What's the plan? Nathan vs. Pen Y Fan!

Our story begins a long time ago, in darker times, times when Goodgym Cardiff was not in existence, times that hadn’t seen hordes of lycra clad runners lunging outside House of Fraser. On 31st December 2016, in a Crwys Road Indian, Nathan admitted to those gathered that, to his shame he had never been up Pen Y Fan, despite living in Cardiff his whole life. 2017, he proclaimed boastfully, would be the year he conquered South Wales’ highest peak.

11 months and 4 days later, Nathan still had not managed his 2017 resolution and was resigned to failure.

Fear not - a chance conversation with the ever enthusiastic run leader Ben and before you knew it, nine goodgym-ers were signed up for the Pen Y Fan hike.

With Saturday morning’s parkrun cancelled due to snow and ice, most of our hikers headed back to bed, resting their legs for the afternoon. Not Jack however – who set off for Brecon 2 hours early, scaling the heights of Pen Y Fan multiple times before the rest had finished their breakfast. Emma and Aimee, fresh from a mission run with Idris Elba met Nathan, Martin (who had fought through Zimbando fans camped outside his front door), Lucy, Ben, Darren and Lydia in Nantgarw, clambered into two cars and headed up to Brecon. Car 1 – the party car – headed north, belting out Christmas classics at the top of their voices, swinging santas hat from the windows. Car 2 took on a more reflective tone, discussing the well-being of future generations to the sombre background of Thom Yorke.

Shameless plug alert - if you want your say on the Well-being Plan for Cardiff – give your views here.

Nathan was so excited he found it difficult to describe his feelings

Having arrived at the Pont Ar Daf car park, pulled on their walking boots and thermal layers, our hikers were ready to go – Nathan couldn’t quite describe his feelings, he was nervous, he was excited, he was relieved to be accomplishing his resolution and he was pleased to be doing it in such good company. Conditions weren’t optimal, but the cold, snow and ice was not going to stop the group – come sun, rain or snow, they were getting up to the peak, and they set off for the Storey Arms route.

Darren raised a few eyebrows with his choice of attire, shorts in the snow is not everyone's idea of sensible clothing. At one point people were concerned Darren's legs has turned blue, but on closer inspection he'd just pulled up his football socks. It was good to see he's abandoning the Canaries yellow and green and was embracing Bluebird blue after recent results.

The walk was slower than usual given the conditions, the sporadic snow ball fights and pauses for photos, but the views of a snow covered surrounding countryside were worth taking in, and with the promise of Nathan buying drinks spurring everyone on (little did all realise that he was talking about a £1 cup of tea rather than free flowing prosecco at the Christmas party) our hikers kept on going.

Nathan could hardly supress his smile

On reaching a wind swept Corn Du, the summit was in sight. Nathan could hardly surpress his smile – he was going to do it (or was it the anticipation of celebratory Mr Kipling Frosted Fancies in his rucksack?). Ben, keen to secure a place in the 2019 Goodgym Calendar, stripped down to his tshirt and coordinated a photo shoot. A small walk later and they had done it, they’d reached the summit, taken the obligatory “hands in the air photo”, taken photos of strangers, made them pose with their hands in the air, and basked in the wonderful views.

Who would like some warm cocoa and ginger biscuits?

The walk back down to the car park was relatively event free – aside from two of the group falling over on the ice, a rescue helicopter (not for one of the fallen goodgym-ers) and a pug dragging his owner toward the summit. The hikers regrouped, hot drinks were bought, Lydia cracked out some ginger biscuits and the walk was complete. The group set off back to Cardiff looking forward to the next goodgym meet-up, which was just hours away at the 2017 Christmas party.

The pressure is on Nathan to choose another inclusive new years resolution, one he'd never compete without the help of Goodgym Cardiff. Will it be Snowdon? Maybe a marathon? Maybe a run on Flatholm (he's never been over there)? All will be revealed on new years eve!

N.B. Nathans new years resolution is anticipated to be an annual event with growing interest :)