Race The Train

I still can't ride so I took the opportunity to enter an event I've been meaning to try for a long time; Race the Train in Caernarfon. It's a 5k race whereby you run on a path that meanders only a few meters from the train which is carrying a bunch of noisy supporters cheering you on.

The runners and the train start at the same time however idea is that to give the runners any chance at all the train has to stop at a station at half way before carrying on to the finish. Although the train may initially pass you in the first half of the race, the fact that the train has to slow down to a stop and then pull away, slowly gathering momentum, means that if you come in at under 20 minutes you'll likely beat it (the finishing time of the train differs slightly each year).

I pushed really hard at the start to get away well and after 1km I was 8 seconds up on my 1km in 4 minutes target. The next two kilometres were slower as my frantic start caught up with me and I was down 6 seconds with 2km to go. I chilled during the 4th kilometre so as not to blow up which meant that the train pulled alongside me. The driver seemed to be goading me as the train would pull ahead a few meters, then drop back a few, only to pull ahead again. The supporters on the train were great and having recovered sufficiently I buried myself on the final kilometre to finish 22 seconds ahead of the train in a time of 19.47

Absolutely great fun and the evening ended with a pizza with good friends in Llanberis (I doubt the serious runners had the same post-race meal).

Note:

Let's put my effort into perspective. Fellow Bangor University student and general running legend, Rob Samuel, set a new course record of 14.09 meaning that in theory he could have cooled down, stretched, taken a shower, got changed and had a cup of tea before I came across the finish line! Amazing.