Max King

By Max King

As I write this, the snow has started to fall here in Bend, Oregon, but I’m thinking back to lush green grass landscapes with moody fog hanging over them, of running over hill and dale in an epic battle with one of Wales’s finest runners, Simon Roberts, and one of the most friendly staff I’ve ever met…

Thriving in the Welsh mountains ©No Limits Photography

I keep getting to tell the story over and over because so many people here are fascinated with the Dragon’s Back Race®. That in itself is a testament to how the Dragon’s Back Race® has captured adventure seekers attention all around the world.

Chasing first place ©No Limits Photography

From 6 days of adventuring across Wales I came away with a lifetime full of memories and stories to tell. One of my favourites to tell is about how I would drop Simon on a climb on the first day, only to see him poke his head above the rocks I was scrambling up and asking, “What are you doing down there?”. I loved that the course favoured local knowledge to a point where it was helpful to be local, but not detrimental to outsiders like myself.

I never felt like I wasn’t welcome, but to the contrary, the staff, competitors and locals all embraced having someone from outside the country up front and winning the race. Simon and the other UK runners had plenty of fans, but they all cheered for me as well. I appreciated having that support out there on the course.

Exploring Wales! ©No Limits Photography

By the time I crossed under the archway at Cardiff Castle, I could tell this was a very special event for the people of Wales. While we crossed through some of the most remote parts of Wales with hardly a soul around, on the last day as we cruised into Cardiff I had multiple people cheer for me, not just as a Dragon’s Back Race® participant, but by name. A biker out for a Sunday ride said, “Go, Max!” another family that was out for a stroll in the park said, “Oh, we know about you!” as I ran past (though not sure if that was a sinister comment or friendly!), but they knew what was going on during the race!

When that happens, and you have the community engaged with an event, it takes on a special meaning. My favourite races around the world are always the ones where the community is involved and invested in the race, and that is what makes the Dragon’s Back Race® so special to me. 

Max King and Simon Roberts at Cardiff Castle ©No Limits Photography 

I want to say a huge thanks to the staff, the participants, and everyone associated with the race for such a great experience. I feel like it was the absolute best way to see a country, experience the culture of the people, and have a completely epic adventure at the same time.

Feeling inspired to take on the full Dragon’s Back Race® or The Hatchling in 2025?