Day 5: Galen Reynolds and Lisa Watson win the 2019 Dragon's Back Race
Canadian Galen Reynolds and Brit Lisa Watson ran to convincing wins in the 2019 Dragon’s Back Race.
Galen’s time of 37:48:06 is a race record, beating Marcus Scotney’s 2017 win by almost 10 minutes.
Lisa was also the fastest female on the final day of the gruelling 315km multi-stage race, including 15,500m vertical gain, from the north to the south of Wales.
The 2019 Berghaus Dragon's Back Race winner Galen Reynolds. ©No Limits Photography
After crossing the finish line in Llandeilo today, Galen, who led from day one, said: “That was very painful because I ran hard today. But apart from all the pain it feels really good to win.”
First female Lisa Watson crosses the line ©No Limits Photography
Lisa ran into first place on the penultimate day, just a minute ahead of Sabrina Verjee, also British, and has looked stronger day by day. Her finish time was 44:33:23 and placed her ninth overall.
Lisa said: “I have absolutely, absolutely loved it. It has been the best week ever. I am really happy to win. I just can't quite believe it yet.”
Galen kneels down in exhaustion ©No Limits Photography
A deserved lie down for Galen ©No Limits Photography
Men slay the dragon
The race switched to a chasing start for the leaders on the final day of the Berghaus Dragon’s Back Race. This meant that British runner Jim Mann started some 43 minutes behind Galen and spent the 63km trying to play catch up.
In the end, he came home some 14 minutes slower than Galen on the day and 55 minutes behind overall to take second place. Despite saying he was not feeling fit for the race, Jim ran a Dragon’s Back Race personal best of 38:43:38.
He has taken part in four Dragon Back races. He was sixth in 2012, won in in 2015 in a time of 40:08:03 and he was also runner up in 2017 in 39:38:14.
Finish line for runner up Jim Mann ©No Limits Photography
Jim said: “It has been a good race and it was a great journey; it always is. Galen is a very strong athlete and a worthy winner.”
On days 3 and 4, Galen and Jim had run from start to finish together. Jim said: “We had a good back and forth run on Tuesday and then on Wednesday and Thursday we ran together.”
“I really enjoyed running with Galen. He is good company and a really nice bloke. Then, today, the chasing start meant we had to chase each other.”
Robert Barnes ran the third fastest time today and also took third place overall finishing almost an hour after Jim in 39:42:38.
The British athlete said: “It has been a very enjoyable race. I am surprised by how well I have done and I am very happy with my times, especially on the more mountainous days at the start.”
Polish athlete Konrad Rawlik, the husband of Jasmin Paris who was the winning female in the Dragon’s Back Race in 2015, was fourth in 40:03:57. He ran the fastest time today of 6:45:14, some 21 seconds ahead of Galen.
Lisa Watson is the winner ©No Limits Photography
Lisa finishes ©No Limits Photography
Women slay the dragon
The chasing start on the final day of the Dragon’s Back Race meant that Lisa Watson started just a minute ahead of Brit Sabrina Verjee. Although she confessed to severe racing nerves, Lisa turned the tiny gap into two hours and 10 minutes.
She said: “It was so stressful at the start and I felt sick but then I got into my stride and loved it. I pushed hard to see what I could do and I am very pleased with the result.”
Sabrina, competing in the event for the third time, had led the 2019 race until the penultimate day. A strong first three days of running meant she secured a second place overall in 46:44:59.
Sabrina Verjee finishes as second placed female ©No Limits Photography
Sabrina and Lisa hug ©No Limits Photography
After crossing the finish line, Sabrina said: “Today I knew I was going to be slow because I felt so tired. Lisa really had nothing to fear even with just a minute separating us at the start of the day.”
“I feel like I have run well in this race. I had four very strong days, when I smashed my previous times, but I goosed myself for today. Day five has become my nemesis.”
“Lisa is a strong runner and she has done very well to win.”
Third female place was Kerstin Rosenqvist, of Sweden, in 49:16:46. She was sixth female in 2015 in a time of 54:10:50.
Kerstin said: “I enjoyed the whole race and there were lots of highs with only a short low on Thursday morning.”
“It is a wonderful place to run and so beautiful. The weather has meant we have had great views all week. I have really enjoyed myself.”
Lowri Morgan crosses the finish line ©No Limits Photography
In fourth place was Welsh runner Lowri Morgan, who finished in an overall time of 51:20:52.
Delighted with the race, she said: “They say there are two rules in ultra running, to get to the start line and to get to the finish line.”
“I really didn't think I would get to the start line and the only reason I got to the finish line was because of the people in the race and the organisation.”
“It has been a truly unforgettable experience.”
Top three females: Sabrina, Lisa and Kerstin ©No Limits Photography
Top three males: Jim, Galen and Rob ©No Limits Photography
Prize giving for the finishers
A prize giving was held in the evening, where race director and the female winner of the 2017 race presented 237 finisher dragons. There were cheers for every single finisher and also for the top three males and female in the 2019 race.
Julie Pritchard won a dragon trophy for being the longest out on the race course overall. She was thrilled, saying: "I am going to take this to bed with me tonight!"
2019 Terrain Type breakdown
| Trackless | Single Track | Double Track | Road | |
| Day 1 | 16% | 78% | 2% | 4% |
| Day 2 | 25% | 37% | 16% | 23% |
| Day 3 | 11% | 45% | 30% | 14% |
| Day 4 | 23% | 30% | 18% | 29% |
| Day 5 | 37% | 16% | 17% | 30% |
| Average | 22% | 40% | 17% | 21% |