Cader Idris Fell Race
01/06/2010
Cader Idris Fell Race
Last Saturday John Taylor and Helen Skelton went over the border to Dolgellau to run the Cader Idris fell race. The weather conditions could not have been more different from their last races when competitors were pulling out due to the excessive heat. This time there were strong winds, low cloud and rain with mud underfoot, but they seemed to enjoy it even more than usual.
Arriving early and fuelling up with cakes and coffee, they prepared to race the 10 miles and 3000 feet of ascent out of the village and straight up the mountain to the summit, before returning the same way.
John started off a bit quicker than Helen, but at around the two mile marker Helen’s considerably lighter frame reeled him in and she continued to climb strongly, picking off other runners steadily as she progressed. John also pushed on and kept Helen in sight for most of the race.
The descent was fast, but the wet conditions made it quite slippery on some of the rocky sections until they hit the last stage of tarmac back into the cheering crowds at the finish.
Helen was unlucky to be just out of the prizes, being 4th lady and 51st overall in a time of 1hr 51m 40s. John wasn’t very far behind in 59th place out of 214 finishers in 1hr 54m 41s.
