Preamble: Well, this sucked massively for me (due to my flimsy heat tolerance - not the race itself!) yet it was still well worth doing. My second fell race in 10 years, but hopefully the start of many even if it is by far my weakest discipline. A stunning course and superbly organised! Why did it suck so much? Well for those who don't know me (I don't shut up about it for those who do), the sun and heat are my running kryptonite, I'm just really really bad in the heat and sun. All week it was forecast rain for the race, pre-race there was heavy rain over-night and I woke up to thick cloud, YES! With a late start (1pm) there was plenty of time for this to change. Then it happened, at 9.30am an immense thick bank of cloud disappeared towards Llandudno leaving only unerring blue sky and sun. Overheating just on my morning walk round town was a sign of things to come. At this point I knew it was no longer going to be about racing for me, but about surviving as best as possible to the end. As soon as I overheat I just can't recover from it. Sods law the clouds came back over during the presentation afterwards, scammed!

 

Race organisation and general vibe: The race organisation was superb, easy online entry, excellent timing system, parking, some food and drink provided, loads of prizes all for a bargain price of £7. Well marshalled (thanks for all the support - at least the weather was good for you). In terms of ambience, it seemed a really nice group. Non-intimidating. I've been looking for a club to join and Eryri put their best foot forward at this race. After the race I walked back to the HQ with the junior coach (didn't get their name) and then had drinks afterwards in which time several other Eryri athletes joined the table. Everyone seemed very welcoming, friendly and chatty which was great to see.

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My Race Experience:

So it starts with a steep 170m climb to get you gasping, then drops down steeply towards Capelulo before doing another 180m climb up the Fairy Glen past Maen Escob. The race begins with a narrow single file start, I started a bit back which was helpful to stop me going off too hard. Despite this, by the bottom of the second climb I was already massively overheating. The sun was punishing and there was zero wind. Walking at 180bpm absolutely waterfalling sweat all the way up. My pre-race worries had arrived! Fortunately other than the whippets at the front (Gavin Roberts, Sion Edwards et al.) everyone was struggling up there too. A marginal breeze awaited and a small cloud gave us about 10 minutes of shade on the long drag uphill to Tal y Fan. This was my favourite section overtaking a couple of people, I like long flattish drags, it's the steep that kills me. The sun promptly came back out for the steep final section (200m) of the Tal Y Fan climb and this just turned into one long power hike to the summit. I'd had goose-bumps for about 15 mins by this point which is the first sign of bad heat stress for me. By the top I was totally cooked, head was swimming and I mostly stumbled across the ridge to the summit - the highest point of the race.

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I'm a slow descender at the best of times but was SO slow off the summit and down the descent, and somebody passed me almost immediately which was a blessing in disguise as the 'path' off isn't really a path so I at least had someone to follow to the stone circle. I'm always up Tal y Fan (one of my hiking routes is 'Tal-y-Fan 3 ways') and yet I'd never gone down this mystery path. A bit steep at first but then just mostly marginally distinguishable paths through tussocks/heather and if it were wet, bogs I'd imagine. It was better running than I expected. On a good day I'd love this section (not steep and good honest running) to the stone circle and along to Moel Lus but I was totally spent. From this point on I was just surviving and trying to keep moving. I got passed again on the way to Moel Lus, I was massively relieved to look back when climbin Moel Lus to see nobody was within sight behind me. I plodded up to the summit (got my Strava worst split!) and then begun the descent, this was a bit steep and rocky higher up and again I was happy to just get down without the pressure of racing hard down it as I probably would have ended in a heap. Was bloody delighted to get down to the finish and back to the bar to guzzle icy drinks! All in all a really hard day out for me, 10 degrees cooler would have been perfect. My average HR was 10 beats higher than the Conwy Half Marathon PB despite being out for 10 mins longer! Massive Ouch! Done in cooler weather or slower this is a stunning loop that I'll likely adapt into a 3 seasons long run.

 

Race tips:

1. The start is narrow and single file up the first climb, if you are a fast runner then make sure you're near the front. If you're unsure where you'll be, start a bit further back and there are opportunities to pass higher up the first climb. At least this way you won't feel pressured and go off too hard.

2. Shoe choice - recceing this a week before I was even considering road shoes at it was so solid and dry but the first and final climb wouldn't have been great in them, nor would the first bit of descent off Tal-y-Fan. And it had rained a lot since. Went for the Saucony Xodus Ultras in the end as they're fast on the hard stuff like the long drag to Tal-y-Fan and theoretically down to Moel Lus if you're not in the k-hole (where I firmly was) whilst still having good grip. X-talons etc not really needed.

3. Route choice: Quite a few marshals out there. Probably worth recceing the descent off Tal-y-Fan to the stone circle as that was tricky to follow and not marshalled. Also the descent from Moel Lus to the finish to make sure you take the first two 'cut downs', but not the third!

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Race GPX to help you recce the route: Click Here

Race website: https://www.facebook.com/GladstoneFellRace/

Cost: Online - £6 (affiliated), £7 (unaffiliated), £9 on the day