Mud, rain, more mud and cider

Many of these blog posts will, I’m sure, be full of useful tips, fantastic experiences and great motivational ideas. They may well tell you how to best prepare for race days in the hours beforehand, what to eat, how much sleep to get – that sort of thing. Well, this isn’t quite one of those, but hopefully will be enjoyable if nothing else. I should caveat elements of this post come with the “Don’t try this at home” warning!

Having had a busy few months I’ve been unable to enter any of the main races people have been off doing and I’ve watched races come and go, and people produce great runs, personal bests and more as the sun has (generally) shone. Two curry nights have now come and gone where I’ve had to turn up medal-less and feeling a bit of a fraud as I hadn’t earned my Keema Naan on that particular evening.

So, it was with a certain level of excitement when I signed up for the Celtic Trail Half Marathon at Margam Park on Saturday. My first half of the year, the first of three, planned to build up towards what will hopefully – injuries permitting – be a 1:40-something personal-best-smasher in Cardiff on October 1^st.

That was months ago. In the meantime, I forgot the date slightly when signing up for a work social trip to Chepstow Races Ladies Evening. That was Friday night and it wasn’t just a few races and home, early to bed. Oh no…this was a 2pm coach to get there. Home at midnight after a Rod Stewart tribute act had performed (I know!).

Ah well, with the run the next day I thought I’d just go easy on the drinking, mix up the cider with the soft drinks and be fresh enough come the Saturday morning. Wouldn’t I?

Well, no. The sun was out, beating hot and there was prosecco on the bus. With some classy camping champagne flutes. By the time we arrived in Chepstow I’d had three glasses. We arrived before the gates had even opened and then there were nearly three hours until the first race so the natural thing to do was sit in the sun with a few pints. And, of course, the traditional carb-loading pre-race evening was replaced by a jumbo sausage and chips as that was pretty much all there was. And a donut (that’s how they spelled it!) for a late-night treat.

So a fairly significant number of pints later, with greasy, fatty food sitting in my stomach, I got back on the bus – had an obligatory final glass of Prosecco of the evening, and got to bed around 12:30 – seven hours until the alarm was due to wake me up.

To ensure I don't get a ticking off, I should add that it's not big and it's not clever and I advise you not to try it!

When the alarm did eventually go off, I felt surprisingly fresh. Lying there for a few moments to gather my thoughts, I actually felt OK so a ripple of positivity went through me. A beautiful evening the night before, what a lovely day it will be to run the hills and climbs of Margam Park.

The rest, as they, say, was history.

The wettest, darkest, most miserable day we’ve had in months was awaiting. It was truly horrible. We gathered around the start, huddled under trees to try and stay dry and retain a slight bit of warmth before the start. That failed and a ten-minute delay (as one of the Marshall’s Jeeps had slid down a bank) didn’t help either.

There’s a lot of talk about race envy. I’ve had plenty this year as race days have arrived. Saturday was definitely not one of those days. In fact, quite the opposite. I think I would have given up and gone home if others hadn’t been there – and that’s one of the benefits of being part of this great club.

Once the race started – as it often does – things got better. Once you’re running and getting warmed up, it felt OK and the beastly climbs of the first four miles became the main focus of the mind. 

However, as we climbed, visibility became dreadful and then got worse. Running this race in July there had been the prospect of being able to look across the 20 miles or so towards Swansea Bay at the top and perhaps even stop for some pictures. 20 metres was more like it. For much of the higher part of the route I could only see one person in front of me, even though I wasn’t that far behind others. I had to hope he/she was going the right way or Mountain Rescue would have had an extra call to make.

It was slippery, muddy and boggy. I must have run an extra half-mile darting diagonally sideways across the paths to avoid the worst of the puddles, but that only worked to a certain extent. 

Downhill sections were bordering on dangerous, with muddy puddles of the type Peppa Pig would have loved, hiding the stones and rocks which – if you landed on them wrongly – could have sent you tumbling down the hill. You literally couldn’t slow down at certain points without risking injury.

At the end, pre-race plans to grab a bacon bap and watch the others come in were abandoned due to the sandy mud covering every inch below the waist and the rain which continued to sheet down and seemed to be getting colder once the running had stopped. It was thoroughly miserable and after a brutal race we all just wanted to get home as quickly as possible.

So bearing all that in mind, I had a rubbish day, yeah?

