Being a winter ultra, night came early with the sun setting around 4pm and it was to be a long night as sunrise is not until round 7.40am, around 15 hours on the head torch. The night was beautiful though, a clear and starry sky, the moon seemed to have a rainbow glow around it. Throughout the race the ground never thawed, it was freezing cold the whole time and overnight the ground sparkled with ice.
We gathered in the grounds of Conwy Castle and the Welsh male voice choir sung to us as the sun started to rise, flags representing all the runners’ nationalities waved in the breeze. I cried. All that I have been through in this past year to get me fit enough to stand on this start line suddenly felt a bit overwhelming, this was a dream years in the making, this was a race I never thought I would be good enough to attempt. I knew my chances of completion were still slim but I also knew I had put everything into being here.
I could see on my map that I was to pass through a farm and then head along a track, it was 11:55am, time for my vegan sausage roll! I saw an option of either a hill or a lovely flat path, I headed up the hill. I then checked the route and realised this was wrong. It is definitely ingrained in me to see a hill and head up it!
Hey, what’s that I can see? It’s the two guys! Francis said I could catch them! Right-ho, let’s go! I moved up a gear and started hunting them down. I trundled down the other side of the mini mountain and could see them on the lane, they were walking! I ran past them shouting “Hello” and “Well done!” (obviously though in my head I said, “You’ve just been chicked!”) It was Tim and Rory! I pulled away from them and emotion hit me, I had a cry. I had run over 100 miles, I was still running and I had just flew past these guys!
The fact that this event was exactly a week after the Lake District 100km and immediately after a cheese and gin fuelled girls’ holiday to France, didn’t bother me. I had an epic Friday which involved travelling home from France, spending 3 hours at home and then heading to Pembroke Dock on a 4 hour journey (luckily no traffic!).
Not for the first time that day I felt I was following behind in someone else’s footsteps. I ended up trotting behind some sheep on the road and wondered why sheep often just run in a straight line in front, why don’t they just dart off to the side? My pondering meant that I sailed past the point that I was supposed to turn, opps! I went back and this tiny little hill is perhaps the steepest of the whole route, I actually had to put my hands on my knees for the ‘climb’!
7am and we all set up, weirdly I seemed to be the one at the front leading the way. I looked over my shoulder a couple of times and wondered when the men would come past me. They didn’t. After around a mile or so I was aware of someone running to my right, I turned expecting to see a guy but it was a fellow chick! I said, “Well this is weird!” It was weird to have two women leading the way for the first few miles!
All thoughts were promptly forgotten when I did a double take swearing I had just seen a reindeer. I stopped in my tracks nope, make that two reindeer! Turns out there’s a reindeer herd here!
Date: Sunday 14th May 2023 Official miles: 31.069 miles (50km) Strava says: 32.71 miles Elevation: 1,099 ft / 335 m Weather: Warm and sunny Start: Mapledurham, Reading Route type: circular Conditions: dry Describe the route in three words: Lynne’s first ultra! Goring Gap 50km – Race Report Lynne is a fellow Blaze bootcamp and running […]
Date: Saturday 6th May 2022 Strava says: 69.62 miles Elevation: 14,311 ft / 4,362 m Weather: Constant rain Start: Scout hut in Abergavenny Route type: Circular Conditions: Very, very wet and foggy Website link: Rownd Mynydd Du (Black Mountains Round) Describe the route in three words: runnable mountain fun Rownd Mynydd Du (Black Mountains Round) […]
Since the moment I found out about Dragon’s Back Race I’ve been drawn to it. I first watched the videos and was blown away by the skills, stamina and endurance of those who took part, and completely inspired by Nicky Spinks. I’ve avidly followed it throughout the years and always looked in awe at those who took part feeling that it would never be something that I could be capable of. Something that certainly would forever out of my reach.
Then the strangest of things happened… it was as though the banana I gave Andrea had boosting powers, similar to the boost on Mario Kart! She steamed past me, powered on up he hill and I thought never to be seen again! I could not believe how quickly she put a gap between us and I started questioning what was going on, had she gone faster or was I going slower? What could I do to catch up with her? I didn’t have an answer so just pushed on. Andrea had disappeared from view before I reached the trig at the top.
