Adam in Runderland

A year of two halves. It started with me recovering from illness and ended with me in the same situation. Rewind to January. I had been ill throughout the Christmas period and it took me a while to get back up to speed. My first long run was with Matt B along the Thames Down Link in the thick mud. The fifteen mile run ended at Box Hill and it felt great to be back on the trails again. In February, with the weather still poor, Matt S and I did a marathon loop linking the green spaces around Bromley. As spring sprang I had a spring in my step too. A return to the Lulworth Cove Ultra with both Matts in March resulted in a meeting with Magdalena who continued to inspire me throughout the year with her ultra running achievements. Oh, and she summited Everest in between.  March included a fantastic run in the Chiltern Hills, a snowy adventure in the Peak District and a weekend on the Pennine Way conquering the Yorkshire Three Peaks. Into April and a visit to the Lake District where Matt S an

It has been six months since my last post. After a great start to the year, circumstances impacted my running from the summer onwards. As usual the heat meant that any big runs were out. I continued to keep up my mileage, but it wasn't until September that I was able to enjoy some proper trail running with a weekend in Wales. During that time some personal issues affected me and my mental health suffered. As a result I didn't write anything about the trip and the year tailed off with illness and injury. So here is a short summary of that Welsh adventure just for the record. Following a busy and exciting first six months of running including visits to Dorset, the Peak and Lake Districts, Cairngorm mountains in Scotland, and Bannau Brychainiog I stayed close to home over the summer. I struggle with the heat and, apart from some forays into the North Downs, stuck to London. I did have a trip in the diary for September though. A North Wales adventure with running pal Matt Shimwell.

Back in February Matt S and I headed south from Lewisham through Bromley and into Kent. The loop brought us back after 31 miles of winter running. We promised to return in the summer to see how the countryside would have changed, and to run the route in reverse. May arrived and we managed to find a date that worked for both of us. It was 25th May. The sun wasn't shining, but we were in t-shirts this time as opposed to multiple layers and coats. As for our surroundings they couldn't have been more different. In February the trees were skeletal, there was little wildlife and, despite the beauty, nature was in hibernation. Now birds were singing, flies, bees and wasps buzzed through the thick sea of ferns and goose grass. The trees were heavy with bright green leaves and horse chestnut candles.  In February we took the route anti-clockwise. This time we headed clockwise. The route took us out through Grove Park, Chinbrook and Elmstead before we arrived at the woods. Scrogginhall

This year I am aiming to run in as many Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and possible. Having visited the Dorset coast, the Chilterns, the Peak District, the Yorkshire Pennine Way, the Lake District and the Cairngorms, it was time to look west to Wales, one of my favourite places to run. Previously known as the Brecon Beacons (BB), Bannau Brycheiniog (BB) was my starting point, in particular the town of Merthyr Tydfil. It is roughly ten miles from there to BB.  The road winds up from the centre of town, climbing steadily into the hills. My hydration pack was stuffed with food and water, but I hadn't accounted for the fantastic weather. The sun was blazing down from a cloudless sky and I hadn't packed any sun cream. I stopped at a shop in Pant to buy some and witnessed a sweary shouting match between the shop keeper and an early morning customer. Great start. No sun cream either. Attempting to forget this unsavoury start, I ran on until the last houses were behind me.

When I booked my trip to Scotland I wasn't sure what the weather would be like. I presumed that early May would likely be cloudy with showers, but not too cold. I prepared accordingly. It was a wonderful surprise then when I awoke on the second day of my trip to see blue skies and bright sunshine. It was ideal conditions both to take in the views, and to run up into the mountains. That said, I packed all my kit as weather can be changeable once you reach the summits. I had my hat and gloves, waterproofs, compass, first aid kit and plenty of fuel and water. In order to reach the Cairngorm mountains, ten miles away, I needed to first head to Aviemore which would mark the half way point. The Speyside Way which I had run to the north the day before also continued as far as this tourist town, so I picked up the trail by the bridge and headed south. Immediately I was enveloped in thick pine woods. Another deer stood frozen at the sight of me before bounding away. Crows circled above the