{"id":841151,"date":"2022-09-18T18:48:35","date_gmt":"2022-09-18T18:48:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/?p=841151"},"modified":"2023-06-22T10:54:23","modified_gmt":"2023-06-22T10:54:23","slug":"","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/841151","title":{"rendered":"Beacons 100"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beacons 100<\/strong><\/p>\n

6-8 August 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

100.8 miles (162.2 km); 22,880 feet (6,974 m) of ascent<\/p>\n

Starters: 22<\/p>\n

Finishers: 5<\/p>\n

Retired: 17<\/p>\n

First Man: Matt Tomlinson; M; Rolls Royce Harriers; 24:59:57<\/p>\n

First Lady: No female finisher in 2021<\/p>\n

Steven Jones<\/strong>: 4th; MV50; Dark Peak Fell Runners; 42:55:18<\/p>\n

The race started in Crickhowell at 8 pm on Friday 6 August 2021 with 22 runners heading north to tackle the Black Mountains. About five entrants pulled out in the last few days with the Covid pandemic preventing them from taking part due to positive tests or having to isolate. That was unfortunate and hopefully they will all be fit and well to take part on another occasion. The weather forecast may have deterred others. There was a slightly staggered start and I was one of the last to set off with hopes of overtaking a few of the earlier starters. However, they were soon out of sight and I trailed behind trying to conserve some strength for later.<\/p>\n

There was a strong wind throughout the weekend and almost continuous rain. Dense mist hampered visibility on the Black Mountains and the situation was made worse by fierce sideways rain gusting in. By the second checkpoint I was in 12th place – partly due to some runners retiring in the challenging conditions and also due to overtaking a few others.<\/p>\n

The next section involved an ascent of the Brecon Beacons from the Talybont Reservoir past Twyn Du and turning north after Waun Rydd to the next checkpoint. The wind and rain had been fairly brutal on the way up but eased off on the descent as daylight brightened up conditions. Then along canal paths feeling a bit sleepy to Brecon before heading south for another ascent of the Brecon Beacons to visit the summits of Cribyn, Pen y Fan and Corn Du. A gravelly track down to checkpoint 4 at the Storey Arms where the organisers had arranged for participants to have hot food and a hot drink from the burger van bolstered morale. At this point more athletes had retired due to the gruelling conditions and I was now in 7th place with about 4 runners behind me. This was not quite the half-way point of the race and already only half the starters were still going. Another factor inspiring people to pull out was the sight of Fan Fawr looming ahead which was to be tackled next.<\/p>\n

After Fan Fawr the northern slopes of Fan Dringarth were contoured to get to Fan Nedd and Fan Gyhirych then the steep descent to the A4067 with the next checkpoint (number 5). The previous runner had just departed when I arrived and I had a seat to myself on the rear of a van. Here the drop-bags were available and I changed headtorch batteries and packed further kit in my rucksack for later. A change of shoes and socks would have been welcome but futile since with the wet conditions my feet would have been soaked again within minutes. I was advised that after the next hill there was a diversion to be followed and the arrows would point the way.<\/p>\n

At the next road the River Tawe just the other side of the road was in a particularly turbulent condition and dangerous to cross. Some of the earlier runners did not have to follow the diversion since it had not been so bad earlier. After a few minutes there was a sign which I hoped would point to a safer crossing place but the arrow pointed down the road. After many more such signs I was feeling despondent and concerned that due to the diversion and delay I may be timed out at a later checkpoint.<\/p>\n

Finally after what seemed like a five-mile road diversion the final arrow pointed across a bridge and we were then allowed to find our own way back to the original route. In reality the road distance was 4 km but there was also a similar distance to get back on route and the end of the diversion was less than a kilometre from checkpoint 7! Not to be thwarted by the troublesome diversion I pushed on to Llyn y Fan Fawr. There I rejoined the original route and the ascent of the Black Mountain and the peaks of Fan Brycheiniog, Bannau Sir Gaer and Waun Lefrith before descending to checkpoint 6 at Llanddeusant just before dusk. By now there were only seven runners still in the race and I was in 5th place. If I could only somehow keep going and maintain my position it would be a good result.<\/p>\n

There was some tough terrain coming up so I rested a while in a chair at the checkpoint and had some refreshments. It was great to relax and regain some strength and after resting for longer than I had planned I set off again as darkness approached. As I slogged up the hill towards the Carreg Yr Ogof summit I briefly caught a glimpse of a headtorch in the distance. Somewhere a bit beyond the top I saw the runner in front resting and adjusting kit. We chatted briefly and he was okay and just resting a bit. I increased my pace and broke into a run as the trail descended on a reasonable path. Having gained some momentum and feeling in good spirits I continued at a reasonable pace with the route undulating and later plunging down a steep section with an indistinct path and rocky crags and drops dotted about either side. A more defined but rough and stony track led to the checkpoint at Glyntawe on the A4067 near the Dan-yr-Ogof Caves. I had put in a good effort to get to the next checkpoint shortly after midnight. It had been very pleasant since the rain had stopped and wind had eased off. At the checkpoint there were snacks laid out on a table under a bus stop shelter but no sign of a marshal. Should I just have a few snacks and set off again or wait to find the marshal? Knocking on a car window I awakened Amanda who had not been expecting me for over an hour since I had made more rapid progress than had been anticipated. We chatted for a bit and I had a couple of coffees to keep me going. I later found out on meeting her again on a different event that I had been given decaffeinated coffee due to a mix-up of coffee.<\/p>\n