Well, no. Because I still did a half marathon. In a none-too-shabby time considering my unadvisable preparation and a toilet stop halfway around. I did the full race in a minute or so over two hours (I’ll have to practice weeing on the move!!)  and my half-marathon time – given the course was 13.5 miles – was just five minutes off my previous PB!

So, what worked? The cider? The late night? The mud and the rain?

Who knows – but what I do know is that despite everything I have just written, I came away with a very satisfied feeling of contentment, proud of myself for the race I had run, delighted with the time and what that means for my preparation for Severn Bridge and Cardiff. The medal was superb – certainly one of my favourites – and ultimately it was all worthwhile and, nearly, enjoyable.

And I was delighted for the others too – the few who finished in front of me in amazing times, and those who I’m sorry I couldn’t see finish behind who give their all to every race – because being part of the club means you are always looking out for the results of others too, almost stalking – tracking their times and progress over time. It’s the first proper race I’ve genuinely felt part of a group for – I’ve historically been a solo runner – and it was great to share a lift, gather and chat over a cup of tea at the start and find out the times and positions of others at the end.

And ultimately I gave a huge sigh relief – sorry Tim and Vicky – but I felt unbelievably relieved that I wasn’t doing the marathon!!

The ultimate message is, I guess, even if you're not 'feeling it' on a race day, don't give up. Go out and try your best - your training will help you through and you may just surprise yourself!

Paul B

PRR Stats June 5th

Monday evenings come round too fast, before I know it it's stats time. Luckily I was reminded it was Monday earlier today!
It's been another monster week with so much going on, locally and also much further away. This week we have had the Treforest 10k with Gethin Edwards, Stephen Paskell, Cath Powell and A.N.Other
Still on the home shores but right at the top Sophie Taylor completing the Edinburgh Marathon and
Catherine Davis running much further away in Mont St-Michel, France, completing her marathon, well done on that one.

A big congratulations to Little Miss Broomfield completed her first 1 mile, not bad for a very young member at only 4!! (I think) Well done Rebecca on getting her out young.

On to the stats, 85 runners this week completing 1843km, seems like a quiet week but some serious distances completed over 243 different runs.
Our top distance this week goes to Neil Jones clocking an amazing 106.2km and for the ladies Catherine Davis at 60.2 after notching up the marathon distance.

King of the road this week is Darpan Singh with his monster run to the bay, bet you never thought you would be doing that a few months ago. Our Queen, well Queens, of the road this week are Catherine Davis and Sophie Taylor for their marathon runs, anyone who does the marathon deserves that status for a week. Well done everyone.

Adrian Davies has reclaimed the Billy goat award with 1039m climbed during the week, and with the Sunday run up the smaelog the climb this week stood at 18717m.

Faster out there this week and setting the pace was Chris Metclaf averaging 4:25min/km

Champ for the post 6:30's, distance goes to Catherine Davies with her 60.2km and Darpan Singh with his 25.2km. Impressive to see that the top 3 distances were all ladies, Cathering, Becs and Sophie all getting the miles in.

Dab of the week......... well why not add a picture in the comments and let people judge. :-)

Mentioned in dispatches..
 Adam Thomas, third run out on the record and under 5 mins per km well done.

 Anne Miles, super fast this week 28 secs off your best time so far, sub 7 well done.

 Beth Jenkins, 16 seconds off you best taking you sub 6 well done.

 Catherine Lundie, an amazing 30 seconds off you time and only 3 seconds off 5 mins.

 Chris Medcalf, equalled your best average weekly time.

 Josh Doyle, 4th run on on the stats and 41 seconds better than last week, almost sub 5.

 Lynsey Cruickshank, sub 6:30!! well done keep that up. 

 Martin Charles, first time sub 5, for broken you are getting faster!!!

 Matthew Wilmington, 32 seconds knocked off and sub 5:30 well done.

 Rebecca Broomfield, 6th run out and equalled your fastest time.

 Mandy Thomas Gulliford,  keeping it consistent with 6:30 again this week.

This Saturday is the pub social meet at the Boards head if anyone else want to come along feel free.

Don't forget the Pontypridd parkrun is not on for the next 2 weeks, so don't make the same mistake as I did last year!! well me and a few other people were there to find the fair instead of a park run.

If you're running in the heat to make sure you have plenty of water with you.

keep an eye out for the organised runs on the facebook page, If your are heading out post a message to see if anyone wants to join you over half term, there are a few more people around during the day.

Keep up the efforts 🙂

PRR stats 22nd May

Well I don't know where to start today there has been so much going on, from personal best on our club runs to the first 10k's, relay races and far flung ultras is sunnier climates. Well done to everyone on those achievements.

