Sat 23rd March
14 Mile Run - Ystrad to 9 Mile Point, Sirhowy Valley Walk
Today, my training plan tells me to run 14 miles! To date, the furthest I have achieved in one go is 13.2 miles. So I am now entering the realms of the unknown in mileage!! I am both apprehensive and excited at the same time! I decide to run from Ystrad Mynach to Hengoed and then over the viaduct to Maesycwmmer.......
Hengoed Station.
View of the snow covered mountains across the valley from the top of Maesycwmmer viaduct.
The "Wheel of Drams" which commemorates the valley's coaling industry.
Maesycwmmer.
As I leave Maesycwmmer, the track starts to get slushy and is rather slippery underfoot...
A nice long downhill towards Wyllie...
The Halfway House - serves a lovely pint as well as a delicious Sunday roast!
I now join the Sirhowy Valley Walk and run parallel with Ynysddu.
The track is tarmacked here. Everything looks autumnal still.....
View to the left of me...
Oh dear, nature calls already!! I quickly nip behind this wall and pray no one passes!!
Here the track is lined with trees either side....
First problem encountered...A puddle covers the entire track here and I am forced to walk through it! My feet are sopping now and I have another 11 miles to run!!!
Alongside the track are many little streams and waterfalls.....
View across the valley of a snow covered mountain.....
More waterfalls......
The trees seem to be getting taller around me!
View to my right.....
Lol! This sign tickled me.... I was doing 7mph @ the time!...Don't think I'll EVER reach 10!!
Well, I'm halfway - 7 miles down, 7 to go. I spy with my little eye a route that looks interesting....can't help myself, I go down it.............
It leads down to the river I've been running parallel with for the last 4 miles...
Perfect, I'll just follow this back home!
There are bridges to cross........
Lots of puddles to tackle.....
And, lots and lots of mud!!! I am slipping all over the place!! But what fun it is!!
Suddenly, I find myself running through fields......The terrain becomes bumpy....
I look back at the field I just ran through and the mountains beyond are snow capped also...
A sharp bit of uphill before I re join the Sirhowy Valley Walk. Not really a fan of running a there and back route, I cross a bridge which takes me alongside the otherside of the rive for a couple of miles....
View from the bridge.....
I run alongside the opposite side of the river for a while......
The track opens out for a spell......
It soon become quite muddy again.....
Ewwwwww!!
And there are several puddles.....
I go down to the river bank for a closer look....
Eventually, I cross the river once more re joining the Sirhowy Valley Walk and before I know it,
I'm running along the track in Maesycwmmer again....
What a fab, scenic run I've had! And, I have managed to clock up
22,237 steps in 2hours and 5 mins!!
Can't wait til the next one :o)
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