Cant Canolbarth Cymru
The Welsh 100 - May 2007
CANT CANOLBARTH CYMRU
CANT CANOLBARTH CYMRU TAITH DRWY GALON CYMRU or as they say in the English Marshes The Mid Wales Hundred A Journey Through The Heart of Wales It all began in June 2006, I was reading a report on the LDWA 100 which had taken place a couple of weeks earlier. The final paragraph said the 2007 event is to take place in mid Wales I don't know what is was but there and then I decided this was going to be my challenge for 2007.
How do I go about getting an entry and what is involved. Checking the LDWA site on the internet I discovered to gain entry you must have done a 50 mile event during the previous 12 months. 1st barrier I have never done 50 miles before. Luck was on my side the Long Myndd Hike was in September and I still had time to train for this.
The day came, dry underfoot, calm and mild, a full moon to brighten the night and good company along he way. I finished feeling comfortable in 14 hours. 1st barrier over.
On receiving the official results I put my entry in for the 100, and by mid October it had been accepted. 2nd barrier over.
HOW DO YOU TRAIN FOR A 100 MILE RUNNING/WALKING EVENT THAT IS 95% OFF ROAD – I ASK MYSELF
MENTALLY – This was never a problem from the onset, I was going to think of it as 16 events one after the other with a break between each leg to get my card punched and something to eat and drink
PHYSICALLY – Do you go out and pound the roads for mile after mile – In my case NO – I decided on a programme of 35/40 miles per week concentrating on running an even pace start to finish. I also took part in several 20/25 mile off road challenge events carrying a rucksack and all the kit I would need on the the event itself.
Gill was going to give me backup support so early May we sat down and tried to work out times for each stage so Gill would be there waiting for me. (This was thrown in the bin after the second leg as I was already ahead of schedule) Saturday 26th May – The weather forecast said nice warm day ahead with light rain overnight and heavy rain and strong winds for Sunday 10am 441 of us set off from the lake in Llandrindod Wells to the trig about a mile away at a nice gentle pace led by two local athletes (we were not allowed to pass them) at the trig the event suddenly became competitive and we quickly spread out along the hill. The route taking us along the flank of Gilwern Hill and Castle Bank down to the 1st checkpoint at Pentre just outside Builth Wells
The next stage was just over 5 miles long and included a steep ascent and slow descent of Aberedw Hill to arrive at checkpoint 2. Problem I was 14 miles into the event and over an hour ahead of the times Gill and I had worked out, luckily she was pulling up at the checkpoint as I arrived.
The 3rd stage was the 1st hard stage being 9 miles long with an ascent of 1500 feet and over open moorland taking in Llandeil Hill, Llanbedre Hill, Red Hill, and Glascwm Hill before the descent in to Glascwm After an initial climb the 4th stage was a recovery stage over rolling hills and down to New Radnor, Gill was waiting for me just before the village, a quick chat to say I was still feeling OK. GLASCWM
Stage 5 was on familiar territory and involved the long climb up to and around the Whimble to Black Mixen, across the moor and then the steep descent through the Radnor Forest to Dolau From Dolau it was a short easy leg over to Llangunllo, the light now fading and the first spots of rain starting to fall.
Saying good night to Gill it was time to get the headtorch out, darkness was setting in fast and ahead lay the 9 mile stretch along the Glyndwr Way over Beacon Hill to Felindre. This stage passed quickly and so did the next stage to Llanbadarn Fynydd and the halfway point at 57 miles.
The checkpoint was in a large modern hall and after a quick wash and change of clothes I sat down to a well earned full English Breakfast, before disappearing out into the dark and light rain.
The next 27 miles brought me on to paths I know well from previous events with legs over the hills to Abbey-cwm-hir, Bwlch-y-sarno, Gilfach and Graig Goch Reservoir, and along the old railway line to Elan Village. During these stages daylight arrived bringing with it heavy rain and strong winds, the temperature was falling and conditions generally getting bad especially the leg to Graig Goch Reservoir.
My legs are now starting to feel the miles, thighs starting to burn and legs stiffening up when I stop at checkpoints, but my spirits are still high and no blisters.
After passing each other a couple of times along the dams Gill and I meet up at Elan Village.
Leg 14 is a short leg and after an ascent and descent of Carn Gafallt the last of the hills are behind me. (The sting in the tail Is still to come) The penultimate leg follows the Wye Valley Way to Newbridge on Wye, it is now a case of digging in legs tired and rain still falling heavy.
