Back in the depths of Autumn last year, an email was put out to all company employees, inviting a lucky EIGHT, to be part of two teams to get involved in the ‘Race the Sun‘ challenge taking part in the Brecon Beacons on Saturday 11th June – helping to raise funds for Action Medical Research.

The challenge pits teams of four against the clock in a triathlon-style challenge competing in cycling, hiking and canoeing, racing the sun from it’s rise, chasing it before it sets, to be crowned successful finishers.

The teams and team names were agreed and new training alliances were formed – Muck Muppets – Dan Mortimer-Simons, Steve Jackson, Naomi Hattam and Jim Hayward and Piling on the Pressure – Lewis Hunt, Kelly Shears, Paul Hazlehurst & Ann Zimmerman

Across the desperate Winter, through the onslaught of Spring and the ‘are you kidding us with this rain’ start to Summer the lucky eight honoured their training goals and kept each other motivated in the Company WhatsApp chat.  Those who were lucky enough to live close to the course used it as part of their training.

The day loomed ever closer with the WhatsApp chat turning to Race Flapjacks, how many plasters do you really need (asking for a friend) and what happens if you really need to, ahem, “go” on route up a mountain, or indeed at 30mph on a bike??

Friday 10th June arrived and with everyone in great spirits, the Brewers Fayre next door to the Premier Inn, Abergavenny seemed the likely place to alleviate all the fears for the following day via the odd wine!

Race Day! Saturday 11th June 2022

With the rhythmic sound of 8 boiling kettles at just gone 4am for the pots of pre-race porridge, our intrepid teams made it across the carpark and into the semi unknown of what would lie ahead.

The two teams had different start times.
Muck Puppets left at 06:07am and Piling on the Pressure 06:30am.

As the support ‘crew’ had to wait until they had finished their 7.5 mile hike, then we had no idea what happened up there.  What happens on Pen-y-Fan, stays on Pen-y-Fan apparently!

We caught back up with both groups as they were tackling the 40 mile bike ride.  Having got most excited about seeing Team Muck Muppets, we wound the car windows down and screamed
T E A M   M U C K   P U P P E T S!!!  as loud as we could. It was supposed to be rousing, but from behind, apparently it frightened the bejesus out of them. Oops!

The afternoon was shaping up to be a scorcher, and if they were exhausted from the rides, then they certainly didn’t show it!

All the other teams, marshals and event organisers seemed to be having such a good time. the laughter was infectious, with people rallying support for each other and generally making new friends for the day.

Muck Muppets – 25th / 67 – Time – 8 hrs 36 minutes

Piling on the Pressure – 64th / 67 – Time 10 hrs 27 minutes

It was a fantastically organised event, which couldn’t have been such a success if it hadn’t of been for the incredible marshals and co-ordinators on the day.  These truly are the unsung hero’s!

A big thank you also to Rocket Charities who designed and made the cycle jerseys for the teams.

Pictures above show the unfinished article – a sample top before going into production.

We have raised an incredible £5,025 for Action Medical for Children so a big thank you to our amazing challengers and to everyone that donated to our Just Giving Pages – your generous support really helped us achieve something amazing that will stay will us all for a long time.