Welsh Castles Relay day 1

I approached Caernarfon in a minibus with Garfield, an Eryri Harrier who has a license to drive things like that. We were on our way to the start of the Welsh castles relay. And when we got close, we spotted that there was already a bit of a festival atmosphere in the town, right by the castle. 

We were there to load up on supplies and humans, then cheer our own runner Tony at the start, and then head for the finish of that leg of the race. The first obstacle we met was that the supplies were in a car park with a height restrictor we didn't fit underneath. Oh dear! But that didn't stop us from cheering on Tony. He got a special start; the mayor of Caernarfon started it, and initially it was a procession; they first did the loop around the castle at jogging speed, last year’s winners, the Pontypridd Roadents, at the front. Only after they crossed the bridge over the river did the race actually start, and could everyone run at their own speed.

Start in Caernarfon 

We made sure the supplies came to the van rather than the van to the supplies, and then we were off. And we had a passenger! Tinka and her dog were there to support, and Tinka thought it would be nice to get a lift to the start of the next leg in Penygroes, and then bike back home. She figured that would be right up the dog’s street as well. So we fit woman, dog and bike in the vehicle and were off.

Guests in our minibus

What followed was a wild goose chase. We managed to get to the start of almost all our runners that day. We went from Caernarfon to Penygroes to Criccieth to Mantwrog to Harlech. In some places it was really hard to find a spot to park. All the followers of the race were trying to do the same thing! And not all these locations had a lot of space. And in Criccieth, the start and finish were so close together we could actually see both our starter and finisher. That was rare. And in Harlech, we only JUST got our runner to the start on time. Some of our runners sorted out their own logistics, and we didn't see them at all.

Start of leg 2

Quite often, our vehicle (and all the other vehicles) were taking the same route as the runners. I hadn't realised the race went over such big roads. I was so glad that my leg was a bit more quiet. It was nice, though, to be able to drive past the runners and cheer them on from our vehicle. Of course we cheered on our own runner, but we also cheered on other people we new, or people from other clubs we knew, or just other people running.

It was actually quite exhausting! That was going to get interesting the next day.

From Harlech we went to Dolgellau, Dinas Mawddwy, Foel, and Llanfair. Along the way we also had to sort a water station. I didn't really understand the water station policy. Documentation said this leg had three water stations, but most legs had precisely none. What was the logic behind that? And we would be only 1.7 miles from the start. How many people would want water by them? But we had to assume they would. We make sure we have a lot of bottles ready, with the caps unscrewed.

Of course it started to rain quite seriously while we were out there on the layby. And how many runners want water if it is raining? But a surprising number actually did. At least it was good to provide them with something they wanted. Then we made sure we collected all the bottles they had thrown back at us. And we provided one runner with paracetamol; she said she had rolled her ankle. It didn't take too long for all runners to pass. And then we were off again. Altogether we of the minibus crew saw seven runners start, and two finish. Tony and Lesley saw more finishes. The last stop of the day would be in Newtown, where the finish of the first day would be. 

We parked up by the place we would stay for the night, and walked from there to the finish. We struggled to find it, initially! But when we found it it was very obvious. That was where all the excitement was. Most finishes are not so busy, as all the support troops are still busy bringing runners to their start. But that was over now. This was clearly the most exciting finish! We found a spot along the course. And after a while, the noise started. The first runner! The crowd erupted. Some of them were so fast! And there was even a spectacular sprint finish where two clubs were battling it out until the final meter. And then our own runner came past. We screamed our lungs out, and came to find him behind the finish.

Our runner, Owain, had done really well, but he was a bit zonked. He is actually a fell runner, and had now done a full half marathon distance on the road. He was keen to get to his partner and her car, and then get home.

We were now desperate for food. This last race was scheduled to start at 17:50, but due to unexpected circumstances, even started a bit late. And it was 21km. That takes a while, even with a very competitive field. And was it competitive! The winner did it in 1:07:39. Which is crazy for a half marathon. With hills in. But we wanted food now. And people knew there was a Wetherspoons in town. 

The Wetherspoons was closed. We were not keen on arbitrary greasy takeaway. We were scared of what it would do to us the next day, when we would be running! Pubs didn't seem to serve food. Newtown is just not big enough to provide food for the whole circus of the WCR. I was getting agitated. I was hungry, and I wanted to get some fuel into the system for the next day. I also need at least two liters of water after dinner to be able to sleep well. And I still had to pitch my tent. If I drink too close to bedtime, I have to inevitably get out in the middle of the night, which disrupts my sleep. I was starting to regret my life choices!

When we found a Chinese takeaway but it turned out to have a long waiting time, we gave up and just went to the nearby supermarket to buy something we could eat in the van. Several pasta salads were consumed. I had hoped that this part of the day would be a bit more relaxed and comfortable. I suppose I had forgot to check just how late the last race starts, and just how long it is.

Our accommodation was the sports field of the local school, and there was also a leisure centre next to it. It would be open until 10 pm; we could go there to go to the toilet or have a shower. And it had a big parking lot, where our minibus was. I wolfed down my food, drank a lot of water, and went to pitch my tent. I figured that a shower wasn't necessary. Sleep was more important! Of the minibus crew, the two young men (Huw and Iolo) also pitched a tent. I was glad I had some extra pegs with me, as they didn't have enough! The others (Garfield, Nia and Ian) decided to sleep in the minibus. I didn't think that would be very comfortable, but to each their own.

My tent on a sports field

Once I had food and water in my stomach, and a bed of sleep in, I relaxed. This wasn't so bad after all. I did have to set an early alarm; the first start in the morning was at 7 am, and we need to be ready for the race briefing at 6:30. 

I did have to get out in the middle of the night for a wee. And that sports field was quite light. But I slept well enough. On my nice pillow. I needed that!