Race The Train
IT was the 25th year of Race The Train in North Wales where Stubbies Richard Simms and Dave King headed for a spot of hill racing.
This year, race organisers changed the finish of the 14-mile route which shortened the distance by three-quarters of a mile.
But the run was still a challenge in wet and muddy conditions which made some parts of the course pretty treacherous. The hilly race took runners out from the village of Tywyn along a valley where a Victorian steam train, packed with cheering friends and families, crawled gently past.
The first half of the race was a gentle and steady build-up, the second half of the run on the way back to Tywyn was a grind, running up and down hills and across slopes with steep and slippery gradients.
Some 822 runners took part in the race which was won by Gareth Raven from Sale Harriers in 1hr 18min 15sec. The first lady home was Phoebe Webster from UWA Harriers in 1:39.14 and 80th place.
A total of 201 runners beat the train which took 1hr 48min to complete the route. Sadly the Stubbington duo missed out for the second year running. Dave finished 372nd in 1:59.43 and Richard, cheered on by Julia and their girls aboard the train, was 583rd in 2:16.42.
Click here for photos.