhinog and Aran. I saw a lone walker here, the only person I encountered all day despite the hordes elsewhere in Eryri. A very steep descent and short climb leads up Cribin Fawr after which I think I was breaking new ground, remarkably enough. I certainly have no memory of the rest of the ridge, including Maesglase. It was all excellent, especially the cwms and ridge leading to Maesglase, and from the dominant peak I took the very steep descent down to the minor summit and continuation ridge that leads all the way down to the road and then Dinas Mawddwy. A drink and crisps in the cafe, then it was all the way back to the car on the bike. If anything this was harder than the ridge, as my gravel bike is far too heavy for climbs like Bwlch yr Oerdrws, which leads back to the Cross Foxes. The next climb up Tal y Llyn wasn't much fun either, really hard going, painfully slow, and unpleasantly busy roads too.

Bala parkrun

'Race': Bala parkrun

Time/Position: 18.43 (2nd from 103)

In the spirit of the fallow year, almost exactly a minute down on last September's time, which was a narrow age group course record. Those records have now been erased, of course, but I intended today to be a mild session in advance of a run in the hills on what was a nice, clear Easter Saturday. It was pleasant enough into a gentle headwind and I kept a respectable pace ticking over.

Northern Carneddau

Peaks: Drosgl, Bera Mawr, Yr Aryg, Foel Fras, Llwytmor

Area: Carneddau, Eryri

The instinct is always to go clockwise around the northern Carneddau, but today I reversed it, partly because of a ferocious south-westerly. It went reasonably well but I was very tired, and the wind very strong. From the A55 I headed up towards Moel Wnion, intending to climb to the high traverse path thereby avoiding the unpleasant gorge that drops down from the Drosgl-Wnion col. Annoyingly, I didn't go high enough so had to negotiate the gorge anyway! So lots of wasted effort before I even got to the slog up Drosgl via the ancient Llwybr yr Aryg. The going gets easier here, with a short climb over Bera Mawr and Yr Aryg before I took an unwise shortcut towards Foel Fras: never a good idea. The wind raked the summit, knocking me over, and led to a pretty unpleasant haul across to Llwytmor, where it remained ferocious. I found an old shelter on Llwytmor Bach, which gave temporary respite, before a very steep, very direct descent down to the conifers back to Aber.

Berwyn loop

Peaks: Cadair Bronwen, Cadair Berwyn

Area: Berwyn

You don't go to the Berwyn in winter expecting dry feet, but I tried a few little variants on my standard 10 mile Berwyn route today in a futile attempt to minimise the bog. From Llandrillo I took the familiar steep road and tracks towards Moel Ty Uchaf. Here the sun came out, illuminating the stone circle. I took a steady approach in the spirit of the fallow year, basically fast walking. Higher up, instead of the direct route up Cadair Bronwen, I took the main bridleway contouring (and descending) above a side valley until a short climb gains Bwlch Maen Gwynedd. From here, I ascended the route I normally descend, up to Bronwen's summit (less than five minutes from the bwlch, running most of the way). The rest of the ridge was predictably boggy, hard work all the way to the trig on Cadair Berwyn. Great views, nice and clear now - the best day for a while. Because of all the recent rain, the descent was even boggier than normal - and it is normally very boggy indeed! So much so that I took a different route back to Llandrillo, lovely tracks (dry throughout) which emerged at Cadwst Fawr farmhouse in Cwm Pennant. Then along the Ceidiog back to Llandrillo.

Hoylake BL

Race: Hoylake 7.5k (Borders League race 6)

Time/Position: 27.44 (53rd from 363 [2nd V50])

The final fixture marking a memorable league 'grand slam' (or triple crown?) season, with Buckley winning the overall team championship plus the veteran's league, and me winning the V50 category. There were several other factors today: Hoylake was where I ran my first ever border league race in 2006. And I also maintained my record of counting for the team overall in every fixture. Also, I think this was my 90th ever borders race, so getting quite close to the century. It is only my third season category win though, following the V45 prize in 15-16, and the V50 prize in 21-22. Having said all that, this was not a great race for me, certainly the least enjoyable of the season. I went off too fast, unusual for me, then really struggled on the incoming leg despite just a mild crosswind blowing along this exposed section of prom. From the lifeboat station, this new route headed east along the prom before taking the inland gravel path up to Leasowe lighthouse, reversing the summer seaside 5k route temporarily. Then it was back to the prom for the long run-in: the wind was light, but as I was tiring it was enough to really slow the pace from 3.25 to 3.45. I was passed by at 8-10 on this section, which was a shame on the last race of the season.

