With this the first edition of Epona 100 I was keen to take part and add another race to my achievements . Starting and finishing in Abergavenny at midsummer with a very generous time limit of 50 hours I had no concerns about completing the race. The race had filled up very quickly when it opened last year so there were 100 runners.
TL;DR. I really enjoyed this run, it was well organised, not too big so there were no significant bottlenecks even as we set off with single tracks, gates and styles. Checkpoints had plenty of food, great support from the volunteers good access to drop bags. The weather was good, maybe a little warm but it is summer, and the trails were near perfect. Although this was a self navigated course it was generally an easy to follow route. This is a perfect race for someone tackling their first 100 mile race or unmarked course and there was also a run camp if you wanted to get some extra confidence, advice or experience. The generous time limit should allow even slower runners to tackle this with confidence. Last but not least not only do you get a belt buckle but you also get a medal to celebrate your achievement. The second edition will follow the same course but in reverse.
Registration and briefing all took place on the Friday evening at Abergavenny Cricket Club, the postcode for this took me to the football club and I had to orient myself to work out which direction to head in for the short walk to the cricket club. Registration was quick with the normal kit check of 3 key items from the required kit list.
Starting at 6am on Saturday the race headed from the cricket club directly towards and to the top of Sugar Loaf. From here the race loops around Abergavenny taking in a direct assault on Skirrid with a clamber up its steepest face. From here we headed back into Abergavenny following the Beacons way to checkpoint 1. At this point we were 21Km into the race and less than 2Km from the start.
Departing Abergavenny (again) we headed up Blorenge and started working our way towards Crickhowell. On the run from Skirrid and then up Blorenge the temperature had gradually increased and it was looking like a hard days running in hot weather but by the time I reached the top of Blorenge the sky had clouded over to offer some protection. The run along Blorenge to checkpoint 2 was great running, big wide open views of the surrounding countryside and mostly nice open hard packed trails. Checkpoint 2 (Clydach Village Hall) was indoors and we also had access to drop bags so this was the opportunity for a full refresh. Of course checkpoints are mostly in accessible valleys so heading out again involved another ascent.
The next section was ok with gentle climbs and quite a long road section before we made it to checkpoint 3 (Top House Trefil) again a nice indoor checkpoint but the bar was closed. From here out along the main track and across to Talybont-on-Usk Reservoir, some trail but mostly quite roads and hard packed tracks making easy running down to checkpoint 4 (Dannywenallt YHA) an outdoors checkpoint.
From checkpoint 4 there was a steep climb which I think was probably 250-300 metres with a 25% incline. Once at the top it was pretty much straight down to the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal to follow this along checkpoint 5 (Crickhowell), I hate running along canal paths. Crickhowell is slightly over the half-way point in the race and is again an indoor checkpoint with access to the drop bags so for me this was a major stop to refuel, get cleaned up and ready for the night. I also made the mistake of just leaving my bag and not putting it in the pile to move on, my mistake completely so this was the last time I saw my drop bag (there would have been 1 more opportunity otherwise).
I headed out from Crickhowell in the early evening with 3-4 hours before it would get dark so I was quite keen to make the most of the daylight. Coming out of Crickhowell was also the last significant climb until we got back to Sugar Loaf. Although this was a big climb it was also quite gradual so nothing too bad and once we had gained the height we mostly stayed there, good walking paths to follow along making for easy navigation with little opportunity for taking detours. The final approach to checkpoint 6 (Mynydd Du Forest) was down a long winding forest track, sometimes overgrown, with a final clamber over a fallen tree. This was a pretty basic checkpoint where I would have again had access to my drop bag if I hadn’t messed up, completely my fault.
From check 6 it was a then a steady walk up past the reservoir, normally this is a really pleasant route but now that night had fallen it was just a grind with puddles to avoid wherever possible. Once above the reservoir we were at the northernmost part of the course and turned right to head over towards Offa’s Dyke but first going to checkpoint 7. Along this section I couldn’t orientate myself and kept trying to work out what the remaining sections were like but once we hit checkpoint 7 (Gospel Pass) it all fell into place and I understood how the rest of the route would pan out.
So it was a quick cup of coffee and then back on the trail to head along Offa’s Dyke and down to Llanthony Abbey again this is well walked route with very little opportunity to get lost although I did wander off the track at one point, let’s put this down to tiredness but I don’t understand how it happened. With this being near midsummer this was also the end of the night section and about 3pm the sun started to come up and by 4pm it was light enough to dispense with the head torches. With daylight I started to motor along again at a good steady pace plus I knew the finish was getting rapidly closer. Down past Llanthony Abbey and into checkpoint 8.
Another cup of coffee and we started the climb up away from the abbey. This is a reasonably steep climb but not particularly long so it wasn’t long before we were back on the high ground with what looked like a long descent before making the final climb up Sugar Loaf. Through most of the night I’d been with Matt Fynn and embarrassed myself when he was telling me about moving to Abergavenny and I suddenly said “wait a minute I’ve heard this before” as I realised we had run together previously (Matt knew but was humouring me). Anyway once we were back on the high ground Matt suggested I go on ahead and I initially said but then decided I would and shot off like a bat out of hell determined not to see him again until the finish, yes I’m not competitive right up until I am.
Anyway from here it was a fast run down good tracks and minor roads before again ascending Sugar Loaf and a very slow descent from the top as my quads and feet protested at this final stretch but once I hit the paved surfaces again is was an easy trot into the finish at Abergavenny Cricket Club.