Now I'm getting a bit scared about this one! My 30th birthday is on the Sunday and I will not be happy if I don't beat this train! Looks like some serious hill work could be in order in the next 3 months... A friend told me it was tougher than running a marathon - which sounds scary.
1hr 47 is the time they state on their webpage as the time the train takes - can anyone explain why the run back is so much harder than going?? Naievly I'd have thought that running inland from the coast would be harder than coming back... How fast a half marathon time do you need in order to stand a chance of beating it??
0 ·
Comments
http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/forum/forummessages.asp?EN=29547&URN=6&UTN=66283&Events_Last=1&V=6&SP=
Fair to moderate. You'll get round and the trick is to be as fast as you can to the turn as most of the second half is on sheep tracks where you can't overtake.
A great day out.
I've entered already. Last year I stayed in Aberystwth but this year hopefully closer to the event.
Clear head today Caz ;-)
Tougher than a mara Boycie says, can you confirm this WA!?!!?
Absolutely Caz :-) Much tougher race !!!
Oh, and I know of no-one more reserved in temperance than you ;-)
Did the LAST LONG RUN today by the way :-) Did 18M this a.m (just as the schedule says :-) Was pleased with how it went considering how ill I am. Took 2:40 and am glad to have the last one done and dusted :-)
...... now about to celebrate. Where are those bottles of cider ........ :-)
Yes Caz, it is tougher. Much harder.
Right, must dash, it's Elvis's shift in the chip shop and he does a cracking pork pie.
Oh, and the distance is more like 15.7
Where's Boycie gone from the top of here? His posting has totally disappeared ... or have I had too much cider already!?!!?
You're frightening me now Alex!! How about tougher than the Wyre Forest Half Mara in sweltering heat? Surely not!!
No, it is no more tougher than Rhayader or the Wyre Forest than Elvis working in my chip shop. Prob less hilly than Wyre Forest. It is about 8 miles to the turn and to beat the train you have to 7mm it to the turn. Hills are mostly on the way back.
Heat is the main problem, not good news for either of us Caz.
I'm happy to have a crack at it with you Caz, it'll be good and as you say we always expire in the heat at the same point. It was bloody boiling last year. Factor 50 here I come.
Caz, they are all wind up merchants, so beware. Look mate, it's just like a half marathon with a bit of a warm up added in. Flat as a pancake too, after all, it's by the seaside. Oh shoot. My wooden nose has hit the PC screen.
Ok. Serious head on.
It's not a flat HM, but it's not a marathon either. If you train up to 20 miles, then you'll have a good tank full. The dividends from hill work will be well and truly repaid. Relevant race times? My HM PB from March last year was 1:26:30, with a marathon (FLM) of 3:06.
The first half is mostly a gradual climb over fields, and I hit the turn in 49 min (7m/m). Then the route goes ballistic. The next mile is very steep, narrow, and FKN Ard. After that it's undulating (ha ha), with a nice side slope to keep you interested. Keep the pace up on the upslopes, and don't forget to charge down the down slopes. The very first and last mile or two are on the road.
BIG TIP: The train hoots it's whistle at the last stop before town on the way home. Don't give up, but race like your life depended upon it. I clocked 1:46:02 last year, beating the train by a minute. However it may be faster this year.
Anyway. I'm up for it again. Big time.
My 10 year old is entered into the 5 km fun run in the morning, (so am I). We're camping again, so that she can meet up with a friend she made last year.
And it's a fantastic party. No need to drive home either.
Anyone got confirmation of their entry yet?I entered back in Feb, have e mailed the race organiser and haven't heard anything back.
Not heard anything either.
Anyone heard anything from the organisers yet?
The name of the campsite we are staying at is:
01654 710684 - Ynysymaengwyn Caravan Park
I won't try and pronounce that :-)
Good prep' for the Budapest Marathon at the start of Oct I guess...
We camped at Pall Mall, only a 10-15 minute walk. There's another campite right in the town. Both have shower blocks etc. I suggest taking your own instant BBQ and cooking kit. No problems that way with trying to find somewhere to feed you.
FnF I'm taking my 10YO daughter. She wants to race the 5k train (fun run) again. So I'll end up doing the 5k as well as the 14.5 miler.
Prepare yourself by doing lots of steep hills and 18 mile runs. And when you saw your foot off, make sure that it's the LEFT one.