Race across Wales Report

Ed Payne, 22/09/25

Much like Race across Scotland I didn’t even know this race existed until recently, in fact the day after RAS I received a message and my interest was spiked straight away. Put yourself in my crocs, at this point I have ran across Ireland, Scotland and someone is showing me the way across Wales, this was too much like a sign for my liking! When I got the message I was sitting with my crew for Scotland, Salim and Robbie, no hesitation, no beat missed they conformed they would roll in again. As always just the small matter of life and this coincidence might look like a plan!

Ticket secured, ferries booked, head rests sorted the three musketeers teamed up again a few weeks later and we headed for Wales. This time wasn’t to be the fancy week holiday to enjoy ourselves in Scotland, this was bare bones. We get in, we do the job and we get out, this was military like, real life dictated and we obeyed!

Salim and I travelled from the West (The Best) and picked Robbie up in the Pale and as Robbie hopped in, stress, hassle, politics, shit talk and everything we didn’t need got the fuck out. The team was back together, the vibes were go from the off! If your new to the place you won’t know that I have a few rules for races and they were no different for this one, met me as often as you can, I wont wait for you, if your not there I’m running on, failing is not an option, we will not be discussing it. Oh and having fun is non-negotiable and front and foremost at all times!!

Simple. Goals, targets, dreams, we all have them, this was the inaugural hosting of this event so no previous times, no Strava files to dig into. This was the unknown and we were going straight in. From the tracker release on Thursday I knew the field was going to be small, but for any of you that have met my 9 year old you’ll be well aware that small things can be mighty!! I had discussed with the lads that this will be fast that crew stops would have to be on point, no time to spare, no dilly dally!! I left home firmly of the opinion I was heading for top three, a replica of Scotland and grabbing second was doable and for brief moments before I’d laugh them off I dared to dream what a first place might feel like!!

These goals and dreams filled my head along with the usual pre-race internal chats and doubts as I nestled into the pillow Thursday night. Was I ready? Would my back hold up? My knee… I’d not crossed 10km running since Scotland without it daggering me, what was going to be its input? Small field, means I’ll surely go out too hard!! I need sleep now though, don’t regret not sleeping, but what will I eat? Do I have all the mandatory kit? Is my watch charged? Will Robbie drive or Salim I wonder? Do they actually get on do ya think? OK now you talking nonsense, go to sleep! Oh a What’s app…. You get the gist, I found sleep eventually and next I knew we were packing up the car and heading for a 12 midday start. Midday starts are another head melter, especially when we all knew the weather coming our way was going to be the Welsh Dragon trying to get us off this course for the next few days!

As we stood around in the calm before so many storms I wished we could have started earlier and get a head start on the weather! Not to be and as the clock stuck 12, the flare went off, the nerves disappeared and the legs took to stride. Nineteen brave souls, one common goal, 50 hours for everyone, a medal for the successful and a place in history for the one!! We moved together, the chat was good, I say that but much of it was in Welsh but it sounded good and made for more atmosphere for me as a mere blow in!!

I knew one runner, a farmer like myself, one large difference between us being that, he is good, really really good!! The views kicked in quickly and we floated up and down, hills rolled into each other, trails and tracks merged and fields fell away below us. Salim and Robbie just kicked into gear, no messing, no explanations needed. It was quickly made obvious to me if anything was going to go wrong it was not going to be them… that only leaves me I thought!! No Pressure. I was going ok, navigation my only small issue, yes we’ve been here before, there was pathways and trails going in all directions. Lots of watching the watch, zoom in, zoom out, turn a bit, turn back, few steps forward….. no not this one.

The watch was accurate (We have history) so I was confident but I will admit I was a tad frustrated by the amount of minor nav misses or near misses I was making and it was breaking my stride, I discussed it with crew and Jen at home and we do as we do and made a plan. As I had expected I found myself out front early, I was moving OK, obviously pushing more than others and probably too much but if the cap fits! Jen was worried, I could tell. I had some physical lows in the first 50km, I was aware of them, I was living them but my legs were heavy, I was waiting for my knee to say it’s piece and I started wondering had I left too much on the Scottish trails that last day and was my body still wanting to save up while I was looking to spend and spend big!

Becoming aware of my lows and highs is a part of my running journey I am enjoying at the moment and I was yet again in a class room and trying to teach with one hand and listen with the other. If that sounds half as mad as it feels typing it, then maybe you have received a small glimpse into my busy bee of a headspace! The lows became less, the highs I could find and manage and the weather was holding together and some might say we were finding a grove! Food was good, sandwiches, sweets, some crisps, water, gels and as night fell the car opened and I could smell the pizza and knew things were only getting better. In the lead now and still not worried about the dots in the mirror, they were welcome to first if they wanted it, this race like so many Ultras in my eyes had no intention of starting until at least half way!! I was running my own race and that gave me comfort.

First crew stop, raining now, into a church, mood good, crack a joke or two. Aid station in a church, did I say that….. cool!! I cursed, I apologised. The volunteers were brilliant, the stew warm, the vibes on point and Salim was looking after me like a king! I could have stayed, later I thought I should have. Fed, watered and smiling I headed out into the darkness again! Number 13 standing there, limping, dressed in casuals, no pack on… “No” I say, “Did you DNF?, you were flying” “I was, but not now” We shock hands, man down!! I turned, head down, heels up and reminded myself that we are all only one moment away from a DNF.

