We asked this year’s participants for their Race Across Wales stories, and this one stood out as a raw, honest account of what it really feels like to take on the Pilgrim’s Trail when the Welsh weather decides to test your spirit as much as your legs. Written by Martin J Willis, this first-hand story captures every high, low, and soggy mile on the road to becoming a Pilgrim…
Friday came and it was finally time to get to the start line. The normal pre-race nerves were jingling, but there was the added anxious energy of this being the furthest race I had ever attempted. As we stepped onto the Pilgrim’s trail I was ready to be tested by God and was sure I would have a few words with him during the next couple of days. The first words were thanks for giving us fab weather to send us on our way, well at least for a few hours before he turned the taps on and left them running for the next 36 hours!
Early progress was steady and I was enjoying the company of my fellow pilgrims. With the occasional meet with my awesome crew, things were on track and as night fell I was very happy with the race so far. By the time I arrived at CP1 the warm welcome and smiles of the CP team were a boost and the stew and spuds a fantastic warmer. After a quick brew it was back into the wet and dark to where I had my next planned meet with the crew. Leap frogging with a couple of the other runners it was a mix of solo and running with company which passed the hours and as Aber Falls could be heard I realised how wet I was, so it was a quick kit change, bagel and power nap there before setting off to the deafening roar of the falls as the sun started to rise.
Being in dry kit, including a fresh waterproof, was a huge boost and the miles passed happily as I neared the rugby club in Bangor. It was in these last few miles that cold was starting to become an issue. With the unrelenting rain, pace was slower than planned, and after some select questions to God about his weather plans and how lovely it had been in the weeks prior, I knew that getting warm was the priority at the CP. Once again, upon entering the CP there was a great warm welcome from the team there and a warm breakfast, cuppa and slice of Bara Birth put in front of me. Chris, my crew and kit manager, provided a full change of kit, fresh shoes and waterproof number 3, so I was fully set for the next stage. After a 10 minute power nap I was off, through the city of Bangor to then see a familiar face from the #DelamereSpartans running club cheering me on. It was a great boost and with daylight here I knew it was time to push on and try to get as much done before night drew in again. Alas with the rain still coming down paths were now streams and what would be running descents were now a cautious walk. All you could do was laugh at the situation as you waded along. I was learning of other competitors withdrawing and this fuelled my determination and resolve to focus on simply getting to the end.
As I neared Deiniolen coming off the tops I was gripped by the cold and was having a good sing song and trying to run to stop the shivering. To see Chris in the village was a boost and 10 minutes out the rain sat eating cold pizza in the car with a warm Ribena was just the ticket. The miles kept ticking by and I was focused solely on getting from one CP / meet up point to the next . Sadly the views that are so stunning through Snowdonia were being kept hidden by the low cloud, rain and mist so other than a brief chat with the occasional wildlife it was head down and get it done. For the rest of the daylight hours it was an isolated event and there were some more choice words with God as I continued to fight to stay dry and more importantly warm. As the CP at Clynnog Fawr was my next stop I was starting to face a real dilemma on whether it was going to be safe to head back out. I was so cold and shivering so much over these approaching miles that I was starting to struggle and knew I needed to have a plan to reset once inside.
Upon arrival it was straight to the kit bag and a full change out of kit, getting layers on, leggings in place of shorts and another set of waterproofs before tucking into some warm food and a quick 10 min power nap. It was during this time that two other competitors came in and Mark, Carl and I decided that buddying up for the night made a lot of sense. After a good recharge we set out and quickly were back in knee deep water before the big climb out of Trefor. I was feeling super warm and comfortable at this point, but the climb was hard work and so I started to sweat. This then caused me to get super cold again as we trekked down to Yr Eifl in the strong winds. This was where I hit my lowest in the race, with Chris my crew not planned to meet me the shivering was so intense that I was seriously thinking it was time to call it, but the wonderful support from Carl’s brother and the full temp AC in his car managed to get me warm again and after 10 minutes I could still see the other’s headtorches over the fields I knew I was ready to get this final stretch done. I caught Mark and Carl back up and we marched the night away like three disciplined soldiers.
It was at this moment, just before daybreak that God decided we had been wet for long enough and we had the relief of the rain stopping, soon to be boosted with an amazing sunrise. Our tails were now up and although the wind was still battering us on the coast path we knew it would not be long before we turned in land and headed south.
Once through Whistling Sands I was feeling great, with the end now clearly in reach and the time limit no longer a concern I found my running legs and had a fab run to the doors of the church in Aberdaron. With a swift bottle change with Chris it was the final push to Mynydd Mawr. I put my head down to power up the hill from Aberdaron to then be faced by a race diversion sign. With only 40 mins sleep over the past two days this caused some minor panic and a temporary conundrum on what to do. Chris had caught me up and tried to confirm with race HQ but reception was sketchy. Deciding the sign was there for a reason I followed it and marched on up the road, learning from a member of the public that there had been a landslip of some nature on the coast path. It was not long after that Gordon and the race crew drove past with an encouraging “keep going straight and up the hill” I was buzzing, all the months of training and the past 48 hours of cold and wet were no longer present in my mind it was purely excitement of getting to that little white hut at the top of the Mawr. With cheers from finishers and supporters as I passed the café and started the climb I was feeling really strong and upon cresting the hill I was even able to muster a little sprint up the final section before embracing the hut, giving it a kiss and realising that I had just become a Pilgrim.
Wow what a ride, a challenging route with weather that pushed me close to breaking, but with my awesome crew Chris, the support of my amazing family and club mates at home, the fellow runners and the great Brutal team I was able to slay the dragon. RAW 2025 Done!
