My first fell race, and preparation for my attempt on Snowdonia in august. My practice included running the mountain 4 times prior to the race and some general flat running and my weekly cycling with Ystwyth TT.
Turned up in Dolgellau and the weather was really exhausting whilst walking about to registration. Start was at 1.00pm, temp around 26 C. 10.5 Miles start from town centre Dolgellau including 2927ft of climbing. First climb was out of Dolgellau on the tarmac road, turning off after 1.5k onto a single path circulating the lake, through a very wet section before arriving at Cader idris national park car park/toilets. Feeling good at this point, run was steady to this section and holding a top 20 position. From this point the climb begins, once I hit the 1.5k of steps the calves just gave up. With the heat and the thought of climb just beginning it wasn’t looking good. From this point to the ridge I somehow managed to walk with quick tempo and with my old man there with a bottle of sports juice, things started to change. I felt I was well short of hydration and should really have looked at this before the race, stupid boy. After a quick break and some cold fluids I failed to lose a position on the way to the summit. The summit was a welcome sight and once I touch the top the run down was great fun, with only 4 passing me. Coming into the National park car park and the flat road the legs went into wobbly mode!!! 3k to go before the finish and the legs where gone, I was doing well not to fall over. I walked a lot of the single track around the lake but once I hit the tarmac I put on a little push and kept with the man in front, took him on the last corner in the town and crossed the finish to a surprisingly large crowd. PAIN. Finished 50th with a time of 1.55.01. Definitely one of the hardest racing I had ever done, but a quick paddle in the river with Archies floater and I was already looking forward to next year’s race and snowdonia.
Turned up in Dolgellau and the weather was really exhausting whilst walking about to registration. Start was at 1.00pm, temp around 26 C. 10.5 Miles start from town centre Dolgellau including 2927ft of climbing. First climb was out of Dolgellau on the tarmac road, turning off after 1.5k onto a single path circulating the lake, through a very wet section before arriving at Cader idris national park car park/toilets. Feeling good at this point, run was steady to this section and holding a top 20 position. From this point the climb begins, once I hit the 1.5k of steps the calves just gave up. With the heat and the thought of climb just beginning it wasn’t looking good. From this point to the ridge I somehow managed to walk with quick tempo and with my old man there with a bottle of sports juice, things started to change. I felt I was well short of hydration and should really have looked at this before the race, stupid boy. After a quick break and some cold fluids I failed to lose a position on the way to the summit. The summit was a welcome sight and once I touch the top the run down was great fun, with only 4 passing me. Coming into the National park car park and the flat road the legs went into wobbly mode!!! 3k to go before the finish and the legs where gone, I was doing well not to fall over. I walked a lot of the single track around the lake but once I hit the tarmac I put on a little push and kept with the man in front, took him on the last corner in the town and crossed the finish to a surprisingly large crowd. PAIN. Finished 50th with a time of 1.55.01. Definitely one of the hardest racing I had ever done, but a quick paddle in the river with Archies floater and I was already looking forward to next year’s race and snowdonia.
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