2007 Race The Train

Saturday 18th August 2007

Full steam ahead for a Welsh challenge!

Above: Ian gets in the way of a good landscape shot.

As I did not do last year's race when apparently it rained, the wet and windy conditions made a considerable change to the usual baking conditions we have to endure for this 14.75 mile race from Tywyn to Abergynolwyn and back.
 
The first couple of miles of the race proved no different to usual as it is on the road and after the usual buffeting of runners jostling for position with the locals cheering us on enthusiastically.
 
The off-road section was a different matter with conditions underfoot being muddy and slippery, runners who had opted for road shoes soon realising that it was probably not a good idea.
 
The train passed by with all the cheering passengers who all seemed pretty happy that they were inside, warm and dry!
 
A gate that is usually open remained closed which 'added to the fun' as we slipped and slided towards the halfway mark. We then noticed that the farmer had ploughed one of the fields (the day before apparently!) which caused quite a bit of Anglo-Saxon language amongst the competitors and made us feel as though we were running in gardening wellies!

Above: Late entry Paul still smiling, probably at the thought of finishing!

The dreaded 'camber' also proved to be challenging in these conditions with several people losing their footing and careering out of control into the (not so) dry stone wall or yet another closed gate.
 
The Welsh slate underfoot also gave people chance to practice their skating skills and claimed more victims.
 
I don't think I have ever been so relieved to see some tarmac towards the end of the race and was delighted to finish with no sign of the train.
 
Whilst waiting for the other B & R runners to finish the train chugged into the station and blew its whistle at 1.47.53 (according to me).
 
Many runners dropped out this year along the way - maybe they had sense.
 
 Many other runners were limping round at the finish displaying the cuts, bruises and grazes they had collected along the way, including Paul Collins who only decided to enter two hours before.
 
The B & R finishing positions were as follows:
 
46   Ian Keyte 1.43.31
159 Paul Collins 1.55.36
216 Jimmy Atkins 2.01.17
349 Len Quartly 2.12.42
425 Steve James 2.18.27
437 Dave Whipp 2.20.30
576 Roger Beecham 2.40.01
 
688 Finishers.
 
Special thanks to Richard 'Rocky Horror' Shardlow who braved the conditions to cycle to various positions around the course to shout encouragement and take photographs. He certainly deserved the cream horn he treated himself to!

Report by Ian Keyte.

Photographs by Richard Shardlow.

Many of you will know that Roger was unwell after finishing this daunting race and will be pleased to hear that he was soon back on his feet and in his running shoes again. Best wishes Rog from us all and hope that you’re fully recovered – Phil Anderson