I've done a few trail races this year and each one has its own uniqueness to it, and this one was no exception. 

Cardiff Epic Trail certainly lived up to its name. With the glorious backdrop of Fforest Fawr as the setting for this race, runners were shaded by the trees as they wound their way along the route. This was a welcome relief from the oppressive. 

With lovely, long sections of winding downhill trails you were lulled into a false sense of security and it was easy to forget that as far as trail runs are concerned, what goes down must come back up again. And up we went. Up, up, up and up some more of the most brutal hills I've tackled on a trail run. We're talking stopping for breath, bent double, wondering whether you have the strength to go on. 

But with a name like Cardiff Epic Trail, no one ever said it was going to be easy. After all, flat is boring, right? 

Really impressive medal and a great welcome at the finish line where you were greeted with bottles of water, as many sweets as you could shove down, and a medal placed around your neck by the local Police Community Support Officers. All in all, a great experience. 10/10 would run again.