Pentir fun run

Last year, the Pentir fun run happened just after I had joined the Eryri Harriers. I actually found out about it because of hanging out on the Harriers Facebook page. I didn’t have a club vest yet, and I didn’t know anyone. 

That was not the only difference. Last year it was a decidedly autumnal day. Rain from morning to evening! And this year that would not be the case. The jet stream had been all over the place; from heatwave to autumn back to heatwave. I had spent the weekend in waterproofs and gloves! That felt so long ago. 

I biked in, and came across most of the Edwardses, a Harrier dynasty. Ian was already recce-ing the route. 

I got my number and tracker, and chatted a bit with the others. Then I took my bike to the start. There, more chatting took place. And a team pic. And then we could start. 

Eryri pic

At the start

I wanted to start fast. I knew there kissing gates coming up, and I didn’t want to be in a queue. So I legged it! Got into the first field without problems. I never had more than one person in front of me at a gate. I knew Emma, who had just won the Felinheli 10k, was ahead of me, and by the time we got out of that field another lady came past. 

I also started leapfrogging with a boy; the usual thing was going on that he was faster on the downhill and on uneven terrain, but I was faster uphill and on even terrain. It was nice; we gave each other space when we recognised the terrain was changing into something the other one was faster on. 

While that was going on I felt a hand on my arm. It was Arwel! He was coming past too. Another chapter in the rivalry! But there were still several km to go. 

We ran through the fields back to the road. And there I overtook him again. And I made sure to keep my speed up. It worked! I stayed ahead. And I could see that the lady that had overtaken me earlier on was not far away, but too far to try to overtake her. Then I finished. 

Home stretch!

With Arwel right behind me

At this race, there are home-made cakes at the finish. Lovely! I went to get some. And then I had my recovery drink. And more water. And more chats with fellow runners. I found out that Emma who wins loads of races is also Dutch! And with Tinka being super fast as well (winning, for instance, the Nick Beer10k and the She Ultra), the Dutch are clearly overrepresented in female North Welsh running. 

Hot at the finish

After a while we made our way back to registration, where the presentation would be. They have an unusual system: if you have won something, they call you forward, you pull a number out of a metaphoric hat, and then you get the prize with that number on. And I had come third! Good stuff. With a time of 21:36; much faster than last year’s 23:44, when I had come 7th. But then it had been slippery. 

Last year I had a category win and won a big box of jelly babies. I had eaten all of them by now, as well as the additional ones I had won in the Gladstone 9. I could do with a restock! But I saw there were no jelly babies on offer. I won a bottle of mead! An unusual prize. Ian and Emma had won! Hurray! 

Collecting my prize

I also made myself useful: I ended up chatting with a Harrier who had run the Siabod race. He hadn’t seen the results. I could send them to him right there! I had wondered how the organiser would communicate them. It looked like he hadn’t decided yet. 

This was my first proper podium place of the year! The Welsh Athletics silver one doesn’t really count. I was chuffed! I hope I can get a few more before the year is out…