This is a lovely video in many ways. Looking back over the remarkable events of your day, I think you made the right choice to let this film go a little longer. Just now I decided to row along with it for inspiration. I completed 13,485 virtual meters on my Concept2 with your help. Thanks for posting all this marvelous content, Nicola.
That's awesome, well done John! Oh my goodness I will remember the start of this day for the rest of my life! It was awful!!! And then the kindness of the race organisers 🥰 it turned out to be the most awesome day! 😃
Oh Nicola, what an awesome achievement and what a fabulous vlog! You are such an inspiration for everyone, runner or not! Your determination and positivity shine through… totally felt for you at the beginning, just so happy you got to run, and what a run! I LOVE watching your ultra trail runs… I know I could never run that distance, but you make it look so fun! Kudus in bucket loads for running in that heat! You are a machine! (A cheery giggly happy one at that! 😀Loved how you were so happy to be running after the taxi nightmare you were even happy to see the cows!)🐄 🐄🐄 🤣🤣🤣
Awwwww you're always so lovely, thank you so much! I'm just so pleased you enjoyed the video 😃 I honestly can't describe the despair when I ran out of ideas and the race started without me. We'd come such a long way just to do this race, I was heartbroken! So then when I got to do it I couldn't believe my luck! And... Never say never! Because you never know 😉
Oh my word! Grab the popcorn and make sure you are sitting comfortably. This is a real lows and highs vlog. Full of magical moments and a strong strong Nicola who runs and runs and runs!
Awww thanks Karen. This was a tough day and an emotional rollercoaster but it was also the start of a love affair with the Wales Coast Path so that's pretty special 🥰
Nicola, an hour+ video is definitely not too long. I've watched it twice already. What an epic journey, to be sure. All respect for slaying the dragon. I hope you were able to get in the sea before returning home. You certainly deserve it!
Oh thank you so much! In my head I couldn't let it go over an hour and then it was taking me so long to edit that I had to ask myself why I was stuck on making it less than an hour and as I didn't have an answer for myself then I released it as it was... So thank you so much for making me feel better about that decision ☺️ We had a day at the beach and about an hour into it a huge thunderstorm came and it was so cold and wet. We had to laugh though as it was pretty funny 🤣
Wow what a rollercoaster! I was feeling all moshe with you at the start even though I heard the pod at the time and knew you done it. Wales looks so good. Have to admit have seen Barry and Cardiff but only in winter. Well done on such a fantastic run - you really are a running hero! Thank you for sharing.
Awwww thanks my lovely. Oh my goodness I was so upset when I thought I couldn't run. It was the entire point of our trip! I was so lucky that the guys were so lovely and let me run 😃 this race made me fall in love with Wales and for that I'll be forever grateful 🥰
Finally catching up on your videos! I remember seeing your live and feeling so gutted for you, even though I knew it all worked out I was still tearful! Another fab video, what a stunning route! Thanks for sharing it with us 💛💛
Thanks Tony, this video took the longest time to edit as I was set on getting it under an hour. As soon as I realised that it was a pointless arbitrary goalpost it became much easier but yes... Takes a while hey?! It's nice for us to have the memories to look back on though 😃 and yes... Breathtaking scenery, I'm now totally in love with the Wales Coast Path 😍
I really enjoy your ultra videos - I'm nowhere near your fitness or ability but you make them seem accessible, somehow! I suppose, at the very least, you give people like me a taste of what running something I'm unlikely to ever do feels like. Well done on continuing to turn up for these insanely long events, and please keep filming them! :-)
Thank you so much 🤗 they're a lot more accessible than they seem. I keep trying to convince friends to run a 32 mile/50k trail ultra before a road marathon as they're much more chilled and enjoyable but for some reason most runners think you can't do an ultra before you do a marathon. But a road marathon is WAY harder for your body than a trail ultra, if for no other reason than just the repetition of movement! I love the trails and seeing beautiful places 😍 and I'm really pleased you enjoyed the video 😃
Thank you, yes totally hooray for them! I thought it was all hopeless and then just like that... 10 mins after the race started they wake up, the race organisers call me and there is hope again! Absolute rollercoaster! Couldn't believe it! Really kept me going in the hard moments as almost not being able to do it made me appreciate how much I wanted to do it! 😃
I'd watched one of your 100 mile run videos a couple of days before the Dragon 100 (my first 100 so was starting to get last minute nerves) then right at the end (crossing the barrage into Cardiff) you plodded past recording with the camera. Well done, it was so hot!
Well done to you! I've literally no clue how you guys did 100 miles in that?! You have my utmost respect! And as your first hundred 😱😱😱 that's incredible! Huge kudos for finishing it 💪💪💪 You're not wrong... It was BOILING! 🙃
Seriously well done on getting going at the beginning. If that had happened to me I’d probably have had a tantrum and given up! (And I definitely might have given up at that little path along the cliff by the sea. I never deal well with things like that…) If I ever do anything like this I’ll have to have stern words with myself or I’ll end up like that guy with the massive bag. I’m a chronic over-packer
Thank you 🤗 His bag?! 😱😱😱 Imagine how hard it would be with a bag that big?! 🤣 I couldn't believe it! 💪 I had a few mini tantrums that morning believe me! And then I was so adrenaline fuelled I had to try so hard to calm down and get my head in the game. Not ideal race prep! 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
'Hats off to you' Nicola, your fantastic, your determination to complete the ordeal was admirable. I found myself fighting back the tears when you were suffering so bad. You are an inspiration to all the young runners who follow you (especially Poppy) and ........to an 'old' one who watches your every accomplishments. Glad to see Al (I also subscribe to him) meeting you at the end. Keep running!!!!!!!
