Fell runners create 'Strava art' image of Welsh dragon with 28-mile challenge
A pair of fell runners created their own unique piece of art using a GPS tracking app – running 28 miles to trace the outline of an enormous Welsh dragon on a hillside.
Martyn Driscoll, 38, and Dr Alan Stone, 57, created the art using running app Strava which tracks your movement using GPS and marks it on a map.
They meticulously planned their route then spent nine hours crossing scree slopes, rocky outcrops and marsh in the Brecon Beacons to make sure their run would create the image of the Welsh dragon.
The pair eventually completed the gruelling run after running out of food and water – having to drink from streams – and said it was harder than they ever imagined.
Dr Stone, a GP from Cardiff, said: “We soon discovered the pitfall of having to slavishly follow a line.
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“Normally in fell running you try to find the easiest route between A and B. Here we couldn’t. If there was a cliff face, a rocky outcrop or a marsh we just had to plough through it.
“I had been fairly careful to avoid the major geographical features when plotting the route but hadn’t foreseen all the smaller stuff.”
Dr Stone and passenger boat operator Mr Driscoll belong to a fell running club called Mynyddwyr De Cymru, and dreamed up the idea in the pub.
Strava art is created by using a GPS tracking app to draw virtual trails on the ground.
Runners plan the route on a map, follow it, and then when finished uploaded it to Strava and see the outline.
The pair completed their artwork on April 1 leading many to question it if was real.
“We must have looked right wallies as we trotted around in a strange ritual dance, abruptly changing direction for no apparent reason visible to an outsider,” said Dr Stone.
“Fortunately, being at the bleak end of the Beacons there was not many people to witness us.”