The penultimate day of the Dragon’s Back Race® was certainly an emotional one. Day 4 was incredibly tough on our dragons, resulting into a complete shake up in the front of the field. Day 5 was no different, with some further drastic changes in the men’s leader board.

While after yesterday the dragons may have felt that they had left the steep climbs of the Welsh mountains behind them, today they returned to the high terrain as they tackled the infamous Brecon Beacons, including the highest point of South Wales, Pen y Fan.

*The Brecon Beacons are a spectacular challenge ©No Limits Photography*

A huge contrast to the more rocky but dry terrain of Snowdonia on Days 1 and 2, the Brecon Beacons present a different, albeit equally brutal challenge. These hills may look unassuming, but their steep slopes make them a challenging opponent. These mountains are famously used as a training location for the SAS, so dragons underestimate these hills at their own peril.

However, while today was potentially the toughest yet for our dragons, who are now all very much feeling the cumulative effects of fatigue, participants now know they have broken the dragon’s back. Their goal is so close they can taste it, which has lifted the spirits of our runners who were having low points earlier in the day.

Watch the Day 5 video by Steve Ashworth, Ross Brackley and Jimmy Hyland

The pie shop was a highlight of the morning

Many dragons were seen loading up on sweet treats and goodies in the famous pie shop in Llandovery. There was a huge selection, ranging from pastries, pies and cakes the size of a person’s head, and the dragons were grateful to load up on this very necessary fuel to get them over the famous Beacons.

*Runners were spoilt for choice ©No Limits Photography*

Hannah Campbell was today’s member of the Montane relay team, and had stopped for a coffee. She was having a good day, is planning to come back to run the full event next year.

“It’s just a nice day out on the hills. It’s going to be a bit wet now for the rest of the day. Everyone was in surprisingly high spirits. I was kind of expecting people to be a bit over it, but there becomes a weird kind of humour about it after a certain point.”

Marcus has done the race before, so he had been particularly looking forward to revisiting the bakery.

He said, “It’s a bit tough today. Very tough. My legs are still aching, but I find it easier to plod along jogging than to walk, so that’s a good sign.”

He was grateful to have made it as far as the bakery. “Last year I had a beef and stilton pastie, and a cookie and a coffee, but now I’m just stuck for choice. I can’t spend too long though. I’m already a bit behind, so I’ve got to get going.”

Frontrunner, Lisa Watson was seen running with her pack through Llandovery, but she was on a mission, and didn’t stop to pick up any treats.

*The bakery saw a roaring trade on Day 5 ©No Limits Photography*

James Nobles took the lead after Simon Roberts dropped out and Chris Cope continued to slow

There was a huge change in the front of the field today. Simon Roberts was running really well, taking a huge amount of time off of Chris. Midway through the day, he had even made up enough time that he was now in first place. For a brief period, it looked like he may once again be victorious.

However, he became injured just before the Storey Arms water point, with severe pain in his shins, reported to be tendonitis. He took a shorter route off the hill back to camp where he retired.

He said, “It’s my shin. That’s it. End of race.” Simon had been hoping to be the first person to win the Dragon’s Back Race® on consecutive years, so this will have been a disappointing end to the race for him.

However, Simon’s loss was James Nobles’s gain, as Nobles has now moved up into first place, having been in second and third place up to this point. James was the fastest runner of the day by quite some way, despite actually stopping and spending some precious minutes helping a participant cross a river.

*James still took the time to help another participant ©No Limits Photography*

“That was a really hard day,” he said. “It’s not signed and sealed until we get to Cardiff.”

James’s success is particularly impressive, given that he is new to stage racing. However, he is certainly familiar with running in the mountains, having completed all three of the classic British fell running rounds. If he wins, he will be the first former Dragon’s Back Race volunteer to do so.

Former frontrunner, Chris Cope, slowed drastically today after becoming injured and has lost his first place. He wasn't far off the cut off at the Storey Arms. He is now in 2nd place, with David Jackson moving up into third.

Lisa Watson retained her lead and continued moving up the overall leaderboard

Lisa continued with her impressive run, coming in as first lady of the day. She is now in fifth place overall.

She said the weather was very wet. “It was good though I really like the wild. Kind of won’t feel like a proper adventure unless you get a bit wet though.

She spent some of her day with second lady, Bridget Glaister. She said, “I had a really nice walk up the hill with Bridget. We were both in a bit of a hole and she was so happy.”

Bridget was second lady. She said, “The weather was shocking to start with. I was so glad it improved. I’ve had a few tumbles but hopefully I’ll be alright. I can’t believe I’m here. I was so emotional to start with, but I’m not emotional now – just happy.”

Victoria Morris managed to secure her third place position today.

*Lisa is a force to be reckoned with ©No Limits Photography*

It’s been a day filled with emotion

With just one more day to go, there were many tears at the finish line today, with participants finally coming to terms with the fact that they might just manage to slay the dragon, a feat that not that long ago will have felt like an insurmountable task.

The journey over the Brecon Beacons was particularly emotional for one participant, Sam Skinner, who has been running the race in memory of a friend he lost.

“Today was a really emotional day. I scattered my good friend Chris’s ashes at Pen Y Fan a couple of months ago, and his dad came to the top to meet me. So some real mixed emotions at the summit.”

Tomorrow will certainly see more tears, as our dragons make that final push to the finish in Cardiff, where they will be greeted by friends and family at a low key finish in Bute Park.

*Runners enjoyed the beautiful scenery of South Wales ©No Limits Photography*

Results

Top 3 female runners on Day 5

Lisa Watson 10:20:05

Bridget Glaister 12:11:41

Victoria Morris 13:33:25

Top 3 male runners on Day 5

James Nobles 09:38:29

David Jackson 09:54:43

James Keenan 10:19:03

Day 5: James Nobles leaps to first place with Lisa Watson extending her lead