Nearly a week ago now but the Taith Torfaen is still very much in my mind…and all for the right reasons. Really was a wonderful event – thoroughly damn hard work and tough but that’s just what a good challenge walk should be. Again, well done to you and all the guys in the SW Group. An event to be proud of – not just for those completing it but also for the team putting it all together and making it happen.

Thanks to the South Wales group for a fantastic event. Very tough, but the weather was kind and the views were tremendous. Huge thanks to all the volunteers around the course who looked after us and fed us – you provided a wonderful spread and your words of encouragement were very much appreciated. Thank you!

A great many thanks to Dave Morgan, all South Wales team and everyone else who helped make the Taith Torfaen an event that will be remembered and talked about for many years. A very hard route. In fact too hard for me. But that’s just me not being up to it. The organisation and friendliness were incredible. The memory that will last with me forever was walking on the ridge between Pontypool and Risca. For mile after mile on my left hand side was a vast panorama of lights. Could not stop looking which meant I nearly went headfast many times into the deep dark puddles. How some got around so quickly I will never know. So many thanks again.

Thank you very much to you and all your team whose hard work resulted in a great event at the weekend.

The checkpoints were fantastic (when faced with the amazing buffet feast at CP2, I did consider calling it a day there and sitting down to a nice, relaxing lunch!) so we were well fed and watered before going back out for another calorie-burning climb.

You warned us that it was no walk in the park and hopefully after this, the Dorset 100 will seem relatively flat by comparison. That is what I am hoping for anyway.

Please give my regards and my thanks to Mr and Mrs Morgan (senior) who ensured that we were refreshed then evicted promptly from the final CP. Even if I had been unable to continue, I would not have dared say as I know that I would have been chased out of the CP and over the hills!

What a relief it was after the last climb to see the lights of Pontypool below us.

I was so happy the weather had chosen to redeem itself after the Valleys 100 and to return home from Wales with a suntan must be a rare thing indeed!

When it is not raining (…or about to rain or just finished raining…), it really is quite spectacular scenery and certainly makes the killer climbs worth the effort. I made sure that I took the time to admire the views (and recover!).

Thanks again for a great event.

‘What doesn’t kill me can only make me stronger’!

Well done to the South Wales team, great day, great food, awesome company and great route with magnificent views.

Could you pass on our thanks to the volunteers, marshals and helpers etc. for organising and running the event.

Having done plenty of events that cost considerably more, as the entry cost was so little I didn’t expect too much (I had never done a LDWA event), so was very surprised with the professionalism. The day was very well organised. The registration was easy and straightforward, and we even got a free cup of tea and some toast before the start! Most noteworthy must be the volunteers at each checkpoint, all so friendly and helpful. Plenty to eat and drink, the cakes were superb.

On arriving back at HQ we had a couple of cups of tea and a cooked breakfast (again served by friendly folk) which was excellent. And on top of all that, our family were able to follow our progress online. We got back to Weston in the early hours and after a quick shower we were asleep. Looking online in the morning we were able to see people still finishing (from the comfort of a very soft bed and warm duvet).

A few years ago I entered an Ironman event in Bolton. The cost was a little under £400, there was an 18 hour cut-off. This event had a 24 hour cut-off and was about £30. Had I gone into a shop and bought all the cakes/drinks/toast/cooked breakfast etc. that I consumed it would probably have cost more than the entry fee!

If this event is organised again in 2017 Liz and I will certainly be entering.

Awesome day out, well done on great organisation, lovely marshalling and great check points with lots of delicious food.

Dave, a massive ‘thank you ‘ to you, the South Wales group and everyone else who helped make the event a huge success. The food and hospitality was top notch and everyone was extremely friendly and encouraging. It was a hard route, especially the south loop, but that just makes completion that much more satisfying and rewarding – Alan warned me when I arrived that it was hard and he wasn’t joking. Jo & I returned at 0315hrs, cold, tired, hungry and with sore feet but what a warm welcome we had and the applause and congratulations were a lovely touch. I managed to get back to Devon by 0600hrs and into my own bed which was lovely. Thanks again for a wonderful day.

Thanks for a great day and the fantastic weather!

My thanks to all the team from South Wales LDWA, who worked so hard to make this event such a success. Even the weather was kind to us, and the views from the tops were fantastic, even at night. It was a really tough challenge walk and one that will not be forgotten.

As always South Wales came up trumps again. Appreciated you fixing the weather this time. ‘Challenge’ it certainly was a challenge, but loved it. Thanks to you all for everything.

