From Ritchie Williamson…

My entry into this race, organised by Trail Events Co, has its origins in the Cape Wrath Ultra 2021. At the pre-event dinner I met a fellow runner called Chris (previous experience, attempting to run across the Irish Sea in a giant hamster wheel), we ran a lot of CWU together and with connections made we kept in touch and made future running plans. High on the post CWU wave we decided to team up again and entered the Dragon’s Back Race for 2022. For this we committed to do some proper preparation, recces of the course and a bit more mountain fitness. Chris was already ahead of me on the training having entered the Brecon Beacons’ Ultra to get a ‘feel’ for some of the terrain the DBR would cover. Suffering from a well-known condition (runners envy, yet to be formally diagnosed) and itching to run an event post CWU I entered the race only to be put on the reserve list as it had sold out. Six days before the event, I got the nod and so started to think about an alternative fuelling and race strategy. On previous ultras I had tried a number of different approaches to fuelling, from chicken sandwiches to falafel wraps and onion bhajis (and everything in between). My race strategy (if it can be called that) had always been to a) finish the course and b) do well and it had served me well, finishing top 5 overall or in age category (but with top spot always eluding me). The Brecon Beacons Ultra seemed like a good place to attempt something different. At 32.5 miles long with around 6900ft total ascent I knew the distance and elevation would not pose a challenge. I planned to race this from the start, I reasoned if I went out hard and the wheels came off, I would still get across the line. I also needed to rethink my fuelling, carrying bulk items such as sandwiches or bagels required putting them in the race pack at the back and not in the front pockets and would slow me down getting access to them. From experience if someone was on your tail you would skip trying to access the fuel to keep ahead. There is also a certain amount of faff and time lost in using check points to refuel. I chose a well-known fuelling system and went with that, drinks and gels all the way, planning to get 20 grams of carbohydrate in every hour from the start. This was the plan.

Race day arrived, and after a very early start, registration at 06.30am at Talybont-on-Usk, we had the pre-race briefing and prepared to race. Chris and I discussed our own approaches to the race and when the race started at 07.30 am we set off together. The first 7.5 miles is a long uphill (1000ft) track/road along the side of the Talybont Reservoir. I had gone out quick and was leading within the first 2 minutes, Chris was with me and we put distance between ourselves and the following pack fairly quickly, we ran through the first check point (CP1 2.3 miles) and shouted out our race numbers as we passed through. We continued to run together for the next few miles but around mile 7 Chris wanted to run to his own plan and so I kept to my own and ran through CP 2 (7.2 miles) in the lead, again shouted my race number and kept going. I’d manged to keep to a sub 8 min/mile pace up to this point. I couldn’t see or hear any of the following runners, and never having been in this position I immediately started to think I’d gone off too quick. The next two and half miles offered a little respite as the tracks were runnable, narrow, and off road with a smaller ascent (less than 100 ft), I kept the same pace. Mile 11 is where the real climbing began, 3 miles of continuous up hill (1170ft ascent) onto the Graig Fan Ddu to join the Craig Gwaun Taf and running along as far as the Bwlch Duwynt (wind gap), I immediately regretted leaving the running poles in the car. I was puffing at this point, and there were a few strains in both claves making themselves known. I ignored them, I’d ran the first 13 miles in just under 2 hours and had kept to plan with a gel every hour from 20 minutes in as well as 500 mls fluid every hour. When I had a chance to look up, the views were amazing. It’s part of why I like ultras. Beginning the first descent from near mile 13 in was a joy, 1.5 miles of fast descent (1200ft -20% gradient) down a wide track. This was not a technical descent, and I reasoned I could put a bit more distance between myself and those behind. I went for it and felt I was flying, hitting the bottom in less than 9 minutes. It was a busy path as there were quite a lot of tourists making their way up as well as a few parties of squaddies on a march. It’s the closest you get to slalom when running. This brought me to CP3 (14 miles). I stopped to fill my flask, was told I was in the lead and replied almost apologetically with ‘I started too fast’. The next 1.5 miles were another uphill (1000ft) pull onto the Craig Cwin Llwch. I’d started cramping on the climb up (those twinges in the calves had now spread to the groin), I had to stop to stretch out a few times, I forced in another gel. I now had a long descent (3 miles) down to CP4 (20 miles), the last 1.5 miles on road. The cramping had slowed my pace as I was concerned with the “wheels coming off’ (brain trying to compensate with MV50 1st place is good enough), once I hit the road (and after some more stretches), I felt good enough to push the pace again. I filled my flasks with fluids at CP4, told them I’d gone off too fast (quickly becoming my refrain when I spoke to anyone) and set off again. I knew the next section was the toughest, approx. 9 miles to the final CP and the small matter of summiting Pen y Fan. I was still in the lead and was not used to the odd paranoia that comes with it. I knew if I could maintain the lead to CP5 I could race the last 3 miles.

