Ras y Moelwyn
Posted by Sam Harrison on April 24, 2012 at 06:50.
Last Saturday, 21 April, was the Ras y Moelwyn (Moelwyn fell race) and as a bit of a last minute decision I decided to give it a go. I've wanted to do it for a few years now but have always found myself busy.
The weather was very fitting for April and waiting around at the start in Blaenau Ffestiniog we got a few short sharp showers. We were all very glad when the race actually began! The showers carried on for the first half-an-hour or so but it subsequently cleared up. It was the 25th anniversary of the race and the organisers had put on a bouncy castle and climbing wall which were both proving quite popular with the kids.
The route (of around 9 miles and 3,300 ft of ascent) follows a large track up to the Cwmorthin and Rhosydd quaries. A very fast pace was set and maintained along most of this stretch and I was glad when the proper uphill sections arrived and the pace slowed somewhat! A grassy slope took us to the top of the highest point of the day - Moelwyn Mawr at 770m (translated as the great white hill) - and then over Craigysgafn to Moelwyn Bach (little white hill). This section was a little airy in places and very good fun. A steep grass and bog gully led us down to Llyn Stwlan. The llyn is used as part of a small hydro-electric power plant in the Vale of Ffestiniog.
My fell running shoes - a four-year-old pair of Inov-8 Mudroc 290s - have pretty much no tread left on the balls of my feet and because of this I really had to slow down on the descents. I have ordered a new pair, but they haven't arrived yet!
From Llyn Stwlan we headed up Moel-yr-hydd and then straight down its northern gully to Llyn Cwmorthin. The pace back along the track to Blaenau was again relentless and definitely the most physically draining part of the race! I finished in 1:43:30, just over 20 minutes behind the winner (Ifan Richards) who finished in 1:21:37. 124 took part and I think I finished in 37th.
Next week it's the Three Peaks fell race, so from now until then I will be mainly trying to do as little exercise as possible!
The weather was very fitting for April and waiting around at the start in Blaenau Ffestiniog we got a few short sharp showers. We were all very glad when the race actually began! The showers carried on for the first half-an-hour or so but it subsequently cleared up. It was the 25th anniversary of the race and the organisers had put on a bouncy castle and climbing wall which were both proving quite popular with the kids.
The route (of around 9 miles and 3,300 ft of ascent) follows a large track up to the Cwmorthin and Rhosydd quaries. A very fast pace was set and maintained along most of this stretch and I was glad when the proper uphill sections arrived and the pace slowed somewhat! A grassy slope took us to the top of the highest point of the day - Moelwyn Mawr at 770m (translated as the great white hill) - and then over Craigysgafn to Moelwyn Bach (little white hill). This section was a little airy in places and very good fun. A steep grass and bog gully led us down to Llyn Stwlan. The llyn is used as part of a small hydro-electric power plant in the Vale of Ffestiniog.
My fell running shoes - a four-year-old pair of Inov-8 Mudroc 290s - have pretty much no tread left on the balls of my feet and because of this I really had to slow down on the descents. I have ordered a new pair, but they haven't arrived yet!
From Llyn Stwlan we headed up Moel-yr-hydd and then straight down its northern gully to Llyn Cwmorthin. The pace back along the track to Blaenau was again relentless and definitely the most physically draining part of the race! I finished in 1:43:30, just over 20 minutes behind the winner (Ifan Richards) who finished in 1:21:37. 124 took part and I think I finished in 37th.
Next week it's the Three Peaks fell race, so from now until then I will be mainly trying to do as little exercise as possible!