Welsh 1000m peaks fell race

A fantastic day yesterday, competing in the Welsh 1000 metre peaks fell race for the first time. This was a fairly long-term aim, but coming so soon after the marathon (13 days) I wasn't sure how I'd get on. In the event, I felt reasonably good throughout. It's an epic event, in every sense, starting with Neil Parry by the sea in Aber, going up and over the Aber Falls to the Afon Goch valley. Up the steep western wall of the valley to thread between Bera Mawr and Bera Bach, then into the clag. I joined a small group which traversed the side of Foel Grach to regain the main path up Llewellyn later on, shaving a few minutes of the route I'd planned. About 90 mins to the summit of Llewellyn from the coast, feeling fairly strong and well placed at this point (certainly in the top 20). A spectacular clearance as we ran along the ridge to Dafydd, cloud peeling away to the west. Then retraced steps along the edge of Cwm Lloer to the new checkpoint then steeply down to Ffynnon Llugwy, with dehydration starting to kick in. Had some water, then down the horrible tarmac road to the A5, more water, then up Nant yr Ogof (rather tiring) to crest the Glyder ridge at Llyn y Caseg fraith. Superb views of the east face of Tryfan kept my mind off the increasing fatigue! Completely alone at this point, the race spread out. Then the awful descent down the Miner's Track past another checkpoint. Very rocky and awkward, turned my ankle several times. West to Llyn Cwmffynnon, then an energy-sapping runnable bogtrot to Pen y Pass and more water. Surreal running through the tourists in the car park to the Pyg Track and final push for Yr Wyddfa. Went reasonably well, but I began to slow and was passed by five runners. Huge numbers of tourists on the path, which is runnable at many points. Up into the clag at the zigzags, but kept pushing to the top of Carnedd Ugain (Crib y Ddisgyl) in under 5 hours, then over to the summit of Snowdon - the fourth and final 1000m peak - in about 5:06, for 26th place. A long day in the saddle (22 miles, 8000ft+ climbing), particularly as we had to walk back to Llanberis from the summit: an extra 5 or 6 miles (although it was actually a very pleasant warm down).