Starting out in Wales

[Iestyn]

Any Welsh runners here know of good routes (fell type) not too far from Cardiff? Can get up to the Beacons but not too often! Cheers,

Iestyn

[(notsomuchofa)Fellrunner]

Iestyn, good to have you on board.

I'm sure that you'll get some South Walians along soon, but knowing that you're all miserable buggers down there I've got a couple of links below that might help you out;

http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showthread.php?t=2702

http://www.wfra.org.uk/

If you can bang out a half marathon, which I'm sure you can, then you'll manage a fell race. Just bear in mind that for a category AM race (over 6 miles & 1500ft) you'll need to carry map, whistle, compass & waterproof body cover.

To carry this stuff we normally use a bumbag which you can get from;


http://www.runningbear.co.uk/index.php?cPath=41_64

or

http://www.peteblandsports.co.uk/tro.../101/index.htm

wrt to footwear this is very much a personal thing & it may be worth using the search function on the forum.

Good luck on Sunday.

[Wheeze]

Iestyn, there is lots of good running near you and plenty of regular hill runners too. The Garth, whilst not that high, is VV steep in parts and has excellent running right on your doorstep. There's Darren, Twmbarlwm, Caerphilly Mountain, Machen, Rudry, Mynydd Maen all within 20 minutes. Blorenge, Sugar Loaf and Skirrid are 30 mins and 40 mins gets you to Black Mountains or the Beacons. For variety, there are the Merthyr Mawr sand dunes, the biggest in the country and really tough to run up. If you sign up for the South Wales Winter Series (see WFRA website) you find races up all of these. See you out there soon! Sugar Loaf Race is next, early Nov.

[Boy Wonder]

But whatever you do, DON'T get involved with ANYTHING that involves Wheeze and Toffer!!

[Twister]

Sugar Loaf Race is next, early Nov.

Is it? I thought this was in April normally. I was planning on doing the next one... When is it exactly?

[Wheeze]

3rd nov

[david]

Is it? I thought this was in April normally.

Same hill, different race.

[Twister]

I can't make the third but I'll probably have a go at the spring race, what's the difference then, which is better?

[david]

I've not run either of them so can't help you. The April race is a 7 mile/1725 feet BM from Abergavenny, the November race a 5 mile/1455 feet AS from Pantygelli. The November one sounds more interesting to me.

[Wheeze]

Both as good as each other. One goes from Pantygelli, t'other from the Comp school. Both fun, both on a lovely mountain but Pantygelli race has benefit of a pub at the finish