June 2018 - Race Reports
Man vs Horse – 9th June 2018
Always looking for a new challenge when Darren suggesting doing this race to Paul and myself I thought why not.
A unique race where man races against riders on horseback.
The race which is 22.2 miles long with nearly 4,000ft of elevation and is ran over fields, forest tracks and small road sections.
The race takes place in the Welsh town of Llanwrtyd Wells where the population is less than 1,000 people so race day doubles the amount of people around.
In the 39 years of the event only twice has man tasted victory with the 1st on ever taking a prize fund of £25,000.
Each year now the money goes up £1000 until won.
The start is outside the local pub where the idea of the race was born over a couple of pints.
Heading out on road and track it goes up gradually for the first two miles, after that the next twenty felt like you were either going up or down as flat didn’t exist in the race profile. The horses actually start 15 minutes after the runners due to the number of people taking part and take a slightly different route at the start. The first time your paths cross is at 4 miles in. As you headed through a single track through a wood with mud under your feet you could hear hooves on a track to your left. Joining a forest fire track the fastest horses cantered on past. Oh dear not going to win today then 😊.
Everybody is told in the briefing that you need to stay on the right as all the horses should they pass you will be on your left. All the runners and riders were superb in their respect of each other and a great example to all sportsman everywhere.
As said previously it was either up or down in the race although the views on the top were superb. My plan was to start steady and stay steady. As the further you went through the race you started to walk more of the ups and to be honest it was as quick to do so. It felt like a walk/run program but unlike c25k was 22 miles long.
The organisation was superb with water stations every 3 miles to which we were all so grateful to see on a warm day. The marshal's were awesome with some even sitting there on blankets and having a picnic while making sure you were all ok. Better than last year where it rained all day long ☹.
A tough route making it a physical and a mental battle to complete but with lots of support from fellow runners. I love hills but by the end I had had enough of them with the last one being a true fell running hill with hands on knees to push you up. With a sign saying 1.35 miles to go it was finally a last push to the finish and down the hill to the line. Greeted with a smile and a lovely medal I was completely shattered. Substance which consisted of a cup of tea and cheese sandwich followed once I had recovered enough to consider eating anything.
I managed to beat some horses so in my personal battle was a winner. For the record the horse was the winner again in 2018 – maybe I will be back to try for that prize money next year?
Stephen Gill – 3.46.14
Paul Spriggs – 4.18.45
Darren Owen-Jones – 4.43.28
Submitted by - Stephen Gill
Always looking for a new challenge when Darren suggesting doing this race to Paul and myself I thought why not.
A unique race where man races against riders on horseback.
The race which is 22.2 miles long with nearly 4,000ft of elevation and is ran over fields, forest tracks and small road sections.
The race takes place in the Welsh town of Llanwrtyd Wells where the population is less than 1,000 people so race day doubles the amount of people around.
In the 39 years of the event only twice has man tasted victory with the 1st on ever taking a prize fund of £25,000.
Each year now the money goes up £1000 until won.
The start is outside the local pub where the idea of the race was born over a couple of pints.
Heading out on road and track it goes up gradually for the first two miles, after that the next twenty felt like you were either going up or down as flat didn’t exist in the race profile. The horses actually start 15 minutes after the runners due to the number of people taking part and take a slightly different route at the start. The first time your paths cross is at 4 miles in. As you headed through a single track through a wood with mud under your feet you could hear hooves on a track to your left. Joining a forest fire track the fastest horses cantered on past. Oh dear not going to win today then 😊.
Everybody is told in the briefing that you need to stay on the right as all the horses should they pass you will be on your left. All the runners and riders were superb in their respect of each other and a great example to all sportsman everywhere.
As said previously it was either up or down in the race although the views on the top were superb. My plan was to start steady and stay steady. As the further you went through the race you started to walk more of the ups and to be honest it was as quick to do so. It felt like a walk/run program but unlike c25k was 22 miles long.
