Marshalling Ras Moel Eilio

When I see a race in the area advertised, and I'm not familiar with it, I always get a bit of an adrenaline jump. Another race! Shall I run it? But when I look a bit closer, sometimes the answer is a resounding no. And that was the case when I spotted Ras Moel Eilio. It was only going to be 2.5 weeks after my knee injury, and I know that route. I'm happy with the uphill sections, but some of the downhill sections I emphatically dislike. So I was certainly not going to run that! I also hadn't forgotten the route contained the run I had done in autumn that had resulted in my ankle injury.

About a week before the race I saw a call on social media: the race still needed a few marshals. And I take pride in supporting my club, so I said I was around. I was also confident my knee would be good enough to go to whichever hilltop they wanted me to marshal on. They said I was going to be on Foel Goch. That sounded beautiful. 

I also figured I might as well ride my bike there. I wasn't expected at race headquarters until noon. Plenty of time! It is only an hour away by bike. And I wasn't quite biked out after our Anglesey trip. And I made sure I was ready for everything: hot weather (shorts, sunglasses, sunscreen), and cold weather (jumper, waterproof jacket, down jacket). 

When I got to race headquarters I got briefed. I was asked to be on Foel Gron, not its neighbour Foel Goch. That meant being a bit further away from the path. Fine with me! They also gave me a radio, a hi viz vest, a cowbell, some emergency blanket and some gels, and  they offered me some cake. I gladly accepted. And after the cake I went to the loo, filled up my water bottle, and set off.

Biking to the top of Maesgwm is not trivial! It was really hard work. Especially, I suppose, with all that stuff in my bag. I admit I walked some bits. But I got to the top in good time and locked my bike up. And then I walked to my station. And I radioed through that I was there.

Heading for Maesgwm, where I had marshalled before

I had biked up Maesgwm in shorts and a T-shirt, but now I was fully exposed to a cold wind coming over the ridge. I quickly put on a jumper and a jacket! And gloves. And for the time being I was just enjoying the amazing views. It really is beautiful up there! You basically have Moel Eilio on one side, yr Wyddfa on the other, and the Glyderau to the side. 

At my station

After not too much time I could see the first runners come down the slope towards me. Obviously, they were going like the clappers, being the frontrunners. I got the cowbell out and cheered! And then they kept coming. Occasionally there was a bit of a lull between the runners and I had time to drink a bit of tea and eat a bit of lunch. And I put on long trousers. And then I saw two high viz vests approach. That must be the sweepers! I had asked at HQ if there would be a sweep, and they had said no, but that wasn't quite right. And with them past I packed up my bag again and headed back to my bike.

There were still runners out. So I biked to the finish and parked up, so I could cheer a few of them in. And I had a bit of a chat with other people. Some people asked me about my knee. And then I went back to headquarters, to hand back my radio and vest et cetera. I expected the ceremony soon, so I wanted to wait for that. It was a bit longer wait than expected, but then I could cheer for all the winners. And then it was time to head home!

Biking back from Llanberis is more work than biking there. The road through Fachwen is a bit of a killer. But I got there, and home. It was pretty close to dinner time by the time I arrived! But it had been a good day. Amazing views, amazing weather, lovely runners, and more than enough physical exercise for me. And it wouldn't be long before I would be on the other side of a race, with the cowbells clanging the for me!