Last week we had a holiday on the island of Anglesey in Wales. My parents had rented a house near Beaumaris on the south coast of Anglesey for us all to celebrate my Dad's 80th birthday. Helen and I and my sister were also planning to run the Ring of Fire Race a 135 mile 3 day stage race around the coast of Anglesey. We ran it last year and really enjoyed the experience.
Beaumaris is a delightful little town on the coast with lots of old buildings, interesting shops, a castle and an historic gaol. I would have liked to spent more time exploring but as always getting ready for the race took longer than anticipated.We also did a reccee of the last section of day 2 of the race as we knew it was hard to find. On Friday we all headed over to Holyhead for the race start in the country park.
The first section of the race is relatively uninteresting- on roads and through parkland then on a stony beach. Soon though the coast becomes more dramatic. Beyond the second checkpoint the scenery is spectacular ,plunging cliffs tiny coves, stacks , caves and arches.
I saw some gannets wheeling by the cliffs; white birds with black wing tips, I hadn't realised how big and impressive they are.
Neither Helen or I were particularly fit, niggling injuries having curtailed our normal training. However I was enjoying the running which by now was all on twisting cliff top paths.
The 3rd checkpoint at Wylfa Head was beyond the power station- less picturesque and just after an energy sapping stony beach. Soon that was behind us and we were back to gorgeous cliff top running.Many times the path plunged down to little bays before climbing equally steeply up the other side, to add to the drama there were isolated ruins of silica brickworks dotted about.
By the time I got to Bull Bay I was tired but knew the end was close. Some runners that had just passed me missed a left turn out to the honesty book and had to backtrack.There were 5 honesty books in the race - clever system making sure nobody took a short cut. Every runner had to tear out a page from a book placed on the route and present it at the next checkpoint or finish
I arrived at Amlwch just before dark very happy after a fairly tough 35 miles. The overnight accomodation is in a sport hall with good showers and a canteen serving generous portions of delicious lasagne. Helen arrived an hour later and my sister a few hours after that.
The sound of Jonhny Cash singing The Ring of Fire roused us all to early on Saturday morning. The second day of the race started at 6am just before dawn.
The morning when it came was gorgeous and we enjoyed the ever present sea and rolling coastline . I started at a reasonable pace but my lack of fitness began to show by the time I got to Red Wharf Bay . My back which had been a problem last year started to hurt and several times I walked to relieve the pain. I picked up a bit on the climb up to Castell and ran with a group of others to Penmon Point unfortunately I left my water bottle in the check point and in the few minutes it took to go back to retrieve it they got ahead. Here I was also passed by a runer called Maryann who was cheerfully running up the hill out of the check point. For me there were two reasons to walk 1) to eat and drink food picked up at the checkpoint, 2) it was a hill. Tough lady!
There are only 4 miles from Penmon Point to Beaumaris ( the half way point ) but I found it a struggle. I was feeling nauseous and tired , after the long hill there was a road section then a long beach of mixed sand and stone then more road . I found it virtually impossible to run on the beach, and road is my least favourite terrain. However at Beaumaris there was the pleasure of seeing my parents and three nieces who were waiting for me at a cafe. At the actual checkpoint there were our half way bags. I drank a can of double expresso coffee and a tango and ate some rice pudding. By now it was very hot and I was worried about becoming dehydrated or not taking on board enough salt. I am used to runing in the rain and cold but hot days are very rare in Scotland.
The next section involves a lot of road as we picked our way through Menai . One of the pleasures of this and many other ultras is that one keeps passing and being passed by the same runners and repeatedly see their supporters at checkpoints and road junctions By the end of a three day event they are like old friends. I really appreciated the encouragement and support they gave me.
After Menai came the famous village of Llanfairpwllgwyngllgogerychwyrndrobwlllantysiliogogogoch! This apparently translates as Saint Mary's church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the church of Saint Tysilio of the red cave.Fortunately being able to say the name was not a requirement of the ultra.
