Day 4: 7 September

Mid Wales and the Elan Valley 

Distance: 43 miles 

Ascent : 7,546ft (2,300 metres) 

Calories burned: 5,373 

“It’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving, how much you can take and still keep moving forward…that’s how winning is done.” (R Balboa)

I went to sleep peacefully, feeling strong and focused that I would continue the full distance the following day. 

Despite knowing the heatwave was continuing and both serious concern and safety measures were increasing from the organisers, I had little to lose and everything to prove…to myself. To come back stronger.

 

Day 4 had less elevation and more road, more suited to the road runners/ like myself. By now the legs and feet were getting smashed, painful and stressed in so many places. 

It was a beautiful day, travelling through forests, valleys, mountains and lakes, there was some stunning scenery and we were given a beautiful sunset to end what was an amazing day. 

After a good spell of moving well on the road, now on my own, I arrived in camp at 20:15, well inside the 23:00 cut off and just as it was going dark. I was SO happy to have bounced back and smashed the full day, especially after yesterday!

Day 5: 8 September

Brecon Beacons National Park

Distance : 46 mile

Ascent : 10,988ft (3,349 metres) 

Calories burned : 6,249

The 4am alarm stirred my zombie like state straight into the standard ‘camp process’. We all haven’t showered now for 4 days. The tent must smell so bad, but thankfully our sense of smell has diminished and we’ve become immune to it. 

After a good fill of breakfast, and race brief of the day (additional measures/extended cut off times, gave warning of the heatwaves hottest day ahead in the Brecons) I set off (body feeling battered but no serious injuries) out at 06:07.

I ran for a short while with an ex military guy on his 3rd Dragon’s Back Race attempt. 

He was telling me the harrowing stories of the poor soldiers that have lost their lives over the years on training exercises in the Brecon Becons, one incident being three SAS soldiers tragically dying due to effects of the heat. One of the poor souls was found with a Mars bar and bottle of water still in his hands.

It was a worrying reminder of the risk that lay ahead. 

Day 5 is a great Dragon’s Back Race day, I loved the recce I did, but day 5 in full is really tough and another monster mountain day. 

I got into the halfway support point in good time within the cut off, it was again boiling hot, at around 30 degrees. 

My legs and feet were now suffering badly with pain, I’d ran out of paracetamol and thankfully was given some from another competitor which was an absolute lifeline.

I was now with a brilliant guy called Jan Bovey and we would spend the rest of the night together supporting each other. It was a memorable night neither of us will ever forget. 

We’d formed a little group as we marched on, the darkness and tricky terrain now slowed our pace to a quick walk, a spanned dotted line of head torches.

Jan and I were coming into a state of exhaustive delusion, we were all desperately wanting to get in and over the line, but it seemed to be taking forever. 

With high fives and whoops of elation we crossed the line together around 22:25 within the 23:00 cut off. 

Day 6 – 9 September 

The road to Cardiff 

Distance : 42 mile 

Ascent : 4,347ft (1,324 metres) 

Calories burned : 4,833

In the night my legs and feet were in so much pain. I’d never felt like this, ever. 

It felt like my legs had been beaten with baseball bats. I was wincing and yelping out in pain whilst half asleep, trying in vain to find a position that was more comfortable. 

I’d gone to bed feeling emotional, physically and mentally broken. I woke feeling a better, but I still felt waves of emotions coming over me. 

I got up and went to find some space alone to release the emotion, compose myself and to refocus. 

My feet and legs were starting to move easier from initially hobbling. I was out for 06:43, I felt relaxed knowing the day had less climbing and wouldn’t take as long. 

This, however, was no walk in the park, or procession run, it was still 42 miles with 1,300m ascent. 

The pains I was having earlier had eased off. The body is such an incredible thing - recharging with energy, adrenaline, and some paracetamol. It’s amazing how I’d loosened up and was now moving freely and well. 

I’ll never forget the moment of the first sight of Cardiff far off in the distance (approximately 13 miles away) I was buzzing and the excitement boosted my body with more energy, it was like having a cocktail injection of adrenaline, cortisol and dopamine into my veins! 

I was actually now messaging friends/family. I was getting lots off messages of support, especially from the amazing community and people from Pinks!!

Despite moving well the paths seemed to go on forever, but eventually got closer and paved way to Cardiff Park.

Running over the line felt immensely incredible, it’s hard to describe the high and emotion. 

I immediately saw my Dad right after the line and went over to embrace and hug each other. 

It was then such an amazing and memorable evening, all the gang were together.

The whole day, the Castle finish, and following party into the night was beyond and surpassed my expectations, a day I’ll absolutely never forget. 

Moments that I’d envisioned and dreamed about for over a year, after nearly 230 miles, 6 days and 17,000 metres of climbing - every great and incredible journey has an end, this was mine, and this was my story.

Day 7 and beyond 

Reflections and perspective

So what comes next?

This was the part that you can’t really train or prepare for.

Arriving home, I was then greeted by an amazing surprise homecoming from all the lovely lot from Pink Sisters & Misters charity, a humbling and special moment I’ll never forget.

The days that followed were very much of a blur, I’ve never felt both physical and mental fatigue and exhaustion like it. 

Constantly wanting to sleep, it felt like I’d had received a sleeping aid or anaesthetic.

My feet and ankles had really swollen badly, my legs and feet were battered. 

I was having hot sweats for a few days and I looked terrible. In the following week, I was eating like a horse as my body was still working on recouping the calorie deficiency. 

As each day passed I’d started feel a bit better but it took around a week to actually feel like I was feeling ‘ok’. I know internally the body will still need much longer to fully recover, although I’m now back running short distances. 

I was also feeling the effects of what I call ‘The Void’ - the mind’s psychological response when you’ve been through something really big, something that’s taken you to extraordinary highs, or where you’ve planned or focused on something over a long time and then suddenly it’s gone or passed. 

This can leave you feeling a bit lost, empty or even low. 

As the body is working on recovering, so is the mind because it’s just as exhausted and it’s rebalancing the body’s natural levels of serotonin and endorphins. 

298 runners/soldiers took the start line in Cardiff and just 87 (29%) were crowned as officially completing the full course and having slayed down their Dragon. 

In reflection Dragon’s Back Race wasn’t just about time, position, or what stage someone had reached or withdrawn. 

It costs a lot of money to be at the start line, but it’s priceless in what it will return. 

It gifted far more important things, it gave the most extraordinary highs and also painful lows. 

The strong bonds of friendships made with the most beautiful of people. 

Amazing camaraderie like I’ve never known, and the most special memories to last forever. 

That’s just like life. To experience this, you know you’re really living. 

I think special things don’t just happen in life or fall into your lap, they’re crafted and cultivated over time, with commitment, passion, and hard work. 

To truly have an experience of a lifetime, you have to earn it. 

While it didn’t go quite the way I would have loved it to, I’m so grateful and happy that I earned and crafted my own experience I was really proud of.

I knew I was truly blessed to be on both the start line, and the finish line, fit and healthy. 

One day I won’t be able to do ‘this’, but today is not that day.

Every great journey starts with just one small step forward…you’ve just got to take it!