What a brilliant video captured so well. A really strong smartly run performance!!! I’ll be doing the 100 this year. Thanks for the great insight to the second leg! 👏🏻
Thanks so much Daniel 😀 I'm excited for you! It's a tough route but so very beautiful 😍 Wishing you all of the luck for your hundred 💪 I hope you have an awesome time out on those trails and I hope that the weather is kind 🤞😃
@@NicolaRunsJesus wept that was a tough race. The Afan forest section was horrendous 😂 I ran far too fast at the start and I paid for it later on but managed 27:48 Thanks again for the video was a a great preparation video for me but most of what you ran I power hiked as my legs had stopped working!! RWC are awesome! Such a great community.
@@danielmcconville5805 oh wow! That's an awesome time on that terrain! Just brilliant! Huge congratulations 🎉🎉🎉 Thanks for letting me know how you got on 🤗 I love a race update! 😃 Hope you're recovering well 😊
Oh my god Nicola, what an awful and stressful way to start your day. Not going to say what I think of Dragon taxis, but I’m sure you can imagine. Anyway all is well that ends well and you got to start in the end and a big shout out to the organisers. Great video Nicola and wonderful to watch. Thanks as always for sharing and take care.
Thank you 🤗 Yeah I'm not sure I'd ever use them again?! 😱 I couldn't believe it and I was crying loads on the phone begging them to help me and honour my booking but they wouldn't do anything 😭 Run Walk Crawl were brilliant! No way I thought they'd let me start after missing registration AND the actual race start! I'm so grateful to them for rescuing my day 😃
It's probably the best scenery I've ever had on a run. One of those runs where you're like "WOW, THIS IS MY LIFE" and feel super lucky despite it being hard 😃 Lots of Type 1 fun 😍 Good luck! Hope you get to the start okay 🤦🏻♀️ I'm still a bit traumatised by that bit! 😂
@@NicolaRuns I live on Barry Island so I get to run these trails a lot. I know the route very well. I do not take it for granted with views and feel very blessed!! I hope my alarm goes off as planned as don't fancy chasing my tail with a late start. It was great drama at the beginning of your vid and then I spent an hour rooting for you🤣
@@thejenks oh wow! Lucky you 😍 I'd so love to live by the sea! Fingers crossed for your alarm... Set 2!!! 🤣 Lol, it was good for drama but bad for my stress levels. Running 50 miles was nothing compared to all that drama 😂😂😂
Absolutely rivetting video Nicola. Well done on completing the challenge and thank you for taking us along with you and showing us both the highs and the lows. Amazing!
Amazing Nicola - I ran on the same day and your video brought back such good (and painful 😂)memories. Loved how honest and candid you were in your video - you clearly are an amazing person! Well done on slaying the dragon 🐉 Llongyfarchiadau ( congratulations in Welsh) 🏴
Awww thank you 🤗 Congratulations to you too 😃 It was an awesome race wasn't it but SO hot! I've absolutely fallen in love with the Wales Coast Path 😍 Since then we've returned and camped at Nash Point as I was in love with it and we've also explored a bit of the Gower and Worm's Head (if I'm remembering rightly what it's called!). Actually maybe it's Wales itself I love as we were in Llangollen last weekend and WOW! 😍 Although I'm in Leeds I'd definitely be tempted more races in Wales, it's a great way to see places 😃
@@NicolaRuns The heat was something unexpected for sure (well, at least in my prep). You should take a look at the Pegasus ultra marathon series. I’m looking to enter the slam (6events over 6 months) in 2023. Some beautiful Welsh routes!
Even though I knew (from WMN spoilers) that you'd get to the race in the end, I had to watch the start from behind the sofa! 😱 Excruciating viewing - seeing your anguish and upset as you lived through all of our worst race-day nightmares: Boo, Boo and shame on you, Dragon taxis! But YAY for lovely guesthouse peeps! What an epic challenge and an epic vlog. I'm exhausted and dehydrated just from watching it. Congratulations Nicola x
Awww thank you Susan! The morning was AWFUL! I just didn't know what to do with myself?! Boooooo Dragon Taxis indeed! Hope you've had a nap and a drink and are feeling better now after watching 😉😜
Great video. Heads up for hot weather running. Ive discovered Cool or Cold towels. I normally put mine wet into the freezer the night before and use it on my long runs. They defrost in minutes and sit icy cold round your neck comfortably. Their technical material means that when they warm up you shake them out and they cool down again. Or if out for hours and you have access to cold water you can resoak it. And start again. Mine definitely stays cold for 4-5 hrs. Also i bought mine from Dock & Bay but the ones on amazon are just as good 👍. Definitely worth investing in.
Thank you 🤗 Yes! 😃 That's what mine is! Aren't they awesome?! We were in a hotel so I had no freezer but I'd untuck it so it flapped about to get cold and then tuck it back in around my neck to feel the lovely coolness 😃 great invention!
Fabulous event and well done Nicola and a roller coaster emotional journey … what arseholes at dragon taxis !! Smashed it in the end though despite the sand and diversions lack of ice creams and heat !! Incredible 👊🏁
Thank you so much Michael 🤗 you're not wrong... definitely an emotional rollercoaster! I wasn't thrilled with Dragon Taxis 😡 but I was beyond delighted that I got to race in the end... Everyone loves a happy ending 😃☺️🤗
I’ve signed up for the 30 this year and I’m doing section hike recce’s of the route. Thank you for the armchair recce and well done with that heat! I hope it’s not that hot this year!! Great video!
