Foel Fras race

Race: Foel Fras fell race (12m/3100ft)
Peaks: Drum, Foel Fras, Garnedd Uchaf, Moel Wnion
Time/Position: 2:11:49 (12/84)
An unexpectedly memorable day out. I got back from Glasgow last night, after deciding against an attempt on Tranter's round in the Highlands (gales, blizzards prevailing), so decided to do this AL race at the last minute. Very little running since the marathon, so was pleased to feel good for the very long but relatively gentle climb from Aber over the Roman Road and track to Drum. The wind was swirling around at this point, but only light rain. Very windy for the route over to Foel Fras, where the conditions really deteriorated. However, I felt good, enjoying the conditions, and raced across to Garnedd Uchaf in heavy rain, mist and strong winds. The crucial navigation came at just the wrong time for most runners: tired after a long climb, just as the weather closed in, ideal for hypothermia. A small group of us struggled to take a bearing (my hands were frozen and couldn't move the compass base) and we headed off WNW to pick up the track skirting the Beras. Really quite uncomfortable, very wet and mildly hypothermic throughout. But the big col below Wnion is a sizeable target, and the mist cleared as we descended. I then took off up Wnion, but with very stiff legs this was not especially runnable. Recovered to make a pretty quick descent from the top of Wnion over Cras to the village - the sea almost Med-like as the weather ironically cleared up! Arrived at the finish to find the conditions had decimated the field, with lots of runners awol higher up. Cracking race, a lovely logical circuit, and very runnable even for me.