Two mates have broken the record for the fastest time to run the entire 870-mile Wales Coast Path - in just 18 days.
Ben Wiley, 25, and Paul Zlabickas, 33, began their mammoth run on the outskirts of Chester - where the coast path begins - on July 21 before finishing up in Chepstow on August 8.
The Wales Coast Path threads through some of the most striking, historic and wildlife‑rich locations in North Wales, from Dee Estuary marshes to the cliffs of Anglesey and the sandy sweep of the North Wales coast in Conwy, Denbighshire and Gwynedd.
They added that the path around Anglesey was one of the toughest part of the route.
They tackled over 29,000 metres of elevation, and averaged around 78km (48 miles) a day - the equivalent of almost two marathons each day - finishing up in 18 days, four hours, and 59 minutes.
The previous record was 19 days and five hours.
To make their achievement even more impressive, the Wales Coast Path is 53 miles longer than if you were to walk the length of the UK from Land's End to John O'Groats.
Ben and Paul took on the gruelling effort to raise money for the Jacob Abraham Foundation - raising £15,000 in the process.
Ben, a labourer, from Cardiff, said: "It was amazing at the finish line.
"That was the whole point we did it and seeing everyone there - it was special.
"It made it worthwhile and it happened exactly the way it should have.
"Anglesey was tough but Pembrokeshire was worse as we weren't expecting it - it was a shock.
"It's massive and we had multiple big elevation days.
"The thought of quitting never crept in though - day 11 was the toughest but it was about being strategic."
Paul said: "People don't realise how difficult the coast path is.
"We could have done the whole of Britain and we could have done that in half the time but it wouldn't have been as beautiful.
"The most difficult part was before the actual challenge and discipline.
"Half four in the morning wake ups.
"The challenge was really difficult but we didn't have injuries and I think that's all down to the nine months of training beforehand."
The idea came about when Ben asked Paul if he could help him train to run across a country.
Paul, a PT and PE teacher, has an ultra-running background, whilst Ben - who has only taken up running in the last 18 months - has found a love for long distance running.
Ben told Sell Us Your Story: "I did a 24 hour run to raise money last year and that was always a stepping stone to the next challenge.
"This was a massive step up compared to the 24 hour run.
"Anyone who does ultra running understands that multi-day running is much more gruelling.
"The idea came from Paul - I was travelling and decided to start running when I had a tricky period with my mental health.
"I rang Paul and asked if he would train me to run across a country and I think that sparked it back into him and he was really onboard with it.
"He was ultra-running when I was in school!
"He came up with the idea of running the coastal path - it's the only country in the world with a full coastal path that goes all the way round."
Paul added: "He reached out initially to run across Australia but then he ended up doing the 24 hour run and I coached him through it.
"I mentioned I was going to do the coast path and he heard the idea and he decided he wanted to join me.
"From then on we joined forces and the rest is the history.
"I thought 'how can I see as much of Wales through a physical challenge?' and I really wanted to highlight the beauty of Wales."
The plan was to start up near Chester and run round the entire west coast.
Ben said: "It's brutal.
"A common misconception is it's small but it's longer than the length of the UK by about 80km because of all the nooks and crannies and turns.
"The first day we did 96km as it was flatter so we did less on the hilly days.
"It's relentless - it's hard to call it a path in some places, some of it's basically climbing."
Paul said: "Day 11 and Day 15 were by far the hardest.
"Day 11 we woke up frazzled and we were really feeling it - probably the malnutrition at that point and roughly 100,000 steps a day.
"On day 15 the energy levels were low and the terrain was like mother nature's obstacle course."
They raised money for the Jacob Abraham Foundation - which helps prevent suicide in South Wales.
Ben said: "I was open about my mental health online and I felt like I should have everything figured out when I went travelling.
"But it doesn't work like that and it crept up when I least expected it but that's when I started running.
"In doing all that and speaking about it online, I found what I wanted to do.
"Jacob's Abraham Foundation was local and it just felt right."
Paul said: "Ben worked with the charity before and I've done some challenges before but I'd never really done something for charity.
"It holds a lot of the values I try and push myself.
"I struggled with my mental health in my late teens and early twenties.
"I'd totally forgotten about that period and thinking about that brought up all these feelings so I felt really passionate about highlighting men's mental health."
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