The Man v Horse Marathon is a 22 mile multi-terrain race held annually in mid June in the hills around Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, Wales. As the name suggests, the runners are racing not only against each other but also against horse riders. Since the race was first contested in 1980, it has only twice been won by a runner, in 2004 and 2007.
The race can be done as an individual runner or in a team of 3 with individual relay stages of around 7 miles. The scenery is stunning, with rolling hills, rugged mountains, open pastures, thick forest and trickling streams (or raging torrents if there has been heavy rain).
The relay race is within the capabilities of most HRR members (possibly with a bit of extra training). To complete one leg of the relay (approx. 7 miles) realistically you should be comfortable running a standard Sunday run (90 mins) at your own pace. If you have run any of the cross country race series, then all the better, and any extra hill training will always help you go quicker. The full 22 mile race needs training similar to standard marathon training with a few extra hills.
For the past few years, a group from HRR has enjoyed a weekend away, taking part in this unique event. If you would like to know more about this year’s trip, have a look in the March and June 2015 newsletters (available in the Members area of the website).