Ras Moel Eilio

Race: Moel Eilio fell race (8m/3000ft)
Peaks: Moel Eilio, Foel Gron, Foel Goch, Moel Cynghorion
Time/Position: 1.22.16 (8th from 56 [3rd V40])
This turned into a painfully slow 'survival-mode' plod across the ridge into a ferocious headwind and torrential rain. The effect was like a horizontal power shower switched to 'cold', and brought back fond memories of similar outings in the past (OMM Borrowdale, 1000m peaks 2009, Foel Fras, Mynydd Troed etc etc). It was no worse than any of those, but it was worse than might have been expected given the forecast and the lowly nature of these hills above Llanberis. The field was small but fairly strong and although I managed a reasonable pace from Llanberis along the tracks to the ridge, as soon as we turned up towards Moel Eilio the headwind tore into us and made running (for me) almost impossible. Just a heads down plod to the top of Eilio, then the wind got really fierce. The crosswinds were almost dangerous as we crested the little spur above the gullies on Foel Gron: I was blown over here, and a minute or two later I fell quite badly on the descent from Foel Gron, saturated scree and grass helping me slide and minimising loss of flesh. Finally, at the head of Maesgwm the wind turned and helped a bit for the long climb up Cynghorion although I was mildly hypothermic by this point. The steep descent back to the valley was a rather stiff and cautious affair as a result, and I couldn't catch the two runners in front on the long run in along the track down to Llanberis. Great job done by the marshalls in difficult circumstances. Peter and I recovered with a bowl of chips and mug of tea in Pete's Eats.