Report by Guy Whitmarsh
We all do something stupid, once. I ran this fell race last year and entered again this year (largely by mistake). Only the really stupid make the same mistake twice.
Although a short race (5.7km), with no excessive climb (450m), I find the early climb through boggy fields exhausting, and the final climb to the summit very steep (though not as bad as the Blorenge). Last year the lower fields were very wet, this year they were even wetter, and upward progress was even more exhausting. I nearly lost a shoe within the first couple of hundred yards. After three (?) wet fields, we reached a stile where queues at least allowed us to get our breath back, but to lose time. Another couple of fields then we were on the hill proper, and more exposed to the vicious westerly wind. Once on top it was a struggle to maintain a straight course towards the trig point when hit by a gust. On the steep downhill I was floored by a particularly fierce gust, and ended up head first almost in the lap of a zigzagging runner below (for some reason she then kindly beckoned me on past). Once off the hill and back onto the fields, it was still hard work through the bogginess, and still prone to gusts of wind. In the mud of the gateways I was reduced to walking.
Tim and Flora had finished already, and as Gary crossed the line the heavens opened, and weary runners were treated to an icy shower as they walked back to the Skirrid Mountain Inn, for refreshment and the results
Jonathan Ford was first, in 27.32, out of 140 participants.
Tim J 73rd 41.09
Flora 90th 44.40 1st FV60
Guy 112th 49.10
Gary 116th 50.04
Age graded positions were also worked out (a novelty?) – Flora came a very honourable 22nd by this calculation.
