Fairy Freckled Cow trail race

Race: Freckled Cow/Alwen trail race (11k)
Time/Position: 43.02 (6th from 143)
The hottest race I can remember since a scorcher on Gamelin three or four years ago. Llyn Alwen is in something of a bowl, although that's not immediately apparent, and there was very little breeze. To make matters worse, the race started just before midday on a hot (25c) midsummer day. It's the same for everyone, though, and the intermittent woodland does at least offer a bit of shade. I'd never done the event before, although I have run round Alwen a few times in the past. It's a delightful circuit round a scenic lake, with lots of undulations before crossing the outflow at the wild Hiraethog end. From here, a steady but draining climb into the moors leads to a short ridge before more undulations lead to the woods and the dam at the end of the lake. I picked up a few places on the short climbs before the bridge and, although I struggled on the main climb in the heat, everybody slowed a bit here. The remainder of the race, through the undulating woods on the western shore, was pretty tough as the heat took its toll.