Words Damian Hall
BERGHAUS DRAGON’S BACK RACE
22-26 May berghausdragonsbackrace.com Fear factor 6/5
The Dragon’s Back is the biggest and baddest of all the UK’s mountain races. Five days, 300 kilometres, from the top to (almost) the bottom of Wales, along its jagged spine. The route includes 16,000m of ascent and, as it’s unmarked, navigation skills are key (though GPS units are allowed). The first race in 1992 was deemed so tough it didn’t happen again until 2013.
“I loved the concept. To run the length of a country, passing only through wild terrain, is unique to this race,” says GB ultra-trail runner and doctor Beth Pascall, who finished fourth overall and second lady in 2015.
Indeed, despite its gruelling nature, women have done very well in the Dragon’s Back, with Helene Whitaker (née Diamantides) the joint winner of the first race, while Jasmin Paris placed second overall in the 2015 race (comfortably beating this male writer).