Still not quite there for the 2000km in a week I think it will be very soon!!
This week we did 1689km another amazing week for #TeamPRR. 98 runners making the effort this week with another 5 new runners.

A few reminders that we have the social night on June 3rd in the Boards head and everyone is welcome, also on the 25th after the Swansea half, the Indiaah curry and fund raiser. £10.95 for a great night and a few beers.

Don't forget to join the runners on pontyclunroadrunners.co.uk

Back to the stats for this week.

5 more names added to our stats, some recognised from the weekly runs and finally joining Strava, Matt Lauder, Mandy Thomas Gulliford, Neil Coleman, Catriona Rutland-Keeler, Sam Taylor.

Our long haul runner on the road this week is Vicky Mead running 80.9 km and for the men Adrian Davies gets it this week with 56.1 km.

Kings and Queens, just toooo many to mention, Louise, Reynolds, Celine Gulliford, Mandy Thoma-Gulliford, Kelly Preece, Linda Doyle and Victoria Young well done to all of you. From the relays, TeamWind - Jonathen Mead, Kay Lawless and Becks Williams,
TeamThunder - Dhana Caple, Catherine Powell, Kate Mortimer-Jones,
Superman - Neil Jones, Adam Payne, Gethin Edwards,
Tornadoes - Adrian Davies, Kerry Roberts, Huw Davis
TeamLightning - Ross Youlden, Claire Prosser, Danielle Roberts. (If i got the team members wrong they were the ones listed!!)
and our wandering travellers Phil Goodall doing the trail festival in Builth and Mark Hester doing the ironman in Barcelona.

I think it may be time for people to nominate people for best efforts, there were so many this week and as they scroll past I miss them, maybe run leaders could suggest their runner of the week.

Between everyone we completed 253 runs this week.

Our billy goat again this week was Vicky Mead climbing 1105 m, I'm guessing it must have been raining in Tonyrefail and no one got onto the hills.. Between us we climbed 14423 m.

Speedster of the week was Neil Jones with and average speed of 3:57 m/km, well done Chris.

For the sub 6:30s....

Run forest run, Vicky Mead you take the trophy this week with your 80.9km with Matt Lauder completing 31.7 for the men.

24 runners this week either first time running or setting a new best average pace.
Chris Medcalf, Kerry Roberts, Matt Lauder, Rhys Jones, Mandy Thomas Gulliford, Rhian Collier, Matt Bess, Jon James, Tim Davies, Carys Rees, Josh Doyle, Sarah Shepheard, Neil Jones, David Sansom, Neil Coleman, Lynsey Cruickshank, Tim Munn, Catriona Rutland-Keeler, Christine Binding, Hanna Smith, Sam Taylor, Matthew Wilmington, Adam Payne, Rachel Sutherwood.

The improvers and getting the mentions:
Adam Payne, you managed to equal your best average week from January.
Carys Rees, sub 6 minutes this week knocking 10 seconds off your previous best average.
Chris Medcalf, keeping it constant and averaging your best fastest pace.
Christine Binding, under the 8 min kilometre for the first time, well done 20 seconds off your previous best.
David Sansom, 19 seconds better and taking you sub 5:30.
Hanna Smith, 9 seconds off your previous best and almost down to the 5:30.
Jon James, equalling your best time recorded.
Josh Doyle, 3 run out and under the 6 minutes well done, 15 seconds off your best previous effort.
Kerry Roberts, second recorded week and 20 seconds better.
Lynsey Cruickshank, a massive 38 seconds better and only 1 second off the 6:30 average.
Matt Bess, third run out and 18 seconds improvement on your first run.
Matthew Wilmington, 3 more seconds off your recorded runs.
Neil Jones, not big runs but sub 4!! 3:57 for the week well done you must have been shifting at the relays over those hills!!
Rachel Sutherwood, 6 more seconds till you get to the 6 minutes, 56 seconds improvement!
Rhian Collier, second run out and 42 seconds improvement.
Rhys Jones, just 4 seconds away from the sub 5, well done.
Sarah Shepheard, keeping it consistent with another 2 seconds improvement from last week.
Tim Davies, well just flying, sub 6 minutes easily and 22 seconds faster than your previous best week.
Tim Munn, 9 seconds faster than your previous best only 6 away from 4:30.

Keep up the efforts :-)

PRR stats 15th May

Another week already, its been a quiet week for me but so many people out there have been very busy.

