Day Two on the Dragon’s Back Race: Close battles as Zoe Murphy and Max King establish narrow leads
Today, 249 runners set off on the full course of the Dragon’s Back Race®, with an additional 80 opting for the Hatchling Course, choosing to complete either the first half or the second half of the day.
While the peaks may not be as high as Day 1, Day 2 is notoriously challenging. The runners encountered some of the gnarliest and most broken terrain underfoot, venturing into a more remote and less touristy area of Eryri. The scenery was breathtaking, but the course was brutally demanding.
The route for Day 2 took runners over Cnicht, a small yet savage mountain known as the "Matterhorn of Wales" for its distinctive shape. To the Dragon’s Back Race® competitors, Cnicht is perhaps best known for its famous bum-slide descent, which was even more treacherous than usual after yesterday’s weather. From there, runners tackled the rugged Moelwynion before heading up the Roman steps to more rocky terrain. This year the route on Day 2 has seen a slight change, with runners now following the more established Cambrian Way.
Runners were able to start anytime between 6 and 9 a.m., although the fastest runners were held until at least 8 a.m. With such a tough day ahead, there was a large crowd gathered at the 6 a.m. start line, eager to maximise their chances of meeting the dreaded cut-off times at Maentwrog and Cwm Bychan, and there were certainly some nerves!
A new section of the route ©No Limits Photography
A Party Atmosphere at Maentwrog Water Point
Spirits were high as runners arrived at the day's Water Point at Maentwrog. Despite it being relatively early in the day, many runners were grateful for the chance to refill their flasks. With music playing and locals cheering on the runners, the atmosphere was festive and supportive. Zoe Murphy, in good spirits, refilled her bottles after an impressive start to the day.
We caught up with some of the runners as they passed through.
Nina Davies, a member of the Green Runners, was looking strong as she came through. She remarked, "It’s been beautiful this morning. It’s so nice after yesterday!”
Nicole Morgan, experiencing Wales for the first time, shared, "It’s been beautiful. Nice to be out of the clag and actually see part of Wales! This is the first time in Wales. I haven’t done any of the route, so this is me experiencing it all, hopefully in 6 days!” Reflecting on the previous day, she added, "I clung to Crib Goch like the rocks were going to save my life. I was so sore because I must have been so tense for an hour! But I’m so glad I did it!”
John Farris has travelled all the way from Texas to compete. He was inspired to compete after completing the Cape Wrath Ultra® in 2023.
“I’m definitely questioning my race choices. I’m finding it hard. It’s tough training for this in Texas! It’s got its highs and lows. It’s been mentally tough already, but I know I can do it.”
Leading runners Max King and Simon Roberts were neck and neck as they passed through the Water Point, clearly unwilling to give up without a fight. Not far behind them, SCARPA athletes Gabe Joyes, Lewis Ryan, and Jon Shield ran in a pack, pushing each other forward.
Boggy terrain and stunning views through the Cambrian Mountains ©No Limits Photography
Intense Competition Among the Runners
The men’s field was highly competitive throughout the day. Max King and Simon Roberts ran side by side for most of the course, with Max only managing to pull ahead near the end. He ultimately extended his lead by an additional 8 minutes. At the finish line, Max appeared exhausted, having clearly pushed hard in the final stretch. However, he waited for Simon, and the two shared a high-five and chatted about their day, showcasing a friendly rivalry.
“You’ve got turbo boosters you have!” Simon joked.
Max reflected on the challenge, saying, “The hardest part was the last five miles on the road! The rest of it was good. Me and Simon ran together for most of it until CP9 and 10. I got away from him on the climb. He was right behind me though. If I have put another 10 minutes would be kind of nice.”
Unlike many of the local participants who had the advantage of scouting the route, Max was navigating it for the first time. He noted, “It was nice to have Simon. It would be nice to know what was coming and where I was going.”
