Planners Optimum Route: 64km with 2,092m of ascent

Gellifechan Campsite > Hill > Hill > Track / Road Junction > Usk Reservoir Dam > Allt Fach > Fan Brycheiniog > Carreg Yr Ogof > Garreg Lwyd Summit > Carn Pen-y-clogau > Tair Carn Isaf > Carreg Cennen Castle

Morning in camp was the usual hustle and bustle in the chilly morning air but there were no views out onto the hills until the early morning mist had burnt off. The camp at the sheep barn had a good spirit overnight, and later arrivals were cheered in, wrapped up and found tent spaces by their fellow competitors. After his emergency run to get more supplies the race medic said he’d had a quiet night.

Planner’s Optimum Route: 66km with 2,453m of ascent

Eisteddfa Gurig Farm > Ford > Esgair Wen > Cefn Bach > Esgair Penygarreg Summit > Elan Village > Gorllwyn Summit > Drygarn Fawr Summit > Gellifechan Campsite

It was another long day on the Dragon’s Back Race and at the end of it racers arrived at a sheep barn high on the mid-Wales hills to find their tents set up inside. As Helene Whitaker put it, “I’ve never been so happy to see a tent set up in sheep shit before!” (To be fair there was some hay too.)

It’s hot. It’s very, very hot. Day 3 is the hottest so far, and the heat is making life even more uncomfortable for the runners who are suffering dehydration and blisters. They had the opposite problem during the night as under the clear skies it was cold, not the night for a lightweight sleeping bag, especially when you are already exhausted.

Day 3 of the Dragon’s Back Race, a magnificent late summer’s day for running across Cader Idris, and the day when the race has settled down after the shock of day one. The camp, transport and food arrangements are all operating smoothly and now the racers truly understand the nature of the Dragon’s challenge it’s clear who the leaders and contenders are, and everyone is coming to terms with what they hope to, and can realistically achieve.

Planners Optimum Route: 64km with 3,772m of ascent Vanner Farm Campsite > Gau Graig > Cader Idris > Craig-y-llyn > Road / Track Junction > Tarrenhendre > Summit > Machynlleth > Bryn Coch Bach > Bwlch y Grossen > Pumlumon Fawr > Eisteddfa Gurig Farm

Early on day 2 a line of racers in their bright Berghaus waterproof jackets made their way slowly up into the hills, heading for the summit of Cnicht, the first checkpoint of the day, before moving on the Moelwyn hills. It wasn’t long before the early cloud and mist cleared off and another fine day followed, with clear skies and a gentle, cooling breeze. It was still warm, but not as hot as yesterday, and the weather was as good as the competitors could have hoped for.

It was a long night for some at the end of day one of the Dragon’s Back Race – Nigel Coe who was marshalling on top of Snowdon did not get back down to camp until 1.40 in the morning. By then the majority of the starters (there were only 82, not 91) where safely wrapped up in their sleeping bags and one or two had retired elsewhere. Unfortunately one also finished up in hospital. Oscar Rouwhorst from Denmark was exhausted and badly dehydrated, and although he was recovering and was still cheerful he was taken to the local A&E as a precaution and for a comfortable night.