Plenty of doubt if I should sign up to this beauty but having somehow managed to be nominated as the Dez driver for the night the 10.00am race was on. Shoes on I headed from Nant Gwynant to Pen y pass to find the conditions absolutely shocking. Gale Force winds and howling rain, lovely. Tricky conditions to decide on clothing but settled for 2 under layers, 1 t-shirt and shorts but without any snow on the peaks in a new year race this was a rare sight. Staggered start with each group heading off in 4 min intervals. Nominated myself in the Fast group which was the last to head off, leaving Pen y pass and turning the first corner i was struggling to even move let alone run. Left my group within the first 1/2 mile and settled into a leisurely pace. Leaving the footpath around Llyn Llydaw involved 2 miles of river crossings, bogs and stone jumping. A quick stint back on the footpath before another off road stagger for 3/4 mile, a quick touch of the green shed before blasting back to the Youth Hostel. Wind strong enough to push me off the footpath and hailstones which had me hiding my face. The worst thing was that Tina had come to watch and had been caught in the middle of the storm with only a Rain cat and my Fleece didn't do much to keep her dry.
Finished with a smile and the timekeeper announcing my time to be the fastest of the day so far. Having started last and passed both groups in front I thought I'd finally won my first event. BUUUUTTT Mr timekeeper had missed one name who would eventually take the prize by 2 min, with myself finishing 2nd. With the results out a couple of days later I'd already told half the family of my winning start to 2012, Dohhh!
Keep trying
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