On Saturday 5th July, Newport and District Running Club member Ellen Deighton travelled across the border to Wales to take part in the PIGUM. Standing for Porth I’r Gymru Ultra Marathon, the race takes place in the mountains around Abergavenny, an area known as the Gateway to Wales, or Porth I’r Gymru in Welsh!

Runners start in Abergavenny and quickly face the first mountain of the race, scaling the Blorenge just outside the town. On a hot and humid day, the steep climb through the forest definitely tested the hearts and lungs of the participants. Next up is a mountain trail around Gilwern Hill, and a descent through the Clydach Gorge before heading to Brymawr. A moorland section with some tricky navigation takes runners up, down, and back up again on the mountains overlooking Crickhowell, and a look at the Lonely Shepherd rock formation, before descending through Gilwern to the final checkpoint.

The last section involves climbing Sugar Loaf Mountain, a 3 mile climb to high winds at the trig point! Finally, the runners come back down over Deri Allt and Twyn-yr-Allt before a steep descent into Abergavenny to the finish line, having covered just over 30 miles with over 5,400 ft of elevation. Ellen was pleased to finish the PIGUM in 9 hours and 30 minutes, and is already looking at going back next year for more!