With less than a month to go, Rhayader ‘Round the Lakes’ races have already had their highest number of entries, with over 600 for the 30km race and 150 for the five mile race. This is 50% up on previous years and with the closing date for online entries on February 16 the organising committee are expecting a final flurry as, unlike previous years, there will no entries on the day (Saturday, March 2).
This will be the inaugural race for the distance of 30k following it’s cancellation in 2018 due to the snow. Formerly a 20 mile race, the distance has been changed to simplify the route for safety reasons. The event is entirely run by volunteers on a not for profit basis, hence the low entry fee in comparison to most races on this scale. Any profit resulting from the race is donated to a local charity or cause. Last year was the first time it had been cancelled, so organisers are hoping for kinder weather to launch the event with the revised distance. With new bespoke medals and technical commemorative T shirts for all finishers put on hold for a year, it is hoped that they can be issued this time. The five-mile race is also seeing higher numbers than usual, and extra buses will be required to take runners to a new start location. This year it will start in the Nant Gwyllt Church car park, which will be a safer off-road location.
Spectacular aerial photographs of the scenery and advertising have resulted in the increased response. It needs to be impressed to regular runners that are used to turning up on the day and entering, that it won’t be possible this year. With the numbers to be processed and resources limited at registration, the additional process will hamper the smooth running in what has the potential of being an outstanding event. It is forecast that there will be possibly up to 1000 people coming to the area for the event, doubling the population of Rhayader on the day, and providing a significant boost to the local economy. So organisers want to repeat, so there’s no awkward situations at registration.