Rd 1 of the welsh champs and here we go again. Let's see if u can make all the rounds injury free this year. Mrs gave me Weekend off so off we went with the boys. Getting quicker with each month I felt gd running up to the event. Never done the race before so had no idea about the route but warming up it soon gave me a clue when we looked up the water pipes climbing up the mountain. This was the first mile run and would cover 1100ft of climbing. Steep stuff.
120 runners headed off up the road before we turn for the hill and the pipes. 3rd at this point just wondering what I could do on the steep stuff. Kept up with the leaders up to the top of the steps before I took a wrong turn at end of steps. A slow drag was a killer after the steps and starting loosing ground to the leaders. A few turns it started leveling out and I followed the marked path up to the right missing the ribbon on the fence showing the route. I soon realised I might be going wrong way and waited for another runner, he was new to the race and we both set up the path again before a group of guys came below us running straight over the fence and following the pipes. Lost a lot of time, even stopping my watch with frustration. We caught up with the group and I slowly made my watch to the front back to 3rd place. Reached the summit I put a gd push down the mountain, a brilliant decent with winding trails through woodland and fields a real technical decent. Finished strong but with plenty in the tank. 3 min down in front two and 1 min up on 4th. Excellent race and well worth the trip up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4hOi9C1f_E
