Uncategorized

Slaying the Dragon in the Welsh Mountains

by Stephen Granger

African athletes have enjoyed notable success in the European trail season over the past months, with Kenyans Mark Kangogo, Patrick Kipngeno and Esther Chesang, and South Africa’s Toni McCann winning significant races and Eritean Petro Mamu, Moroccan Elhousine Elazzaoui, South Africa’s Bianca Tarboton and Kenyan Philaris Sang bagging top-three podium positions.

Three South African athletes enjoyed solid trail performances over the weekend as the season draws to a close. Filippo Faralla survived 6 days of tough mountain running in Wales, while adidas TERREX athletes Toni McCann and Bianca Tarboton raced well in Austrian and Italian mountain trails respectively.

The start of the Dragon’s Back Race in Conwy Castle in north Wales

The Montane Dragon’s Back Race is a legendary multi-stage, ultra-running journey down the spine of Wales connecting two iconic Welsh castles, Conwy Castle in the north and Cardiff Castle in the south of Wales. It is billed as the world’s toughest mountain race and participants summit all of the major peaks in Wales, including Snowdon, Crib Coch, Trifan, Cadir Idris and Pen y Fan.

Rather than routing race participants along the country roads typically chosen by tourists, runners had to negotiate a course of unimaginable toughness, along the spine of many of the rockiest Welsh mountains from Snowdonia to Cardiff, where running is the exception and scrambling is the most common mode of propulsion. Conditions were typically ‘Welsh’ and often more runners are listed ‘DNF’ rather than finishers.

Runnable trails are a rarity during the Dragon’s Back race, with steep rocky climbs to mountain summits the norm. Photo – courtesy Dragon’s Back Race

Cape Town master trail runner, Filippo Faralla, was one of the latter.  Having failed to complete the race in 2018, Faralla had unfinished business in Wales and he made it personal, determined to make amends.  He did so in no uncertain terms. The 54-year-old athlete started conservatively, finishing the first day through Snowdonia in 47th, but importantly ended in 22nd place overall at the finish at Castle Bute Park in Cardiff after traversing 390km of rocky trails over six days, with 19200m of vertical ascent – equivalent to more than two ascents of Mt Everest from sea level.

Filippo Faralla in action in the Bastille Day 50km in June. Photo – Barbara Cole

Of the 261 runners who set out from Conwy Castle, only 102 arrived in Cardiff, an indication of the fearsome toll the rugged route took on the participants. Faralla ran a superbly-judged race, finishing 35th after the second day, then 30th and 24th after days three and four.

Holding his position at the finish of Day Five in the Talybont Forest in the renowned Brecon Beacons National Park, Faralla hauled his exhausted body over the final climb, the 322m Mynydd Meio hill outside Cardiff, to complete the 60km stage in 19th place and the entire 380km challenge in 22nd position and 4th in his age category.

Mounting the Dragon’s Back – a competitor focuses on maintaining balance along one of the more challenging parts of the race. Photo – courtesy Dragon’s Back Race

In an event which strongly favours British runners with their local knowledge of the route, only four athletes from the 42 participating countries outside Britain finished ahead of Faralla.

Faralla credited his coaching team of Nicolette Griffioen and Pierre Jordaan (who themselves had raced recently in the Welsh mountains) with ensuring that his fitness and conditioning were perfect for the race. “I’m so happy with my legs, lungs and stomach,” reflected Faralla during the race. “All aspects of my preparation have come together so well and I’m so grateful to my coaching team for their expert guidance.”

Toni McCann ended her European season on a high note at the adidas INFINITE TRAILS event in Gastein, Austria, competing for adidas TERREX’s “Team I like most” in the mixed-gender category with German athlete, Sven Koch, and top Kiwi Ruth Croft.

Team I like Most – Ruth Croft, Toni McCann and Sven Koch. Photo courtesy Toni McCann

Part of the race navigates old gold-digger paths and historic pack-mule trails through the Gastein valley, passing many waterfalls and alpine meadows and boasting impressive views of several significant alpine summits.

The event required teams to complete a three-loop 100km course with a total of 7,600 vertical meters. McCann placed 2nd woman and 12th overall in the 21km loop in 2 hrs 41 min 25 sec, Koch, who won the Festival of Running 15km in Innsbruck earlier in the year, placed 3rd overall in the 35km loop in 3:48:20 while Croft, who won the Western States 100 miler in June, was fastest woman and 12th overall in the 44km loop in 5:17:21.

McCann’s team placed an impressive 7th overall in 11:47:06, 2nd in the mixed-gender category and 1st in the in the two female and one male mixed-gender category.

McCann’s adidas TERREX teammate and fellow-Cape Town athlete, Bianca Tarboton, opted to finish the season competing in the Skyrunning World Championships in Ossola, Italy. Offering a choice of three events run over three days, Tarboton opted to race the La Veia SkyRace over 31km with 2600m of vertical ascent.

Bianca Tarboton in action in Sunday’s Skyrunning World Championship in Ossola, Italy. Photo Federico Manoni

While finding the going mentally tough, in particular, Tarboton pushed through courageously to finish 11th in a world-class field, won by multi-SkyRunning champion, 30-year-old Romanian Denisa Dragomir.   

“It was tough,” Tarboton acknowledged. “But I was courageous and just kept going. I think on a good day I could’ve been capable of a lot better but it’s much better than how I thought I’d do, considering how I felt and how I ran. I’m proud I got to the end and worked through all of the mental challenges.”

Stephen Granger

Recent Posts

It’s three out of three for Robbie on the opening day of the RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town

"What Stu (McConnachie) and the trail community have done to put South African trail running…

16 hours ago

World’s trail athletes gather in the Mother City for RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town

by Stephen Granger RMB Ultra Trail Cape Town (UTCT) celebrates its 10th anniversary this weekend,…

2 days ago

World trail athletes aiming for the Top of the Table in RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town

by Stephen Granger The eyes of the trail world will be focused on the southern…

2 days ago

Marathon magic in New York and Soweto

Competitive racing was the order of the day at the TCS New York City Marathon…

2 weeks ago

Mainz 05 Coaches Inspire Youth at Totalsport Safe-Hub in Johannesburg’s Alexandra

A coaching team from Bundesliga club 1.FSV Mainz 05 has visited the Totalsport Safe-Hub in…

3 weeks ago

Spotlight on African basketball talent and milestones as NBA’s 2024/25 season takes off

An NBA season packed with African talent and colourful courts is underway, with games available…

3 weeks ago