Moelwyn fell race

Race: Ras y Moelwyn (10.5m/2800ft)
Peaks: Moelwyn Mawr (2525ft/770m), Moelwyn Bach (2329ft/710m), Moel yr Hydd (2126ft/648m)
Time/Position: 1:35:36 (23/116)
A hugely enjoyable day out on this classic mountain race: wonderfully varied with a nice community atmosphere. The weather was perfect, which always helps: sunny, clear, but reasonably cool. The route is logical and appealing. It provides a bit of everything: steep climbs, grassy descents, rocky terrain, bogs, quarries. Nicely runnable from the start in Blaenau Ffestiniog up the tracks above Tanygrisiau to the old quarries in Cwm Orthin: a unique landscape. Past Llyn Cwmorthin to a long, rather hot but largely runnable climb above Rhosydd quarry - emerging from the industrial landscape to great views over to Cnicht, Wyddfa, Nantlle. After a bog trot, the east ridge of Moelwyn Mawr is steep but enjoyable. Then comes the very steep descent down over the rocky subsidiary summit and ridge of Craigysgafn, followed by the steep but short climb up Moelwyn Bach. Another steep descent down a rocky groove leads to a very fast descent over bog and grass to Llyn Stwlan. Along the dam wall to a steep climb leading to a plateau and the final shortish climb up Moel yr Hydd (possibly only the second time I've been up this peak, although most of the rest of the route is quite familiar). I was feeling quite good at this stage, but was deliberately slow and tentative on the rocky descents (given that London is only a week away!). An exhilerating final descent down a side valley (I sank waist-deep into a bog during this!) back to the lake and route of ascent. I settled for my position and just jogged back to the finish, despite being just behind a largish group, trying to save some energy for the forthcoming marathon. Probably not the wisest thing to have done one week before London, but I would have hated to have missed this.