Taff Trail Run Feb 2013 - Cardiff to Ystrad 13.2 Miles!
Well, I'm training for a half Marathon in March and my training programme told me to run 12 miles today. Thought I'd go for a new route. Got my family to drop me off in Cardiff and decided to run home along the Taff Trail..........
I started near the Tescos by Gabalfa and ran alongside the river Taff.....
.....where lots of people were rowing up and down the river. Quite pleasant to watch......
The track along here was tarmaced and edged with trees.....
Further along there was a bridge across the river...
I couldn't resist a sneaky peek! It looked freeeeeezing!!
About another half a mile down the track there's another weir.....
The track was still quite autumny looking.....
Upstream from the weir the water is very calm and made lovely reflections.....
The track leaves the river after about 4 miles and I head into Tongwynlais..
..Castell Coch is in the distance....
Nearly there.....
Anyone who's been to Castell Coch before, will remember the long, steep incline up to the
castle itself from the main road!!! OMG! It's hard going!!!
It goes on.........
....and on.......
But it's well worth the climb :o)......
Once at Castell Coch, it was time for what can only be described as "The Hill from Hell"!!
This pictures doesn't do it justice!! The elevation gain was ridiculous!!
And as the last hill, it went on..........
.....and on...........
This hill was @ mile 4.5 of the run - the line in green!!
I was sooooo glad to reach the top to run on the flat for a spell!!!!
And even happier to find a load of fast downhill the other end of it! :o)
It was quite uneven, muddy ground....
My little legs were going sooo fast, I reckon you wouldn't have been able to focus on them!!!
The track went through a woodland for a while......
At Taffswell, the track opens out and there are lovely views across the valley to The Garth...
At Nantgarw, the track turns back to tarmac and is flat for a while......
Then, it's a long slow drag to Caerphilly......
Finally, I reach Caerphilly Castle.....
Sorry ducks (and geese), no bread for you today!!
Across the bridge.......
...and around the other side of the castle.....
I ran down through Caerphilly.............
....through Llanbradach......
......up another hill!!!!!
and finally, I reach Ystrad Mynach after 1 hr 59 mins and 21 seconds!!!!
What a fantastic run!!!
