IF you love running, then Race The Train is one of the must-do races. It is unique, it is challenging and it is fun, and after my first ever bash at this popular event, I know I will be back.

Race The Train takes place in the coastal town of Tywyn in mid-Wales, north of Aberystwyth, and this was the 24th staging of the multi-terrain run which is organised by the town's Rotary club. Every year, profits from the race are donated to charities.

Quite simply, runners go head to head with a train which runs along the Talyllyn Railway. The steam train pulls out of Tywyn Wharf and heads up trough the valley past Rhydyronen, Brynglas, Dolgoch Falls to Nant Gwernol, and then turns round before making the trip back along a route, much of which is within the Snowdonia National Park.

The Talyllyn Railway is a narrow gauge line which using steam locomotives which was opened in 1865 and was a working line serving the slate mines in the valley. In 1950, the railway was saved from closure by the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society - the first such organisation in the world.

And what of the race? Earlier in the day there were a 5 mile, 10km and junior races, but the biggie is the 14.75-miler which starts on a sports ground adjacent to Talyllyn Railway Wharf Station.

It is brilliantly organised with a huge marquee in the centre of the field offering food, seating and tables, and protection from the elements. There were changing rooms and showers, and feeling that this was a well-staged event.

The first mile and a bit out of Tywyn is gentle as runners headed trough the town towards Brynglas. The race starts at 2pm, the train leaves 20 minutes later. At Brynglas, the course turned up a farm drive to cross over the railway and we followed it all the way to Rhyd-yr-Onnen.

Despite it being August, the weather was grey and overcast though still humid. It was pretty clear early on once we stepped into the country that this was going to be a muddy race. The first short but stiff climb tested the footwear on a grassy hill.

Everyone had warned to take it steady for the first half of the race because the second half would be tough. The rain started falling as the huge field of runners, who had come from all over the country for this gruelling multi-terrain race, tackled the mixture of tracks and field which included wading through a ford.

It was mucky, it was dirty, it was a slog. You were picking your way along the tracks, trying to avoid the cowpats, and a path which was firm. At times it was single file running and to be patient behind the runner.

I ran most of the race with Stubbington Green Runner team-mate, Richard Simms, who had driven up to Mid-Wales with his family. We took it in turns to lead, and set out at a gentle eight minute pace navigating our way over fields and rough pasture to Dolgoch, running through a car park, and then along an unmade track to some well-cultivated pasture which had been ploughed just the day before.

It was unbelievable trying to pick your way through the gloopy mud of this field which had been ploughed right up to the edge.

It was at this point that, seven miles into the race, that I saw the train. We could hear the whistle sounding miles back, and then to our right was the train with supporters waving and cheering at us. I couldn't look up, I was wading through ankle high mud.

This was the turning point as we crossed a stream and then climbed steeply across the face of the hillside on narrow sheep tracks. This was a killer. You were running on a camber one foot higher than another. It took all your concentration to keep your balance and footing. Take a wrong step on the muddy and sodden tracks and you could tumble 20 feet down the hillside.

We were now following some of the well-worn tracks used for the 10km race in the morning which made conditions even more treacherous. Again it was single-file order for some of the way. Some of the climbs you had to walk up. We passed a stunning waterfall at Dolgoch by the 10-mile mark. By this time, Richard had moved just ahead of me some 50 metres ahead and I was never able to close the gap.

The legs were growing increasingly tired, I was thoroughly wet and the fact that I had run a 10km race the night before was beginning to tell. It was fairly evident that there was no way we were going to beat to train, even though Richard and I steadily moved our way through tiring runners over the last few miles.

You need to complete the 14.75-mile race in around 1 hour 47 minutes. Ordinarily on a road, that would be gettable, but on the wild Welsh mountains with rain pouring and difficult conditions, only the top 10 per cent managed to beat the train.

I was pleased with my finish which was surprisingly strong. I dug in for the last few miles and crossed the finish line in 2hrs 9mins. That was a thoroughly satisfying race, enormously rewarding and a challenge I plan to take on again.