Ed: Fell-running specialist Helen Fines reports on her winning performance from a tough Ras yr Aran…

I haven’t been out in the VR vest for ages due to injury, but i ran in the Ras yr Aran fell race in North Wales on Saturday 24th March.
It is a hard 10 mile with 3000 feet ascent, on an out and back course. I have done the race 4 times before, but it never gets easier, especially in the fine weather when you can see the whole 5 miles ascent stretching ahead!
I was feeling pretty sluggish after just recovering from tonsillitis, and I reached the summit of Aran in 2nd place, behind Hazel Robinson. Luckily there was enough technical ground to give me an advantage descending, and i managed to take the lead just before halfway down. I held onto it fairly comfortably, luckily, as i don’t think i would have been much use if challenged.
Next stop is a local fell race and a week of reccying Lake District courses before the first British Champs race in mid April.