Absolutely amazing achievement Nicola! 👏👏 Especially in that ridiculous heat! What amazing scenery - love Wales! Some of that terrain looked super tough - Well done you!
Thank you, it was an incredible experience 😃 but such an emotional rollercoaster thanks to Dragon Taxi's! 🤦🏻♀️ Because of this race I'm now in love with South Wales! 😍
Thank you. It was awful, I didn't know what to do with myself?! I'd travelled so far to get there and then it was all taken away! 😭 Thank goodness it all worked out in the end though 😃🎉
Well done, epic achievement (& video). That sheer cliff edge looked terrifying, & the walled garden looked lovely. All those obstacles: steps, the long hill where the handrail stopped & the beach with the massive stones/pebbles. Next time you run in a heatwave would you consider running in lighter colours, instead of black which absorbs heat? 😀
Thank you 🤗 It's an awesome route isn't it?! What a challenge! I would love to run in white compression tops but... You wear them on one ultra and the dirt gets in between the bag and your back or the straps and they just get wrecked. I don't like running in t-shirts, only skin tight tops so there's no seams or anything rubbing. When they invent a white top that repels dirt then I'm all over it 😃😃😃
OMG What a rollercoaster! So glad it all came together for you in the end. It looked fantastic but you’re not selling this one to me I’m afraid, I’ll happily stick to 5k’s 🤣
🤣🤣🤣 this made me laugh. It's stunning but not an easy race at all. And such an emotional rollercoaster! All's well that ends well though 😃 it was a day I'll remember forever 🥰
Nicola v Steps. Looks like you won 😄 Brilliant video, and a fantastic achievement given the start of your day and the ridiculous heat. Bit of a heartbreaking start, very emotional. You definitely deserved a Mr Whippy
Thank you 🤗 Oh my goodness the steps?!!! 🤣 Bloody steps 🙄😂 But hooray that they didn't defeat me! I had no clue what to do with myself at the start... I was just stuck! 💔
Wow what a great video of what looked like a brutal race, that was a massive mix of emotions I nearly didn't want to watch it all after our local taxi firm let you down massively. After that it was onwards and upwards, even made me consider this race. Thank you for giving us this vlog. And please next time you consider this race give one of us a shout and we will sort transport. See you soon 😊
Yes! Definitely consider it, it's an AWESOME race! Awww thanks for the offer of support next time 🤗 massively appreciated and I have a feeling you'd be a whole lot more reliable than Dragon Taxis! 🤦🏻♀️🤣
Thanks for this Nicola! I'm doing the 100 in a couple of weeks and I'm now sure I need multiple pairs of socks and wet wipes in my drop bag, would you recommend trail shoes or road shoes? A lot of the course seemed pretty "runnable". Great to see so much of the course.
Thanks and good luck! Obviously I've no idea about the first half but for this 50 I'd suggest light trails for the first half and switching to road at the drop bag as you'll 100% want to be in road shoes for the last 25 miles 😊 It's such a beautiful course, hope you're not too tired to enjoy the beauty as I honestly loved it 😍😍😍
Thank you, I absolutely LOVED this race! I hired a campervan and went back to camp near the lighthouse as I loved this stretch of coast so much 😃 obviously I only loved this race once I started running... I did not enjoy the morning!!! 🤦🏻♀️😭😭😭
Wow epic vlog! I love that you capture the highs and lows of ultra running and you did amazing in that heat! Sun is definitely bs Some really useful advice regarding running in heat do thank you One thing the guy with the biggest backpack 😳 what was in that bag??!! That must of been so tough carrying that Well done that is one amazing, brutal ultra
Hi Nicola. Thanks for this video and congratulations. I am considering this race this year, hence how I found your video which is great. I just wondered if you would recommend it and if you had any tips on kit… shoes, gators etc. I am most concerned about the sand !! I was tempted to do the 100 but think I’ll save that distance until later in the year! Thanks in advance x
I'd definitely recommend it! The route was stunning 😍 The sand is tough but I'd just recommend tapping your shoes out and having a change of socks for after the dance and another change of socks in your drop bag. I'm sure there will be some good gaiters out there if you want to experiment but unless they're coming fairly high up your legs then I think there's enough sand to cause a problem even with decent gaiters. I personally didn't wear any. The route is definitely trail shoes for the first half and road shoes for the second half so I'd definitely recommend a pair of road shoes in your drop bag and switching over! Good luck, I hope you get good weather and that you love it. This race company is awesome and really cares about their runners ❤️ Let me know how you get on! Oh and I think you made the right decision about the 100. I was thinking that this would be a really tough race to do as a 100 😳🙈🤣
Great video. The beginning was a little heart breaking with the taxi situation. The sand looked horrible to run in. You attitude is amazing...next time I go the wrong way, Ill remember "few extra miles for my money"....also amazing recording skills while walking that narrow cliff path and any stairs up or down. I was really hoping to see you with a gigantic ice cream cone at the end...you deserved it. I'm really looking forward to watching lots of your past and or course, future videos! Well done!!
Thank you 🤗 I was literally heart broken, honestly it was awful! I mean it's totally first world problems but I'd travelled so far and was totally ready and just couldn't get there! Super frustrating but hooray that it worked out 😃 I always try to be positive when stuff goes wrong because it's too easy to beat yourself up and a cycle of negative self talk definitely won't help when doing something really challenging. Best to just shrug it off and find the positive... I saw a bit more of the course than others did! 😜 And when I went wrong at Barry Island I did like seeing the cool retro sign 😃 As soon as I stopped running I TOTALLY forgot about the ice cream 🤣 I think I was so sweaty that I cooled down pretty quickly. I did go back and have one 2 weeks later just to have had a Mr Whippy at the end as I felt like it was the right thing to do 🤣🍦
@@NicolaRuns definitely will be googling a Mr Whippy! (I’m in Canada). Yeah what I love so far the most abt your channel is your positivity. I’ve already changed my “attitude” a little because of you. I am generally positive but you’re off the scale! Lots of room for me to improve. So lucky to have stumbled on to your channel. Keep smiling and inspiring!
