Race Date: Saturday 18th October 2025

This has to be one of the best – and nuttiest – events in the calendar. Capacity is 200 teams and it’s always oversubscribed. Established fell running teams get priority entry then the rest of us are left to fight over the remaining places by way of a ballot. We tried for 3 teams but this year Striders got a mixed women’s entry and an MV50 entry, meaning MV40 had to miss out again.

The destination was just outside Dinas Mawddwy on the south side of Eryri national park. Laura and Seth put the teams together and duly herded a bunch of cats in some semblance of a team – thanks guys.

Ian Stinson asked if anyone wanted to go Friday as it’s a long way in a day. Nicky Rafferty was already going early for a birthday treat – and maybe get some Nav practice in – and it was too good an invitation to give up. Ian drove me down to Wales where during our conversations we discovered that not only were we at the same University (Glamorgan) together but we studied the same course with him being a year above me. We established we had played football against each other over 30 years ago – small world huh!

We stopped at Bala to admire the lake, amazingly still today, then went and ran/walked Cadair Idris as a precursor to tomorrow’s fun. It was indeed very still and the visibility allowed us amazing views over the Welsh coast

Once we’d checked into the hotel, time for the obligatory pre race pizza and a beer or two. We were joined by DRC who did their best to sabotage our chances the following day by making us drink more beer. The tactics some clubs go to to get an advantage is unreal. If you don’t believe me, here is the evidence. They kept us trapped in our corner and wouldn’t let us out until we’d had lots more beer

I’m trying to find someone to blame for running parkrun in the morning too but have come up with nothing so I only have myself to blame. It was fun though on a full belly of veggie breakfast. An out and back twice along the river in just under 25 minutes. I tried to be at least a little bit sensible.

Leg 1 4.2km, 516 metres of climb

On to the main event. 11am start and we had no tent so the lovely lads from DRC allowed us to share with them in theirs. Cheers guys. Leg 1 was Abbie and me. Almost 200 runners jostling for position at the start. Elbows out and off we go. Through the fields to the hill – it was a big one. It went on and on and on and on. As the person in front of me slipped, I almost got kicked in the face. We were on all fours pulling ourselves up as it seemed easier than just using legs. My calves were unhappy but up we went. Eventually we made it to the top (34 minute mile for me). About 400 metres of relative flat then the descent started. I’m not going to describe it and words can’t do it justice. Watch it below. It features Abbie (6.50) as she’s good. Me – too old and slow but I was on my backside too, rolling around. Abbie told me later she was joint second at the top but struggled on the descent. She finished in 3rd place which is a brilliant performance.

Leg 2 – Paired 11.1km 758 metres.

Sarah and Harriet went out on to leg 2. More distance and climb than leg 1 but didn’t quite have the brutal climb that leg 1 did. Nigel and Al were about 13 minutes behind Sarah and Harriet. The women had a great run and eked out a further four minute advantage over the Striders men’s team. Both teams were strong and they all had huge grins on their faces when they came back in. Sarah was almost dancing she was buzzing that much

Leg 3 – Paired Nav 11km 719 metres.

The nav leg can be interesting. Tegan and Nicky were off first with a 17 minute advantage over the Ian and Dean. Races like this can be won or lost on the nav leg but reports seemed to indicate that as visibility was good, nav wasn’t too much of an issue. Nicky had been apprehensive about this leg ever since it was allocated to her. However she loved it with her words after being,’ Nav was tough. Very windy on the tops and no paths. I feel amazing now. A great sense of achievement’. Ian and Dean came in off leg 3 in 1.40 and the women in 1.46 so there was about a 10 minute gap

Leg 4 – solo 4.4km, 418 metres

Charlie was a late substitute for Naomi who couldn’t make it. Leg 4 is tough because you have to sit around all day watching everyone go off and ‘have fun’ whilst you’re sitting there cold, anxious and desperate to get started. Charlie had a 10 minute head start on Warren but Warren had been chomping at the bit all day. It was another straight up then the same mad descent as leg 1. Both Charlie and Warren gave their all but Warren’s descending skills allowed him to pass Charlie at the end of leg 4

Striders MV50 team came 140th and the mixed women’s team came 141st. It was a fantastic day out and an amazing weekend away. We all had big smiles on our faces afterwards and are already looking forward to Todmorden on 17th October 2026 – as long as we get the teams in through the ballet.

An event we all couldn’t recommend highly enough – as long as you like throwing yourself in at the deep end.

The men’s relay was won by Carnethy Alpha in a combined time of 2.57.57. The women’s relay was won by Ambleside AC in a time of 3.37.47

Striders Results: