Blorenge. Along with Sugar Loaf and Skiridd, it's one of the three hills that nestle Abergavenny. The annual fell race is a matter of starting at the bottom, running to the top and running down. Simple traditional fell racing.
So at 2 pm on a mild moist November day a healthy turnout of 100 lined up at Llanfoist, including 6 Croups. 400 yards of steep tarmac thinned out the field, and that was just about the last bit of running. A very narrow dark tunnel took us under the Brecon canal. (Is this unique? Is this the world's only subterranean canal fell race?) Out in the light it got narrow and steep, a good enough reason to avoid overtaking. Woods, a couple of styles and out on to open ground, where it just got steeper and steeper. Many heaved themselves up the steps worn in the earth, others crawled up on all fours. This has to be one of the steepest races out there.
The top was reached suddenly in the mist with a brief flat run. Then it was back down. Delicate steps, slip slide and fall. No fell shoe can stick to 45 degree wet mud. Two wrong turns in the mist and a shoelace tie meant I overtook one runner four times! 24 min up and 10 down, that is for a total of 4 km, an average of 13 minute miles in old money.
Sandwiches and tea in the village hall rounded off a great afternoon.
Well done to Katie Beecher (first lady), Nick and Caroline Dallimore, Mike and Gill Murphy. Also Roy Silver and Matt Townsend for supporting.
Edited by user 30 November 2014 08:55:50(UTC)
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