@@Mookiethedog aww you're so lovely! Thank you for the super positive comments 🤗 I had no clue Mr Whippy was a British thing! 😱 Some people here love it and some hate it. It's whipped ice cream so it's smooth and delicious but it's not high quality like a good gelato so some people are snobby about it. For me it totally does the job and on a long hot run its what I crave! It's like the McFlurry ice cream... If yours is the same as ours?! 🙃 Thanks again 🤗🤗🤗
@@NicolaRuns I probably can’t have one as I do the vegan thing. I’ll check it out though! I’ve watched a ton of running videos. The Fell running thing in the UK is really cool too. That looks like some crazy fun!
@@Mookiethedog fell running is AWESOME! Although you often have to carry a ton of kit but... safety first. I'm veggie but would love to be vegan. Cheese, butter, ice cream and will power are stopping me 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️😜
For some reason, in my head, Cardiff Bay was going to be a bit grim. I literally have no idea where I got that from because it was the absolute opposite! I love Cardiff Bay 😍
Absolutely incredible, huge well done. I really fancy having a go at something like this. How do you do the navigating running a route you haven’t done before? Did you have the route mapped on a gps device?
Thank you 🤗 Yup, just download the gpx file and away you go! 😃 I'd highly recommend it as a way of exploring new places 😍 I'm now in love with the Wales Coast Path!
My work here is done 😜 Seriously though, they're awesome! Just pick the right one... One without ballot entry but one with generous cut offs so you're not obsessing over pace and then get out there and enjoy it! 😃
Thanks Clare 🤗 You're right. I don't have a white compression top... Maybe I need to get one but they get grubby so quickly. That's why I love black! 🙃
@@NicolaRuns ah didn't realise it was compression. I tend to use compression for recovery rather than to run in but then again I stick to shorter distances
Definitely! 😃 I'm editing Pontypool parkrun right now, then need to do Woolacombe Dunes and then Keswick! It's hard in the summer holidays as I don't want Poppy to just see me sat in front of a screen 🙃
Thank you, yes can't they just! 🤣 I was furious with them?! Why didn't they at least cancel half an hour before or something... Cancelling half an hour after you're due is just not on 😭
I took 13 hours but I had a stop every time I felt myself overheating. I'd easily knock a few hours off that on a cooler day. After I saw the poor lady collapse I just asked myself what my aim was and it was really just to enjoy it and get to the end unscathed so I don't think that time is reflective of how hard or easy the course is. It's not THAT slow of a course but it is bloody hard running! Not a massive amount of elevation and loads of super runnable trails... Obviously I filmed the hardest bits so don't let that put you off ☺️ But yes... I think you could do with using OS maps for this as some bits just following a GPS trace wasn't enough. I mean it was, it worked fine but it definitely added some time in the bits where the trace wasn't clear enough when paths ran next to each other. I would 100% recommend it as a race. The team are awesome and checkpoints BRILLIANT! Scenery was just stunning and it felt like a real privilege all the way along. I think the people that do it as a hundred miler are insane though 🤣
This is a lovely video in many ways. Looking back over the remarkable events of your day, I think you made the right choice to let this film go a little longer. Just now I decided to row along with it for inspiration. I completed 13,485 virtual meters on my Concept2 with your help. Thanks for posting all this marvelous content, Nicola.
That's awesome, well done John! Oh my goodness I will remember the start of this day for the rest of my life! It was awful!!! And then the kindness of the race organisers 🥰 it turned out to be the most awesome day! 😃
Oh Nicola, what an awesome achievement and what a fabulous vlog! You are such an inspiration for everyone, runner or not! Your determination and positivity shine through… totally felt for you at the beginning, just so happy you got to run, and what a run! I LOVE watching your ultra trail runs… I know I could never run that distance, but you make it look so fun! Kudus in bucket loads for running in that heat! You are a machine! (A cheery giggly happy one at that! 😀Loved how you were so happy to be running after the taxi nightmare you were even happy to see the cows!)🐄 🐄🐄 🤣🤣🤣
Awwwww you're always so lovely, thank you so much! I'm just so pleased you enjoyed the video 😃 I honestly can't describe the despair when I ran out of ideas and the race started without me. We'd come such a long way just to do this race, I was heartbroken! So then when I got to do it I couldn't believe my luck! And... Never say never! Because you never know 😉
Oh my word! Grab the popcorn and make sure you are sitting comfortably. This is a real lows and highs vlog. Full of magical moments and a strong strong Nicola who runs and runs and runs!
Awww thanks Karen. This was a tough day and an emotional rollercoaster but it was also the start of a love affair with the Wales Coast Path so that's pretty special 🥰
Nicola, an hour+ video is definitely not too long. I've watched it twice already. What an epic journey, to be sure. All respect for slaying the dragon. I hope you were able to get in the sea before returning home. You certainly deserve it!
Oh thank you so much! In my head I couldn't let it go over an hour and then it was taking me so long to edit that I had to ask myself why I was stuck on making it less than an hour and as I didn't have an answer for myself then I released it as it was... So thank you so much for making me feel better about that decision ☺️ We had a day at the beach and about an hour into it a huge thunderstorm came and it was so cold and wet. We had to laugh though as it was pretty funny 🤣
Wow what a rollercoaster! I was feeling all moshe with you at the start even though I heard the pod at the time and knew you done it. Wales looks so good. Have to admit have seen Barry and Cardiff but only in winter. Well done on such a fantastic run - you really are a running hero! Thank you for sharing.
