Race the Train - Saturday, August 18th, 2007

Name of event – Race the Train
Venue – Tywyn, Gwynedd, Wales
Sport – Running
Date of event – Saturday, August 18th, 2007
Website – http://www.racethetrain.co.uk  
Contact – This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  or tel 01654-710607
Price – Affiliated runners £18 non affiliated £19. Prices for train tickets for supporters available from the website.

What’s on – Basically you race a lovely steam engine from one end of the line to the other. The train manages approx 6.30 minute miles over the 14 – 15 mile course. Fortunately to make it interesting the route for the runners is a bit rougher covering steep and uneven ground in a beautiful Welsh mountain setting. Each year about 100 runners ‘Beat the Train’ will you be one of them?

The Fun Run (Long) and Junior Races (16+) start at Dolgoch, which is approximately 5.5 miles from Tywyn. The 10K Race has limited capacity as the train has a capacity of about 240 and the race limit is 500, with an expected field on the day, allowing for no shows, of around 430-450.

This unique event, which has now reached its TWENTY-THIRD anniversary, is a must for all multi-terrain runners. Many competitors return regularly to try and better their performance or just beat THAT train while others have run nearly every year since the races started. Most serious runners have heard about it either from their friends, TV, or the press so, if you haven’t already competed, perhaps this year is the time to attempt it. These events also give you the additional challenge of not only racing your fellow competitors but also the Train. Having been televised world-wide on several occasions we have attracted many runners from abroad coming from all over Europe and as far away as New Zealand , Australia , America , Hong Kong and Africa .

All activities are centred around the local school sports ground adjacent to Talyllyn Railway Wharf Station. On race day the route to the field is properly signed, and since we are only a small town impossible to miss. Once on the field you will find registration, changing rooms with showers, etc. Other facilities include; refreshments, bar, children’s amusements, and various displays by the Police, Fire Service, Coast Guards, Outward Bound, Snowdonia National Park, Royal Air Force, etc. As usual we shall have a variety of "Race the Train " merchandise for sale including sweatshirts / T-shirts / vests / mugs etc.