230 miles from Conwy to Cardiff, 17 kilometres of vertical ascent and six days of intense and punishing effort. No wonder the Dragon’s Back is described as the world’s toughest running race.

NTC member Mark Maloney trained and prepared for a year to get to the start line, planning to raise funds for the Pink Sisters charity in Staffordshire, which offers support to anyone who has had a cancer diagnosis, is living with cancer, having treatment or is a survivor. 

Mark blogged his incredible experiences over six days on his Facebook page. This is part one of an edited version of those blogs.

Day 1: 4 September

Conwy Castle to Nant Gwynant

Distance : 32.5 miles 

Ascent : 13,038ft (3,973 meters) 

Calories burned: 7,250

It’s 5am at Conwy Castle.
 
Wow what an incredible and epic start, there’s nothing that matches this.

The countdown begins, so many people are emotionally stirred and nervously charged. I’ve got goosebumps, and we’re off! Every great journey starts with one step forward. Heading out of Conwy as the most beautiful sunrise arrives, it’s stunning! 

Day 1 is full of rocky, gnarly, technical climbs through Snowdonia, Rhinogydd, the Glyders, Tryfan, Crib Goch, Snowdon, to name just a few. 

And the heatwave I’ve been craving for all summer has finally arrived. Out of the half way checkpoint my watch  says 30 degrees Celsius, with no breeze or wind.

Climbing Tryfan is really tough going, so much slower than when we raced up on our recce. 

It was a beautiful clear afternoon, moving within the cut offs and onto a special and rare summit to Snowdon, clear sunny skies with visibility as far as the eye could see. 

Soon it stated to get dark, head torches were on, and it was onto the big and long descent - just as hard as the climbs…and slower. 

The final descent into camp must not be underestimated and total concentration when fatigued is vital. It’s very tricky underfoot with the terrain and sheer steepness. 

I had two bad falls, one straight forward and one where I dropped, sliding face first about 10ft. I had a very lucky escape with just cuts/grazes. 

To finally make the footpath after 15 hrs and run into camp at 21:19 within the time limit was such an incredible high. I’d made it! 

Day 2 – 5 September

Nant Gwynant - Dolgellau 

Distance : 39.2 miles 

Ascent : 11,854 ft (3,613 metres) 

Calories Burned : 6,258

I was late to sleep. The 4am alarm came around way too quickly after probably 3-4hrs sleep and it was the first morning of ‘camp process’. 

Camp really is just an extension of the race, you’re totally focused and anxious because of the time which is already ticking down to get up, pack up, sort kit preparation, packing your vest with food and hydration, sort foot care, tape feet with K tape, stretching, toilet, have breakfast, hydrating, dropping camp bag off for transportation, having your kit checked by the officials and leaving your ‘small drop bag’ kit which will be transported to the half way point each day. 

The idea is to get to the start line for 06:00 start to have the maximum course time available.

After that it’s a relief to get out going again - a new day of adventure, uncertainty, hope and excitement! 

Another beautiful morning arrived, quiet and peaceful. 

Day 2 was straight into steep climbs - among many Cnicht (689m) and The Rhinogs Fawr (720m) and Rhinog Fach (712m). 

The second half of the day got harder and harder, hotter and hotter. The rocky terrain was slowing me down and I’m not the best descender. 

Getting to dusk we were now behind schedule. Anxiety had crept in. We were still high up with climbing to do, and a long tricky descent to navigate.

I was getting a strong feeling that despite the extra 30 mins time bonus the organisers had given due to the extreme heat, we’d miss the 22:30 cut off to finish. 

In complete darkness on the tricky descent we came across a guy lying on the floor (layered up and head torch on) who’d fallen and badly injured his ankle. 

He was waiting for mountain rescue to come and help him. He confidently urged us to continue on because he was safe. 

After several quicker miles at long last I saw the lights of camp ahead in the darkness - boom we’d done it - 22:19 and I’m over the finish line and inside the cut off.

Day 3 – 6 September

Dolgellau to Ceredigion 

Distance: 25.5 miles 

Ascent : 7,756ft (2.242 meters) 

Calories burned : 3,675 

I started day 3 feeling positive knowing the first two more ‘technical days’ were now behind me and I’d made the cut off times. I knew however there are absolutely no ‘easy’ days. That’s why it’s titled as The World’s Toughest Mountain Race.

People had travelled from all over the world to compete in this. I’d already met some amazing people from as far as Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, and France. 

It was another heatwave day of 30+ degrees. The intense heat was quickly arriving late morning. The climbs may not be technical but they are tough and brutal.

At every opportunity I was drenching myself in cold water. Every stream, river, or water source puddle was an opportunity that couldn’t be missed to cool off. 

At one point I looked ahead and saw some tiny dots on a very steep ascent.

When I got closer I realised they were actually competitors and facing the full force of the heat and power of the dragon. 

My pace was getting slower and slower. 

Small steps and needing to ease off and breathe almost in desperation for getting more oxygen into the lungs. 

My legs were now getting wobbly, I was unsteady on my feet, my cognitive thinking had slowed, my speech had become slurred.

It was clear I was suffering symptoms of heat exhaustion,

Bang it had hit me so quickly and was now flooring me! Within minutes, I’d gone.

I was helped by a German guy called Norbert. He was ex military and had the experience to support me. I had just one hour to make the cut off which was at the top of an out and back sheer steep climb.

Norbert had already called race support to alert them of my condition, receiving advice from the doctor over the phone. 

I was moving, but very slow and in a ‘drunk like’ state. The decision was made and I was in no state to question it, but I was in a conscious enough state to know I wasn’t going to make the cut off check point. 

That would officially time me out the race. As devastating as that was, there was nothing I could do about it. 

Out of nowhere and so quickly my body had succumbed to the heat. 

We came across another guy, who’d just passed out with heat exhaustion on the path and woke up not knowing what had happened to him. 

We all then sat with him, rested in some shade to recover from the sun. 

Mountain rescue support arrived to attend to the guy who’d passed out. 

After about an hour I’d come around feeling ok again, and physically I felt sound and strong. 

By then the temperature was starting cool down and I continued to move on with Norbert and a Swedish guy also suffering heat sickness. 

The next to fall was then Norbert. Again, he was suffering very quickly from heat exhaustion, vomiting, couldn’t get up off the ground, breathing erratically and with a dangerous heart rate.

The support team came out to him to take him off in the car. What a brutally devastating day! 

Read part 2 of Mark's blog