Date: Monday 27th February 2023 Strava says: 37.37 miles Elevation: 6,841 ft / 2,085 m Weather: Snowy & windy Start: Llanbedr, lay-by parking at NP8 1SJ Route type: Circular Conditions: Soft and wet Website link: Rownd Mynydd Du (Black Mountains Round) Describe the route in three words: snowy windy fun Rownd Mynydd Du (Black Mountains […]
Date: Sunday 26th February 2023 Strava says: 13.64 miles Elevation: 4,403 ft / 1,342 m Weather: Sunny & bright Start: Dinas Castle Inn, LD3 0EP Route type: Recce, circular Conditions: Soft going, muddy in places Website link: Rownd Mynydd Du (Black Mountains Round) Describe the route in three words: sunny Sunday funday 4 summits of […]
Date: Friday 3rd February – Sunday 5th February 2023 Weather: Sunny Base location: National Trust Cottages at Stackpole, Pembroke Route type: Coastal trails Conditions: dry and sandy Describe camp in three words: Glorious coastal running Hurrah, it’s that time of year again! Last year’s camp (my first one) was incredible so I was so excited […]
Date: Thursday 19th January 2023 Strava says: 17.65 miles Elevation: 2,854 ft / 870 m Weather: Sunny & cold Start: Cadwgan car park, nearest postcode NP7 7LY Route type: Recce, circular Conditions: Hard snowy ground, ice in places Website link: Rownd Mynydd Du (Black Mountains Round) Describe the route in three words: outstanding ridgeline running […]
Date: Wednesday 18th January 2023 Strava says: 17.72 miles Elevation: 4,678 ft / m Weather: Sunny & cold Start: Abergavenny Scout Hut, Fairfield car park NP7 5SG Route type: Recce, circular Conditions: Hard snowy ground, ice in places Website link: Rownd Mynydd Du (Black Mountains Round) Describe the route in three words: incredibly rewarding views […]
Winter Cross 50km – Race Report My friend Ingrid had run this race a couple of years ago and said she’d really enjoyed it, due to my work schedule I have never been able to enter. But thanks to the Boxing Day bank holiday, this year meant I could enter. I was umming and ahing […]
Date: Saturday 5th November 2022 Official miles: 30 miles Elevation: 4,360 ft / 1,329 m Weather: raining – a lot Start: Cyfarthfa Castle Route type: circular Conditions: wet Website link: Off the Tarmac Describe the route in three words: lots of rain OTT 30 Miles – Race Report Rain was forecast all day but driving […]
Date: Saturday 1st October 2022 Official miles: 50.4 miles Elevation: 7,648 ft / 2,331 m Weather: Dry, mild, sunny spells Start: Narberth car park, Pembrokeshire Route type: 4.2 mile laps Conditions: Mixture of slippery mud, tarmac, grass, woodland trails Website link: Narberth Nobbler Describe the route in three words: what a race! The Dirty Dozen […]
Date: Sunday 25th September 2022 Official miles: 38.5 miles Strava says: 37.45 miles Elevation: 3,232 ft / 985 m Weather: Ideal Start: Hyde Common, Frogham, New Forest Route type: Circular Conditions: Dry Website link: BigFeat Events Describe the route in three words: Debbie’s first ultra BigSky New Forest Ultra 2022 – Race Report When Debbie […]
Date: Saturday 11th June 2022 Official miles: 100 miles Strava says: 106.68 miles (I believe this is very inaccurate though) Elevation: 12,001 ft / 3,658 m Weather: Very dry and warm Start: Matterley Bowl, Winchester Route type: Eastbourne Sports Park Conditions: Firm chalky trails Website link: Centurion Running Describe the route in three words: so […]
Date: 21st – 22nd May 2022 Official miles: 75 miles Strava says: 75.57 miles Elevation: 21,010 ft ft / 6,404 m Weather: Clear Start: Talybont Reservoir Route type: circular Conditions: Perfect! Website link: Gwynne-Harris Round Describe the route in three words: I did it! Gwynne – Harris Round Ladies Fastest Known Time Through my recces […]
Date: Saturday 30th April 2022 Official miles: 50 miles Strava says: 52.27 miles Elevation: 10,761 ft / 3,280 m Weather: clear, warm and dry Start: Llanbedr Finish: Llangynidr Route type: A to B Conditions: Dry Website link: Blacks to the Beacons by Limitless Trails Describe the route in three words: phenomenal mountain trails Blacks to […]
