0400
Alarms begin to chirp. God no! it cannot be time to get up!
I don't move, what's the point? I'm Non Competitive, Out. Out of the race I've spent 2 years toiling over. More over its my own fault.
Migsy my pod mate is moving 'Get up!', Kevin is moving, everybody is starting to prep. I'm thinking about Dragon mail Fran said 'Wave to Dolgellau for me'. Its day 3, I've run this mountain many times over the past 2 years.. I really like this day..
Time to get up. time to make the most of the day and regain a bit of worth along the way.
0405
Unzip sleeping bag and I'm up, the whole tent is talking, banter, chit chat. A shout from the camp ' Can you please shut the F@*k up!!!'
Back into whispered silence and a bit of laughing. A quick chat with Kevin, he's going to run the full day. 7 still left in the tent, 5 still competitive and 2 out.
I decide to flick on my phone and see if I have any messages, the previous evening I'd sent a messsage letting everyone know what had happened on day 2, there's a reply saying I should have trained harder, old men are doing better than me. Its quite crushing, painful in fact. In response I capture a shot of my DIY taping and caption it:
Knees shot to hell, feet lubed, Cadair Idris awaits, let's see how far I get.
Finally I'm fully motivated.
The morning routine is now becoming well established, slick. At breakfast Steve Evans is waiting serving waffles, we have a quick chat about day 2, once again we part ' See you tomorrow mate' , I think its his new catch phrase.
I'm ready in plenty of time arriving in the start tent around 10 minutes before 6am. The Briefing board has a diversion in place. Part of the road section to Cadair has had a landslip. Noted then instantly forgotten.
0600
Away on time, and an easy enough run down into Dolgellau, I want Fran to know I'm up and running. Out with the phone, genius idea I'll go live , it doesn't work but I capture a shot crossing the bridge into town. At least she will know I'm on my way.
Kevin passes me ' Stop f%*king around with social media!'
He's right time to press on.
Running freely feels great,through the town then up the tarmac hill (a monster climb) and into the diversion. Here again I meet Kate Worthington. Another quick chat about yesterday , a friendly face always welcome.
I get a first proper look at Cadair It's in cloud , CP1 at Gau Graig, Mynydd Moel obscured. Urghh. Mountain clag. My favourite. Today it is not going to stop me.
The route is busy, it feels like the entire field has gone off at once. A snake of colour, poles and chatter . No need to navigate. Just before the Climb to Gau Graig I pass Mark, the Dragons Back Film frontman.
'Hey Paul how's it going?' ( He's read my name)
'Alright good bobbing along!'
Mark laughs,' Bobbing along , phrase of the day!'
Into the cloud, damp, cold and a trudge up to the first CP . 1hr 42:14, 98th.
It's been raining on and off over the past few days , we pass over a stile and onto a flat grass area, I know it's going to be boggy and it doesn't disappoint. The mist continues to swirl, occasionally a break revealing runners as far as I can see in front and behind all heading for the summit of Cadair Idris.
It comes soon enough, along the way afew folk flapping they have missed the CP mistaking Myndd Moel for Penygadair. I'm with a couple from the USA. I assure them we aren't there, just follow me. Dib in at Penygadair CP2 2:31:55 109th. The cloud is still close, really no wind, its almost pleasant.
Cadair Summit.
Time for the descent. This is a real treat for a runner, a long slowly dropping trail that winds on for a couple of km. Just off the summit the cloud clears, again I can see so many competitors charging down the hill. Unexpectedly the film crew decide to chase me for a bit, crikey! I make best effort whilst the cameraman seems to effortlessly follow along side. Eventually I comment
'I'm going to fall if you keep on me!' He laughs , slows up and let's me go.
Of course seconds later I do manage a tumble, I'm slightly off course , as I look up and realise I run into a rock garden and clatter through , tripping , skidding , falling and eventually rejoining the route. So much for TV!
