Carneddau fell race

Race: Ras Carneddau (10m/4200ft)
Peaks: Carnedd Dafydd, Carnedd Llewellyn, Yr Elen, Gyrn Wigau
Time/Position: 1:53:44 (5th from 50)
An improvement of 110 places on my last outing in this race, when it was part of the British Championships four years ago. A smaller field than usual today, perhaps because of the rather grim forecast. Indeed, the rain was already sweeping down a black Cwm Llafur as we started off from Gerlan. I kept a steady pace up, running all the way, until facing the gales as we moved onto the main spur down from Dafydd. Got to the wet and cold summit in 47 mins, which was encouraging, as was the fact that I then had plenty of energy for the ridge. I caught the runners in front, and a small group of five of us picked the good line east of the main ridge before starting up Llewellyn. I pulled away a little bit on this section, getting to the dank summit of Llewellyn in third place - which was rather exciting. It didn't last long, however, as the group reformed for the tricky nav through the towers along the ridge to Yr Elen. The wind really began to gust at this point, to 60-70mph, and I was knocked down twice. Great views as the cloud tore away from the ridge briefly at the col - Cwm Caseg remained hidden, while the Llafur slopes were briefly sunlit. The steep descent over Foel Ganol went well, enjoying the scree and staying third or fourth, but I gradually started to lose ground as the cloud cleared and we all scattered for the very long, steep but grassy descent to wild Cwm Caseg (last walked up in the icy weather of February 2010). I knew that an awful energy-sapping bog awaited, but it wasn't too bad apart from one somersaulting fall - and I still felt OK on the final cruel climb up Gyrn Wigau. Got very close to the two in front, but couldn't catch them, and they stayed ahead for the contouring, awkward and boggy terrain down to the finish above Bethesda. A classic race, arguably the 3rd hardest in North Wales, run in quite challenging conditions.