That was a ‘win”. The combination of a high quality field, determined returning runners and fairly benign weather conditions led to a record breaking 15 finishers and the top times of all time at this year’s Lon Las Cymru, a biannual event that I dnf’d 2 years ago.
I won, because the medal says it is won by a finisher, you vs the event not the other runners. 253 miles, the length of Wales, 19000ft of elevation. 88 hours max. No support bar drop bags at indoor hall locations and one outdoor, at 50,100, 150 and 200 miles. This road and hard tracks event, North to South Coast, forces you to plan before and during the event. Self management is critical, but pace too. I completed in 81 hours 41 mins with a front loaded 22.5hrs for the first 100. For me this bought a critical night time arrival at 150 miles after some of the mountains, and time for 4hrs sleep.I sleept 5.5 hours in total, including 3 outdoor microsleeps.
I will say more about this event in time. It broke me. It breaks everyone. But I beat it. Only today, in the aftermath am I broken. Down physically, up mentally.
For now suffice to say I have beaten a challenge that is regarded as one of the toughest in any #ultrarunning.
This is a remarkable event enabled by a team who allow each runner to be the star in their own storyline. The lack of any molly coddle means that you may fail, and you may rise again, and if you succeed you will have done all the hard bits on your own.