It was another long day on the Dragon’s Back Race and at the end of it racers arrived at a sheep barn high on the mid-Wales hills to find their tents set up inside. As Helene Whitaker put it, “I’ve never been so happy to see a tent set up in sheep shit before!” (To be fair there was some hay too.)

It’s hot. It’s very, very hot. Day 3 is the hottest so far, and the heat is making life even more uncomfortable for the runners who are suffering dehydration and blisters. They had the opposite problem during the night as under the clear skies it was cold, not the night for a lightweight sleeping bag, especially when you are already exhausted.

Day 3 of the Dragon’s Back Race, a magnificent late summer’s day for running across Cader Idris, and the day when the race has settled down after the shock of day one. The camp, transport and food arrangements are all operating smoothly and now the racers truly understand the nature of the Dragon’s challenge it’s clear who the leaders and contenders are, and everyone is coming to terms with what they hope to, and can realistically achieve.

Planners Optimum Route: 64km with 3,772m of ascent Vanner Farm Campsite > Gau Graig > Cader Idris > Craig-y-llyn > Road / Track Junction > Tarrenhendre > Summit > Machynlleth > Bryn Coch Bach > Bwlch y Grossen > Pumlumon Fawr > Eisteddfa Gurig Farm

Early on day 2 a line of racers in their bright Berghaus waterproof jackets made their way slowly up into the hills, heading for the summit of Cnicht, the first checkpoint of the day, before moving on the Moelwyn hills. It wasn’t long before the early cloud and mist cleared off and another fine day followed, with clear skies and a gentle, cooling breeze. It was still warm, but not as hot as yesterday, and the weather was as good as the competitors could have hoped for.

It was a long night for some at the end of day one of the Dragon’s Back Race – Nigel Coe who was marshalling on top of Snowdon did not get back down to camp until 1.40 in the morning. By then the majority of the starters (there were only 82, not 91) where safely wrapped up in their sleeping bags and one or two had retired elsewhere. Unfortunately one also finished up in hospital. Oscar Rouwhorst from Denmark was exhausted and badly dehydrated, and although he was recovering and was still cheerful he was taken to the local A&E as a precaution and for a comfortable night.

Planners Optimum Route: 53km with 3,719m of ascent

Llyndy Isaf Farm Farm > Cnicht > Moelwyn Mawr > Moelwyn Bach > Cwm Bycham Carpark > Rhinog Fawr > Rhinog Fach > Y Llethr > Diffwys > Vanner Farm

After all the talk it was time for action ... but the pre-race briefings were right. This is one of the toughest foot races in the world, and day one is the hardest day, and it had been made harder than it was 20 years ago. As day one progressed, taking runners into Snowdonia and across the highest summits of the week, the true scale of the challenge began to hit home, and despite good weather (much better than in the first race) the retirement rate was high and for the later runners the course was shortened.

In the early hours of the morning race staff and competitors began to prepare and all around Conwy runners carrying dry bags full of kit emerged into the darkness from B&B’s and the Youth Hostel onto the streets to make their way to the castle. Here they put the bags into the race vans, and then made their way inside to the central courtyard to await the start.