At Porthcawl Runners, we do a lot more than just running.
As well as our group-based training sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays, throughout the year our Social & Events Team (SET) create activities and challenges for the Club as a whole, bringing runners and walkers of all abilities together.
The month of June brings ‘Mountain Madness’ – the clue is in the name! 4 teams battle to conquer the 50 highest peaks of Wales! Not literally of course, but as a cumulative total of elevation recorded on Strava.
Here is how the first week went:
MOUNTAIN MADNESS — WEEK 1 REPORT
“The Hills are alive, with the sound of Wheezing….”
So… the SET Team MAY HAVE accidentally created a challenge that might actually be too hard.
Yes. It finally happened.
The club that runs 10K in fancy dress, drinking wine, has met its match.
Based on Week 1, not a single team is on track to hit all 50 peaks by the end of June.
Not one.
Zero.
Zilch.
Nada.
Even the dragons are looking at the mountains like:
“Mate… you sure?”
For context, by the end of Week 1, every team should be at 25%.
But this is Porthcawl Runners, where maths is optional and enthusiasm is compulsory.
1st Place — Summit Stags
The Stags are leading the charge, bounding majestically up the mountains like caffeinated deer.
They’re short of the 25% target, with 21.56% but honestly, who cares — they’re winning, and that’s what counts. An impressive 9,461 metres were ran/walked/hiked.
WEEK 1 Team Leader
RC — 727 metres
A woman who clearly saw a hill and said,
“Yeah, alright then – Lets do this.”
2nd Place — Elevation Eagles
20.3% — 8,906 metres
The Eagles are soaring… but also occasionally circling like,
“Is that Foel Grach? Do we have to?”
Coming in at 20.3% or 8,906 metres, an impressive effort by the team.
WEEK 1 Team Leader
RG — 1,418 metres
This man didn’t run hills.
He collected them.
3rd Place — Ascending Dragons
The Dragons are breathing Fire – mostly from their lungs.
They’re behind the Eagles, but they’ve got that chaotic energy that says “We Will WIN this”. Coming in at 18.72%, 8,213 metres were climbed.
WEEK 1 – Team leader
SB — 991 metres
A heroic effort that has inspired the team to stop pretending they’re “saving their legs.”
4th Place — Altitude Wolves
The Wolves… oh, the Wolves.
Coming in at 16.55% or 7,259 metres, they are trying.
They’re really trying.
But Week 1 has been a bit of a “character‑building experience.”
WEEK 1 – Team Leader
TA — 860 metres
T is basically dragging the rest of the pack uphill by their hydration vests.
General Observations (aka: The Gossip Section)
Most Teams have conquered the top 8 Mountains, but “Yr Elen” has apparently turned into a spiritual retreat where several runners are still sitting at the bottom, waiting for their second wind, or a sign from the universe, or maybe a lift.
Castles Relay Weekend….
Some heroic elevation was logged…
but Mount Pleasant and Danygraig Hill were suspiciously quiet.
Almost like people thought:
“Do I want to run up a hill today?
Or do I want a bacon roll?”
WEEK 2- Nicer Weather and a Very Sunny Weekend to look forward to……. Which means…..
No excuses
No hiding
No “my watch didn’t record”
No “I thought it was raining”
And definitely no “I was tapering for a 5K”
We expect monster runs, heroic climbs, and at least one person to say, “I think I’ve found a new hill… nobody tell the Wolves.”
Final Message to All Teams
This is the moment for Heroes…..
This is where legends are made….
This is where WhatsApp groups come alive like Frankenstein’s monster.
This is where motivational speeches are delivered with the intensity of a man who’s had three gels and a flat white.
You’ve got one job:
GET YOUR TEAM TO 50% by the end of Week 2 !!!!
Hill sessions.
Group runs.
Peer pressure.
Bribery.
Whatever it takes.
May your legs be strong,
your lungs be mighty,
and your Strava uploads be on time.