Awwww thanks my lovely. Oh my goodness I was so upset when I thought I couldn't run. It was the entire point of our trip! I was so lucky that the guys were so lovely and let me run 😃 this race made me fall in love with Wales and for that I'll be forever grateful 🥰
Congratulations Nicola. Truly amazing & to do it in that heat as well. Superb! 👏
Thank you 🤗 tough day at the office and an emotional rollercoaster but definitely a day I'll remember forever! 🙃
Finally catching up on your videos! I remember seeing your live and feeling so gutted for you, even though I knew it all worked out I was still tearful! Another fab video, what a stunning route! Thanks for sharing it with us 💛💛
Thank you so much 🤗 Oh my goodness that morning was the worst! I hate feeling helpless and I just had no clue what to do?! 😭
Stunning scenery! Great video, Nic - thanks for taking the time to film, edit and share (I know how long this takes)
Thanks Tony, this video took the longest time to edit as I was set on getting it under an hour. As soon as I realised that it was a pointless arbitrary goalpost it became much easier but yes... Takes a while hey?! It's nice for us to have the memories to look back on though 😃 and yes... Breathtaking scenery, I'm now totally in love with the Wales Coast Path 😍
I really enjoy your ultra videos - I'm nowhere near your fitness or ability but you make them seem accessible, somehow! I suppose, at the very least, you give people like me a taste of what running something I'm unlikely to ever do feels like. Well done on continuing to turn up for these insanely long events, and please keep filming them! :-)
Thank you so much 🤗 they're a lot more accessible than they seem. I keep trying to convince friends to run a 32 mile/50k trail ultra before a road marathon as they're much more chilled and enjoyable but for some reason most runners think you can't do an ultra before you do a marathon. But a road marathon is WAY harder for your body than a trail ultra, if for no other reason than just the repetition of movement! I love the trails and seeing beautiful places 😍 and I'm really pleased you enjoyed the video 😃
Wow what a rollercoaster of a day! Thank goodness for the owners of the guesthouse giving you a lift! 🎉 Awesome vlog, massive well done!
Thank you, yes totally hooray for them! I thought it was all hopeless and then just like that... 10 mins after the race started they wake up, the race organisers call me and there is hope again! Absolute rollercoaster! Couldn't believe it! Really kept me going in the hard moments as almost not being able to do it made me appreciate how much I wanted to do it! 😃
I'd watched one of your 100 mile run videos a couple of days before the Dragon 100 (my first 100 so was starting to get last minute nerves) then right at the end (crossing the barrage into Cardiff) you plodded past recording with the camera. Well done, it was so hot!
Well done to you! I've literally no clue how you guys did 100 miles in that?! You have my utmost respect! And as your first hundred 😱😱😱 that's incredible! Huge kudos for finishing it 💪💪💪 You're not wrong... It was BOILING! 🙃
Seriously well done on getting going at the beginning. If that had happened to me I’d probably have had a tantrum and given up! (And I definitely might have given up at that little path along the cliff by the sea. I never deal well with things like that…) If I ever do anything like this I’ll have to have stern words with myself or I’ll end up like that guy with the massive bag. I’m a chronic over-packer
Thank you 🤗 His bag?! 😱😱😱 Imagine how hard it would be with a bag that big?! 🤣 I couldn't believe it! 💪 I had a few mini tantrums that morning believe me! And then I was so adrenaline fuelled I had to try so hard to calm down and get my head in the game. Not ideal race prep! 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
Brilliant film Nicola!
Thank you so much! 😃😃😃
'Hats off to you' Nicola, your fantastic, your determination to complete the ordeal was admirable. I found myself fighting back the tears when you were suffering so bad. You are an inspiration to all the young runners who follow you (especially Poppy) and ........to an 'old' one who watches your every accomplishments. Glad to see Al (I also subscribe to him) meeting you at the end. Keep running!!!!!!!
Awww thank you 🤗 these are very lovely words. It was so good to have Al and Poppy there to cheer me in at the finish 🥰
What a brilliant video captured so well.
A really strong smartly run performance!!!
I’ll be doing the 100 this year. Thanks for the great insight to the second leg! 👏🏻
Thanks so much Daniel 😀 I'm excited for you! It's a tough route but so very beautiful 😍 Wishing you all of the luck for your hundred 💪 I hope you have an awesome time out on those trails and I hope that the weather is kind 🤞😃
@@NicolaRunsJesus wept that was a tough race. The Afan forest section was horrendous 😂
I ran far too fast at the start and I paid for it later on but managed 27:48
Thanks again for the video was a a great preparation video for me but most of what you ran I power hiked as my legs had stopped working!!
RWC are awesome! Such a great community.
@@danielmcconville5805 oh wow! That's an awesome time on that terrain! Just brilliant! Huge congratulations 🎉🎉🎉 Thanks for letting me know how you got on 🤗 I love a race update! 😃 Hope you're recovering well 😊
Oh my god Nicola, what an awful and stressful way to start your day. Not going to say what I think of Dragon taxis, but I’m sure you can imagine. Anyway all is well that ends well and you got to start in the end and a big shout out to the organisers. Great video Nicola and wonderful to watch. Thanks as always for sharing and take care.