The organisation was superb with water stations every 3 miles to which we were all so grateful to see on a warm day. The marshal's were awesome with some even sitting there on blankets and having a picnic while making sure you were all ok. Better than last year where it rained all day long ☹.
A tough route making it a physical and a mental battle to complete but with lots of support from fellow runners. I love hills but by the end I had had enough of them with the last one being a true fell running hill with hands on knees to push you up. With a sign saying 1.35 miles to go it was finally a last push to the finish and down the hill to the line. Greeted with a smile and a lovely medal I was completely shattered. Substance which consisted of a cup of tea and cheese sandwich followed once I had recovered enough to consider eating anything.
I managed to beat some horses so in my personal battle was a winner. For the record the horse was the winner again in 2018 – maybe I will be back to try for that prize money next year?
Stephen Gill – 3.46.14
Paul Spriggs – 4.18.45
Darren Owen-Jones – 4.43.28
Submitted by - Stephen Gill
Hull 10km 10th June
This race has, and will always have a special place in my heart - it was my first official race since getting into running back in 2014.
Back then I was only looking to finish, as a stepping stone to the bigger picture of the Great North Run later in the year.
This is my 4th time doing the race, but after a calf strain at half way last year (and a long walk back) to finish in 1hr 15 mins, I didn’t have much to beat.
The race starts in the middle of town, runs along-side the Humber Estuary, around the Marina, before going back into town to finish.
It’s a lovely route, which is well supported throughout the run, and for those of you who don’t like hills….it’s as flat as a pancake (I think my Garmin recorded 26ft of climbing!!!!!). They also added in a Half Marathon option this year, which I may well decide on for next year!!
Overall this is a well organised, well supported race, and definitely worth the long road trip, as it’s a definite PB course!!!
Submitted by - Kris Williams
This race has, and will always have a special place in my heart - it was my first official race since getting into running back in 2014.
Back then I was only looking to finish, as a stepping stone to the bigger picture of the Great North Run later in the year.
This is my 4th time doing the race, but after a calf strain at half way last year (and a long walk back) to finish in 1hr 15 mins, I didn’t have much to beat.
The race starts in the middle of town, runs along-side the Humber Estuary, around the Marina, before going back into town to finish.
It’s a lovely route, which is well supported throughout the run, and for those of you who don’t like hills….it’s as flat as a pancake (I think my Garmin recorded 26ft of climbing!!!!!). They also added in a Half Marathon option this year, which I may well decide on for next year!!
Overall this is a well organised, well supported race, and definitely worth the long road trip, as it’s a definite PB course!!!
Submitted by - Kris Williams
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Abersoch 10k 10th Anniversary So last July when Market Drayton 10k opened their online booking, Sally went camping and thought she couldn’t book a place due to be out in the sticks and asked if I could help out, however the volume of people wanting to run a race for the best goody bag had crashed the site and an advert popped up for Abersoch. I jested we should enter that instead. And we did. We also encouraged Sharon Owen but has been out of action and unfortunately didn’t make it to the start line. Then Sally had a trip to the dentist and didn’t recover quick enough and then it was just me. Or so I thought so it was nice to see Gayle Stevens had entered and had made it to the start line. The start overlooks the harbour, just past Manana restaurant and for the first mile the race runs through the high street and up to Sarn Bach crossroads. Turning left there’s a section of narrow lanes heading towards the far end of the beach. Then a short section of road running round the bay, then the main hill that is a track lasting for 0.3 of a mile (picking the right line up here will make it so much easier for you!). Some undulating roads for 2 miles, looping back round till you head down the hill and join the beach. One mile along the beach (including some groynes) to the finish just below the yacht club. |
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However before all that We drive into Abersoch and parked right next to the beach cafe which I thought was registration but we had parked at the wrong one doh so after queuing at someone’s front door ( she rented out holiday homes and knew nothing about race numbers ) I shot over the beach dunes pretty quickly to find the correct beach cafe.
