Brecon Beacons 10 Peaks

I had already heard about The Lakes 10 Peaks event and considered having a go. However, when I saw that they had branched out to the Brecon Beacons, practically my back garden, well I was in. They offered a long and short course option so there was only one thing for it, I signed up to the long course, the route was not familiar but the places and territory were, so I was quite confident when it came to the aspect of the race that did have me a little nervous, self-navigation. Now I knew I could cover the distance but had not done so over that terrain and especially with that gain. The MCN Winter 42 several months earlier gave me a good taster and I was able to calculate an accurate time and pace for the race. I had several ultras prior to this event as part of my race year and a couple of recce runs planned to cover some of the route. I was running consistently leading up to the event but had not been able to get in many long runs. I had however spent the preceding months poring over maps, photos and videos of others that had completed parts of the suggested route.
On the Friday before the race I stayed in bed until about 13:00 as I knew I wouldn’t get much sleep in the night. I stayed up my parents in the Rhondda. I left at 01:30 Saturday morning for the hour long drive up to Tal-y-bont. It was a clear night with some breath-taking views of the Milky Way. I got registered and collected my number, my map and goodie bag and had my sportident dibber strapped to my wrist then set about getting ready. There were lots of cars and tents in the field where we parked. We had a mini race briefing next to the registration tent, they had another the evening before for those staying the night. We all gathered outside the hostel at 04:00 and moved past one of the race staff to dib in and get going.
So off we went in single file running down some single track all a bit bunched up but able to run mostly with little walking. Everyone managed to get lost only one mile in, committing a trail running sin of following the people in front. So one guy done some map checks and got us back on track.
We eventually hit open country, or what should have been but it was still very dark. Within 2 miles of starting we had a lot of climbing to do. Now although it is called the 10 peaks we cover a lot of high ground and actually have to take several other mandatory peaks as checkpoints. As we climbed it started to rain, and with no shelter it felt as if we were in for a long day if it kept up. It was a steep climb up to Carn Pica, the first mandatory peak which was a good introduction as to what we had to expect for next day and evening, lots of steep ascents. So up we went to Carn Pica which is a large mound of stones where there was a poor lone marshal braving out this windy, rainy weather in the dark, now that’s commitment to the cause!!! We were now up high and on open ground, the weather abated which was nice but I was careful to be lulled into thinking that was it as the Beacons could have a lot worse in store. I knew part of the route across to the next mandatory peak but with it still being dark I went off the path a bit. The good thing about running in the dark is that you could see which way others were running just by following their head torches, so I aimed for the general direction that others were heading. On descending into the horseshoe valley below Pen-y-fan towards the Neuadd reservoir it became light. This made things easier and gave a better sense of direction as to where we had to cross towards the next ascent. Now I knew this part of the route and lead the crowd past the filter house and up to the base of what is practically a wall. At some points it was a hands and knees scramble job up to mandatory peak 2, Trig Point 642. Never an easy climb that one. Once at the top it was not a feeling of relief but exhaustion. I just wasn’t feeling it. I don’t know what was wrong. Thinking back I hadn’t eaten or drank much yet and after 2 tough climbs I might have already been flagging, and with little sleep that didn’t help. So I plodded off more slowly than I would have liked but I just couldn’t get going and even though it is a steady climb up to Bwlch du wynt below Corn Du it was runnable. Even descending down to CP1 in Pont Ar Daf car park I was feeling even worse. So I started getting some food down me. I hit CP1 and picked up some more food and water then headed off up towards Peak 1, Fan Fawr. I started feeling a bit better now, maybe the excitement of heading up the first peak got me going. From CP 1 I made sure that I was constantly eating and drinking, this proved to be the best option for the day. So up I hiked to P1, Fan Fawr!!! There was a lot of cloud cover at the top and I managed to get a little lost again. Out came the map and compass, and I followed that down. Once under the cloud I was a bit too far to the right of a path I should have been on so I headed down and across towards some runners I had seen on the correct path. Only 3.5hrs in and had already been lost a couple of times and had a long lasting down stint that you have in ultras but I couldn’t shake it, I was thinking it may have been the realisation of what I had in front of me, and a blister was developing nicely, but that’s why I do these things I suppose. So back on the right track now I headed across the valley north of ystradfellte reservoir and up to P2, Fan Llia, dibbing in in just over 4hrs. By now, the weather had cleared up and was quite sunny, not my best running conditions. So down I ran down towards CP2. I still wasn’t feeling physically up for it and on arrival to the CP took and extra few minutes to get sorted. The staff mentioned that there was the option for all long course competitors to change to the short course as this is where they split, but then they basically told us they wouldn’t allow it and to get going. So I walked out of the CP eating and hoping I could make some good time over the next few miles to the CP3 as it was undulating with no large climbs. This section seemed to go on forever, for the first few miles I still couldn’t get into a rhythm. Only in the last couple of miles did I do some decent running. This was frustrating me a lot now, this section took me nearly 1.5hrs. CP3 was great with hot food and drinks, lots of cakes and snacks. I had some pasta, sauce and cheese, coffee and some amazing choc cake.

 

Leaving CP3

Stocked up snacks and water as the next section was going to take us to the furthest point on the course. It was a long gradual ascent up to P3 and P4, this took 2hrs of constant hiking. It was a lovely trek though as we were right on the open ridge with some beautiful views far to the east of us.

Ridge leading up to P3

But being able to see how far we had to go and the climbs involved gave me a bit of trepidation but mostly excitement.