Off road and starting the ascent there was 2.6 miles and 1950ft of climb between myself and the summit of Pen y Fan. I started the ascent and apart from a few twinges, all was going well. Gaining height quickly I had a clear view of what was behind, I couldn’t see anyone, I was beginning to believe. Around mile 21 (about 3hrs 30 mins of running) I needed to get another gel in, I was delaying, stomach was not feeling good (typical for around this time in most runs). I forced one in, in three attempts. The first attempt it stayed down, took a drink, the stomach was not happy. I left it a few minutes, tried to put a bit more in, there was a reflex, I held it down kept moving and had another drink. I still needed to finish the gel, I waited a few minutes more and forced the rest in. The stomach revolted; it didn’t stay down long. What followed was a few minutes of the physical act of expulsion of gastric content with the aim of removing toxic or irritating substances. I’m a neuroscientist by training, and every time this happens, I mentally list the neurotransmitters that mediate this and the brain regions that control it (yes there is a specific part of the brain that controls this), we all have our coping strategies. While I was bent over, I had a chance to scan down the Cefn Cwm Llwch ridge and spotted a red topped runner moving up. This was the first runner I had seen since parting with Chris. I reckoned they were about ¾ of a mile behind on the uphill. I needed to get a move on. The last section of Cefn Cwm Llwch on to the summit is steep, requiring hands at times. I summited and met a runner that was on the marathon distance course (different route). After a quick hello, I wanted to put some distance between myself and him so he could act as buffer between myself and the chaser in the red top.

There was now a short steep and technical descent followed by a less technical section, and the final climb of the route skirting the Gwaun Cerrig Llwydion which brought me up to just over 26 miles. I had just over 10K to go, a long 3 mile downhill on a narrow path with constant looks over my shoulder. I hadn’t been able to put any fuel in since mile 21 and was banking on there being some cola at the final check point (CP5 29.5 miles). Once at the CP5 I had 3 miles left to go, I quickly filled a flask with cola, and emptied it even quicker as I ran a 1-mile downhill road section, managing to keep a steady 7.30 min/mile pace. The final 2 miles are flat along a winding canal, this was the hardest part, I had to keep moving and had no idea if red top runner was close as there was not a line of sight behind. Energy reserves were running low due to lack of fuelling, I ran the penultimate mile at a decent pace (8.14 min/mile) but had to push. I couldn’t maintain the pace for the final mile (9.00 min/mile), which seemed to take an eternity. I crossed the line in first place and red top runner came in 6 minutes after, third place runner coming in 18 minutes after me. Red top runner was called Graham and we had a good chat at the end. The strategy had worked to a point and as with all these events it was a learning curve. Never having led a race I had to get the navigation right, there were no ‘moving way points’ for me to follow. The course was well marked, but there were a few sections that you need to be on point as to when to leave a path or make a turn. It was a great event, the weather was perfect, and I’ve probably peaked, but look forward to the next one and trying to get the fuelling right. Graham has vowed not to wear a red top when running an event again, Chris has not told me what his next event is.