Eilio CW

Peaks: Foel Goch, Foel Gron, Moel Eilio

Area: Moel Eilio, Eryri

Various circumstances dictated a quickish 90 minute outing this morning. So I opted to run the Eilio ridge clockwise from Padarn, removing some of the silly extra bits from the Maesgwm Muddle race (which I ran in 2017). I jogged through town before turning off for the YHA and repeating our bike climb from Thursday, all the way up the gravel to the bwlch at the top of Maesgwm. Considerably easier on foot than on wheels! Unlike Thursday, almost no wind and high cloud, with mist just covering the top of Eilio. I kept a steady pace going up the valley, where the Muddle race descends from its unpleasant side-trip to Cynghorion! After a brief stop at the col, I slogged up to Foel Goch - a repeat of last Thursday - then the always enjoyable trip along the ridge via Foel Gron to a misty Moel Eilio. It is considerably harder this way round, but then comes the superb 10 minute descent to Bwlch y Groes. After this, I ignored the Muddle extension to Cefn Du, instead taking the logical Snowdonia Marathon descent down the track and tarmac to Llanberis in just under 10 minutes: 20 minutes from Eilio to town. A little hobble down to Electric Mountain then alongside Padarn back to the free parking.

Chester parkrun

'Race': Chester parkrun (B course)

Time/Position: 18.54 (5th from 294)

A pre-open day plod round the Chester B course in surprisingly dry conditions. After a longish session on the climbing wall yesterday, I was a little tired so just aimed for sub-19 minimum standard. The off-road section was probably the driest I have ever seen it, and has possibly had some chipping laid on to it.

Foel Goch gravel bike/run

Peaks: Foel Goch (Eilio)

Area: Moel Eilio, Eryri

A bitterly cold easterly wind this morning, although it was clear and sunny. My head said it was perfect hill running weather, but after another convivial hut evening the plan was for a group bike ride so I set off with Vic and Emma - them on mountain bikes, me on the gravel bike. This was a great help initially, into Llanberis and up to the youth hostel with a tailwind. But then life got tough. It was really the first time I have ever taken the gravel bike properly off-road and I almost immediately regretted not having my mountain bike. It was just too heavy, and the gearing unforgiving. The road from the hostel is very steep in places and then joins the familiar (now quite manicured) track that curves up into Maesgwm. The weather was very clear and bracing throughout, but the easterly remained bitter. After a painfully slow ascent, far slower than I can run it (or even walk it), we arrived at the col of Maesgwm. Vic and Emma continued on their route but I locked the bike and scampered up to the top of Foel Goch in an icy, strong wind. I needed to get back for work reasons and descended quickly back to Llanberis before tackling the headwind back to the hut.

Pedol Marchlyn

Peaks: Elidir Fawr, Mynydd Perfedd, Carnedd y Filiast

Area: Glyderau, Eryri

A long time away from the mountains, for various reasons, but another night in the Nant Peris hut was scheduled after a contrasting weekend in Madrid. I was too late leaving work to join the rest of the group in the quarries, but on a rare good day this quick outing seemed an obvious choice. I parked in Deiniolen and headed up the straight, narrow road to Pen y Bwlch (I think). From here, somewhat easier gradients lead up to the Marchlyn closed road. All fairly easy progress, all on tarmac, until I took the direct short-cut up to the top lake. From here, I took a minor path that provides an excellent way to the summit of Elidir. I'd never done it before - it is far better than the hellish slog from Nant Peris. It is a little vague, and some snow was lying in places covering the path, along with a little verglas on these north-western slopes. Superb views from the top with mist peeling away from all peaks to the north. Then came the familiar descent down to the Perfedd bwlch, but I cut upwards up a little gully to gain an excellent short-cut up Perfedd. From here, a rapid traverse to Carnedd y Filiast in less than five minutes, then the awkward bouldery descent until the excellent curving path which leads back towards Marchlyn. A quick and civilised descent, 1.28 for the round. I arrived at the hut in Nant Peris just as the rest of them emerged from the quarries.

