Man v’s Horse 2016 – Relay team (S to the N to the D)
Race Report by Nicky Ellis
The race itself is as the name suggests! You race against horses.
It starts from outside a pub called ‘The Neuadd Arms hotel ‘ in a small town called Llanwrtyd Wells which is in Welsh Wales and is apparently the smallest town in Britain.
The race is approximately 22miles in total and you can either enter for the full distance or do it as a 3 leg relay.
Myself, Darren Chambers and Steve Damms entered as a relay team with Steve doing the 1st leg, Darren the 2nd and me bringing up the rear! (Was originally the 2nd leg for me but had a last minute change)
I can only comment on the 3rd leg and can only describe it as an extremely tough, off road run up a mountain. However Darren and Steve pretty much described their legs as mine. My leg was 6.8miles in total and consisted of massive climbs on extremely small trails, bogs of doom and a river of death to cross at half a mile from the end. And then a bunch of horses thrown into the mix. It got to the point where I actually started to dread the sound of hooves.
This is an extremely unique race and one I am glad to have done. I am in awe of those who do the full course and Dave Philips completed his 23rd (ish as he has actually lost count). He is a legend and my hero.
Will I do it again? Ask me next year when I have recovered.
p.s. – the Horse won !