Two Hillforts fell race

Race: Two Hillforts fell race (8.5m/2600ft)
Time/Position: 1.18.44 (9th from 73)
A two month lay-off from racing, my longest in many years, so this (along with yesterday's Parkrun) was always going to be a shock to the system. As such, it went as well as could be expected, perhaps better as I felt fairly comfortable throughout, albeit very slow. The excellent new route seemed similar to the defunct Tavern Trial or Lletty, although it started from a different farm, contouring along to the same steep path up to the Moel Arthur car park. Then comes the brutally steep climb up the front of Moel Arthur, then a descent through the heather towards Pen y Cloddiau. This is always my favourite hill for running, and we took the fire road which climbs gently on the Vale side before running along the top of the hillfort to the summit. The weather was beautiful but windy, a nice late summer day. There were quite big gaps between runners - I passed one and was then passed by a fast finisher as we climbed back up to Llys y Coed for the long run in, which starts by the Cilcain col and ends with the superb grassy descent back to Llangynhafal.