Inside One Of The Most Peculiar Race Events: Man vs Horse Marathon

In a tiny town in mid-Wales, just north of the Brecon Beacons, there takes place one of the most peculiar events in the endurance race calendar: the Man Vs Horse Marathon. MH travels to Powys to find out whether two legs can ever match four.

- Matt Blake

IT IS 45 MINUTES INTO THE RACE WHEN THE FRONT-RUNNERS FIRST HEAR THE RUMBLE OF HORSES’ HOOVES BEHIND THEM. A woman’s voice rises above the tumult – “Coming through! Woah, girl, woah!” – followed by a high-pitched whinny. The men at the back of the column turn to find a horse rearing above them, legs prancing and nostrils flared. As the nearest runners dive off the path into a nearby bog, the rider falls to the ground, landing on her shoulder and rolling away. For a second, runners and riders alike hold their breaths. When horses and people collide, the results can be fatal. But moments later, the apparently unharmed rider leaps to her feet, grabs the reins and expertly brings her steed under control. “Sorry about that, everyone OK?” she smiles. “Lovely day. See you at the finish line!” And with that, she remounts and gallops off through the stream, disappearing over the crest of a hill.

The scene is Llanwrtyd Wells, a small town in mid-Wales on the River Irfon. With a population of just 850, it is officially the second smallest town in the UK. Historically known as a spa town, today it’s perhaps more renowned for two of Britain’s most unorthodox sporting events: the World Bog Snorkeling Championship and the annual Whole Earth Man Vs Horse Marathon. While both events hold a certain oddball intrigue, it is the latter MH has come to observe. The event – which at 22 miles long is technically not quite a marathon – starts in the town centre before looping through hilly farm tracks, worn footpaths, free-flowing brooks, emerald dales and open moorland. It is against this arcadian backdrop that humans pit their wits against horses, and sometimes – against all odds – finish the victors.

UP AND OVER