Dragons Back Race 22 Day1

Day 1 0345

Its still dark, I can hear the wind and sea outside. The alarms just gone off and Fran is already up and moving around. Light on. Urghh!

Get up and head to the shower, stepping over my race kit, knock the cover off the tracker, it's merrily flashing at me. Shower 2 or 3 minutes, last one for a while. Dry, get kit on, undershorts, overshorts, T shirt, Lube feet and everywhere else that's likely to chafe. Pull on calf guards, long socks - cheap ones mind - karrimor compression black.

Fran has made me breakfast, coffee, 2 porridge pots, a banana. Time has ticked on, as always I'm behind my imagined schedule. We are meeting Mike James 0430 outside to give him a lift to the castle in less than 10 minutes. Force the food down, needing to eat the lot but not really wanting it. Shoes! haven't done them, Mike appears below in the carpark and Fran gives him a wave. I'm busy faffing lacing up my trail shoes and lace locking them for the day ahead.

Rechecking the kit that's already been checked countless times, race vest, map, compass, food stashed, gloves, water (2L) and the all important head torch. Sun cream - slather all over for a day that might be warm despite the forecasts. Frans watching me faff, slowly getting everything ready. Base layers wrapped round my waist and pole belt covering I sling my vest over my shoulder . Ready. Ready to go and try and Slay the Dragon for the second year running.

0435

Hey Mike! small talk no idea want about, bundle stuff into the car and we are away from Llandundo. The drive down to Conwy is only 10 minutes, parking in Morfa Bach carpark below Conwy castle. A short walk up to the entrance in the dark. Not many fellow runners about, we decide to wait as near to the entrance as possible. The plan this year is to get away quick and not be caught up at the start line.

0500

Friends I've made over the past year start appearing, Sam, Eliot, Paul, Migsy, all guys I've come to know very well over the past years prep. We are sharing an 8 man tent over the week. We are the 'Tent Pals', tent 'MF'- 'Mot*&r F*&^ks!

Eating some more now whilst we wait, a Breakfast shake, another banana, something or other else. Getting the Calories in. A quick visit to the toilet and then we are allowed into the castle. I walk up there with Fran in the pre dawn light. Its still dark enough to see the stars, its a clear sky.

0530

I'm on the start line, hogging the right hand post, watching the clock tick down. Frans on the battlements just above the gate. The Tent pals are gathering. we have decided almost to a man to get away as quick as possible at the start. The top runners are assembling , Simon Roberts my tent mate from last year- other faces I don't recognise but looking like they are here to race and not just survive. Lots of nervous chatter, Recce pals appearing. Excitement building. The choir starts, clock is winding down, it sounds amazing and brings memories of last years disaster flooding back. Where's Fran? Ill wave at her to distract me. It sort of works.

Danny boy ! the choir is singing Danny Boy, clocks almost at 6 , Shane Oley appears on a mic with seconds to go, I've no idea what he said but then we are away, Whoosh!

Rush down through the castle along the slippy entrance ramp, straight through the gift shop and out onto the walls. I'm about 10th the highest I'll be all week. shooting along the walls and heading for the first dibber that starts your time. Trying to wave to Fran in case she can see me.

Dib out, onto the road and away to Conwy Mountain CP1. I arrive in 21 mins 46th overall. The next few miles roll by, easy running, I meet up with a Tent mate, Sam and we stick together for a few CPs, Sam joking , taking it easy and beating me into each dibber by a few seconds. Some where on the climb to Carnedd Gwenllian we are tangled up with a group of sheep farmers and their dogs, The dogs going crazy at all the lycra clan lunatics passing by. CP's continue to roll , I'm eating every 45 to 60 mins, anything- just pulling something out my vest and eating . The eating contest is well in full flow.

Pen Y Ole Wen, 4 Hrs 19 mins, I'm now 144th. Sam has gone, younger, quicker and much more agile than me. I've been dreading this descent. I can see Tryfan , its clear, no cloud, the suns coming out.. A monster of a mountain ripping through the ground like the back of some long dead leviathan. Time to pack and secure all my kit. Eat and then prepare to concentrate for the next 40 minutes or so. The route down can be quick, its also hazardous crossing grass, rock and a stream in flood. I've always though that Lyn Ogwen never seems to get nearer but of course it will creep nearer with determined effort.

I begin the descent, opting for no poles, useless here in my opinion. its all about footwork, balance and confidence. A bit of swearing also helps.

Aiming for the Stile, watching feet and occasionally looking up at the Lake that never gets bigger. Eventually I'm there, over the stile and heading down the stream towards tarmac. I hit the road turning for the Support point and appreciating the claps from the folk gathered on the road. Running now, eating whatever I can find and sucking up the last of my water as I approach the Support point at the foot of Tryfan.

I'm heading in feeling ok and I see Mike Hogan for the first time. Mikes my Ultra running buddy, also a top top bloke. He's on the support crew for the event. I detect he's surprised to see me. He should be. For me I've stormed this section arriving at about 11: 05 almost 3 hours before cutoff. Quick chat with Mike, and my support bag appears. Water replen, Tail wind into one bottle, 1L into my bladder. I'm back to 2L. Grab my food replen, gels etc and my main meal. This is a sachet of Heinz Beanz Creationz. I decide to eat this as I climb Tryfan as it wont be quick anyway. Dibbing out at 11:13 I'm now 111th.

The climb up Tryfan is hard, steps and a scramble at the top. Theres no getting around it. Its hard and it hurts. I'm eating. Bad mistake, makes me feel sick. Its also quite warm. Shades of 2021 but not as hot. Anyway I keep the pace on and dib into the summit in 1 hr 4 mins. 20 odd minutes faster than last year and about 10 mins slower than my fastest time. Relief. Hi Jade! Jades here, a RAW adventures guide, also on the DBR crew. Ok away , get off this mountain and onto the Glyders as fast as possible.