The big 1! well the big 100. We did it, 100 people recorded their runs on Strava this week.

Not quite there for the 2000km in a week but so close now. This week we did 1914km another amazing week for PRR. A record number of runners again logging on Strava, 100 runners making the effort this week with another 4 new runners.

The Cardiff half is till growing, now at 74 runners and a few more to come yet. #teamPRR

Back to the stats for this week.

I would like to welcome the new Strava runners to the fold, Kerry Roberts, Rhian Collier, Jo Beazer, Adam Thomas. We would like to welcome you all.

Our long haul runner on the road this week is Paul Binning running 74.7 km for the men and for the women Catherine Davis gets it again this week with 57.4 km.

But who are our kings and queens this week, well i did wonder how someone who has had such a good average dropped so low this week, then i remember when i saw the distance, for me Adam Payne is the King this week with his tremendous trail run on the weekend. Sorry Paul but you did get the distance and a mention. For the ladies, well I am going to break from the tradition of this being someone from the stats, after all this is about the effort that people put it to running not just the stats, so my Queen of the week is Kelly Preece, it was doing that long run on Sunday that sealed it, maybe you bit off a bit more than expected but you did it, well done.

We rattled up an amazing 1914.2 km logging doing 277 runs this week.

Our billy goat again this week was Adrian Davies climbing 1451 m, well after the trail run i'm not surprised. Between us we climbed 17080 m.

Speedster of the week was Chris Medcalf 4:44 m/km, well done Chris.

For the sub 6:30s....
Great  to see some of those numbers coming up for the sub 6:30s and I think a few of you may have moved into the masses.

Run forest run, well I bet Adam Payne wasn't expecting this but you lead the sub 6:30s, closely followed by Vicky, Linda and Darpan very close behind.

22 runners this week either first time running or setting a new best average pace.
Kerry Roberts, Kathleen Walker, Amanda Burrell, Glyn Davies, Mandy Thomas, Rhian Collier, Colin Thomas, Rebecca Broomfield, Kathryn Vaughan, Louise Reynolds, Menna Rees, Martin Charles, Jo Beazer, Llio Owen, David Sansom, Catherine Lundie, Sian Brady, Vaughn Gibson, becks williams, Adam Thomas, Sarah Shepheard, Lisa Cliffe.

The improvers and getting the mentions:
Amanda Burrell, you have done it. 5:29, that's 46 seconds faster than your previous best!
Becks Williams 14 seconds faster than your previous best average.
Catherine Lundie, your 3rd run out and 3 seconds faster than you first average.
Colin Thomas, your 5th recorded run with PRR and 15 seonds faster than your first run.
David Sansom, 5:40, 17 seconds faster the your previous best!!
Glyn Davies you have equalled your first run recorded.
Kathleen Walker 9 seconds faster than your previous best average.
Kathryn Vaughan, you have smashed the 5 min/km getting in at 4:55, 12 seconds faster.
Lisa Cliffe another 12 seconds off the best and only another 12 to smash the 6 min barrier
Llio Owen, welcome back, long time no see and back with vengeance. 10 seconds of the 6 min.
Louise Reynolds another 11 seconds off the average 5 more to beat the 5:30 min one next.
Mandy Thomas another 2 seconds off to take you under the 6:30, well done.
Martin Charles, not sure how you got on here but only another 5 seconds off you average to get you under the 5 min / km.
Menna Rees, Da iawn, 2 seconds off and keeping under that 7 minutes.
Rebecca Broomfield fourth run out and another 8 seconds off your average.
Sarah Shepheard, 2nd run out clocking your time and 49 seconds improved!!
Sian Brady 2nd run out and a mahooosive 93 seconds off the average!!!!!!!!!
Vaughn Gibson, not forgetting you Vaughan, smashed the 6, smashed the 5:30 and now you are down to 5:15. keep up those PBs.

Keep up the efforts :-)

PRR stats 7th May

Doesn't seem like a week since i wrote the last set of stats, been such a busy week with events, just too many to mention.

It has been another amazing week for PRR. Always pleased to say some more records hit and achievements made. A record number of runners again logging on Strava, 95 runners making the effort this week with 4 new runners, they will get a mention later.

Cardiff half has hit 70 and passed it reaching 73 this week and still more to go. We can really start planing the training and celebrations of what will be the biggest day in #teamPRR's history.

Personally I managed to get out there as a supporter rather than a runner and must admit I thoroughly enjoyed it, so that's the next challenge to get people out there showing the support for the personal efforts that shown to complete those races.