The rain turned up now, we were heading into the hills, no less than Snowdonia lay ahead, up we went, legs start to burn, every step counted, every calorie used. Still moving, all was ok. But the rain continued into the night, heavy mist, through the mist fell heavy wet rain, the wet sort, the sort that doesn’t mess about, it’s going to the skin. What’s more the higher we went the windier it got, the sharper the rain hitting my face felt. If the hills of Snowdonia were the mouth of the dragon then the rain that lashed down upon us were the fire upon its breathe. Robbie and Salim were also soaked, there was no getting away from this, I had a few rain jackets we changed between, a dry T-shirt would give me a fresh feeling and a glimmer of hope for maybe five or ten minutes until I was sodden again! But continue we did, one crew stop at a time, sometimes one hill at a time, or a field at a time, or a step at a time.

It was during the night that dot 7 was on the move, still not half way I thought, don’t get involved. Don’t……. A little push never hurt anyone, it did. In a rush to cross a steel style I caught and sorta twisted my right ankle and for good measure managed to smack the lower shin of the same leg into the style. I bloody told you not to get involved, now look what you’ve done, your not halfway. Remember 13, yes the DNF, he was limping, only one moment, was that our moment? I ease off, partly out of wanting to, partly out of having to!

The Sun lights the sky, the morning had arrived and for some reason it felt like we had survived something! Aid station 2, Rugby club, a place I know a lot more about than a church that’s for sure. Bacon, sausage and a joke please!! Warm tea also, your too good. A long day ahead I was in good spirits, we rolled again, the DNF count was growing now, the midnight chaser fallen, my shin his passing shot, my fault, no excuses! The rain eased, I was moving again. All crew systems were working, Jen keeping a back seat view from home.

The idea we were entering a race getting real now, still so many miles to cover, don’t jump the steps, left foot, right foot, another km, another climb, another summit, another small victory. Don’t jump the steps, getting ahead of yourself now would be too risky, lots done, that only means you have so much more to do!

The rain returned, it felt heavier now, had we annoyed the dragon, his flames were hotter, sharper and cut deeper on the Saturday evening. Staying in the race quickly became a bigger worry than losing a position, I got cold, so cold. Tracks became rivers, time and time again I climbed hundreds of meters up in water to my ankles, holding my hood stretched out passed my face to save my cheek from the pellets. We changed shirts, jackets but to little avail, I was wet but worse than the evening before, now I was cold. I shivered uncontrollably. At one stage I reached a point in the trail that had been submerged in water as a river came up over its banks. Two choices, wade in hip deep for 20 paces or bush whack through thick heavy briar. I can’t swim so I hopped into the briar! My reward? 500 metres later it had happened again, this time however, only one option. Thankfully not so deep but 7 strides (I counted) water up and just above my knees I came out.

I gave myself a small second to remind myself that the last 5/10 mins is a prime example of the exact reasons I got into the car to come over here. I was outside all my zones and still moving forward and deep down loving every moment. Come again dragon, this still tastes like starters, if you want me to stop, bring out the main dish!!

Into night two we went, I was planning to have been finished by now, but at this point there was only one plan…. Finish!! Night fell again and I could not get warm, gloves on, they got wet, change shirts, more layers, dryer rain jackets, change warm jackets underneath. If the end didn’t come soon, I’d have been wearing Salim and Robbie’s clothes!!

I know I had a coastal path between me and the finish, that sounded inviting, a path, surely some running. Yet again I was wrong, it started as I was expecting but the tar soon ran out, the level surface replaced by deep narrow trails. 24 hours of solid ran at this stage and the underfoot conditions were at a low ebb. Slippy to climb, each foot placing an individual decision. Going down was a lottery at best, were you going to slip out from your feet and land on your arse or over compensate, get toe heavy and have to slide down to an uncontrolled stop. Mud got into everything, now I was wet, cold, so cold and have sand in my shoes and gravel on the grips of my poles. Main course was being served and I was getting my fill!!

Honestly an unknown time and distance and clothes changes later I ran into Aberdaron on the West coast of Wales. Closer to Ireland than the start line I was limping now, hiding it well but feeling it badly, my shin wanted nothing more to do with this this and I was starting to agree!! I ran in and touched the door of the Church. Done, amazing. Nope, not yet they said, run up there, do not turn off that road, your going to the top!!

Usually when you touch whatever they sent you to touch you can call it quits, oh no, not here, we had to go up. Up we went, on road now, I hike, I jogged, I moaned, I internally told my body we were so close to warmth, to a final rest, so close to a shower, to a cup of tea and to slaying the dragon! Another unknown distance of climbing, 3 maybe 4 kms I saw a small gathering, bells rang, cheers lifted and with them my knees. Up here, touch the wall, your done!!

39 and a half hours of beautifully brutal running, walking, eating, laughing, crying and longing we had made it to the West coast of Wales. Box ticked. Photos, chats, presentations, soup and tea and bed called. 5am I snuggled down and a few hours later woke up in one of those dreams I had a few days earlier. We had finished, we had enjoyed it, we had hopefully helped others enjoy it and as if that wasn’t enough we had won it!!

As some side notes cause sometimes I’m not sure if I give enough detail. I ran the entire race in the same shorts, shoes and socks. Yes I had no sock or shoe changes. Definitely some hot spots by the end that I was managing but no change , I have no idea why. It felt good from an early stage and I asked the lad not to mention my feet unless I did! My shin got worse as the event went on, every time I stopped it would be stiffer and much more sore as I tried to move again, the body held up well apart from that but it pretty much brought an end to my running for all the coastal path section.

It's about 40 hours from my finish now and I still cant bend the ankle but it is improving. Needless to say but it doesn’t bother me to say it…. Thanks to Robbie and Salim for their flawless performance. They went above and beyond on this one, I hope they enjoyed it half as much as I did. Jen keeping real life at bay meant she couldn’t be with us again but her involvement was written all over it!! And as always some cows were milked while I was away and the show most definitely went on and thanks to all the folks for keeping the cows on track while I was away!!

So another piece fitted to the jig saw, I have now ran across Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Onward we go looking to create more beautiful and brutal memories!!