Deeside BL

Race: Deeside 7.3k (Borders League race 5)

Time/Position: 25.43 (47th from 384 [1st V50])

The real fallow year can now begin after a successful start to the new year, with several important events bleeding over from last year's racing. Of these, the continuation of the border league season was something of a priority (this was my 89th or 90th borders race). A cold and unusually early outing over the familiar Deeside course, from the usual manic start on the athletics track up the sharp Kelsterton hill. I had planned to hold back for this, but my immediate peers started off very quickly and seemed to be disappearing out of sight! So I pushed through and actually kept a decent pace going for the double (or triple) climb. After this, and the left turn on top of the hill, this fixture always becomes a flat out pelt back down Golftyn lane to the stadium - 3.25km pace or so, which seemed reasonably similar to previous efforts when I was younger and fresher. I caught Jez and some other team-mates at the turn, and we pushed on in a fairly tight group, packing well. With one fixture left, I have a 30 point lead in the V50 individual category, with Buckley now comfortably top of the first division overall, and miles ahead (1000+ points!) in the veterans competition. Some kind of modest grand slam looks on the cards with only one competitive race left.

Carsington Water trail half

Race: Carsington Water trail half marathon

Time/Position: 1.25.51 (5th from 359 [1st V50])

Rather unusually, I found myself in an exact tie for 4th place on this race by chip time. In the race itself, I was jumped on the line by a runner I'd just spent the last three miles trying to get past! It was another very nice event, and another free entry from the RunThrough stable of events (after winning my category at the Ladybower race in October). A damp and misty day on the edge of the Peak, which was unfortunate as I had been looking forward to some pleasant lakeside views. I started off slowly, in the spirit of the 'fallow year', and found myself in 7th place after an initial 5 mile doubling back route along the western shores of Carsington. Back to the start, and then a full lap of the lake, on which I started to feel pretty good after the steady start. As a result of recent rest days, I felt very perky and enjoyed the muddy running through potholes at the southern end of the lake and then the much tougher eastern side. I hadn't really done any research but had guessed things got harder here, and they did, with several sharp climbs and muddy, wet terrain. We began to catch the 10k runners, and then I caught a pair that had set off fast. I passed one at the 10 mile mark and then embarked on a fast finish, feeling surprisingly strong and upping the pace considerably. Still not enough for a finishing kick sadly! After taking the van on its first long drive (and an early start from home) I stopped in Ashbourne on the way back for a very gentle pootle on the gravel bike along part of the Tissington Trail.

Atalaya

Peaks: Atalaya East

Area: Yaiza, Lanzarote

I had already taken the broad runnable track from the open valley above Yaiza two days ago but this morning planned to run to the top of Atalaya and back. It's the highest summit in this part of Lanzarote but is disfigured by numerous masts. Sadly, on emerging from our guesthouse I found a drizzly morning with clag draped around all the tops: I could have been in Llanberis. I should have grabbed some more kit but instead headed up the broad track in a t-shirt hoping for a clearance. At the top of the track I took the northerly continuation along the broad ridge that is so obvious from Yaiza. This was outstanding: wonderfully runnable on a hard-packed volcanic surface. The weather was by far the worst of our short trip however, and I soon entered the mist. It was a little breezy and I was getting quite wet. Not cold, of course, but it doesn't need to be very cold in these circumstances. I skirted a side peak then ploughed up to the north-eastern top. This was broad and featureless, the characteristic black gravel of the island. I called it a day and plummeted back down the same way to Yaiza, emerging from the mist near the top of the track. After breakfast, we took the choppy ferry ride to Correlejo in Fuerteventura, where Kate and I undertook a 10k walk to the top of another miniature extinct volcano, Bayuyo, which gave excellent views of northern Fuerteventura (which I'd never visited before) and back across the Atlantic channel of La Bocayna to Playa Blanca.

Caldera Blanca

Peaks: Caldera Blanca, Quebredo, Montana Caldereta

Area: Tinajo, Lanzarote

The highlight of several short forays into the distinctive volcanic landscape of Lanzarote. Things kicked off yesterday with a run up the small peak of Montana del Medio, the mountain that loomed above our accommodation in Yaiza. I continued over the track up to another mini-caldera, the Gisela, before returning for breakfast. This was a longer outing with Kate, jogging through the lava from Macha Blanca white-washed village. This was awkward but enjoyable and we then took a nicely exposed direct slanting line up to gain the lip of the caldera with surprising ease. It is quite a sight: a perfect circular depression curving up to a higher summit (although still below 600m - all these hills are small). The 'ridge' (actually the rim of the caldera) was nicely narrow and well-defined - Kate and I made reasonable progress until shelved rock led to the summit. Two Canarian ravens and at least 10 berthelot's pipits provided the company, although there were quite a few other hillwalkers around. Views were a little hazy, with high cloud and occasional sunshine. This was a bit of a shame as the landscape is spectacular: huge black lava fields recalled the 'sandur' of Iceland, punctuated by isolated volcanic cones. We continued down the far side of the Caldera, almost completing the loop but I broke off for the side top of Quebredo before taking a direct line back to the base and a homeward jog through the lava fields. I took in the smaller Caldereta, running a complete loop of it and then catching up with Kate near the car. We refuellled with excellent tapas at a characterful tavern in Teguise.