Many thanks to South Wales LDWA group for an epic event, showcasing some equally challenging, and rewarding walking/running, with the perfect backdrop of fine weather, and outstanding organisation. I’d love to come back and see all those smiley faces again next year, though the legs may take some persuading.

Thank you to the organisers,marshalls and everyone who helped for an amazing day out. Very very challenging but as always the support was incredible and it helps so much when you’re so very tired. The weather was perfect and it was lovely to enjoy the views this time – magnificent!

This weekend’s LDWA Taith Torfaen was a triumph. The mountainous 52.4 mile route was both incredibly tough and beautiful. The Welsh weather was exceptionally kind. And the checkpoints were magnificent. A big thank you to David Morgan and the South Wales LDWA team for a brilliant event. Meticulous organisation and dedication which puts all other events companies to shame. South Wales LDWA sets the standard in long distance events. Thank you.

Just to say a big thank you to all who gave up their time over the weekend, it was a great event please pass on my thanks to them. My legs are aching today it was very tough lots of hills as we expected, the scenery was beautiful and the weather well hardly a drop of rain, bit of hail and lots of sunshine.

Many thanks to you and all your team for a wonderful weekend. Superbly organised in a most friendly & and efficient way. I was particularly pleased with the weather you organised for the event!

As I said to you after finishing, it was the toughest 50-miler I have undertaken – a view echoed my many other participants. You may be assured that the Taith Torfaen has taken its place among the classic long distance challenges.

I hope the event is repeated in the future – maybe with the “original route” including the northerly ascent of Blorenge?

I’d like to say a big thank you for the organisation and operation of the Taith Torfaen event at the weekend. I had a fantastic day and although I retired after the first loop, I enjoyed every minute. All of the hard work and effort put in both before the event and on the day is very much appreciated.

Many thanks to all from the South Wales LDWA who were involved in making the Taith Torfaen such a success. It was a tough walk but the first class organization, great route with fine views, splendid food and warm welcome all combined to make an exceptionally enjoyable time. The ‘rain dance’ of welcome before we set off ensured even the weather played ball this time!

Thanks for a fantastic event South Wales group. Tough and beautiful Had some lovely company along the route and was truly looked after at every checkpoint and by all the volunteers.

LDWA South Wales group, firstly thanks for a fab fab event you hosted over this weekend – what a tough one, especially for the likes of us Kentish folk who don’t have the death defying descents (and ascents) like you do in S Wales! It was a great challenge and heightened my love for the hills.

PS: top marks to all at the CP’s and hosts, especially Graham & crew at CP8 (Scout hut) – great Nutella on toast and chat

I would like to pass on my thanks to all of the folks that put together an amazing event. It was my first ever 50 mile event which turned out to be 52! I went with a team from the HOE LDWA. The guys said it would be memorable and you didn’t disappoint. Your planning was superb however for me the the thing I would most like to thank you for is your friendliness and support. We had taken part in the Welsh 3 peaks last week and there had been no refreshments on route at all and only biscuits at the end, Consequently I had brought lots of food anticipating the same with your event despite the mention of food!!! Each checkpoint the volunteers took great care to look after us and the standard of food was brilliant. I am so proud of myself for getting around and the genuine welcome we received at each checkpoint was so encouraging and helped us all through when some of the team were struggling. Some folks genuinely doubted my ability because I wore lipstick….. its nice to prove some of the old guard sometimes 🙂

Excellent organisation. Well written and accurate route descriptions, masses of appropriate food and the tracking system worked very well. Many thanks to S Wales – Gluttons for punishment as they are all set for the Rhonda rollercoaster in a few weeks’ time.

Body and will tested to near destruction – just what you need as training for the 100 – After this Dorset can hold no fear !!
Well done Dave and the South Wales team. Also a big well done to Sandy and Steph neither whom had walked this distance before and who finished looking as if they’d just done a photo shoot for Vanity Fayre.

Another smashing event, ran well and CP marshals couldn’t do more. Well done Dave and the team at Sth Wales. The weeks chanting to the Norse weather gods paid off lovely too, smashing to see the views that we missed on the Valleys 100. Well worth the long drive.

As both a walker (Les) and a marshal (Annette) we would both like to thank Dave Morgan and the South Wales team for a great event. All the information we needed for marshalling was spot on the sandwiches we were provided with at CP2 were really varied and the comments we had from the walkers were all posititve. The walk itself was tough but Les echos Mike’s post that the views were spectacular – both night and day. He particularly enjoyed the settling frost crisping up the ground overnight. Not something you get to experience that often.