Thank you 🤗 Yeah I'm not sure I'd ever use them again?! 😱 I couldn't believe it and I was crying loads on the phone begging them to help me and honour my booking but they wouldn't do anything 😭 Run Walk Crawl were brilliant! No way I thought they'd let me start after missing registration AND the actual race start! I'm so grateful to them for rescuing my day 😃
Amazing Nicola. You beat 50 miles and those steps. Love you😘
Thank you so much 😃 oh my goodness the steps?! 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤣 But I did it! 🎉
@@NicolaRuns and the heat. Yeaaay you did it! So proud of you🎉
@@andriratnasari2648 thanks 😊
Brilliant watch. I'm doing the Dragon 50 this year and cannot wait!
It's probably the best scenery I've ever had on a run. One of those runs where you're like "WOW, THIS IS MY LIFE" and feel super lucky despite it being hard 😃 Lots of Type 1 fun 😍 Good luck! Hope you get to the start okay 🤦🏻♀️ I'm still a bit traumatised by that bit! 😂
@@NicolaRuns I live on Barry Island so I get to run these trails a lot. I know the route very well. I do not take it for granted with views and feel very blessed!! I hope my alarm goes off as planned as don't fancy chasing my tail with a late start. It was great drama at the beginning of your vid and then I spent an hour rooting for you🤣
@@thejenks oh wow! Lucky you 😍 I'd so love to live by the sea! Fingers crossed for your alarm... Set 2!!! 🤣 Lol, it was good for drama but bad for my stress levels. Running 50 miles was nothing compared to all that drama 😂😂😂
Absolutely rivetting video Nicola. Well done on completing the challenge and thank you for taking us along with you and showing us both the highs and the lows. Amazing!
Thank you so much Daisy! I was worried it was too long so I'm really pleased if it was engaging 😃 thanks for coming along with me 🙃
Amazing Nicola - I ran on the same day and your video brought back such good (and painful 😂)memories.
Loved how honest and candid you were in your video - you clearly are an amazing person!
Well done on slaying the dragon 🐉
Llongyfarchiadau ( congratulations in Welsh) 🏴
Awww thank you 🤗 Congratulations to you too 😃 It was an awesome race wasn't it but SO hot! I've absolutely fallen in love with the Wales Coast Path 😍 Since then we've returned and camped at Nash Point as I was in love with it and we've also explored a bit of the Gower and Worm's Head (if I'm remembering rightly what it's called!). Actually maybe it's Wales itself I love as we were in Llangollen last weekend and WOW! 😍 Although I'm in Leeds I'd definitely be tempted more races in Wales, it's a great way to see places 😃
@@NicolaRuns The heat was something unexpected for sure (well, at least in my prep). You should take a look at the Pegasus ultra marathon series. I’m looking to enter the slam (6events over 6 months) in 2023. Some beautiful Welsh routes!
@@ironlawyer8706 ooh nice thanks, I'll have to check them out. Are they on Saturdays or Sundays? 🤔🏃♀️
Very inspirational Nicola
Thanks Chris 🤗
Even though I knew (from WMN spoilers) that you'd get to the race in the end, I had to watch the start from behind the sofa! 😱 Excruciating viewing - seeing your anguish and upset as you lived through all of our worst race-day nightmares: Boo, Boo and shame on you, Dragon taxis! But YAY for lovely guesthouse peeps! What an epic challenge and an epic vlog. I'm exhausted and dehydrated just from watching it. Congratulations Nicola x
Awww thank you Susan! The morning was AWFUL! I just didn't know what to do with myself?! Boooooo Dragon Taxis indeed! Hope you've had a nap and a drink and are feeling better now after watching 😉😜
Great video. Heads up for hot weather running. Ive discovered Cool or Cold towels. I normally put mine wet into the freezer the night before and use it on my long runs. They defrost in minutes and sit icy cold round your neck comfortably. Their technical material means that when they warm up you shake them out and they cool down again. Or if out for hours and you have access to cold water you can resoak it. And start again. Mine definitely stays cold for 4-5 hrs. Also i bought mine from Dock & Bay but the ones on amazon are just as good 👍. Definitely worth investing in.
Thank you 🤗 Yes! 😃 That's what mine is! Aren't they awesome?! We were in a hotel so I had no freezer but I'd untuck it so it flapped about to get cold and then tuck it back in around my neck to feel the lovely coolness 😃 great invention!
Fabulous event and well done Nicola and a roller coaster emotional journey … what arseholes at dragon taxis !! Smashed it in the end though despite the sand and diversions lack of ice creams and heat !! Incredible 👊🏁
Thank you so much Michael 🤗 you're not wrong... definitely an emotional rollercoaster! I wasn't thrilled with Dragon Taxis 😡 but I was beyond delighted that I got to race in the end... Everyone loves a happy ending 😃☺️🤗
I’ve signed up for the 30 this year and I’m doing section hike recce’s of the route.
Thank you for the armchair recce and well done with that heat! I hope it’s not that hot this year!!
Great video!
You're more than welcome 🤗 It's a great route! I hope you have a brilliant race 😃
@@NicolaRuns Thank you! ❤️
Wow amazing really well done. Thanks so much for sharing the video it was incredible 🎉
Oh my goodness, thank you for the really lovely comment Tim 🤗
Absolutely amazing achievement Nicola! 👏👏 Especially in that ridiculous heat! What amazing scenery - love Wales! Some of that terrain looked super tough - Well done you!
