The Big Wales Thing, as you might guess from the logo, it is a run of the length of Wales, from south to north, passing over all the main mountain areas.
I am running from the South Coast (Breaksea Point, near Cardiff) to Great Orme, running off-road wherever I can and taking in all the major mountain ranges (Pen y Fan (Brecons), Pumlumon, Cadair Idris, Y Llethr (Rhinogau), Snowdon Horseshoe, Glyderau, Carneddau). That's some 212 miles and over 40,000 feet of ascent (and of descent). I'll be visiting some places with special memories and hopefully squeeze in a visit to the distillery at Penderyn to speed me on my way!
You can download the route here and open it in Google Earth. (Or you can see a map here.)
I shall be travelling (more or less) unsupported (though I may spend the odd night in a B&B). That means carrying everything I need: food, shelter, sleeping bag, clothes, stove, etc.
The route takes me through a few towns (Hirwaun, Brecon, Builth Wells, Machynlleth, Dolgellau, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Conwy) so I can stock up on food and supplies and calories and have a meal cooked by someone else every few days.
Timetable: I'm starting on Friday 20 June, and finish a couple of weekends later. I hope to do it in about 15 days, but it is hard to be certain, as I may be delayed by bad weather, might find it harder that expected and might need the odd rest day here and there. The route is a total of some 215 miles, which means an average of 16 miles over 13 days. My basic plan is to run 10-12 miles each morning, and then rest for a few hours before running another 5-8 miles in the afternoon/evening.
Inspired? I'm not doing this for charity, but if you feel inspired by what I am doing, then you might go here (and let me know any pledges you make!)
Updates
As I prepare for the trip there will be new posts on this blog (links below).
Once I get going I'll be updating my progress on Twitter (#BigWalesThing, and hopefully on Facebook (on the Big Wales Thing event page).
Links to relevant posts and other stuff:
The Big Wales Thing (18 March)
Thoughts on why I am doing this (6 May)
Journeyman (19 May)
Kit for the Big Wales Thing (29 May)
A map of where I am going (8 June)
Last quick trip to check my gear (15 June)
You try another mode of traditional Welsh transport... seems to go close to your route:
ReplyDeletehttps://goo.gl/maps/RBOE2
Hi, I've added your link to our website "Passion For Walking" yes, I know you're running but thought people would find it interesting :) Hope that's ok! http://passion-for-walking.co.uk
ReplyDeleteHi Hippy. Thanks. That's great!
DeleteI have a passion for walking as well as running!
Jell
Your link is here. Re published site in case it didn't work first time, only have Mobile Broadband in deepest darkest Wales!! :) http://passion-for-walking.co.uk/walking-blogs.php
ReplyDeleteHi Jell, how did you get on? I just finished a slightly short walk from penyfan to snowdon
ReplyDeleteHi PD
ReplyDeleteI had a great time! You can read an account of my feelings about the whole trip at http://outdoorswanderer.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/thoughts-from-wild.html, written a few months after I finished.
That was two years ago, and re-reading that post I can feel the sap of wanderlust rising again .....