Well done to South Wales LDWA for an excellent weekend. I found the challenge tough but made easier with the hospitality and food at the checkpoints. Luckily we had good weather which allowed us to enjoy the breathtaking views en route. Mention should be made of the marshals for giving their time in making this challenge walk a success. Well Done.

A wonderful event and a big thanks to Dave Morgan and the team from the South Wales Group who put so much hard work into getting it all together. Well done! A really tough and memorable 50 with the very warm welcome back at the finish. Route Descriptions and CP food all spot on…and even the weather!!

What a great event. This is how challenge walks should be, very well run, great route and views, lots of lovely food, splendid hosts and the weather was kind. Well done to everyone who was involved with the organisation and to all those who participated.
A special well done to Danny from Exeter who had never gone further than 26 miles before.

Please pass on my compliments to you and your team on such a well organised event. The reception received by the marshals at the check points was second to none with their friendliness and hospitality. They couldn’t do enough for us, I thought my mother was following me round the course. It was a lovely touch.

I know now why I enjoy your events so much. Incidentally, I think this is the only place where you can get a breakfast at 11 o’clock in the night.:-)

Again, sorry for the inconvenience in my entry and thank you for accommodating me, without which I wouldn’t have my memories of the experience of my successful first ultra marathon. See you on the R Rollercoaster.

I have completed several 50s, 100ks and four Hundreds and timed out at 88 miles on the infamous Valleys 100, and perhaps times dims the memory but the Taith Torfaen was the toughest of them all. I have never been as exhausted as I was for a period between the last checkpoint and the finish. But the rewards were a fantastic route with awesome views, good checkpoints with very welcoming and friendly marshals, good food, especially the Gluten free cakes and sandwiches at checkpoint two which was much appreciated.

A big thank you to Dave and all the volunteers, not forgetting Cornwall and Devon for all their hard work, time and support to enable us to take part and complete such a great event.

Massive thank you to all the organisers, marshalls and fellow competitors on the Taith Torfaen. A difficult route but well worth the effort. Thanks again.

I’ve just received the Results & Reports email which reminded me that I’ve been remiss in putting fingers to key board to Thank-You and The Team for putting on a first class event.

Myself and my oppo have only just joined the LDWA and this was our first event: in at the steep end so to speak.

We were both impressed with the organisation, the camaraderie between walkers (only on something like this can I imagine letting a stranger dip his finger into my Vaseline to sort out a sore bottom at 0430 in the morning) and above all the support of all the helpers. Coming into a CP at silly o’clock and being met with a smile and someone who can’t do enough for you lifts the spirit. They were very much in the spirit of the Olympics Games Makers and I can’t speak highly enough of them.

Working full time and having a young family it’s hard to regularly get to LDWA events but taking your lead from your speech before we set off, I intend to make sure I’m available to participate in the Wellington Boot Marshall’s Walk so that I can help out for the real event and try to pay something back.

Finally our tales of woe, pain and hardship have helped us raise over £1300 for Walking With The Wounded (a kind of insurance policy) so thanks for inadvertently helping out there as well.

In naval talk: Bravo Zulu. May see you in Wellington.

The TT was something else. It was very well organised and I was amazed at how cheerful / helpful everyone was at all of the check points & HQ, after what was undoubtably a very, very, long day. The hot slice of pizza was especially welcome. Flagging the section on the last stage past Pylon 20 was a life saver. I struggled with that bit during a daylight recce and was not looking forward to trying it in the dark. One thing though, could you pop around the route with some Tarmac and sort out the rough arse tracks? Those decents gave me the willies and I came down them either like an old lady or a tumbling Rhino.

Much well-deserved praise has already been expressed but as well as echoing that I would like to add a special note of thanks for the little reflective markers that were dotted along the night-time part of the route – many thanks to the unknown person or people who spent time putting them in place: they were a great help and were much appreciated.

Just wanted to say a big thanks to you and your team on such a well organised event.As usual the reception received by the marshals at the check points was second to none with their friendliness and hospitality. They couldn’t do enough for us and the food was great. Very tough course, but one I am pleased to have completed this one. See you at the Rhondda Rollercoaster.

Just wanted to say a big ‘thank you’ to everybody who made the Taith Torfaen such a successful and well-run event. Tough old walk but that’s the point of a real challenge; great scenery, pretty decent weather, excellent food and really kind and supportive volunteers. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. You all did your local LDWA branch proud