Countdown To The Dragon's Back

Steve Birkinshaw (seven time OMM Elite winner) and Helen Whitaker (nee Diamantides, the 1992 winner of the Dragon's Back Race) training. The pair are sponsored by Berghaus.

Endless descents will be as tough on the runners' bodies as the formidable climbs.

There are just a handfull of days before the Dragon's Back Race kicks off on Monday morning from Conway Castle in North Wales and wends its way down the mountainous spine of Wales to finish at Carreg Cennen Castle in the Brecons five days later.

In the process the runners will cover approximately 320km and climb over 15,000 metres along a course that closely follows that used by the first and only previous running of the race back in 1992 and crosses some of the wildest and more remote terrain in the country.

The Berghaus-supported race is set to start from Conway at 7 am with the start accompanied by singing from  the Maelgwn Male Voice Choir, who are multiple winners of the Welsh National Eisteddfod competition. Competitors won't see the first day's route until just before the race.

It should be a monster of a day too crossing the Carneddau, Glyders, Snowdon and more. And we're told the first day will include around 4500m of climbing in its 52km. Spectators are welcome at the start, say the organisers, with the best viewing spot being Conwy Castle Visitor Centre (address: Vicarage Gardens Car Park, Rose Hill Street, Conwy, LL32 8LD).

If you want to catch more of the race, details of each day's course will be published on line along with results photos and videos, but as a general guide, here are the areas the race passes through:

• Monday 3rd September - Carneddau, Glyders and Snowdon area
• Tuesday 4th September - Moelwyns and Rhinogs area
• Wednesday 5th September - Cadair Idris and Plynlimon area
• Thursday 4th September - Elan Valley area
• Friday 5th September - Black Mountain area

For more information and race updates etc see www.dragonsbackrace.com.