Cwm Pennant Horseshoe fell race

Race: Ras Pedol Cwm Pennant (17m/5600ft/AL)
Peaks: Moel Hebog, Moel yr Ogof, Moel Lefn, Trum y Ddisgyl, Mynydd Tal y Mignedd, Craig Cwm Silyn, Garnedd Goch
Time/Position: 3.19.32 (11th from 36)
The cloudbase was almost down to the valley floor as we set off from a humid Bryncir at the base of this famous and beautiful valley. The field in such conditions was inevitably going to be fairly small: as it clashed with other events, and it was clear that navigation would be a challenge almost from the outset. Peter, Andy and I were looking forward to it. Last year, I had a reasonable run and thought it was a superb new race over some of my favourite hills: finishing just after Simon E in 8th place, well under three hours. A repeat was never likely this year, so I just adopted a steady striding pace up Moel Hebog in thick and humid mist. This was OK, and I found myself running with Noel from Eryri, same as last year, as we descended towards Moel yr Ogof in steady rain and very poor visibility. We followed the wall than ploughed up through the cleft in the rock to the checkpoint on top of the rocky summit of Moel yr Ogof. It was even harder to find the checkpoint on Moel Lefn, and we initially went past it - doubling back for the climb up to the summit. A much bigger error followed, however, as I drifted too far right on a bearing north, descending the wrong side of a spur. As often happens, a small error turned into a big one and we found ourselves well off course, too far east. A giant dogleg ensued (at least the error was quickly obvious) and a wall bisecting the ridge acted as a handrail to gain the path through the quarries to eventually gain Bwlch y Ddwy Elor: visibility dreadful throughout. We'd lost a lot of time, and Andy soon appeared having taken the direct route down from Lefn. He shot up the misty Trum y Ddisgyl to gain the main Nantlle ridge and it was as much as I could do to keep up initially. The highlight of the route comes next: the narrow and sometimes rocky ridge across to Tal y Mignedd. A spectacular clearance gave views down to Nantlle as the mist peeled away from one half of the ridge. Andy and I were equally matched over this section and took a direct scrambling line through the rocks. I went too far right last year from Craig Cwm Silyn, so we careful to stay left and pick up the main path to Garnedd Goch. It was nice to be moving at speed after losing so much time on the descent from Moel Lefn. The descent down Cwm Ciprwth is one of the hardest on any race: a blend of hidden rocks, tussocks and deep heather. No paths until you emerge at the checkpoint at the base of the cwm. From here I pushed on a little and felt quite good on the long road run in: although as I was a full 25 minutes slower than last year, it should have felt fairly comfortable. Wonderful race again.