Friday night, and another head torch run in Llandegla Forest. The Dashes in the Dark are great fun, a small but select band of nutters, numbering about 30, pitch up at the visitor centre at Llandegla for a race through the dark trees.
Fresh snow on the ground threw back a lot more light from the head torch to light the way, but left the forest beyond darker and more impenetrable – still, no monsters in Llandegla… or so I’ve been told… Zig-zagging up the long winding track from the visitor centre saw me watching a large group of runners disappearing off into the gloom ahead, whilst those behind dwindled to become just an occassional flash of light in the trees. Consequently I spent most of the rest of the race in a bubble of my own, with no one in sight ahead or astern. This suited me fine as it took any pressure off me to ‘race’ and I could just settle down and enjoy running through fresh snow in the silence and dark with the odd glimpse of a crescent moon high overhead. Running doesn’t get any better than this in my book.
40 minutes later the finish hoved into view with the prospect of hot chocolate with marshmellows and all the trimmings back in Llandegla centre. Don’t know whether Ben will manage to fit a third race in this winter – but if he does, I intend to be back.
Andy S.
Sounds great Andy, not managed to make these yet but they sound right up my street.