The last leg just under 4 miles across the fields and into the finish at Llandrindod Wells, it sounds easy but no one mentioned the 20 stiles that had to be climbed. I have never before used my hands to physically lift a leg over a stile. They were like mountains.
Entering Llandrindod Wells Gill is waiting, we both have a big smile on our faces, I've cracked my first 100.
After a shower and something to eat and drink we decided to leave my car and collect it on Monday. I fell asleep within minutes of leaving Llandrindod Wells.
The event was well organized and a good route description which meant I did not need to use my maps. The checkpoints had marshals who “waited” on you and provided you with as much hot and cold drink and hot and cold food as you wanted. I've never eaten so much on an event before.
Monday my legs still ached and a little stiff but after a couple of days of gentle walking they soon recovered
The whole route was 100.5 miles long with over 14000 feet of ascent and took me 29 hours 21 minutes at an average speed of 3.4 miles per hour
For Those Who Like Figures (Start & Finish at Llandrindod Wells) Leg To Ascent Distance Distance Covered O/all Time O/all Pace
1 Pentre 1350ft 8.9m 8.9m 1.46 5.0m/h
2 Aberedw 750ft 5.4m 14.1m 2.55 4.8m/h
3 Glascwm 1500ft 8.9m 23m 5.03 4.6m/h
4 New Radnor 990ft 7.4m 30.4m 6.53 4.4m/h
5 Dolau 1586ft 6.6m 37m 8.45 4.2m/h
6 Llangunllo 730ft 5.1m 42.1m 10.13 4.1m/h
7 Felindre 1390ft 9.4m 51.5m 13.00 4.0m/h
8 Llanbadarn Fynydd 770ft 5.5m 57m 14.40 3.9m/h
9 Abbey-cwm-hir 1450ft 8.6m 65.6m 17.56 3.7m/h
10 Bwlch-y-sarnu 755ft 3.4m 69m 19.10 3.6m/h
11 Gilfach 330ft 5.6m 74.6m 21.00 3.6m/h
12 Graig Goch 1650ft 6.6m 81.2m 22.59 3.5m/h
13 Elan Village 45ft 5.6m 86.8m 24.28 3.5m/h
14 Llanwrthwl 800ft 3.9m 90.7m 25.50 3.5m/h
15 Newbridge on Wye 229ft 6.0m 96.7m 27.53 3.5m/h
16 Llandrindod Wells 250ft 3.8m 100.5m 29.21 3.4m/h WHAT NEXT ??? Phil Butler
How do I go about getting an entry and what is involved. Checking the LDWA site on the internet I discovered to gain entry you must have done a 50 mile event during the previous 12 months. 1st barrier I have never done 50 miles before. Luck was on my side the Long Myndd Hike was in September and I still had time to train for this.
The day came, dry underfoot, calm and mild, a full moon to brighten the night and good company along he way. I finished feeling comfortable in 14 hours. 1st barrier over.
On receiving the official results I put my entry in for the 100, and by mid October it had been accepted. 2nd barrier over.
HOW DO YOU TRAIN FOR A 100 MILE RUNNING/WALKING EVENT THAT IS 95% OFF ROAD – I ASK MYSELF
MENTALLY – This was never a problem from the onset, I was going to think of it as 16 events one after the other with a break between each leg to get my card punched and something to eat and drink
PHYSICALLY – Do you go out and pound the roads for mile after mile – In my case NO – I decided on a programme of 35/40 miles per week concentrating on running an even pace start to finish. I also took part in several 20/25 mile off road challenge events carrying a rucksack and all the kit I would need on the the event itself.
Gill was going to give me backup support so early May we sat down and tried to work out times for each stage so Gill would be there waiting for me. (This was thrown in the bin after the second leg as I was already ahead of schedule) Saturday 26th May – The weather forecast said nice warm day ahead with light rain overnight and heavy rain and strong winds for Sunday 10am 441 of us set off from the lake in Llandrindod Wells to the trig about a mile away at a nice gentle pace led by two local athletes (we were not allowed to pass them) at the trig the event suddenly became competitive and we quickly spread out along the hill. The route taking us along the flank of Gilwern Hill and Castle Bank down to the 1st checkpoint at Pentre just outside Builth Wells
The next stage was just over 5 miles long and included a steep ascent and slow descent of Aberedw Hill to arrive at checkpoint 2. Problem I was 14 miles into the event and over an hour ahead of the times Gill and I had worked out, luckily she was pulling up at the checkpoint as I arrived.
