I am running monthly challenges in 2021 to fundraise for the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI)
Mountain Running in Wales is challenging and exhilarating for sure!
Why running in the mountains
During my own suffering as a result of the UK Border regime, running on the trails literally kept me going.
I gradually covered more miles and more elevation gain. Even though the Gower Peninsula is a small piece of land, I never grew tired of the views or the paths. On the contrary, every run became a unique story. Each run is influenced by a myriad of factors including weather, season, company, distance, direction and on and on.
Nevertheless, my appetite for new challenges and new terrain remained intact. After all, I have a proven track record of being a person who moves! I was eager to get off the Peninsula after a long time in Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
The Dragon’s Back Race: six days of mountain running in Wales
The ‘Dragon’s Back Race’ movie captured my attention. What an epic challenge! The race covers 380 miles and 17400m elevation gain between Castle Conwy and Cardiff Castle over 6 days. It takes you through exquisite remote areas, across exposed ridges and to numerous mountain peaks.
You can read more about the race on the event website.
Less than 50% of entrants complete the journey. Even getting to the start is a challenge and an adventure. Numerous things can happen along the way. Yet we try and try again and learn how to take care of ourselves and each other. The values of kindness, gratitude, honesty, enjoyment, focus and determination make my life worth living.
I was ready to sign up. Challenging myself with running invigorates me. I want to use this amazing opportunity to tell the stories of challenges no-one should have to face. I want to expose the cruelty of a system that creates and perpetuates inequality in our society and in our world.
At the same time I want to celebrate being an immigrant in this extraordinary country of Wales. This is the place I have come to call home.
It took 13 years (from 2000 – 2013) to become a citizen. That journey was unnecessarily long and tough. Even so, it did not prepare me for the punishment that now awaits British citizens when they marry a foreign national.
You can read a bit more of my story on my JustGiving Page.
I also wrote a piece for Public Sector Focus in 2020. You can read it here.
Journey to the start line: running in the mountains in Wales
Being a #DragonInTraining now defines my running challenges for June, July and August. The challenge is to be well prepared when I take that first step of the actual race on the 4th of September.
I am really happy that preparation includes lots of running in the mountains. My goals in preparation are:
- cover as much of the route as possible pre-race
- acquire and test out all the required kit
- learn map reading and navigation skills
- learn how to use poles whilst running and hiking in the mountains
- avoid injury!
June 2021 journey of mountain running in Wales
This is what I got up to in June 2021:
- 20 runs
- 280km(174.13miles) distance
- 9490m (31 137ft) elevation gain
This included a couple of recce days with RAW adventures over the most technical parts of the course on day 1. I also covered 30km in a solo recce of part of day 5 in the Brecon Beacons. I also did another 36km long run on the Gower Peninsula. The weather was kind, so I could take some pretty pictures!
I’ll have to write separate blogs about those days to do them justice. With all this running, hiking and driving that is part of being a Dragon in Training, time for writing blogs suffer!
Here I’ll share the highlights with a few pictures.
Crib Goch, Garnedd Ugain and Yr Wyddfa
Language is another pleasure in my life. I enjoy learning the Welsh names and their meanings for features the exquisite Welsh landscape.
- Crib Goch – red ridge
- Garnedd Ugain – cairn of the twenty
- Yr Wyddfa – burial mound and in particular the burial mound of the legendary Rhita Gawr.
- Llyn Llidaw – Brittany Lake
- Y Lliwedd – colourless peak
- Bwlch – saddle/gap/pass
- Glaslyn – blue lake
Tryfan, Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr
- Tryfan – three peaks
- Llyn Idwal – Lake Idwal, named after Prince Idwal Foel, son of Rodri Mawr, one of the ancient kings of Wales.
- Cwm Bochlwyd – Lake of the grey cheek
- Glyder Fach – small heap of stones
- Glyder Fawr – large heap of stones
A misty day in the Brecon Beacons
I spent a day finding a bit of day’s 5 route from Llandovery. First I ran along about 5 miles of country lane. After that I ascended some low hills, ran along Usk reservoir and through plantation. Finally I came to the Brecon Beacons and the ascent of Fan Foel from the north.
I ran along the ridge on the Beacons Way, passing the cairns that mark the summits of Fan Foel, Twr Y Fan Foel and Fan Brycheiniog. From there I descended to run past Llyn y Fan Fawr and further downhill along Nant y Llyn. I crossed the River Tawe where it is still only a mountain stream. From there I ran over Cefn Cul and started to ascend Fan Gyhirych.
The day was misty, humid and eventually very hot. I ran out of water and had to turn back down the mountain. This was a bit disappointing, but the day offered great learning in addition to valuable training.
Lesson one was to take a more realistic water supply for what is planned. Lesson two was that my Coros Apex watch works well for showing the way with a breadcrumb trail. Without the GPX navigation I would most certainly have gotten lost in the mountains. I am sure you will understand why when you see the pictures.
Mountain running in Wales
I thoroughly enjoyed running, hiking and scrambling on the mountains of Wales this June. I look forward to the opportunities and adventures that lie ahead in July.
It is natural for people to move and to go on journeys. It is good for people to explore new possibilities and to search for opportunities. These journeys often involve crossing borders. The movement of people enriches the lives of individuals, communities and societies. It would be better to support those who move, rather than punish them with exclusion, extortion and an excess of bureaucracy.
This is why I fundraise for the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants.
My fundraising buddy Lauren writes monthly recaps of all UK immigration stories that has reached the media. You can catch up with her June 2021 recap here.
You can subscribe to my blog or follow me on social media where I post links to my blog when I publish.
Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who has supported my fundraiser so far. Every donation is very much appreciated.
