3 Harriers made their way down to the beautiful Abergynolwyn, Near Tywyn on Saturday 29/01/2022 for Ras Tarrenhendre; a 6 mile fell race with 2000ft of ascent.
For Tony Wood and Mel Morris this was their second race in the Meirionnydd – Winter Race Series, for Katy Baugh it was her first but one certainly suited to her running abilities.
The weather was less than promising on the long drive down; rain and wind and that was the story too of the first mile or two of the race but soon cleared to leave a beautiful winter morning as well as plenty of mud. The lower reaches of the race are run on a mixture of well marked tracks and footpaths through the forest and a seemingly never ending climb, or three, up to the open fells where you get approximately ½ a KM of flattish running before a steep descent down. It was wild. Bogs up to your knees, slalom mud runs with people sliding from side to side and over and just wishful thinking to cling to that you are going in the right direction. All too soon then it is over and you want to do it all again.
A really well organised race with a stunning backdrop and enough technical running to keep hardy fell runners happy (and enough mud to keep Mel happy and slow)
The hardiness of the race and in mid winter means it brings out the best and so there is tough competition but Tony met this head on, coming in 20th (in a field of 70) in a fantastic time of 1:00:23. Katy too had a totally brilliant run showing just how strong she is at the moment; she came in 39th (6th Female) in a time of 1:09:35. Mel brought up the rear (and most of the mud too) in 54th (13th F) in a time of 1:17:41
A race to remember and definately to be recommended.
(Results Still Provisional)
Parkrun results 29/01/2022
Greenfield Valley
10 Simon Nixon 00:24:07