I started the following section well but got gradually more sleepy the further I progressed and I was drifting off to sleep and waking in starts and stumbling around. I willed myself on, not wishing to fall asleep on the high ground, particularly as the wind had picked up again with the rain back in full force. Boggy ground gave way to rocky paths which seemed to go on forever. Stumbling along the uneven track I questioned my sanity for signing up for an event like this. At the forest car park at Blaen Llia, lights were on in camper vans as the occupants relaxed in the warmth and comfort, no doubt, with hot snacks and food. I was very tempted to beg for shelter and retire from the race knowing what was to come and how tired I was. However, the prospect of finishing the race inspired me to carry on and I dashed past the car park. Maybe the people there saw a light going past and were curious as to what was going on. I pressed on up a muddy track at times sinking knee deep into water and getting more tired than before.<\/p>\n

There was a difficult descent down a steep slope with no path and chest-high marsh grass. I was then confronted by the Afon Dringarth river with deep and fast flowing water. There had been other river crossings earlier but this one was the most challenging so far apart from the one by-passed in the diversion. After a brief review of the situation I picked a route and waded carefully across and then up the very steep bank the other side. Things then got much tougher with over 4 km of marsh grass, tussock grass, peat bogs and babies’ heads. The slog over that section was made more entertaining by the darkness, wind, rain and scope for twisting and turning ankles. Of course some gaps between the clumps were firm and enabled progress of sorts but all too often there were gaps and hollows where you could fall in up to knee height and have to haul yourself up again. Patches of sphagnum moss and deep water invited detours which only slowed progress more but at least reduced the risk of sinking in very deep and maybe not being able to get out again. All this was about two-thirds up the lower slopes of Fan Fawr. Several minor valleys were crossed all with more wading across rivers normally not much more than knee deep. With each crossing and rise to the next ridge there was hope that this was the final part before the road. An army of tussocks blocked the last few hundred metres before the road without even a sheep trod to assist progress. By the time I got to the road I was completely exhausted, wet and cold and starting to feel hypothermia coming on. I jogged as best as I could to checkpoint 8 on the A470 near the Beacons Reservoir.<\/p>\n

The checkpoints were generally outdoors with no scope to shelter from the weather. However, I was allowed to sit in a car and I changed into dry clothes and gradually felt better. There were now only five runners left (two had already finished; one was near the finish; I was fourth and the other runner was maybe two hours behind me). With less than 20 miles to go I resolved to push on to see if I could finish the race. Wearing all the layers that I had, I staggered out of the car on stiff legs and headed for the steep slopes about 3 km south of Pen y Fan. After slogging up the first slope there was a precipitous descent to another river crossing which was waded across to thrash through some more marsh grass. The very steep ascent of Gwaun Nant Ddu would have been bad enough with fresh legs but with slow and steady progress I eventually made it to the top. There followed about a kilometre of painstaking and slow progress across bogs, marsh grass and water-filled holes. The descent after that was easy and then an even easier trail through the Taf Fechan Forest and by now the rain had eased off a bit. Two false summits slogging up Pant y Creigiau induced a state of despair that the summit would never be reached. Some undulating terrain over almost pathless and muddy terrain enabled better progress and then a stony path led to the final checkpoint.<\/p>\n

After stopping briefly for snacks it was then up the final hill Tor y Foel. The descent was ideal for running down with good grassy slopes inviting a fast pace. However, it was a real effort to just jog down and walk down as best as I could. Now the rain had stopped and I paused to remove waterproofs and brace myself for the final few miles. From Llangynidr to Llangattock the route followed the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal along the towpath. I was falling asleep on my feet and struggling to walk at a good pace let alone run. I did manage to jog a bit but for not much more than a few minutes at a time. At last I crossed the bridge over the River Usk and into the village of Crickhowell to the start and finish point.<\/p>\n

It was great to finish and be able to relax a bit. The race officials and volunteers had all been excellent throughout – very professional, friendly and helpful. The three runners who had finished before me had departed a long time ago and the final runner was about two hours behind me. With the Covid situation there were very few people about and the organisers were packing up and tidying away. After a welcome snack and hot drink I left wondering how long it would be before my resolve not to do that race again would wilt and I would start checking the website to see when the entries opened for 2022. Although I did later sign up for the 2022 event it was later cancelled due to an insufficient number of entrants signing up due to the reputation for toughness that it had acquired.<\/p>\n

The race had trackers for the athletes and it had been possible for supporters and others to view the progress of the runners as the event unfolded. The runners were well supplied with snacks at the nine checkpoints; which was very welcome and necessary. The checkpoints had been open air rather than indoors and this added to the self-sufficient toughness of the event. Being able to run and walk over rough terrain for a long time was just part of the challenge. It is essential in an event like this to have the necessary mountain survival skills and be able to cope with harsh conditions.<\/p>\n

The winner set a new course record knocking off over six hours from the old record which was slightly different to the current course (mostly being run in the opposite direction and with different start\/end points but otherwise the same route). He was a local man who had spent months doing recce trips over the course to familiarise himself with it. Even so his time was outstanding and very impressive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Beacons 100 6-8 August 2021 100.8 miles (162.2 km); 22,880 feet (6,974 m) of ascent Starters: 22 Finishers: 5 Retired: 17 First Man: Matt Tomlinson; M; Rolls Royce Harriers; 24:59:57 First Lady: No female finisher in 2021 Steven Jones: 4th; MV50; Dark Peak Fell Runners; 42:55:18 The race started in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":772,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[157],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-841151","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ultrarunning"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/841151","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/772"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=841151"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/841151\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=841151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=841151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dpfr.org.uk\/wp_dpfr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=841151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}