Ruthin parkrun

'Race': Ruthin parkrun

Time/Position: 18.18 (1st from 107)

After my personal parkrun worst at Wepre a fortnight ago, this was quite a bit better, my third time at the Ruthin event and only 20 seconds down on my course PB. I was around a minute ahead of second place so wasn't really pushed and tried to keep a steady effort going in the spirit of the 'fallow year'. A delightful cool down along the banks of the Clywedog and 'Lady Bagot's Drive'.

Thurstaston BL

Race: Thurstaston 9.25k (Borders League race 4)

Time/Position: 34.08 (44th from 417 [1st V50])

A brand new course for this Pensby borders fixture. although parts of it were very familiar from the various Wirral multi-terrain fixtures held here. It took the Wirral Way in reverse for 3k or so, a fast start. Too fast for me in fact, with a 3.25 first km suggesting a struggle on the hill! I felt there might be congestion on the WW, however, which was the reason for the fast start. I knocked it back a bit, conscious that a climb was coming, but was still taken aback by its steepness, as most of us were. It takes Oldfield drive, a cratered track near the more familiar Heswall Dales, and finally emerges on the main Heswall road. Then came a very fast run-in and I held my position quite well with 2 x 3.23 km's to finish. I have a fairly narrow 25 point lead over Jez in the V50 category at present, with Buckley on top in both the overall and veteran's team competitions. A clean sweep would be nice!

Wepre parkrun

'Race': Wepre parkrun

Time/Position: 21.21 (6th from 147)

A rare appearance at Wepre, which was even harder than usual today, with three full laps of the top loop due to ice lower down (quite a few events were cancelled today). Although first 'age graded', this was my worst parkrun time ever, by a considerable margin! I probably went up the first climb too fast and then paid for it, after jogging in from Northop Hall. Only my 7th or 8th time at Wepre - scenic as ever. 

Twin Piers 10k

Race: Twin Piers 10k

Time/Position: 36.08 (18th from 432 [2nd V50])

This has always been my favourite 10k, but a four year hiatus since Covid has stopped me (and everyone else) running it for some time. I set my PB here in 2012 and have never got near that time (34.17) since, although I did run 35.30 or so a couple of years later on the same course. I did have a tailwind on both those occasions, but on the other hand you do have to climb over the Little Orme and that old course also took a winding loop through Penrhyn Bay. Today's new route was even better, a solid linear blast from Llandudno Pier to some way beyond the old Colwyn Bay pier. There was a tiny (cold, drizzly) breeze from the west but nothing to write home about. I went off hard, deliberately so, and kept to 3.30/km pace all the way to the Little Orme. My HR was high, and this increased on the very fast section down to Rhos on Sea. I began to struggle a little and my pace slowed, but it never became too uncomfortable and I had a well matched companion, Tony from Denbigh, to keep pace with. I was fairly pleased with the time, although it was only enough for silver in the North Wales championships. I jogged back to the car near the lifeboat station, meeting M on the way.

Wrexham cross country champs

Race: North Wales XC championships, Wrexham (9k)

Time/Position: 34.36 (24th from 55 [1st V50])

Almost certainly my worst ever time for this course, by some margin the cross-country course I have run most often. It was a small field for today's championships and I found myself in a micro-group with Sam Bellis. We paced each other pretty well for the four laps, and although the course drains well we have had so much rain recently that it was still far heavier going than usual which will have had some effect on times. It was nice to win my age category, to add to last year's 10k and 5k championships.

Deeside handicap

No handicap races for four years, then two in three days. This was organised by John Earlston, but unlike his old route around the old border league course, this was five laps around their standard 1k training loop in a quiet part of the Deeside industrial estate. Some quick runners tonight, so I started fairly early after giving 10 seconds to Tracy and Jez. This inevitably means you go off too fast with an obvious target just ahead. Around 3.30 for the first 1k, so I then eased slightly although kept a decent pace ticking over and was pleased with 17.35. Perfect conditions though: mild and windless after another wet day.

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.