Halfway With The Dragon: The Dragon’s Back Race® Journey So Far
Athletes Make Their Way South Through Challenging Conditions
It’s been a brutal first half for our Dragon’s ©No Limits Photography
The weather has been unforgiving for participants taking on this year’s Dragon’s Back Race®. With heavy, persistent rain and high winds from the off, conditions have been wet underfoot, making it slow going traversing the technical terrain.
Whilst the on course conditions have been testing, mental fatigue in camp is starting to accumulate for our Dragon’s as they battle to get dry, warm and get enough rest before another day dawns. This of course, is all part of multi-day racing and the epic undertaking of the Dragon’s Back Race. An element that shouldn’t be overlooked in preparation for such an event.
An adventure playground for some ©No Limits Photography
After the adrenaline of the exciting Conwy Castle start, the competitors left the soaring peaks of the Yr Wyddfa behind, heading into the beautiful Moelwynion and Rhinogydd. They scaled the towering Cadair Idris against howling winds yesterday, before descending into civilisation to the Support Point in Machynlleth - famed for runners having a supermarket sweep and café stop!
©No Limits Photography
After an 170km journey on foot, they now enter the lush green Elan Valley hills, before crossing the remote moorland plateau of the Cambrian Mountains to reach our Day Four Camp in Llandovery, where the sun has finally made an appearance. With 102,000m of climbing their fatigued legs, they head into another mega mountain day tomorrow as they dare to take on the Dragon’s Tail - 72km, the longest day on the entire Dragon’s Back Race - through the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park.
The route undulates eastwards before satisfyingly traversing the six main peaks of the National Park, including South Wales’ highest peak Pen y Fan, then veering off to our remote overnight camp just shy of the Talybont Reservoir. Competitors can now experience this, alongside the spectacular Cardiff Castle finish with the addition of the two-day Dragon’s Tail, new for 2026.
Read more about the new two-day event the Dragon’s Tail here. Entries are now open!
Holly is setting a blistering pace ©No Limits Photography
Holly Wootten is a force to be reckoned with
Holly Wootten has forged the way forward for the women’s race, holding the lead since Day One. Battling the gruelling conditions with a smile, she came into sunny Camp Four in Llandovery with an accumulative time of 33:45:33 - securing second place overall in the race. Holly is moving ahead of the current course record pace set by Lisa Watson in 2022 and has created a staggering 7 hour lead on second place woman Jodie Gauld. Eleanor Johnstone, who has been consistent and controlled through the race, has moved into third position, 40 minutes behind Jodie.
The competition is fierce in the men’s race as whilst David Parrish continues to build an advantage over his competitors, accumulating over 1 hour 30 minutes on second place Ed Brewer. With Ed chasing his tail, the pair are working each other hard as they move into Day Five. Belgian competitor Pieter De Wortelaer completes the Day Three podium in 34:59:36 - just 25 minutes behind Ed. All three men gained a 15 minute time penalty after some navigational errors early this morning.
David Parrish holding his lead in the men’s race ©No Limits Photography
Take on the Hatchling course ©No Limits Photography
Hatchlings
The beauty of both The Dragon’s Back Race and Ourea’s bucket list highland stage race adventure, the Cape Wrath Ultra, is that being timed out or injured, doesn’t always equate to a DNF. We appreciate the investment our participants make when they sign up to take on these epic challenges, not just financially but in all the hours of dedicated training and time away from friends and family. However, these races come with jeopardy and if something unexpected does happen, our Dragon’s Back Race competitors have the option to move over to our Hatchling course (or Explorer course on the Cape Wrath Ultra).
Not to be underestimated, the Hatchling is an incredible achievement in itself and many aspiring Dragon’s take the Hatchling option from the start. With a ‘choose your own’ adventure ethos, participants can select to do part of the race route each day - typically either the first half or the second half. Hatchlings will reach Cardiff Castle alongside the full Dragon’s to cross that finish line and collect their Hatchling medal. A mementos occasion and one that should be celebrated!
As we began the fourth day of the 2025 Dragon’s Back Race, there were 90 competitors on the Hatchling and 130 remaining on the full 380km course. 58 competitors have now retired.
Lost in the landscape ©No Limits Photography
©No Limits Photography
2025 leaderboard
Top 3 men on Day 4
David Parrish (32:47:57)
Ed Brewer (34:33:19)
Pieter De Wortelaer (34:59:36)
©No Limits Photography
Top 3 women on Day 4
Holly Wootten (33:45:33)
Jodie Gauld (41:10:18)
Eleanor Johnstone (41:47:31)
Our incredible event medics! ©No Limits Photography
Tune in at 8am tomorrow for more!
Have you been enjoying our race coverage? Our next episode of the daily Dragon’s Back Race® show will go LIVE at 8am tomorrow morning!
Immersed in the Welsh mountains ©No Limits Photography
Follow The Race Live
Fans, friends, and family can follow every twist and turn of the race via the live GPS tracking page throughout their entire journey.
Live Tracking & Dragon Mail™
Send daily motivational messages directly to participants using the Dragon Mail™ service - helping runners push through the darkest moments.
Looking Ahead: Enter the 2026 dragon’s Back race
Think you have what it takes to slay the dragon? Entries for 2026 are now open, with two exciting new options for aspiring adventurers:
Dragon’s Fire – Conquer the first two days of the race.
Dragon’s Tail – Take on the final two days and cross the iconic finish line in Cardiff Castle.
Whether you're chasing the full six-day epic or dipping your toes into the fire, 2026 is your year.
Take on the Dragon in 2026 ©No Limits Photography