AROUND 300 people raced from Blaenavon to Pontypool yesterday for the annual Torfaen 10k.
Starting at 9am on Cwmavon Road, they ran down the valley towards Abersychan before arriving by the leisure centre in Pontypool Park.

Winner Phillip Matthews completed the course in just 30.35 minutes, an average speed of around 20 kilometres per hour.

Mr Matthews, 34, is originally from Abergavenny and now lives in Newbridge. He said he might reward himself by sharing a bottle of wine, although he would be out training again today.

Natasha Cochram, 20, was first out of the female competitors, finishing in 33.49 minutes. She is from Cwmbran but is currently studying at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma on a scholarship.

She said: "I’m really pleased – it’s a personal best." Ms Cochram, who ran on the roads around Cwmbran as part of her training, said it was nice to run a race so close to home.

Proceeds from the race went to Mic Morris Memorial Sporting Trust, a charity supporting talented young sports people in Torfaen.

Runners were given a banana and water to keep their energy levels up, and a t-shirt and medal for completing the race.

The final runners finished the course at around 10.30am.

Ben Jefferies, 34, race organiser and sports development officer for Torfaen Council, said: "It’s gone really well. We’ve had about 300 runners, the most we’ve had. Thankfully it’s a bit cooler than it’s been all week!"

This year no competitors ran in costume, but Mr Jeffries said one memorable year a man had run backwards, with the help of a car mirror.

Lucy Phillips, 21, is a personal trainer from Pontypool and completed the race in around 54 minutes. She said: "It was brilliant. I don’t normally enjoy long distance but that was one of the most fun runs I’ve ever done. I’m more of a weightlifter, but that was such a nice atmosphere."

Andrew Ralph, 51, from Abertillery, started training with Liswerry Runners after doing the weekly Park Run in Tredegar Park. He said: "It was a good run. It’s nice to see lots of people taking part, keeping fit and healthy."

Club members paid £10 to enter while independent runners paid £12.
The Torfaen 10k is now in its third year.