Gladstone 9 recce as social run

I am not going to run the Gladstone 9 this year. I am otherwise engaged. But it is a beautiful route, so when I saw online that the organiser of the race, Ellie, was going to do a recce on a Monday evening, I decided to come if I could. And my infrared panel men, who were still busy, had left early enough for me to have time to change into my running kit, get into my car, and make it on time.

Group pic by the pub

I didn't think it was going to be fast, but that is ok. We gathered at a pub, which is not actually the start or finish of the race but has much better parking, and went from there. In the beginning I took the lead. I know the way! And at appropriate points I waited for the others. It was a bit of a muggy night with lots of insects, but lovely enough.

Just over a kilometre in, Ellie’s dog Gwil started bringing people little sticks he had found. I know he loves fetching! So I obliged. I didn't care too much that meant that every 10 seconds or so he comes back with the stick and wanted it thrown again. That is a lot of stopping and starting. But with this group not being so fast I had faith I would manage to keep up anyway. And so it went! And I periodically found him a new stick, if he had either lost the previous one, or I decided what he brought was too small to effectively throw.

When we got to the flank of Tal y Fan nobody ran. It’s steep! And at the summit, Ellie saw her blood sugar levels were low. That meant the end for throwing sticks for Gwil. His main job is being a blood sugar monitor, not a stick fetcher. He was a bit reluctant to accept this. But it happily coincided with the downhill bit; I am rubbish at that, so I wouldn't be able to keep up with the others while also stopping all the time to throw a stick on this stretch. 

The climb

At the summit 

And down again 

Ellie navigated us through the treacherous bit between Tal y Fan and the stone circle. There isn't really a path, but she knows which sheep tracks to take. I'm not sure if I could reproduce this! But if I do this race again, I will probably take an actual path that runs further west. It is a detour, but I am sure that for me it would be quicker.

When we got to the Stone Circle we were back on good paths. We went up my nemesis Foel Lus, and went down from there. By the path that goes to start and finish, Ellie explained to those who didn't know the route that we would skip this bit. I was happy with that! It is one of those very narrow paths through high bracken. Not my favourite. Now we just went down the slope, back to the pub we had came from. I paid extra attention! This had been where I had got injured in spring. I recognised the spot. This time, obviously, I managed to stay uninjured.

Selfie by Ellie at the stone circle 

On Foel Lus

Evening sky

Some people went for a drink in the pub, but I had ran out of bread at home and was a bit peckish. If I would go home straight away it wouldn't be too late to make myself a baked potato. So that is what I did.

It had been fun! It's a beautiful route, the people were nice, and I got to play with a dog. And got some exercise in. What’s not to like! And who knows; maybe I will do this race again in some year to come. I might even remember some of this recce then…