SCARPA athlete Simon Roberts looking strong ©No Limits Photography
However, it is in the women’s field where the competition was really fierce. Zoe Murphy, who was in second place at the end of Day 1, pulled ahead and led for a significant portion of the day. Jo Meek, however, was determined not to let Zoe out of her sight. Though Jo was the first woman to cross the finish line, Zoe, who had started fifteen minutes later, won the day by two minutes. This narrow lead sets the stage for an exciting race as the days unfold.
Zoe Murphy is going from strength to strength ©No Limits Photography
Zoe, who spent the entire day running with a group, looked incredibly strong as she crossed the finish line. She commented on the day’s effort, saying, “There’s nothing easy about that day, but it’s been a great day. We ran together the whole day. In the middle of the day, we saw Jo then she just bolted out the Support Point. We went different lines, so I didn’t know where she was. To be honest – running with these guys definitely saved the day. It was a conscious decision to have a team run at the start of the day.”
Zoe knows the course well, having finished 4th in the 2021 race. Since then, she has volunteered on the main camp team and handled social media coverage at last year’s event.
Jo Meek reflected on her strategy, saying, “I think maybe I took it too easy on the first half. Zoe caught me at one point. She went a different way. Zoe’s running with a couple of chaps.”
Moving up into third place in the men’s field was SCARPA athlete Lewis Ryan. He spent much of the day running in a pack with fellow SCARPA athletes Jon Shield and Gabe Joyes. The battle for third is incredibly tight though, as Jon Shield is only 1 second behind – meaning third place is effectively a tie at this moment in time.
In the women’s field, Elsa Morgan had another storming run, moving up into third place (in spite of taking a work call in the middle of the day!)
It is clear this is going to be a hotly contested race all round!
Elsa Morgan had another good day ©No Limits Photography
The Day’s Challenges and What Lies Ahead
It was another tough day for all participants. While the frontrunners enjoyed favourable weather, those in the middle and back of the pack faced another bout of rain as they made their way through the course.
The Hatchling Course also saw a growing number of participants, with over 121 now opting for half days. This is a great option for those who find the full days too daunting or who miss a cut-off time. We hope to catch up with some of these runners tomorrow to hear more about their experiences.
Looking ahead to tomorrow, the runners will leave Eryri and venture into mid-Wales, but not before tackling one of Wales’ most famous mountains, Cadair Idris. Tomorrow also brings a unique surprise: a chance to pass through civilization! Many runners are eagerly anticipating a stop at the Machynlleth Co-op to stock up on their favorite running snacks to keep them fueled for the days ahead.
As the Dragon’s Back Race® continues, the competition remains fierce, and the camaraderie among runners is evident. With each day presenting new challenges and beautiful landscapes, it’s clear that the adventure has only just begun.
The famous bum slide descent of Cnicht ©No Limits Photography
Results
Top 3 men on Day 2
Max King (08:13:40)
Simon Roberts (08:21:11)
Lewis Ryan (08:51:20)
Top 3 women on Day 2
Zoe Murphy (10:18:19)
Jo Meek (10:28:31)
Elsa Morgan (11:43:39)
Zoe is now in the lead ©No Limits Photography
Top 3 men overall
Max King (16:12:17)
Simon Roberts (16:30:18)
Lewis Ryan (17:42:04)
Top 3 women overall
Zoe Murphy (20:32:54)
Jo Meek (20:35:12)
Elsa Morgan (22:38:28)
Max King put more time into Simon today ©No Limits Photography
Tune in at 8am tomorrow for more!
The next episode of the Dragon’s Back Race® show will go LIVE at 8am tomorrow morning! In the meantime, catch up with everything you missed yesterday:
Excellent weather conditions made today an enjoyable one ©No Limits Photography
Be the dot in 2025! Entries open on 13th September
If watching the excitement has you yearning for adventure, you can enter the 2025 race on 13th September. Don’t want to miss it? Sign up for our Mailing List for a reminder. If you sign up using the link below, you will also get EXCLUSIVE ACCESS to the online world premiere of the film about the first ever continuous completion of the Dragon’s Back Race route.
An epic journey through Wales continues ©No Limits Photography