Thank you 🤗 it was honestly just the most beautiful run I've ever done! 😍😍😍
Incredible! Well done
Thank you, it was an incredible experience 😃 but such an emotional rollercoaster thanks to Dragon Taxi's! 🤦🏻♀️ Because of this race I'm now in love with South Wales! 😍
That was so heartbreaking at the start..I felt for you. So glad it all worked out. Awesome. Well done 🏃♂️🏃♂️💪💪
Thank you. It was awful, I didn't know what to do with myself?! I'd travelled so far to get there and then it was all taken away! 😭 Thank goodness it all worked out in the end though 😃🎉
Well done, epic achievement (& video). That sheer cliff edge looked terrifying, & the walled garden looked lovely. All those obstacles: steps, the long hill where the handrail stopped & the beach with the massive stones/pebbles. Next time you run in a heatwave would you consider running in lighter colours, instead of black which absorbs heat? 😀
Thank you 🤗 It's an awesome route isn't it?! What a challenge! I would love to run in white compression tops but... You wear them on one ultra and the dirt gets in between the bag and your back or the straps and they just get wrecked. I don't like running in t-shirts, only skin tight tops so there's no seams or anything rubbing. When they invent a white top that repels dirt then I'm all over it 😃😃😃
OMG What a rollercoaster! So glad it all came together for you in the end. It looked fantastic but you’re not selling this one to me I’m afraid, I’ll happily stick to 5k’s 🤣
🤣🤣🤣 this made me laugh. It's stunning but not an easy race at all. And such an emotional rollercoaster! All's well that ends well though 😃 it was a day I'll remember forever 🥰
Nicola v Steps. Looks like you won 😄 Brilliant video, and a fantastic achievement given the start of your day and the ridiculous heat. Bit of a heartbreaking start, very emotional. You definitely deserved a Mr Whippy
Thank you 🤗 Oh my goodness the steps?!!! 🤣 Bloody steps 🙄😂 But hooray that they didn't defeat me! I had no clue what to do with myself at the start... I was just stuck! 💔
Congrats indeed
Thank you 🤗
Wow what a great video of what looked like a brutal race, that was a massive mix of emotions I nearly didn't want to watch it all after our local taxi firm let you down massively. After that it was onwards and upwards, even made me consider this race. Thank you for giving us this vlog. And please next time you consider this race give one of us a shout and we will sort transport. See you soon 😊
Yes! Definitely consider it, it's an AWESOME race! Awww thanks for the offer of support next time 🤗 massively appreciated and I have a feeling you'd be a whole lot more reliable than Dragon Taxis! 🤦🏻♀️🤣
Beautiful, brutal and... batteries? I can't believe how much footage you managed to get. Well done for slaying the dragon!
Thank you 🤗 yes I had to run with a battery pack! 🙃
Thanks for this Nicola! I'm doing the 100 in a couple of weeks and I'm now sure I need multiple pairs of socks and wet wipes in my drop bag, would you recommend trail shoes or road shoes? A lot of the course seemed pretty "runnable". Great to see so much of the course.
Thanks and good luck! Obviously I've no idea about the first half but for this 50 I'd suggest light trails for the first half and switching to road at the drop bag as you'll 100% want to be in road shoes for the last 25 miles 😊 It's such a beautiful course, hope you're not too tired to enjoy the beauty as I honestly loved it 😍😍😍
Well done all worth it in end
Thank you, definitely worth not giving up 😃 Hooray for a happy ending 🤗
Amazing
Thank you, I absolutely LOVED this race! I hired a campervan and went back to camp near the lighthouse as I loved this stretch of coast so much 😃 obviously I only loved this race once I started running... I did not enjoy the morning!!! 🤦🏻♀️😭😭😭
Wow epic vlog! I love that you capture the highs and lows of ultra running and you did amazing in that heat! Sun is definitely bs
Some really useful advice regarding running in heat do thank you
One thing the guy with the biggest backpack 😳 what was in that bag??!! That must of been so tough carrying that
Well done that is one amazing, brutal ultra
Thank you my lovely 🤗 Wasn't his bag insane?!!! No clue how he managed to run with that?! Super impressive! 💪
Oh sweetheart, I felt for you at the start... But you did it, you overcame it x
Thanks Emma 🤗 urgh that feeling was awful! I had no clue what to do with myself?! I'm just so happy that it worked out 😃
Hi Nicola. Thanks for this video and congratulations.
I am considering this race this year, hence how I found your video which is great. I just wondered if you would recommend it and if you had any tips on kit… shoes, gators etc. I am most concerned about the sand !!
I was tempted to do the 100 but think I’ll save that distance until later in the year!
Thanks in advance x
I'd definitely recommend it! The route was stunning 😍 The sand is tough but I'd just recommend tapping your shoes out and having a change of socks for after the dance and another change of socks in your drop bag. I'm sure there will be some good gaiters out there if you want to experiment but unless they're coming fairly high up your legs then I think there's enough sand to cause a problem even with decent gaiters. I personally didn't wear any. The route is definitely trail shoes for the first half and road shoes for the second half so I'd definitely recommend a pair of road shoes in your drop bag and switching over! Good luck, I hope you get good weather and that you love it. This race company is awesome and really cares about their runners ❤️ Let me know how you get on! Oh and I think you made the right decision about the 100. I was thinking that this would be a really tough race to do as a 100 😳🙈🤣
@@NicolaRunsperfect advice, thanks so much x
@@trulou1972 no worries at all 🤗
Great video. The beginning was a little heart breaking with the taxi situation. The sand looked horrible to run in. You attitude is amazing...next time I go the wrong way, Ill remember "few extra miles for my money"....also amazing recording skills while walking that narrow cliff path and any stairs up or down. I was really hoping to see you with a gigantic ice cream cone at the end...you deserved it. I'm really looking forward to watching lots of your past and or course, future videos! Well done!!