On with the stats...... I'm going to start today with the people who have made some major effort this week to complete half and full Marathons.
I'm going to start with the marathon runners, hats off to you all something i am yet to pluck the courage to do. Gethin Edwards a tremendous effort coming in @ 3:36 on your first ever marathon, Tim Petterson i think you had 4:50 on your first, not only a brilliant effort but after the Nit Lite 10k on the evening before a truly remarkable achievement, but don't do that again!!  And not to forget Neil Jones, coming in 3rd in just over 3 hours and still beaten by the kids over the line ;-).
Then there is the half runners, some doing that 201.1 km for the first time and showing every one it can be done, an inspiration for everyone ready for the Cardiff half. Darpan Singh, Emma Reed, you both smashed it. Steve Burrell on a great time at 1:46, Jo Marshall, Vicky Mead another great run for you both again, Vicky after the 10k the night before a great achievement. But lets also not forget the elusive Sophie Taylor making her premier as a club member down the red carpet and finally meeting a few of us, there will be now stopping you now.

I would like to welcome the new Strava runners to the fold, Matt Bess, Matthew Aherne, Sian Brady and Josh Doyle.

Once again there are many kings and queens of the road, this isn't about the distances that have been covered it is about the effort that has been put it. So all you half and full marathon runners you smashed it. Gethin Edward, Tim Petterson, Neil Jones, Steve Burrell, Darpan Singh, Emma Reed, Vicky Mead, Jo Marshall and Sophie Taylor.
Personal King of the Road has to be Tim Petterson and the Queen of the road for me goes to Emma Reed.

I know there were a few other races over the weekend and I  will add any blog from anyone if they want to send it to me.

Stats wise our long haul on the road this week is Chris Metcalf running 70.5 km for the men and for the women Catherine Davis at 52.1 km.

We rattled up an amazing 1941.4 km logging doing 265 runs this week.

Our billy goat again this week was Adrian Davies climbing 679m, must have been away from the valleys!! but between everyone we climbed 13913 m, I sure the last k in the Uni Lite should count as a double height!!

Speedster of the week was Neil Jones only 1 race logged but it was a marathon averaging 4:18 m/km I still wish i could do that for a few km.

For the sub 6:30s....

Run forest run, well she has had her share of mentions this week but well done Emma Reed 43.3km, shhhhh dont tell Vicky ;-) and the longest run goes to Tim Petterson with his monster effort on the marathon..

25 runners this week either first time running or setting a new best average pace.
Chris Medcalf, Chris Chambost, Kathryn Vaughan, Fay Lawrence, Kathleen Walker, Rebecca Broomfield, Matt Bess, Amanda Burrell, Rhys Jones, Kate Perna Gutteridge, Miguel Sutcliffe, Hywel Evans, Mandy Thomas, Ben Trotman, Lisa Cliffe, Matthew Aherne, Martin Charles, Sian Brady, Josh Doyle, Vaughn Gibson, Claire Sutcliffe, Becky Harry, Ann-marie Carpanini, Jessica Thomas, Leon Pisani.

The improvers and getting the mentions:
Chris Medcalf my stats say you dropped another 1 second from your best weekly average.
Chris Chambost 7 seconds off your avaerage best time, 2 seconds of the 5 minute barrier.
Kathryn Vaughan, well what can I say, 24 seconds better than your previous average.
Fay Lawrence you have equalled a previous best weekly average.
Kathleen Walker under the 5:30 taking 8 seconds off your previous best.
Rebecca Broomfield, 3rd run out on the stats and 22 seconds improvement.
Amanda Burrell another 2 seconds average improvement.
Rhys Jones your 4th run out on my stats and 10 seconds better only 10 seconds of 5 minutes.
Kate Perna Gutteridge your second run out and the same as last week, very consistent.
Miguel Sutcliffe time to get faster, 10 seconds faster than your previous best, you need more gates!!
Hywel Evans 4th run on my stats, and 11 seconds improvement.
Mandy Thomas almost under that 6:30 but very consistent.
Ben Trotman 4 th run out on the stats and 15 seconds better.
Lisa Cliffe still getting faster another 2 seconds off last weeks time.
Martin Charles 1 second better than previous best.
Vaughn Gibson must have been on the spinach, 4th run out 38 seconds improvement.
Claire Sutcliffe another 4 seconds off last weeks average, well done.
Becky Harry 4th run out and 44 second better since your first run.
Ann-marie Carpanini great week, 41 seconds faster than your previous best.
Jessica Thomas second run out on the stats, 1 second faster than last week.
Leon Pisani 6 seconds faster than your previous best average, well done.