Date: Sunday 1st May 2022 Estimated miles: 14 miles Strava says: 16.67 miles Elevation: 3,750 ft / 1,143 m Weather: mild, overcast Start: Blaen y Glyn Isaf car park, nearest postcode CF48 2UT Route type: circular Conditions: a little wet after overnight rain but firm Website link: Gwynne-Harris Round Describe the route in three words: […]
Date: Tuesday 12th April 2022 Estimated miles: 20 miles Strava says: 19.10 miles Elevation: 4,616 ft / 1,407 m Weather: an ideal cool temperature, cloudy with sun patches Start: The Gwyn Arms, SA9 1GP Route type: circular Conditions: soft underfoot, moist in places Website link: Gwynne-Harris Round Describe the route in three words: trig point […]
Date: Tuesday 22nd March 2022 Estimated miles: 15 miles Strava says: 17.44 miles Elevation: 3,396 ft / 1,035 m Weather: Hot Start: Fan Llia car park (nearest post code CF44 9JD, then use map) Route type: circular Conditions: very dry Website link: Gwynne-Harris Round Describe the route in three words: surprisingly runnable trails! Recce report […]
Date: Monday 7th February 2022 Estimated miles: 14 miles Strava says: 15.26 miles Elevation: 3,743 ft / 1,141 m Weather: windy, foggy Start: Storey Arms LD3 8NL Route type: circular Conditions: wet with low visibility Website link: Gwynne-Harris Round Describe the route in three words: epic shortcut fail Gwynne-Harris route recce – the 6 summits […]
Date: Friday 21st January – Sunday 23rd January 2022 Weather: Sunny then overcast and fresh Base location: Blackadon Farm Cottages , Dartmoor, Devon Route type: Trails Conditions: Dry and soft Describe camp in three words: An absolute blast My first Winter training camp with running club! Excited, most definitely! We had a prompt 7am departure […]
Date: Tuesday 18th January 2022 Strava says: 20.28 miles Elevation: 5,266 ft / 1,605 m Weather: Cool, cloudy and foggy in places Start: Talybont Reservoir (nearest postcode LD3 7YS then follow signs) Route type: Circular Conditions: cool, overcast, foggy, not too wet underfoot Website link: Gwynne-Harris Round Describe the route in three words: map reading […]
Date: Monday 17th January 2022 Strava says: 22.14 miles Elevation: 5,348 ft / 1,630 m Weather: Sunny and bright Start: Fairfield Car Park, NP7 5SG Route type: Circular Conditions: Frost on the ground, dry Website link: Abergavenny 3 Peaks Describe the route in three words: Marvellous day out Abergavenny 3 Peaks – Route Report My […]
Whether you’re a dab hand at ultra running or your first one is just around the corner, there are a number of things no one ever talks about/you never remember. Well, I’ve tried super hard to remember all of the things that happen to us ultra nutters before, during and after a long run. Some […]
Date: Saturday 20th – Sunday 21st November 2021 Official miles: 80 miles Strava says: 81.93 miles Elevation: 9,288 ft / 2,831 m Weather: Dry and cool, sunny spells Start: Hessle Foreshore Finish: Filey Route type: A to B Conditions: Dry Website link: Hardwolds 80 by Hardmoors Race Series Describe the route in three words: the […]
Brief course description and results round up for the 2021/2022 cross country season with Hart Road Runners at Southern Cross Country League and Hampshire Cross Country League. Keep checking back throughout the season for updates. Southern Cross Country League Race 1 – Folly Farm, Basingstoke – Sunday 10th October 2021 Distance: 4.69 miles Average pace: […]
Date: 4th November 2021 Strava says: 22.28 miles Elevation: 2,149 ft / 655 m Weather: Cold and dry Start: Haslemere Train Station Route type: Out and back Conditions: Dry and soft Website link: Four Stations Way Describe the route in three words: simple to follow Four Stations Way Ladies FKT and Gamin Fenix 6 Pro […]
Date: Wednesday 13th October 2021 Official miles: 8 miles Strava says: 10.51 miles Elevation: 1,864 ft / 568 m Strava says: 2,656 ft / 810 m Weather: mostly sunny, occasional clag Start: Pont Cwmyfedwen car park, Taf Fechan Forest Route type: circular Conditions: dry, clear paths, mixture of gravel and rocks Website link: Breacon Beacons […]
