Clwydian hills fell race

Race: Clwydian Hills (10m/3100ft)
Time/Position: 1:25:11 (8th/89)
An encouraging performance in yesterday's race, which I've always felt to be the toughest local (NE Wales) fell race: constant steep climbs and fast descents with no real respite throughout the course. It really makes the most of the range! Conditions yesterday were challenging, a combination of snow, slush and deep mud making life tricky in places. I wasn't too far off the pace for once, a definite improvement. Kept it going quite well over the initial long climb up Moel Dywyll, then a fast descent down to the Vale side, before the brutal long climb back onto the ridge. Picked a good line through the heather to Nant y Ne and managed to climb the dreaded gully (wading through waist-deep snow at the top) reasonably quickly, before a good fast descent, with more drifts in places, allowed me to continue to pick up a few places before an unwelcome sprint finish in which I just about kept my 8th place. My third time up Moel Famau in as many days. Ran up with Neil on Friday night. It was virtually dark as we reached the top under glowering cloud, but thick snow drifts (in places) helped with the visibility, if not the running. Then had a family walk up from Penbarras in the slush with Rich and Mel on the Saturday.