The next couple of miles roll by with steep grassy climbs and descents at Trryau Mawr and Craig-y-lyn. I'm conscious I'm non competitive and keep letting quicker people past finally dibbing into CP 4 in 4:06:33 115th.
CP4 marks the start of a mandatory route , this year its been marked by the event wranglers. It's a steep long down hill section into a farm . Very runnable.
I haven't seen any tent mates, are they ahead behind ? No idea. Within a minute Kev appears, well flashes by. He's 65 years old , he passes me like I'm standing still, always so much quicker than me down hill. He is literally gone, I can see him maybe 400 m ahead, this despite the fact I've thrown caution to the wind and tried to follow him! Unbelievable!
CP5 is fast approaching, a water point and Cutoff at 12:15.
I arrive and replen water, have a bite to eat, wonder how I'm going to catch Kev. Dibbing out at 10:42 115th and just over 2 1/2 hours ahead of cutoff. I'm quicker than expected, it helps wash away yesterdays gloom.
Kev reappears', eh ? What? How have I caught you mate? '
Been for a poo! Ha! This explains his crazy run earlier , that makes me smile.
The weather is changing flipping between sun and rain. People are swapping waterproof jackets on, off on again. I'm wearing mine.
I have a simple system. Overcast weather, jacket unzipped, sleeves pulled up to elbows and velcro'd. It keeps me cool enough. Light rain , cap on , zip up and hood tucked. Persistent rain, sleeves down, hood up as required. It works for me , saving the faff I see as people take jackets off and on , rinse repeat.
The next section of the day takes the race into the Tarren Hills, , Tarrenhendre, Tarren y Gesail and a slow long descent into Machynlleth and the final Support point/cutoff.
Beginning the climb Paul Tucker is waiting with his cow bells cheering us all on, I manage to catch Neal Saxe, distinctive with his ever present propeller cap whirling in the light breeze.
We team up and chat on the never ending climb towards Tarrenhendre, ahead and to the right 3 figures are toiling up the steep hills off track. Clearly DBR competitors I wonder why they have gone that way, steep, tussocks, no path. I suspect I will reach the summit of Tarrenhendre long before them.
The suns now out and the climb to the summit hard. I dib in 114th and now have a easy run to the most sickening, disgusting and plain cruel climb of the day if not the entire week. Tarren y Gesail.
There's no need to climb to this summit, it's not en route, it's a switch back you can easily miss apart from the dibber on top. It's very very steep, grassed all the way. A real punisher.
I arrive and see a long snake of people slowly going up, others charging down. Just as I start the climb Simon Roberts comes flying down. A minute later my tent mates Paul Jenkins and Sam appear moving quick . We shout the usual abuse at each and they are gone.
I glance at my watch making a note of the time they have passed. It takes me 32 minutes to climb the 200m, dib in and get back to the same point, the descent painful as elevation is rapidly shed, knees screaming, lungs on fire, much swearing because it just makes me feel better.
At last the run to Machynlleth, support point and food. I end up cruising along following a fellow competitor. The route twists down a fire road and forest tracks. In front a fellow runner is singing, headphones in, unaware I'm there. Occasionally I see her as we follow the twisty route. The singing guides me along, brain in neutral, sun out , heading down letting gravity do the work.
Cow bells.. Paul Tucker again and a dib in at CP8 which I nearly miss, Paul points it out as I nearly run by.
Hitting the road into town I'm thinking about food, the legendary Co Op nearby the SP. Instead as I hit the town I go straight into the Garage, chicken sandwich, crisps, coke, proceeding to run through town eating and swigging coke. Bliss!
The support point approaches, Mike Hogan welcomes me as I approach ' Yes mate come on!' Time for a water replen, vest food, leaving the main meal which I can't face, hence the garage stop. No time wasted, I'm aware the Support team are trying to make everyone dance . I'm not having any of it, thank everyone and dib out at 3:22 pm 53 minutes ahead of cutoff and 107th.
Day 3 changes again now, a long drag leading to Pulmlunion Fach before a long descent into the finish. Good running in places I catch up with Pete schreiner and Lauren Murray.