All good, got my race number and could see the start/finish line. We watched the 3k start and then I had a loo stop which is where I first saw Gayle and we waved at each other. I was feeling relaxed and when I got back from the loo hubby says that this isn’t where the 10k starts. I really need to start reading race packs.
So I asked a few and no one knew 😂 however obviously 🙄 I just followed the crowd. Went for one more ‘incase’ loo stop and when I came out I saw Gayle again, said a quick hello heard the guy say this was one of the most challenging 10ks in the Uk, huh, and we were off.
Abersoch is only a small place and I had only gone to enjoy but it was very bottlenecked for the first 4K. Wasn’t sure how I was going to feel after a big race 2 weeks earlier but I felt ok and kinda wished everyone would get a wriggle on!
At about 3.5k we came to a standstill in a narrow lane. I thought it must be a style jump or something but word got down that it was a puddle and they didn’t want to run through it. WTH?? Me and a few others said come on guys.... it’s a race and when I got to the puddle it was just a small patch of mud. Wow!
Anyway maybe they weren’t on their first race here as that was then when we were faced with a track that was uneven and hilly which was ‘challenging’. The course was well supported and race numbers had your name on so got a few shoutouts. Finally the downhill bit came and I felt like I flew down to the beach and even though the sand slowed me down I was picking off shirts. I saw Neil and the dogs as I started kinda hurdling the breakers but they started getting higher and the last one I was a bit lame as I got over that one holding a few up and been asked to hurry up, cheeky. Great support running to the finish line and they were spurring us on to get under 60 minutes Gun Time. On finishing you get water, medal, bananas and mars bars. The beach was packed by the time I got back and the vibe was quite cool. I didn’t see Gayle but I did hear them call out her name as she came in.
I will hopefully do this race again. Never would I normally travel so far for a 10k but if you make a weekend of it it’s great fun a really pretty and scenic.
DONNA HOWELLS 58:34
GAYLE STEVENS 1:02:03
Submitted by Donna Howells
All good, got my race number and could see the start/finish line. We watched the 3k start and then I had a loo stop which is where I first saw Gayle and we waved at each other. I was feeling relaxed and when I got back from the loo hubby says that this isn’t where the 10k starts. I really need to start reading race packs.
So I asked a few and no one knew 😂 however obviously 🙄 I just followed the crowd. Went for one more ‘incase’ loo stop and when I came out I saw Gayle again, said a quick hello heard the guy say this was one of the most challenging 10ks in the Uk, huh, and we were off.
Abersoch is only a small place and I had only gone to enjoy but it was very bottlenecked for the first 4K. Wasn’t sure how I was going to feel after a big race 2 weeks earlier but I felt ok and kinda wished everyone would get a wriggle on!
At about 3.5k we came to a standstill in a narrow lane. I thought it must be a style jump or something but word got down that it was a puddle and they didn’t want to run through it. WTH?? Me and a few others said come on guys.... it’s a race and when I got to the puddle it was just a small patch of mud. Wow!
Anyway maybe they weren’t on their first race here as that was then when we were faced with a track that was uneven and hilly which was ‘challenging’. The course was well supported and race numbers had your name on so got a few shoutouts. Finally the downhill bit came and I felt like I flew down to the beach and even though the sand slowed me down I was picking off shirts. I saw Neil and the dogs as I started kinda hurdling the breakers but they started getting higher and the last one I was a bit lame as I got over that one holding a few up and been asked to hurry up, cheeky. Great support running to the finish line and they were spurring us on to get under 60 minutes Gun Time. On finishing you get water, medal, bananas and mars bars. The beach was packed by the time I got back and the vibe was quite cool. I didn’t see Gayle but I did hear them call out her name as she came in.
I will hopefully do this race again. Never would I normally travel so far for a 10k but if you make a weekend of it it’s great fun a really pretty and scenic.
DONNA HOWELLS 58:34
GAYLE STEVENS 1:02:03
Submitted by Donna Howells