The 3rd stage was the 1st hard stage being 9 miles long with an ascent of 1500 feet and over open moorland taking in Llandeil Hill, Llanbedre Hill, Red Hill, and Glascwm Hill before the descent in to Glascwm After an initial climb the 4th stage was a recovery stage over rolling hills and down to New Radnor, Gill was waiting for me just before the village, a quick chat to say I was still feeling OK. GLASCWM
Stage 5 was on familiar territory and involved the long climb up to and around the Whimble to Black Mixen, across the moor and then the steep descent through the Radnor Forest to Dolau From Dolau it was a short easy leg over to Llangunllo, the light now fading and the first spots of rain starting to fall.
Saying good night to Gill it was time to get the headtorch out, darkness was setting in fast and ahead lay the 9 mile stretch along the Glyndwr Way over Beacon Hill to Felindre. This stage passed quickly and so did the next stage to Llanbadarn Fynydd and the halfway point at 57 miles.
The checkpoint was in a large modern hall and after a quick wash and change of clothes I sat down to a well earned full English Breakfast, before disappearing out into the dark and light rain.
The next 27 miles brought me on to paths I know well from previous events with legs over the hills to Abbey-cwm-hir, Bwlch-y-sarno, Gilfach and Graig Goch Reservoir, and along the old railway line to Elan Village. During these stages daylight arrived bringing with it heavy rain and strong winds, the temperature was falling and conditions generally getting bad especially the leg to Graig Goch Reservoir.
My legs are now starting to feel the miles, thighs starting to burn and legs stiffening up when I stop at checkpoints, but my spirits are still high and no blisters.
After passing each other a couple of times along the dams Gill and I meet up at Elan Village.
Leg 14 is a short leg and after an ascent and descent of Carn Gafallt the last of the hills are behind me. (The sting in the tail Is still to come) The penultimate leg follows the Wye Valley Way to Newbridge on Wye, it is now a case of digging in legs tired and rain still falling heavy.
The last leg just under 4 miles across the fields and into the finish at Llandrindod Wells, it sounds easy but no one mentioned the 20 stiles that had to be climbed. I have never before used my hands to physically lift a leg over a stile. They were like mountains.
Entering Llandrindod Wells Gill is waiting, we both have a big smile on our faces, I've cracked my first 100.
After a shower and something to eat and drink we decided to leave my car and collect it on Monday. I fell asleep within minutes of leaving Llandrindod Wells.
The event was well organized and a good route description which meant I did not need to use my maps. The checkpoints had marshals who “waited” on you and provided you with as much hot and cold drink and hot and cold food as you wanted. I've never eaten so much on an event before.
Monday my legs still ached and a little stiff but after a couple of days of gentle walking they soon recovered
The whole route was 100.5 miles long with over 14000 feet of ascent and took me 29 hours 21 minutes at an average speed of 3.4 miles per hour
For Those Who Like Figures (Start & Finish at Llandrindod Wells) Leg To Ascent Distance Distance Covered O/all Time O/all Pace
1 Pentre 1350ft 8.9m 8.9m 1.46 5.0m/h
2 Aberedw 750ft 5.4m 14.1m 2.55 4.8m/h
3 Glascwm 1500ft 8.9m 23m 5.03 4.6m/h
4 New Radnor 990ft 7.4m 30.4m 6.53 4.4m/h
5 Dolau 1586ft 6.6m 37m 8.45 4.2m/h
6 Llangunllo 730ft 5.1m 42.1m 10.13 4.1m/h
7 Felindre 1390ft 9.4m 51.5m 13.00 4.0m/h
8 Llanbadarn Fynydd 770ft 5.5m 57m 14.40 3.9m/h
9 Abbey-cwm-hir 1450ft 8.6m 65.6m 17.56 3.7m/h
10 Bwlch-y-sarnu 755ft 3.4m 69m 19.10 3.6m/h
11 Gilfach 330ft 5.6m 74.6m 21.00 3.6m/h
12 Graig Goch 1650ft 6.6m 81.2m 22.59 3.5m/h
13 Elan Village 45ft 5.6m 86.8m 24.28 3.5m/h
14 Llanwrthwl 800ft 3.9m 90.7m 25.50 3.5m/h
15 Newbridge on Wye 229ft 6.0m 96.7m 27.53 3.5m/h
16 Llandrindod Wells 250ft 3.8m 100.5m 29.21 3.4m/h WHAT NEXT ??? Phil Butler