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Monday, September 17, 2012

Dragon's Back Race...the toughest Ultra-Marathon in the UK

At the start of September, the Dragon's Back race was held in Wales. Reputed to be the toughest Ultra-Marahton in the UK, the course goes the entire length of Wales from North to South. The race is broken up into 5 days with the competitors covering at least 186 miles (300 kms) with a total ascent of 50,000 feet (15,000m). Prior to 2012, it was only ever held once in 1992, twenty years ago.

Day 1...Carneddau, Glyders and Snowdon area...Straight line distance and height gain: 30 miles (48 km) / 19,700 ft (6,000m)
Day 2...Moelwyns and Rhinogs area...Straight line distance and height gain: 27 miles (43 km) / 14,700 ft (4,500m)
Day 3...Cadair Idris and Plynlimon area...Straight line distance and height gain: 34 miles (54 km) / 16,400 ft (5,000m)
Day 4...Elan Valley area...Straight line distance and height gain: 37 miles (59 km) / 11,500 ft (3,500m)
Day 5...Black Mountain area...Straight line distance and height gain: 34 miles (54 km) / 11,100 ft (3,400m)

The optimum course as been calculated as exactly 186 miles (300 km) with 50,000 ft (15,000m) of ascent.

Out of the 91 competitors who started the 2012 race, only 29 finished.

Considering it's proximity, there may well be some Irish interest in it in future years. Is there any possibility of something like this in Ireland, even a shorter version? The one event that springs to mind is the Wicklow Way Ultra which is 51 kms long with 2,000m of ascent.

The event website is HERE while the Guardian has a photo gallery HERE

2 comments:

  1. John,

    As I supped pints last Saturday night in Scotland I couldn't figure out why they have so many decent ultras (for ordinary souls) that are so well subscribed and we have only one (Wicklow Way) that draws about 80. I think long point to point off-road ultras would work here (rights of way allowing). They don't all have to be crushingly hard. They have a season that starts and finishes with 33 milers and peaks in the summer with 95 miles and 24 hour ultras with 40 - 50 mile races between the short and long stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  2. WW Ultra.... a girly race in Wicklow.

    Try the Wicklow Round
    http://www.imra.ie/wicklowround/

    ReplyDelete

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