One more to thank is Steve Burrell for the effort that has gone into the website, don't forget to register and join in.

Enough of my waffle well done everyone. Keep up the efforts :-)

Vicky 50@50

A challenge is something which takes you out of your comfort zone.

I am a lazy runner. I am very comfortable in my mind about where my limits are and what I can reasonably achieve. I run just enough to reach my target and rarely push myself hard enough to want to stop. I like to make my running easy. This weekend for the first time I scheduled two races less than 12 hours apart. I don't even do normal training runs that close together! Why would any sane person want to push themselves that hard? I needed something to jerk me out of this complacency I have settled into. 

No one would ever describe running a half marathon as easy; so combining it with a 10k race the night before would definitely be considered a challenge. 

I might have enjoyed myself too much on Saturday night.  I loved the Uni Lite Night trail, it was much more fun than expected with a great atmosphere. It was just that last vertical kilometre that made it a little bit harder than expected. After all who doesn't want to run up a mountain in the dark? Just a little kick at the end to give the race a bit of zing. I power hiked to the top listening to the cheers at the finish line getting closer, then all too soon the race was over. I wondered if I had made the challenge too easy. Should I have pushed myself harder by running the marathon instead?

After about five hours sleep I set out for the Llanelli Half Marathon with one goal in mind...finishing. I knew I wasn't going to be fast, this wasn't about getting a PB, but I couldn't run it as slowly as my normal training runs. That wouldn't be challenging enough!  It wasn't as hard as I expected to start running again after such a short recovery period. In fact the only time I wondered if I was going to finish was before I crossed the start line. Once I started running I began to enjoy being out in the sunshine and appreciating the beautiful Welsh coastline. After the first five miles I settled into my normal walk/run routine and the mile markers started becoming targets in my mind. Slowing down was the right strategy. I could talk to other runners and still appreciate my surroundings. I was still enjoying myself. 

By mile 10 the night before was catching up on me; there were shooting pains up the side of my leg, I was hot and I lost my sense of humour somewhere back at mile eight. I was also getting paranoid. Why were the runners coming from the other direction starting to shout encouraging things at me? Did I look like I was losing the plot or maybe in imminent danger of collapse? Why were they smiling so much? Then I reached the final turn round point. Two and a half miles to go; less than a park run! That never fails to amuse.

I can't say I suddenly got faster. I didn't. It didn't suddenly become easier. I kept to my run walk intervals and counted down the minutes. I did do my normal sprint finish for the finish line and I know there were more miles left in my legs which is a good way to end any run. My mantra these days is run easy enough to be able run another day. Does that make me lazy? Maybe.

I haven't achieved a zen like state to help me understand the mysteries of the ultra. It was a challenge and it took me out of my comfort zone a little bit. That's enough to keep me from getting complacent about my running. 

What I did learn this weekend is a new respect for 13.1 miles. It's a long way, a huge journey. It isn't 'just a half'. It's half of nothing! I remembered why it's my favourite distance. You get a real sense of achievement. It lasts long enough to be challenging without becoming tedious. Today I ran my tenth half marathon and it was still a challenge.

PRR up to May

Well here goes, more stats up to May 2nd
We now have 131 people up from 110 linked to strava of those 110 are active runners this year.

So far this year we have run 24742.9 km that's 10 more in a month from the last stats and spent 2562 hours doing it. Between the active runners we have climbed 194131m and completed 3326 runs.

Gethin Edwards is still king of the road so far running 918.1 km and Paul Chamberlain has still spent the most time treading up his miles at 95 hours. Our mountain goat is Adrian Davies climbing 9846 m and our most active member is Adam Payne getting out there 158 times so far this year.

For those who love the equality stats, we have 60 active female runners and 50 active male runners.

No ESTYN inspection so i cant break that down further :-)

For the ladies, queen of the road is Catherine Davis on 731.1 km, although Vicky Mead, Dahna Caple and Catherine Powell have all topped and impressive 600 km. Spending thew most time on the road at over 76 hours are Catherine Davis and Vicky Mead. Both Catherine Davis and Catherine Powell have done over 6000m of climbing with Catherine Davis just pipping it at 6390m.

The most runs goes to Catherine Davis at 87 individual recorded events.

Keep up the running.