Tryfan is a funny beast. The route up fairly easy. Steps, A polished scramble and the summit. The descent, well I'm no expert, this is my third time descending this way and yet again I take a different route. No matter, heading for the second stile on the wall crossing and the sickening climb to the left of Bristly Ridge.

Another hard climb, not long , not steep but hard, loose scree and mud, Just a case of keep going, Trying to make the elevation back onto the Glyders. Up and away to Glyder Fach. The landscape changes here. It's to my mind stunning, stunning but hard , rock under foot jutting at crazy angles. Here I take my first real fall. Bad footing at pace and I'm over face planting into solid rock. Its heavy and hard enough that the resounding smack makes fellow competitors turn to look. I sort of hit the rock with my forehead and bounce up. Slightly dazed but no nothing, no real pain, nothing broken. The mind fog clears quick and I give a thumbs up I'm ok to those near me. Unbelievable and lucky.

The Castle in the Wind passes, amazing , always impressive and I turn for Glyder Fawr. I am back with a few pals now. Migsy and Paul Jenkins, we chat a bit as we dib into Glyder Fawr. It 's 1:40pm and I'm now 190th. Migsy knows this bit well. He's slightly ahead and moving well with Paul. I follow his lead staying high and crossing the broken rock as quickly a I can loosing ground to him- he is just too quick for this Suffolk boy!.

Time to descend into Pen Y pass. Another hard descent with a lot of elevation shed quickly. Today the ground is sodden due to recent rain making it tricky underfoot. No matter I have loads of time in hand. Cutoff at the pass is 4:40 pm. A far cry from 2021 when I had scant time (I made it through with 4 minutes to spare).

The run in goes well, following the GPX and keeping an eye on folk in front, Paul and Migsy are long gone. Thats Ok Ill catch them on the climb. Into CP10. Water refill . Here I meet Guto Evans for the first time today. Another tent mate. He's sitting on a bench having a coffee and a bite to eat!. We have a quick chat and I rush into the Hostel . Bottle of coke and a pack of crisps please!!

Eaten - I dib out over the road at 2.27pm 141st.

Now Migsy knows Crib Well... I can see him in the distance strolling up the Pyg track. maybe 600m away. I'm going to catch that man! I set off at a very fast walk, the gap gradually closes and I realise hes with Ben Potts. another mate from DBR 21. Getting nearer. Almost, at 10 metres "Oi Migsy scratch your arse so i can catch up!" he turns and laughs. I've caught him just before the turn for Crib.

We turn as a Trio for the ascent of Crib. I'm going to follow Migsy. Straight up the nose. Its bloody windy! We make good time, Migsy goes up like a rocket, but I'm on his coat tails, eventually we meet some DBR staff instructing us to the right. Migsy goes left, I follow direction. Next time I see him he's summiting maybe 10 minutes ahead. A true mountain goat! I don't see him again until the tent.

The climb onto Crib was tough in windy conditions and crossing ok. A good mate of mine keeping me on track. Ben who was just behind me on the ascent.

The climb to Garnedd Ugain went a little wrong as I elected to turn left rather than right onto the northern face. This left me hanging onto the rock with a 6 ft gap and a 30/40 ft drop. I decided not to retreat maybe wasting 10 mins and instead had a leap of faith across the and a scrambling cling for life on the other side. Not my wisest move ever. Ben is slightly a head , its the last I see of him until Tea time in the camp.

Onwards to Snowdon. The horse shoe was clear, windy and magnificent. Competitors stretched out as far as I could see. A shuffling run down the dip and a climb towards the trig point, some tourists still around. Where are you guys going ? Cardiff ! Startled laughs as I passed.

Snowdon came and went, summiting at 4.42pm 141st, onto the Watkins path and a knee battering descent before the Climb to Y Lliwedd. At this point I'd caught a competitor up who had completed DBR in 2019 and didn't know the route into camp. We decided to stick together and follow the rough path up to the summit.

I've been up here a few times and always failed to follow it instead scrambling the nose of the climb to the summit. This time I follow the path all the way. The weather is changing, its starting to feel like rain.

Onwards! Now taking in the far side of the Horse shoe heading towards Gallt y Wenallt Summit. I'm back in a group and moving ok, wanting to push on and complete in daylight and before the rain that feels close. We head along the ridge, not particularly pushing hard but making steady progress. Chatter, relief that all is going well. I now have my first ankle twist, out of the blue, easy terrain but it hurts like all Hell. The group moves off ahead. I just cant keep up with a throbbing ankle. No matter I know the way! I dib in at the final CP 55 minutes after Snowdon and 176th. Slowed badly by my ankle, its starting to finally ease thankfully. Now for the final descent, I meet a young guy heading back up, He has missed the CP. I tell him where it is and we part company.

The last descent into Day 1 camp is legendary. Its horrible. Steep as steep and very slippy. It was horrid last year in the dark. It horrid in the light!

Anyway I make it down. Only 14 tumbles. The final bit through the Ferns being the worst. I go slightly off track and have to retrace as it Mandatory route. In have an horrendous knee twist , watching my knee and leg bend in a peculiar fashion but some how I get away with it. Soon I'm at the bridge and onto the road just a trot to the finish. I walk the short hill then jog into the finish.

Its still light. It hasn't rained. I'm not injured!

After last year I'm taking this as a massive win!

Where are the Chips!

Completed in 13hr 12mins and 155th finisher at about 7:20pm.

31.5 miles and 13500 ft of elevation.