View to the East, Pen-y-fan and Corn Du in the distance

There was no let-up in the climb, not the steepest but the distance took its toll. Finally hitting P3, Fan Brechiniog, was a good feeling, there was a lot of people up there on day hikes and the cheer were well received. Dibbed in and off down the slope and then back up a little-ish climb to P4, Bannau Sir Gaer, and the far end of the course. Relief, excitement, mostly exhaustion as it was only P4 of 10 and about half way in mileage, but with 6 more peaks to get it felt a bit longer going back. As we dibbed in we noticed some very ominous looking clouds a few miles further west. They were blowing in a north easterly direction but potentially could hit us. And they did as we were heading back to P3, luckily however we only had to endure up to 15mins of rain plus some hail thrown in, and it was to our backs so not to bad. Heading down a steep descent past Llyn y Fan Fawr was ok, my thighs were feeling very painful now and going down was probably worse than going up. Between here and CP4 was quite a big climb over a mini mountain, not an official peak but just a nice climb in between. It was hard going over here as the footing was bad, consisting mostly of grassy tussock and long grass over uneven ground. Finally arriving at CP4 was a relief, a good 5min stop here to stock up on water and get some extra food in, even had a sit down. Then there was no more putting it off, I got up and left. The CP was in a lay buy on a road right under the ascent to P5, Fan Gyhirych. A very very steep ascent! Luckily it was kind of split into sections consisting of very steep, steep, very steep, steep then finally vertical steep! This last section I was literally using my hands to hold on and pull myself up, it was hard! As I finally reached the top I walked over to the trig point dibbed in then just kept walking, I just wanted to keep moving and going forward. All this climbing was taking its toll, but I realised that there was no other way. Every ascent I just got into a steady rhythm of small constant steps until I hit the top, this way I figured was better than resting half way up or taking breaks, it had to be done so I just got it done. I was quite happy with this technique and it worked well. So over to P6, Fan Nedd then down to a mini CP, a marshal just taking names and numbers but with a bit of food on offer, which was much appreciated, then onto the old roman road. I came across 2 people sitting just off the road, one I had been running with earlier and someone else who turned out to be a hiker out camping for a couple of days. The hiker had gone over on his ankle and was unable to walk. After examining his foot it appeared to be sprained. The Central Beacons Mountain rescue were on standby during the event so we called one of the race staff who informed them of the situation. I relayed the hikers position to them and his condition. There was plenty of light left in the day and he was well kitted out with supplies and in a very accessible, and visible position to be picked up. The stop took about 30ish minutes but even if I had to wait with him, I would have. Time isn’t a priority in these situations. Happy with our efforts, me and the 2 others set off. During our stop several runners passed us, offering help but we told them to keep on going as we could cope. As I had recced this part before I took the guys straight up the mountain at this point which was south of the nature reserve, until we hit the beacons way. Then turned north towards P7, Fan Frynych. When we dibbed in we could see a few of the runners that passed us still en route up to the summit so we made some time back. Turning back on ourselves now and following the beacons way down to CP5 outside the Storey Arms. This is some really great single trail open ridge running. I love this bit and really gave it some all the way down. On hitting CP5 I finally gave myself the indulgence of thinking I was on the home run now, and with only 11ish miles left it was almost in the bag. I started feeling very sleepy here as it had been a long day. So I got some more water and snacks in. We were presented with vouchers for the hot food van, I had coffee and a bacon roll. Then I marched off past the Storey Arms eating it and begun the ascent to P8, Pen y Fan. Up I marched, slowly but non-stop. I decided to cut across below Corn Du as it was not one of the long course mandatory peaks. It was a lovely ascent with the setting sun on my back. As I finally dibbed in to Pen y Fan I didn’t stay but carried on. It was one of my proudest moments though. I have hiked and run it several times but never after covering 40+miles, I am really happy with that achievement. So down the steep decent and equally steep ascent up to P9, Cribyn. Never an easy climb but I hit it as hard as I could keeping my usual plan of non-stop small steps. Feeling physically beat and a bit sleepy I just got on with it and started running. At this point, I was passing some people who were doing the short course. I did manage to run the most part of the course from here. A slow descent down and then back up to P10, Fan y Big. Again I didn’t stop for celebration just gave out a little cheer then ran on as it was getting darker. Before starting I had some plans for the day. I hoped to do a 16-18hr run, this being based on my previous MCN Winter 42 and that would mean finishing in the daylight. So really pushed from here on. But as I hit Carn Pica it was really getting dark and half way down I had to get out my lights. I was running on my own now and still passing several short course competitors. I wasn’t 100% of the route but kept to a path that led in the downward direction towards the hostel. I managed to stick to the path that we had initially taken up, but missed a turning that would have taken me straight to the reservoir. Anyway, after hitting a road and realising my mistake I checked my position and just decided to run the road down and back up instead of going back to the turn off point, as I was unsure of its exact location. This last mile I really pushed and ran hard, crossing the reservoir and finally turning down to the hostel and into the finishing tent to collect my medal. What a day. I was happy with my effort although there is definatly room for improvement. Some longer training runs would have helped a lot and the time spent with the injured hiker added up but spending over 17hrs on my feet was a great achievement and has given me such confidence when going for the 100mile distance next year. One of the staff informed me that the hiker had been picked up ok. I popped into the hostel to get some warm food then decided to drive home as I was feeling ok to do so.
The weather turned out to be perfect all day, with only those 2 episodes of rain, it was clear but still a bit of cloud cover, but could have done with a little more as I’m not a fan of running in the sun.
I felt very sore throughout the race. My joints took a pounding, especially on the descents. But I did give it a good go pace wise.
Nutrition wise I ate anything and everything that was on offer. I still feel that living a low carb high fat lifestyle has a major benefit for my endurance levels as my fat metabolism capabilities are increased, but the amount of climbing involved required constant replenishment of my glucose levels. Train low carb and race high seems to be the best option for me so far. I couldn’t recommend the race highly enough. Great organisation, superb CPs and staff manning them, you couldn’t want for more support.