Rhinog Horseshoe

24th October. 14.3miles/5060ft.

Hoping for 2 wins out of 2 in North Wales, my hopes were raised for this inaugural event - I saw nobody to fear in the car park - but then realised I was standing next to Colin Donnelly on the start line - current British V40 champion and wiley old campaigner.

I attempted to drop him on the opening mile of road, but he stuck with me. We then moved up onto open fell in the general direction of Rhinog Fawr. Colin pulled away, but took a bizarre left-sweeping route. I took a more direct line, with a couple of major wall crossings and beat him to the first ridge. He then took another crap line to the left into heather, whereas I stumbled across a nice runnable trod and pulled away from him, with a clear lead at the summit of Rhinog Fawr. From here the descent to the col is rough dangerous floundering through boulders, crags and deep heather. Multiple falls and near-crocking incidents saw me stumble into the col but way off course for the camouflaged RayNet checkpoint.

Now for Rhinog Fach. The running at first consisted of falling down holes between boulders obscured by heather but then degenerated into fighting up a cliff of chest deep heather, burning off my remaining energy supplies. I realised there must be an easier way when I saw the other runners chatting and happily trogging up a path away to my right. Bastards. Nothing for it but to heave-ho across on the heather sweating buckets and just about seeing double. Once in the path I could finally MOVE. I quickly reached the top of Rhinog Fach back in the lead and then thrashed down greasy boulders towards Y Llethr. I wasn't sure what Colin was mucking around at going so slowly, but apparently it was to get a better view of the 3rd-placed runner's backside on the ascents.

At the summit of Y Llethr Colin finally overtook me, and broke away towards the final summit of Moelfre.

The descent from Moelfre was extremely confusing, and in fact I almost caught Colin again just before the road. The last few miles are fantastic varied cross country with thousands of pieces of red tape to follow through glorious autumn woods and knee deep cow shit. A definite classic in the making.

1. Colin Donnelly Eryri 3:09

2. Chris Upson Westies 3:12

3. Jackie Lee Eryri 3:19 (1st Lady)

about 25 runners

Posted by Chris Upson on Mon 25 Oct 2004 | comments are closed

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