Trains, rolling hills, a city by the sea, and… RUNNING! What more could anyone ask for? Fourteen glorious miles of beautiful scenery, encouragement, and competitive drive against a machine. Race the Train is one of the most unique types of running events available to runners and viewers. Wales is home to the most famous of the Race the Train events, consisting of a 14 mile (and yes, British people use the ‘mile’) trail alongside the train tracks of Talyllyn Railway Station. The runner’s track starts in Tywyn and goes as far as Abergynolwyn. The track itself treks through several homeowner’s backyards, so it is not possible for runners to practice running their track before the race. Rain plays a big factor in the race as well as mud puddles and slippery bits. It is the UK after all. However, regardless of the trials and potential hazards, safety has not been a huge issue as there are several hundreds of people involved both in and outside the race. The race is particularly known for its incredible views, although I can’t help but wonder if runners determined to beat the train take the time to look around!
Although the race originated on the west coast of the United Kingdom in Tywyn, its popularity has spread to other cities worldwide. However, international runners still show up to Tywyn and try to beat the train each year. Race the Train came from humble beginnings. A dentist from the area named Godfrey Worsey created the idea of runners racing a train in 1984, and held the very first race there. That very first race had 48 runners and grew to a have over 1,000 participants in 2013.
Supporters of the runners have an option of riding the train. After watching a video of a newscaster doing a piece on the Race the Train from 2005, I was completely blown away by the idea that one could look out the window of the train and see a person running past it. Supporters must book their tickets far in advance as there are limited spots available. Due to the high popularity, the rail station has a second train to run after the first train. This is great for people who might be supporting slower runners! The train finishes in roughly 2 hours and has several stops along the way that give runners a chance to get ahead. The train has a ten minute stop at the further points of the track, which is where the other runners can start their shorter race against the train.
From here, runners who elected to take the train have an option of running half of the 14 mile track. Race the Train has four shorter races, one even being for toddlers! The record for the fastest runner who beat the train was just over an hour and 18 minutes. That’s an amazing feat. With the runner’s track having the potential to change, there is no way to fully prepare oneself for the exact track to take. Preparing for the run based off of a generalized map, runners from far and wide love this event. This year’s race took place on August 15, 2014. The next race will be held on Saturday August 15, 2015.
For more information on the Race the Train, visit www.racethetrain.com.
For more information on some of the world’s best outdoor activities in Wales, please visit http://www.visitwales.com/things-to-do/activities.
