Telegraph Road Trail Run

This route is one I often run when I am staying at the lodge. It is local and I can start it from my doorstep rather than having to drive to the start.
The route gets its name from a lone telegraph pole I stumbled across when I first recce the route. I'm also a Dire Straits fan.

I'm always within 15 minutes of the lodge, yet it can feel so remote when I'm running around Moel Ddu (SH7290 3269). I've only ever seen a few people in the area when I've run the route and they've invariably been on the sections of path which my route joins together. The mixture of bogs and wet mud covered rocks means I'll never beat any speed records.I've been running the route for over two years now and I'm always surprised to see an abandoned quad bike south east of Craiglaseithin (SH6856 3333) near the shore of Llyn Gelli-Gain. I'm not sure of the story behind it. Maybe the farmer has forgotten it's there!Running clockwise around the shore, I eventually pick up an old track which starts at the reservoirs embankment and fishes back at the road. I always like to pause a moment and take in the views and sounds before I disturb my inner tranquillity with the huffing and puffing which is normally associated with my attempt to rapidly descend.
This run I remembered to look back and admire the view. Something I normally forget to do. The reward is always worth the pause.

Pennine Barrier 50 Ultra - It Started with a Kiss

There wasn't any kissing involved, but I got your attention. They'd built the start/finish arch and as I looked on, I couldn't help remember the last time I saw it, albeit with a different banner, the Chester 100 mile race. All quiet at the start The 'Did Not Finish' (DNF) for the Chester 100 has played on my mind since waking the next day. I know I made the right decision, but that didn't seem to quieten the nagging voices. The training between the Chester 100 and the Pennine Barrier was limited . Limited by a change of a job and losing my running 'Mo-Jo'. The job was exciting, losing my running Mo-Jo was scary; without my running I can't fight my dark days. So, I toed the start line, (well actually about 15 metres back, I didn't want to be trampled ), convinced I had 50 miles in my legs no matter how limited my training was. I didn't know how painful the adventure back to the finish line would be. If anyone knows me, or been a

The Wheels didn't fall off. They just wouldn't turn fast enough

The headline is, I didn't finish the Chester 100 Ultra. The story, well it's complicated. A Cheshire field.. The view looking back. Preparation and build up for the event was as good as I could have asked for. I not only stood at the start line healthy, I was looking forward to the challenges the experience would throw at me. The heat was a concern, but my feeding plan is simple. Have my watch beep every kilometre which would remind me to drink, eat and ask myself was I hurting. So that is how the day went. I stopped and enjoy the views and even used the excuse of sorting my socks out to take on an ice cream whilst at the Delamere Forest checkpoint. Sorting my feet out So where did it go wrong? The short answer I'm not too sure. On reaching checkpoint 6 I had my first drop bag waiting for me which contained a change of clothing, more food and some 'wet wipes'. An actual necessity as my face had more salt on it than a Northwich salt mine. I to

Muddy Out and Back

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