Not sure where to start on this one as it was my first ultra... but what an ultra to pick!

In the race briefing Nathan mentioned that this was one of the hardest ultras in the UK, so that cranked the nerves up a bit before I started!

On one of the hottest days of the year so far, we all ventured out onto the course, which starts at the yacht club, so a beautiful view before we even climbed.  First few miles are flat.... don't let that lull you into a false sense of security.  With elevation of 1295m (only 50m less than Ben Nevis), the views were incredible. 

Great idyllic route, through fields of bluebells and a fair bit of mud and cow pats,  marked out by the St. Illtyds signs and tape (some of which had been removed by locals and I did get lost twice... luckily not too far out though).  

Great company at points on the route as a lot of the racecheck crew I hadn't met before, apart from Twitter were there too, so great to put faces to twitter names.  Amazing support crew action from Kat & crew, who we could hear cheering and whooping for everyone round the course.

The volunteers were amazing, so helpful and cheerful at the fully stocked checkpoints, never has an orange segment tasted so good, as at the last checkpoint with around 12k left to go. The halfway point (up a hill, for a change), was a welcome sight, with the helpers refilling our bladders in our camo packs, handing out vaseiline and suncream (did I mention how hot it was?).

Nathan and Tori did an amazing job of organising and were stood at the finish, noting down your time and handing out the amazing medals (so big you could eat your dinner off it) and tshirts.  The bonus being a bar at the yacht club, so my first post race drink was a pint.

This is not just a physical challenge, its a mental one too.  I think I went through every emotion possible out on the course.  

Am I going back again........ more than likely, great value for such a beast of a race.