I'd last seen Pete on the climb to Cadir , an American with a majestic beard and easy going nature, Lauren from Arizona ( I think). We spend quite afew hours together , talking, being separated and rejoining as we work towards Pumlumon. Soon I catch some more familiar faces , Tom Morgan from my tent and Tim Laney.
Tim is slightly ahead breaking trail and heading left, others ahead have continued along the track. Pete exclaims ' where the hell is that guy going?!'
' Follow him, Tim's a RAW recce guide he knows the way' I know he's heading for a bridge but it's not immediately obvious. The gang follows and we end up on the tussocks, full grown with the ground under foot flooded, hiding many hazardous unseen holes. Progress is OK, after a few minutes Tom dissapears to his waist into a water logged hole, not impressed. A minute or so later he goes again this time falling forward to much swearing. He's OK. I shouldn't laugh but it's kind of funny and I can help a chuckle. I'm using my running poles to prod ahead shouting 'hole' when the present themselves.
We follow the river to the left closing on the dam/lake at the foot of the climb.
I later learn my tent mate Guto had elected to cross the stream to take the easier approach along a service to road leading to the lake. This would ultimately prove to undo his week
In his own words,
"I made my way up to the lake at the foot of Pumlumon I thought I'd go off the singletrack, cross that stream and make my way up to the service road, as I got to the stream I put my foot down on a tussock but there was fuck all there, my left legs went down so quick I almost chinned myself with my right knee, snapped my sodding pole as well, I jarred my ankle as I went down, made my way cross the stream, and up Pumlumon, didn't really hurt but was running on adrenaline, even ran off the mountain."
Guto and Cledwyn captured at the summit , used with kind permission.
The climb to the Summit goes well, I arrive at 6:57pm 93rd. The weather has cleared, stunning , low cloud with a sinking sun reflecting off the upper and lower surface of a thin cloud layer. Tim has gone, Pete ahead leaving Tom, Lauren and myself.
In my mind we have maybe 30 minutes left, I've recce'd this stretch and more or less know the way home.
Our little group departs, keen to get back before dark. It's an easy run. Nothing steep, nothing technical. I'm expecting Tom to go but he stays with me. Tom's a ferocious downhill runner. I'm always impressed by his speed.
' Go mate don't wait for me'
'No I'm OK, I'm shattered Paul, ill stick with you '
This suits me fine , company is always better, Tom keeps checking the sinking sun, ' Don't worry mate we have plenty of time '
Memory and actual distance turn out to be different, soon I can see the camp far below in the gathering twilight. So close but we have to find the last dibber which keeps us on the high ground. Tom's still with me , Lauren slightly behind. Finally we start a descent spotting a orienteering flag at a fence. Dib dib and away across a field looking for a gate in the distance. We have been caught by a few others that now seem unsure of the route. I'm away it's down there , no hesitation.
We run as a 3 finally hitting the road and farm track that leads to camp. Tom takes off , I try and follow, Lauren hot on my heels. Pointless but fun . A minute or two later we are all across the line, day 3 done. It's still light.
I'm really pleased crossing the line at 8:11pm 96th of 144 who finish the day.
Tom finishes 95th 11 seconds ahead, Lauren 86th almost 16 minutes ahead.
Later I learn my tent pod mate Migsy is out. Injured on day 2 on Rhinog Fawr. On descent from Cadir today his knee locked out forcing retirement. I was so certain he would finish this challenge . It was another unexpected shock. I'm sure he will return and complete the event stronger than ever.
Tent 21 is now down to 6, four still competitive, Kev and myself still running. Everyone else comes in before cutoff, we begin to prep for Day 4 , the Elan valley waits... The Dragon has taken another bite.
Day 3 stats
68.9km, 3400m ascent, 144 finishers.
Everyone I mentioned, Neal, Bev, Jane, Lauren, Pete and Tim are still in the race. Paul Tucker is probably polishing cow bells somewhere.
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