Race The Train 2015 – Tywyn

In Short – Incredibly friendly, faultless organisation, brilliant weather, beat the train.

Would I do it again – Yes, so much so I’m aiming to beat the train twice in 1 day next year running in both the morning 10k and afternoon 14m.

A bit more detail;

While it’s a bit of a drive to get there, whether you run in the 5mi, 10k or 14mi event, Race The Train is worth the journey and will be quite possibly be the friendliest and most well organised event you run that year.

Shuttle buses take the 5mi and 10k runners out to their starting points in the morning for their races leaving the 14mi runners to explore Tywyn, make new friends or puzzle over what and when to eat before a 2pm race start.

I picked to do all three and here must thank the lady in co-op for sending me to Molly’s for the best coffee in Tywyn, Sue, Jodie & Adam from Harrogate Harriers for their company there and my Wheetabix, banana and Americano for powering me through the race.

After watching the 5mi and 10k runners come in (commiserations to Clare for missing out to the train by 4 seconds) it was time for the main event and at exactly 2:05 both the train and 1200 runners set off.  

Starting on tarmac roads the route very quickly takes you out of the town and in to the fields. Switching between gravel paths, open fields, farm yards, covered wood sections, fast descents and tight single track the route is stunning. The descents are hard on the knees, the climbs harder still on the muscles, but the views are incredible, at one point passing a large waterfall in the middle of a wooded section – look up for a moment and you’ll forget all about the aches and pains all the while thinking, where is that train?

You’ll start to imagine you can hear the wheels on the tracks, then you’ll definitely hear the whistle, then you’ll start doing, ‘Runners Maths’ – “the trains meant to take that long, I’m doing this pace, I’ve got this far left to go, rats I’ve got to match my parkrun PB, wait no, that’s not right, is it? It can’t be, or is it? Argh a hill, how much time will that cost me? Will there be a downhill to make up for it?….etc etc’

At every other mile there’s a band of volunteers handing out both water and isotonic drinks and thats on top of all the volunteers marshalling along the route and those back in the town cooking up the evening meal and making sure the bar is well stocked for a much deserved drink after the race finishes – this really is a race that the whole town gets behind.

For me, success, I beat the train running the 14mi (13.7mi) course in 1:45:14 vs the trains 1:47:46; Tom 1, Train 0.

After the obligatory medal shot, ice cream and 2 ciders we met a great group from Kirkstall Harriers (thanks Sam for the third cider), a runner from Valley Striders, another from Abbey Runners and I’m sure I saw a Chapel A vest too.

It would be great if we could get more people involved in the 2016 event; entries are open and a great bit of bling is assured;

https://secure.onreg.com/onreg2/front/step1.php?id=2897

See you next year Tywyn.