Saturday, March 19, 2022

Llantysilio mountain race

Race: Llantysilio mountain race
Time/Position: 1.03.25 (9th from 68)
My return to this lovely little race was long overdue: records suggest my last outing was 11 years ago. A perfect early spring morning with a helpful tailwind for the long climb from Rhewl, which takes a tortuous route through some farms to a heathery ridge, then more flat fields before the final long climb up to the ridge on the Corwen side of Moel Morfydd. The wind then became a brisk crosswind for the always demanding ridge to Gamelin. When I last did the race, the final descent just doubled back from Gamelin and plunged straight down to Rhewl. Now, it is much more satisfying: continuing down a steep, plummeting descent towards the Horseshoe before contouring back west to gain a very steep and exciting final descent down awkward terrain to regain the road above Rhewl. This all means times are not strictly comparable - a relief as I was much, much slower today! 

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