I'd tried to run the Taff trail once before, in 2019. Despite it practically being a straight line, I managed to go wrong and ended up right back in Brecon where I started. This time I returned, having put a decent 3 month block of training in and dragged some friends and my brother along to help out. The friends I was with where the ones who got me first in to running, cajoling me out the door when I was running a minute, walking a minute, and blowing hard.
I set off from Brecon with my brother Bill. My target splits were 6:00/km's (I was initially aiming for slower but Tim Fisher had put in an excellent unsupported time of 9hr 9mins a few weeks earlier and I wanted to get under that). Me and Bill settled into a rhythm, averaging about 5:40/km's, a bit quick maybe but I was feeling good and we stopped at a rare public toilet so it made sure we didn't fall to far behind pace. We kept chuntering along till we reached the long uphill from Talybont Reservoir. I love this climb, the ascent is rewarding but all runnable and you are rewarded with cracking views back down the valley. Arriving at the top, 22km in, a few minutes ahead of my brother, he departed as planned with the rest of my crew who were waiting in the car park, and I carried on solo.
I ran hard to Pontsarn, over the small undulations above the reservoirs where I met my crew again for a quick swap of water bottles and refill of gels. I stuck the earphones in, got Springsteen on, and kept plugging away. At this point I was getting slightly carried away, and I posted a couple of sub 5:00/km's, which leads something to be desired in the pacing department but it felt good to push.
At the end of Aberfan, I was reunited with my crew and I was joined for the next leg by my friend Nick. We ran on, sometimes chatting, sometimes listening to the Liverpool game on 5 live, often in silence. Again the pace didn't drop, and remained sub 5:40/km's. I was pushing hard, and pushing Nick hard. We came into Abercynon where Nick dropped out after about 10km, not far off his PB pace.
At this point, Alex subbed in. We ran 21km together, and this is where it started to get tough. The effort level picked up and the pace, whilst remaining good, started wavering slightly. We passed through Pontypridd and it was the stretch from Pontypridd to Nantgarw and through to Taff's Well where the suffering really kicked in. Beyond Castell Coch I knew the trail, having run it from Cardiff many times, however Hailey Park, an aid station and start of the final section still felt an age away and I repeatedly bemoaned it's refusal to arrive to Alex. Arriving at Hailey Park, a bit knackered and slowing down (I'd just posted 6 consecutive KMs at slower than 6:00/km pace), I thanked Alex for his excellent running and patience as I went from chatty to quiet and picked up a rejuvenated Nick who had just enjoyed an ice cream in the sunny park.
Nick asked me if I wanted to step up the pace, I told him I wanted to settle into 6:00/km's, knowing if I could hold that, I would be happy (and set a new FKT). Nick ignored me, as all good pacers do sometimes and promptly went back to setting 5:30-40/km's. I noted my surprise in colorful language but was actually happy to increasing my leg turnover again, staving away the lethargy. Me and Nick ran quietly until we reached Sofia Gardens, and Alex re-joined us for the final few KMs into Cardiff Bay.
I started those final KMs feeling tired but soon the excitement and joy took hold and I was feeling good. We had a quick conference after crossing the bridge about whether we should follow the GPX on my watch, which cut straight to Roald Dahl Pass (the route on the FKT website) or whether we should continue following the Cycle Route Number 8 signs which had signed the whole way. In the end we stuck with the signs, which took us on a long loop around the Bay. Frustrated by this runs refusal to end, we then re-joined (after the detour) the GPX route and arrived, after a tame sprint finish, into Roald Dahl Pass where I could finally stop running. I'd finally finished the route I tried to run 3 years ago.
I came in 8hours 28minutes and 34 seconds. A time that, whilst easily beatable for stronger runners, is one I am very proud of. My brother Bill and friends Alex and Nick ran with me for sections, and my friend Dan and girlfriend Rachel crewed the whole way, offering support and doling out Clif shot blocs and flapjacks. All in all, a great day out along the Taff.