Thank you 🤗 I was literally heart broken, honestly it was awful! I mean it's totally first world problems but I'd travelled so far and was totally ready and just couldn't get there! Super frustrating but hooray that it worked out 😃 I always try to be positive when stuff goes wrong because it's too easy to beat yourself up and a cycle of negative self talk definitely won't help when doing something really challenging. Best to just shrug it off and find the positive... I saw a bit more of the course than others did! 😜 And when I went wrong at Barry Island I did like seeing the cool retro sign 😃 As soon as I stopped running I TOTALLY forgot about the ice cream 🤣 I think I was so sweaty that I cooled down pretty quickly. I did go back and have one 2 weeks later just to have had a Mr Whippy at the end as I felt like it was the right thing to do 🤣🍦
@@NicolaRuns definitely will be googling a Mr Whippy! (I’m in Canada). Yeah what I love so far the most abt your channel is your positivity. I’ve already changed my “attitude” a little because of you. I am generally positive but you’re off the scale! Lots of room for me to improve. So lucky to have stumbled on to your channel. Keep smiling and inspiring!
@@Mookiethedog aww you're so lovely! Thank you for the super positive comments 🤗 I had no clue Mr Whippy was a British thing! 😱 Some people here love it and some hate it. It's whipped ice cream so it's smooth and delicious but it's not high quality like a good gelato so some people are snobby about it. For me it totally does the job and on a long hot run its what I crave! It's like the McFlurry ice cream... If yours is the same as ours?! 🙃 Thanks again 🤗🤗🤗
@@NicolaRuns I probably can’t have one as I do the vegan thing. I’ll check it out though! I’ve watched a ton of running videos. The Fell running thing in the UK is really cool too. That looks like some crazy fun!
@@Mookiethedog fell running is AWESOME! Although you often have to carry a ton of kit but... safety first. I'm veggie but would love to be vegan. Cheese, butter, ice cream and will power are stopping me 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️😜
Such a worry at the start .....but the stiff upper lip was deployed lol .....congrats Nicola .....keep inspiring us all
Thanks Andy 🤗 I went from sobbing to stiff upper lip and back again! Hooray for a happy ending though 🎉🎉🎉😃
Some of our parkrun arrows are from Cardiff bay!
For some reason, in my head, Cardiff Bay was going to be a bit grim. I literally have no idea where I got that from because it was the absolute opposite! I love Cardiff Bay 😍
Absolutely incredible, huge well done. I really fancy having a go at something like this. How do you do the navigating running a route you haven’t done before? Did you have the route mapped on a gps device?
Thank you 🤗 Yup, just download the gpx file and away you go! 😃 I'd highly recommend it as a way of exploring new places 😍 I'm now in love with the Wales Coast Path!
Your videos make me want to run an ultra🙊
My work here is done 😜 Seriously though, they're awesome! Just pick the right one... One without ballot entry but one with generous cut offs so you're not obsessing over pace and then get out there and enjoy it! 😃
All that sand and stones looked horrible! Also, how can you wear black on that hot a day! Top job again xx
Thanks Clare 🤗 You're right. I don't have a white compression top... Maybe I need to get one but they get grubby so quickly. That's why I love black! 🙃
@@NicolaRuns ah didn't realise it was compression. I tend to use compression for recovery rather than to run in but then again I stick to shorter distances
@@clareevans8516 I love them for ultras and also... As they're right they stay put so reduce the chance of chafing! 😃
Will you be uploading your footage from keswick park run as I seen you were filming during it?
Definitely! 😃 I'm editing Pontypool parkrun right now, then need to do Woolacombe Dunes and then Keswick! It's hard in the summer holidays as I don't want Poppy to just see me sat in front of a screen 🙃
You did great , dragon taxis can get stuffed 🤣🤣
Thank you, yes can't they just! 🤣 I was furious with them?! Why didn't they at least cancel half an hour before or something... Cancelling half an hour after you're due is just not on 😭
Live the church at end beutiafull
It's gorgeous isn't it?! 😍😍😍
This is rypical Aussie summer heat
I'm just not used to it! 🙃☀️☀️☀️
Amazing endurance in that heat. What was your time? Had been thinking of doing this next year. Nav looks tricky.
I took 13 hours but I had a stop every time I felt myself overheating. I'd easily knock a few hours off that on a cooler day. After I saw the poor lady collapse I just asked myself what my aim was and it was really just to enjoy it and get to the end unscathed so I don't think that time is reflective of how hard or easy the course is. It's not THAT slow of a course but it is bloody hard running! Not a massive amount of elevation and loads of super runnable trails... Obviously I filmed the hardest bits so don't let that put you off ☺️ But yes... I think you could do with using OS maps for this as some bits just following a GPS trace wasn't enough. I mean it was, it worked fine but it definitely added some time in the bits where the trace wasn't clear enough when paths ran next to each other. I would 100% recommend it as a race. The team are awesome and checkpoints BRILLIANT! Scenery was just stunning and it felt like a real privilege all the way along. I think the people that do it as a hundred miler are insane though 🤣
@@NicolaRuns Thanks Nicola. Love the vlogs and the podcast.
@@johndunn3675 cheers John 😃
Hello cows?!!?? Who are you and what have you done with Nicola?
🤣🤣🤣 Turns out that if I'm already exhausted from crying, and then elated about running, then I'm not scared of cows?! 😃🎉🎉🎉
You poor thing. Have something to cheer yourselfup
Oh my goodness what a rollercoaster! 🎢
Brilliant work Nicola, you stayed focused and pushed on, huge respect to you. Also very pleased to see the return of the worm 🪱 😋
Thank you 😃 Good old Wendy! 🤣🙃