 |
| Scene from the road to Mallaig |
Last week we ran the Ring of Fire ultramarathon. The race is a 3 day, 135 mile stage race around the coast of Anglesey in Wales.
We spent the first part of the week in the small seaside town of Beaumaris with my parents , sister her husband and two of her children.It was nice to spend time with my family, enjoy relaxing meals and explore the picturesque town .However that part of the holiday flew by and before we knew it we were on the start line listening to Johnny Cash singing 'Ring of Fire' which unsurprisingly is the race's adopted theme tune.
It seemed cool waiting for the 1pm start but once we started running it became hot and sunny. The first section through Holyhead is relatively boring until the main island and the first beach is reached.I ran most of the first section on my own which I liked as I was able to go my own pace.
By the second check point at Church Bay I was feeling good and was surprised to overtake a few people. A runner ahead ran straight up a hill and assuming that nobody would run up a hill unless they were sure it as the right way, I followed. Sadly it wasn't ! However I only lost a few minutes and by now I was having a ball.The north coast of Anglesey is exquisite , with cliffs and small rocky bays and lots of wild flowers.The sun was shining and both the sea and sky were blue. It was glorious!
 |
| The beautiful coast near Church Bay |
The power station at Wylfa is not so pretty but beyond the village of Cemaes it was lovely undulating running - cliff tops and small bays- that I really enjoy.
At Bull Bay two runners ahead missed a turning and I shouted to them but only one heard. The next section is crucial because there a so called 'honesty book '- to prove that one has followed the route correctly and not cut corners one has to tear out a page from a book left at an unmanned checkpoint.
By the time I reached Amlwch( the end of day 1) I was tired but elated. I was shocked to find that I was in 6th position . A wiser runner would have slowed down to save some energy for the following stages but I had a great day and ran well because I was loving it.
At the leisure centre I tucked in to a huge portion of lasagne and drank four mugs of tea. Helen came in about half an hour after me having also had a good day. She has only recently recovered from an achilles injury that as been plaguing her all year.
Next on the agenda was a shower and and a relaxing swim before settling down in the main hall with the other competitors for a fitful night's sleep.
My sister being a slower runner was out in the dark and only made the midnight cut off by 3 seconds. However the important thing was that she made it.
Day 2 started dry though rain and wind was forecasted. We set off before dawn heading around the coast. Despite lots of food , hydration and rest my legs were tired from Friday's 35 mile jaunt . I kept up with the same group of guys I had been with the previous day for about 3 miles then they got ahead. There was no point in pushing it because it was due to be a very long day ( nearly 66 miles). At Traeth Lligwy beach, the first checkpoint I bought a coffee, I was 30 pence short but a kind man gave me 10 pence and the even kinder cafe owner knocked 20 pence of the price!
At the next beach I made a silly navigational error that cost me a few minutes but resulted in me hooking up with another group of runners. At first I thought that they were going quite slowly but beyond Red Wharf Bay they too started to get ahead. By now the promised rain had started but initially it was quite light.
Penmon Point was a long time coming but it always is - on the map it isn't far but the path twists and turns.I switched from a pertex to a waterproof as the rain started in earnest.
It is only 4 miles from the Penmon to the half way point at Beaumaris but the tide was high so rather than swim we had to take a road diversion . At Beaumaris I had a boost from seeing my parents and nieces at a cafe. There was a tent at the check point with the half way bags, I ate and drank and put on another layer of clothing ,then headed up the hill. It is a long climb on the road and even longer if you miss the footpath to the left as some runners did. Half way to Menai there was as always a .kind family handing out jelly babies. By now it was raining very heavily and the wind was getting stronger. I ran with a runner called Gareth who was fitter than me but who was not familiar with the way. I should have known the route but my memory of it was a bit hazy.
At the Sea Zoo it was really wild .The checkpoint gazebo had been destroyed by the wind. I decided it was pointless wasting energy trying to run into the gale so I walked and took my time to munch on a pork pie . I was struggling to run much anyway, the weather and distance were starting to take its toll.
 |
| Newborough Beach (two days before the race- no wind or rain) |
Once the route turned northwest I was able to get jogging again. Gareth was now far ahead and I ran for the rest of the day on my own. Newborough beach seemed very long . Despite the extreme weather conditions there were kite surfers in the sea, I admired their strength and toughness.
At the Newborough checkpoint I was delighted to find they had soup , I drank some tea as well. Not long after I left the checkpoint it got dark but I was on the home straight. I had a slightly sticky moment in a field when a group of cows and calves got a bit menacing, one cow in particular looked as if it was about to charge.Fortunately it calmed down after I stood still.
I was with great relief that I finally reached the village hall at Aberffraw just after 10pm. There was as always a fantastic welcome , hot tea and delicious pasta. Helen came in about half an hour later.
Throughout the night as we tried to sleep other runners arrived in dribs and drabs, the last at about 4am we all got about half an hour later!
At 6 am we off again for the final leg . Helen seemed very strong and I couldn't keep up with her. The weather was good - dry with a gentle breeze but mainly dull.
At Rhosneigr we were treated to bacon butties which were quite a boost .
The route finding is tricky in some places and a few times I had to search for footpath signs . Four Mile Bridge came and went- putting us back on Holy Island . The next objective was the honesty book at Silver Bay. Beyond this the landscape shifts up a gear and becomes more picturesque and dramatic. I encountered a group of runners who had missed the honesty book and were forced to retrace their steps to get the vital pages.
By Trearddur Bay I was really struggling. The same thing happened last year, but I had a solution ;I bought a mug of tea and a juice at a kiosk on the front -just what I needed. I knew I was tired because I struggled to add 70 pence to £1.20 having to ask if that made £1.90, also I had to get the lady in the kiosk to help me to get the straw in to the juice container. However as expected the caffeine and the excitement of nearing the end perked me up and I was soon going better than I had all day.The coast hereabouts is gorgeous and the sun was now shining at times . I passed another runner and told her to try to savour the last hour or so of the adventure. . The final hurdle was climbing the flanks of Holyhead mountain and then finding the honesty book at North Stack . This done it was just a short romp to the end. It was a glorious feeling to sprint the last hundred yards to the sound of Johnny Cash singing' Ring of Fire.'
This is the third time we have run The Ring of Fire and it just gets better and better( though not easier). The marshalls are fantastic and the route is varied and very scenic. This year we had quite a lot of weather too.
After a good nights sleep we went home the long way paying a visit to Porthmadog to visit Rob Piercy's superlative gallery . Rob Piercy is one of the best watercolour landscape artsts in the country. He specialises in extremely fine atmostpheric pictures of Snowdonia. His website is
Rob Piercy,it is well worth a look. After drooling over the pictures and buying a print we drove north through Snowdonia seeing the scenery he paints.