Date: Tuesday 12th October 2021 Official miles: 34.76 miles Strava says: 35.35 miles Elevation: 6,338 ft / 1,932 m Weather: a perfect 9°C, cool and sunny Start: Llanbedr, Wales Route type: circular Conditions: dry Website link: Black Mountains Circular Describe the route in three words: glorious mountainous scenery Black Mountains Circular – new FKT I […]
Date: Saturday 18th September 2021 Official miles: 54 km / 33.6 miles Strava says: 34.06 miles Elevation: 4,336 ft / 1,321 m Weather: hot and sunny Start: Tillingbourne Route type: circular Conditions: very dry trails Website link: Maverick Race Describe the route in three words: hillier than expected Maverick North Downs fourth lady Lizzie Gatherer […]
Date: 6pm 9th July 2021 Strava says: 86.45 miles Elevation: 15,301 ft / 4,664 m Weather: Warm, with a spot of drizzle Start: Faccombe Estate Route type: 4.25 mile laps Conditions: Mostly dry, bit of mud Website link: Run on Trails Describe the route in three words: Scenic hilly fun Strategy: I had a number […]
The thing is with getting to the top of a mountain, you then have to go straight back down again, it seems like a huge amount of time is spent getting to the top to admire the views for around 15 seconds before heading down again! Initially the decent of Rhinog Fach was an easy one, we passed a herd of mountain goats and then happened upon a rock fall field, only one route available, and that was straight down. My word this took FOREVER to get down!
Date: 1pm Saturday 21st March to 1am Sunday 22nd March 2021 Strava says: 50.55 miles Elevation: 2,409 ft / 734 m Weather: dry and mild Start: my home Route type: 4.1 mile laps Conditions: dry pavement Describe the route in three words: surprisingly enjoyable circles How it came about Often one of the first things […]
Date: Saturday 22nd May 2021 Official miles: 100km / 62.1371 miles Strava says: 61.58 miles Elevation: 7.122 ft / 2,171 m Weather: mixed Start: Corfe Castle Finish: Bridport Route type: A – B Conditions: very mixed – soft, hard, moist, muddy, sandy, stoney Website link: Ultra Challenge by Action Challenge Describe the route in three […]
Date: Saturday 10th October 2020 Official miles: 32 miles Strava says: 32.68 miles Elevation: 3,823 ft / 1,165 m Weather: sunny Start: Tisbury Route type: circular Conditions: moist underfoot, occasionally slippy Website link: A Run With No Witty Name by Crooked Tracks Wiltshire Describe the route in three words: stunning scenery, undulating A Run With […]
Date: Saturday 19th September 2020 Official miles: 38 miles Strava says: 40.01 miles Elevation: 2,319 ft / 707 m Weather: very hot and sunny Start: Godalming Route type: circular Conditions: dry, hard ground Website link: The Fox Ultra by ATT Events Describe the route in three words: mostly flat, fast The Fox Ultra – Race […]
Date: Saturday 5th September 2020 Official distance: 10 km Strava says: 10.38 km Elevation: 8 ft / 2 m Weather: Sunny and dry Start: Dorney Lake Route type: 2x laps Organiser: F3 Events Conditions: dry, hard ground Website link: F3 Events Describe the route in three words: ideal PB route Dorney Lake 10m – Race […]
Date: Saturday 23rd – Sunday 24th November 2019 Official miles: 82 miles Strava says: ran out of battery, but likely 84 miles due to getting lost Elevation: 7900 ft / 2400 m Weather: constant rain Start: Hessle Foreshore Finish: Filey Route type: A to B Conditions: boggy, wet, energy sapping Website link: Hardwolds 80 by […]
Date: Saturday 22nd September 2019 Official miles: 38 miles Strava says: 38.77 miles Elevation: 1656 m / 5433 ft Weather: dry, cool and sunny Start: Haslemere Finish: Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking Route type: A to B Conditions: dry trail mix including hard, stoney, sandy Website link: Surrey Hills Challenge Describe the route in three words: […]
I entered the Surrey Hills Ultra in September 2019 – 3 days before the event took place. I had completed a marathon 9 years earlier and I believe my longest recent run had been 10 miles. I went into this event absolutely clueless. I loved every minute of it, and wrote the following a few […]
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