Black Mountains Fell Race Report - 15.09.24

BLACK MOUNTAINS FELL RACE

My favourite fell race in South Wales and also my nemesis

Starting and finishing in Llanbedr, there are 5 checkpoints on the summits of Pen Cerrig Calch, Pen y Gadair Fawr, Chwarel y Fan, Bâl Bach, and Crug Mawr.

You must visit them in order but apart from those spots, (providing you're on foot and not crossing private land!) you can choose your own route. 

The fastest lines make the race around 28km + 1,600m of elevation which involves a lot of throwing yourself off the side of steep hills, bracken bashing, crossing rivers and dragging yourself up steep, pathless mountains.

Perfect!!!

I always have high expectations for myself with this one as A. it's in my back garden B. I love the route and C. The distance/elevation makes it short enough to go fast, but long enough to require strategy and endurance. 

I've been trying to break the 3 hour mark for a while and sadly can't quite put it together on race day! In both 2022 and 2023, I finished in exactly 3:12:25. How on earth does someone manage that!?! 

This year's race still left me short of my sub 3 hour goal, but with a marked improvement in performance. Finishing in 3:05:39 and 4th overall. 

A humble reminder that most of us (myself very much included) have to work flipping hard at something to get better at it. Also a reminder that regardless of personal performance, it's just amazing to spend time out in such beautiful places with awesome people. 

2022 - 28th overall (British Champs Year) 3:12:25

2023 - 8th overall 3:12:25

2024 - 4th overall 3:05:39

Maybe 2025 will be the year I can go sub 3 hour?

Huge thank you to club mates at Mynydd Du for organising and keeping this amazing race alive.