Race the Train Rotary Challenge 14mile

The Rotary Challenge is the signature 14 mile race of Race the Train, starting on the crest of the main railway bridge next to Tywyn's Talyllyn Railway station, with runners and a steam train set off together by whistle. The course follows the railway line as closely as possible towards Abergynolwyn, using a genuine mix of public roads, lanes, unmetalled tracks, agricultural land and rough grazing pasture. The first half is comparatively easy going on road and track, but the second half turns onto steep, uncultivated hillside, crossing a stream and climbing narrow sheep paths across open ffridd before rejoining the road used earlier in the day back into Tywyn. Water points are provided at regular intervals throughout. The train takes around 1 hour 47 minutes to complete its journey, and the fastest runners are able to beat it home, making this a genuinely unique test of multi-terrain running in the Welsh countryside.