TWO Gwynedd runners were part of a four-person team that ran the length of the Offa’s Dyke Path in a new record time despite injury forcing one of the men out of the ultra-marathon.

Gordon Hughes, from Llanaelhaearn, and Laurent Gorce, from Abererch, were part of the team of four runners that took on the challenge to run the length of the path in under 64 hours, alongside Nia Albiston and Jason Harper from Anglesey.

But while Gordon and Nia managed to complete the run in a new record time, Laurent and Jason were struck by injury and forced to pull out during the run.

Despite their injuries, with Laurent being forced to stop after 73 miles after suffering an ankle injury, Gordon and Nia completed the 177 miles in just 63 hours and one minute, beating the previous record by an hour and nine minutes.

They were supported by Laurent and Jason who joined the support team.

Speaking after completing the challenge, which the four runners were doing to raise money for the Wales Air Ambulance, Gordon said: “That is one of the toughest things I’ve done in my life but it was absolutely worth it.

“The trail is tough, with so much variation in terrain, and the weather wasn’t always our friend, but we just kept going.

“To get to the end, and in the record time, just feels like a massive achievement.

“It made it even sweeter that we were able to use our challenge to help raise funds for Wales Air Ambulance.”

Laurent said: “It was gutting to have to retire through injury but I knew I couldn’t continue with my ankle the way it was.

“I’m so pleased that Jason and I were able to join the support team in order to keep encouraging Nia and Gordon.

“We’d been tracking their progress at the end, and knew they could make it inside the record time, so it was a fantastic moment when we saw them running down the road towards us.”