Beast of the Blacks 2024 – Race Report

Date: Saturday 9th March 2024

Official miles: 40 miles

Elevation: 9,436 ft / 2,876 m

Weather: snow, fog, wind & rain

Start: Llanbedr Hall

Route type: Clockwise loop then anticlockwise loop

Conditions: muddy

Website link: Beast of the Blacks by Limitless Trails

Describe the route in three words: beautiful muddy fun

Beast of the Blacks 40 miles – Race Report

This was a last minute decision to enter the race, I actually entered on race morning, having contacted RD Ellen the day before to check that would be ok. I had wanted to see where I am with my fitness and as I had done this race last year thought it would be a good way to measure.

However, it was a different course to last year due to the forest being closed to events so it wasn’t exactly like for like. I certainly was slower than last year however I was still really delighted with my result as I was strong throughout, I may have lost pace but I’ve still got climbing legs!) I was delighted to managed to overtake a number of people in final 5 miles and really closed the gap between myself and the lady in front to just 38 seconds when we had been minutes apart. We had snow on the ground, tons of mud, fog, wind and rain. It was brilliant, I loved it!

I have to confess, this write up has been done 9 months after the race so it’s not going to be too detailed as too much time has passed for me to remember what happened!

The route started the same as last year, up towards Table Mountain but not to the top, across the side and then down onto the lane to cross over to start the big climb up Crug Mawr, I got my poles out for the Crug Mawr climb, it’s long, beautiful and rewarding. Once at the top, this is where the route differed to last year, rather than go down through Mynydd Du forest we had to go around it. We came down to cross the Grwyne Fawr river, I love this part of the route, this short section I find beautiful and fun and the child in me always enjoys a bridge crossing!

A chap on one of the shorter distances ran in a suit, this made for a BRILLIANT race photo when he came through the church.

After the race, and after many an adventure in Wales with my car (which is not built for the rugged environment), she was finally defeated by some mud in a field, I had to wait for a tractor to pull me out but in the end the farmers didn’t want to tow it, they decided they would just push me out as it was less hassle! Love the Limitless Trails community!

What’s in the snack pack?

• 2x 500ml bladders water
• Food
• Sugar coated stemmed ginger
• Spare gloves
• Hat
• Inov 8 Trailshell waterproof jacket
• Long sleeved spare layer
• Vasaline
• Spare hair band
• Safety pins
• Compeed, plasters, surgical tape, spare socks
• Harrier Catbells aluminium Z-Poles and Salamon quiver
• Silva head torch (mandatory but didn’t need)
• Whistle
• Life Systems survival bag
• OMM Halo waterproof trousers
• OMM ultra flexi cup
• Fully charged mobile phone

What I wore: Saucony Peregrine 10 ST, Garmin Fenix 7 Pro Sapphire Solar, buff, Sweaty Betty power leggings, Stance socks, rain cap over a Montane beanie hat, Montane Dart long sleeved top, Decathlon warm long sleeved top, GLOVES, Salomon Bonatti waterproof over mittens, Dirty Girl gaiters, Salomon Adv Skin 12 running vest.

Results

Chip time: 9 hr 30 m 14 s

Overall: 31/88

Lady: 5/14

Beast of the Blacks 40 mile 2024 results: click here 

Strava link: click here

Pro photos by Daz’ Photography