Beyond St Mary's we went along the A4080 then across farmland .I saw a group of teenagers having a picnic in the shade of a huge oak tree, how idyllic it looked, how nice it would have been to have stopped there, to relax and drink a beer or two and while away the afternoon!
As the day wore on I picked off the miles jogging slowly along. The Sea Zoo checkpoint was a milestone I was glad to pass. I had been leapfrogging with two brothers Andy and Justin and their friend Chris for some time but as I was flagging decided to tag along with them. The were really nice guys and chatting with them was a real boost. They had been brought up in Wales but had emigrated to Perth Australia twenty years ago. Now they were back to run the Ring of Fire Race!
On Newborough beach I fell behind. My legs were ok but I was very thirsty yet queasy. Whenever I drank I would feel even more sick. Eating food was out of the question. I think my lack of fitness, a second day of hard running and the heat were all taking there toll.
However at Newborough Forest checkpoint I had some delicious tomato and basil soup and was buoyed up to hear it was only 10 km to the end of day 2.
As darkness fell and it became cooler I felt much better. My pace picked up and having recceed the last section I was confident of the route- I was enjoying myself again.
In the infamous corn field (many people struggle with navigation here) I heard a shout. My friends who had got ahead were lost but had seen my head torch.I was pleased to be able to tell them that I knew the way because I felt I was repaying some of their kindness and companionship earlier in the day. We took a 300 degree bearing across the big field and hit the style and the the lane just right . Soon we were on the beach closing in on the honesty book and our final destination of the day;Aberffraw village hall.
Aberffraw hall is much smaller than the sports centre we stayed in after day one and has no showers but there were less of us left in the race. There was something of a Dunkirk spirit there;People and equipment were strewn randomly on the floor, some tended their blistered feet others tried to sleep. In the corner a sports massage therapist was attempting to coax some life into the muscles of a runner lying prone on a table. The ever cheery marshalls were dispensing cups of tea and bowls of pasta.
In dribs and drabs more exhausted runners arrived throughout the night. Helen didn't arrive until almost 2am, my sister had pulled out much earlier.
At ten to five the Ring of Fire music blared out again jolting us out of sleep and almost bringing tears to my eyes - here we go again!
It was a much smaller group of dishevelled,unwashed, unshaven and bleary eyed runners that gathered outside the hall for the pre race briefing than had left Holyhead. At six we were on our way again.I was happy to find I could still run. The first checkpoint at Sandy's Bistro had the attraction of a bacon or sausage bap and tea. I ate as much as I could knowing that I would struggle to get food down later. The weather was cool and cloudy - ideal for running.
On day 3 the route is sometimes difficult to follow but I half remembered some bits from last year which helped. Around four mile bridge the scenery is not particularly inspiring but from Silver Bay we were back to gorgeous beaches and craggy cliff top running .I was flagging again and was passed by a few people.
At Trearddur Bay I felt really sick. I was going so slowly that I decided to go into a pub to buy some soda water which is the best solution I know for nausea in an ultra.Then I bought a cup of tea and a can of tango from a snack bar. The tea and the soda water worked really well and I felt much, much better. It is surprising how getting the right food or drink on board can make a difference between dragging oneself along at a survival shuffle and jogging along feeling well and happy.
I had calculated that there was 15miles to go from Trearddur Bay but at the checkpoint they told me that it was only 9.5miles so that was another boost.
The race has a sting in its tail in that one has to climb over the shoulder of Holyhead Mountain. Actually it is more of a grand finale because it is such a beautiful place especially on a clear day.On the way up I spotted some choughs- rare members of the crow family with red bills and legs.
The route descends from the shoulder all the way down to North Stack then climbs up again . Then a few more twists and turns and the field with the finish was in view. I was almost overwhelmed with emotion as I sprinted the last 150 yards, with of course The Ring of Fire coming over the PA system. It was a great finish after 3 days of toil. My parents, lots of the marshalls and many of the runners I had got to know over the last 3 days were there so there were lots of hugs and congratulations. I didn't have long to wait before Helen came trotting down the mountain too.
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| Map of Anglesey showing the race route |
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| Some quick sketches from our holiday |
