22 August 2015, Betws-y-Coed
Solid attempt to come last in a race.
This fine race in Betws incorporated a home international and the GB trials for the World Mountain Running Championships. My daughters were running u20s so I thought why not … it was an open race so surely a few local club runners would run.
On the back row of the start line I looked left Martin Cox right Lloyd Taggart. Legends. Nearly everyone else in international kit. Lloyd says I'm not sure this is a good idea…
Brutal hill. All the way up. All the way down. End of lap 1 I'm last by about 150m. 2nd lap caught 2 on way up, 2 on way down. 3rd lap realized I was still last as others had dropped out. Bugger. Attacked the hill, scraped past Irish vest and held on for next to last. Nailed it!
Ellen and Juliet gained England selection after finishing 2nd and 3rd in their age categories. Meanwhile it looks like I'll be buying my own vest.
1 48:37 Robbie Simpson Deeside Runners
10 52:27 Simon Bailey Mercia Fell
24 55:04 Lloyd Taggart 2V45 Dark Peak/Manx Fell Runners
43 63:35 Rob Downs 1V50 Wilmslow
44 67:25 Brendan Donnelly Newcastle & District/Highgate
44 finishers
Full results
Strava trace of the killer 3 lap course https://www.strava.com/activities/374993865
Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMIC-rQjCMg
I’m not quite fast enough to make it on to the footage.