Howdy, Stranger!
Categories
Options
Snowdonia marathon 2013
The materials in this website are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor, qualified personal trainer, therapist, dietitian or nutritionist Runners's World, Part of the Hearst UK well-being network © Copyright 2017
Comments
hi all
I got round in 5.15, met PJL! which was great. Loads of lovely people at this race I thought. I was on for sub 5, then that last uphill at 22 just ended that! I had to walk and struggled to ever get the legs running again. My calves just kept seizing up. I did eventually manage to sort of run on that most difficult finish, uneven path down hill! By the finish I actually felt I had a spring in my step I was over the moon! I do definitely think I will go back, want to improve that time and train properly!
Good for you, Wabo. These things are kind of addictive, aren't they? Camaraderie rules alright.
Well done, Wabo!
Race Report
Training had been suboptimal due to injuries
but should still have been adequate
(and had done 2 other marathons and 5 halfs earlier in the year).
Flew down to Manchester on Friday and then took train to Bangor.
Spent afternoon with daughter, walk then meal at Dylans, Menai Bridge (highly recommended
), before catching 85 bus out to Llanberis. Picked up number and returned to B+B ¾ mile outside Llanberis.
Walked down with one other guy from B+B following morning after good breakfast.
. The sky was still looking rather dark so I opted to take light waterproof jacket with shorts and merino t-shirt.
Welcome further tea and biscuits at hut. Met up with another runner I knew from Cape Wrath Challenge
Walked along to start and before long we were off. Easy running for first 2 miles before long gradual climb to PenY Pass. Didn’t feel I was pushing it at this stage. Walked the last 200 yards to top. Feeling good
, spotted WABO on descent 
and ran on to say hello to her. Fast easy running down to Pen Y Gwyrd with gusts of wind behind us.
Onto the old road and a change of surface.
. Met up with JENF a while later
. Chocolate and slices of orange given out by locals as we came near Beddgelert
. Local support was great, although having never run with name on bib before I had to get used to my name being called out.
Once back on the main road, I met up with CAMLO, instantly recognisable in her nurse uniform
I reached half way at 2h10
. At this point, I even thought I had a chance of a PB– how very wrong!
I didn’t find the hill out of Beddgelert too bad, although I did walk some of it. However after that, my pace really dropped off and, unusually for me, started to feel a bit cold
. CAMLO and JENF disappeared into distance
. 2 more mini Mars Bars consumed.
Still, I passed Ranger Hostel comfortably at 3h12 although now running at slow jog.
WABO passed me at about 19 miles I think.
By the time I hit 21.7 miles, I still had thoughts that I might be on target for 4h45.
Ran up the first bit up street in Waun Fawr. Experimented with an energy gel for first time. This was not a good idea! Not only did I have to get the marshall to open it for me but also ended upwith most of it in my beard!
I was soon walking again as the way continued to climb all the way up to Bwlch Y Groes (my pre-race target of 4h45 disappearing out of window, followed quickly by any idea of getting in under 5h).
On the last section up the hill we had strong winds, now directly in our face. Over the top, we were buffeted by gale force cross winds and rain began in ernest. Now I was just wanting to finish, no longer caring about times.
I had been looking forward to the descent but by then my legs were mashed and I found it difficult to run down the last mile which took 17 minutes!
Crossed the finish line, collected my coaster and a
... and ambled across to the bag hut.
No seats left but knew I needed to sit down fast, the floor being the only option.
By now it was raining heavily and it was ¾ mile back up to B+B. Passed a (full) Pantri, telephoned wife and got a second soaking
as I walked back to a shower in B+B.
Considered and tried to get a taxi back down (no joy) so got a 3rd soaking
coming back into Llanberis to join my daughter for a lovely dinner in Peak Restaurant
. We hadn’t realised there wasn’t a later bus back to Bangor so she got a taxi out from Bangor to take her back. As it was still raining, I copped out of further socialising (sorry guys
) and “hitched” a lift in her taxi back to my B+B.
Legs achey through Saturday night but were fine for a brisk walk at Newborough on the Sunday morning (even managed a sprint for bus!)
Photos on marathonfoto (#585) do show a clear change of demeanour at finish line from those at 7 miles!
Initial thoughts never again, but Elspeth keen to do it and I have no doubt I could improve with better pacing, possibly more thought to fuelling and a few more long runs …
What a shame entry for next years race is not open now, I am itching to release my debit card from its wallet so I can see if I can be first to register,on
Even though my finishing time was a joke, down to vertually no training, I am ever so keen to repeat the process for next year. and it will be the big 20 as well.
Hope the rest of you feel the same.
Forget London, it's all happening at Eryri in late October, tick it off your calendar NOW.
Loving the reports from everybody, always inspiring.
PJL, race you for it
PJL- only number 6 for me next year, but the hotel is already booked
Will be my 4th London too- both special in very different ways
OH- well done
Can't believe you could run on Sunday! My first outing was yesterday- and it was slow and stiff!
1st run for me since Saturday, mulling over the race. Went off a lot slower than previous years and eased back along the valley floor to Beddgelert (tempted to try and latch onto a group). Lack of marathon'ish pace in the last few months told by 17 miles and the last 8 miles were a real struggle, in particular the final climb/descent, where I experienced severe cramping for the 1st time in the race. If you don't do the training....!! Will be training properly for next years race and giving it the respect that it deserves!!
I'm loving the enthusiasm still. PJL, glad you're still so keen to return for your 20th.
Other Half, brilliant report. With that description I almost lived your SNOD experience myself.
After my admonishment from jason, I'm back.
Yes, I like the 'we were buffeted by gale force cross winds and rain began in ernest.'
That was a necessary and important part of the experience!
And those references to continuous soakings when trying to do various things in the evening. Always has been the same in Llanberis.
Perhaps next year we'll be able to sit outside with a drink on a balmy evening, the last rays of the late October sun bathing the mountain sides in golden light ...
... instead of everything slate coloured and every time you step out of a doorway it is as if someone has emptied a trough of water all over you.
Well done all on some great performances. This was my race…
I’ll skip through the early stages, except to say that I’m not particularly adept at skipping down the pebbly track from mile 6. Paused at mile 8 to shake out some trespassing stones and the remainder of my bladder…
Went through halfway in approx. 1:54 – does anyone know why there wasn’t a chip mat at halfway this time? Would have been interesting to compare splits on TDL website, especially as I reckon I must have come as close to a negative split as anyone…
Last year I really despaired on the long slow drag out of Beddgelert. This time no such woes; yes it still crept up interminably, but the gel I’d popped at mile 11 was probably helping pep me up. Moreover, as the road straightened out I caught a fresh sight of the 2x West Brom jerseys (one of whom is my work colleague, some of you may have noticed him – “Gringo” on his shirt) up ahead and set about reeling them in. I caught up at mile 15 and we then chewed the fat for the next 20 mins or so, before I decided I would kick on at the mini-climb shortly before the youth hostel. I figured it was worth pushing a bit harder on the basis that whatever I did, I would feel like sh1t going up Bwlch y Groes…
I had just allowed myself to start feeling a little flat around mile 21 but then my support network showed up at the Tafarn brewpub and the cheers, while fleeting, were enough to renew my appetite for the job. Approaching Waunfawr, my sole objective to begin with was to keep running for further than last year, when I had slowed to a walk before even the right-hander. This time I gritted my teeth and searched for a suitably low gear to shift into. It then became a case of fixing points further up the hill at which I would “treat” myself to that first walk, only to then defer the gratification each time said point was reached. All the while I was taking real satisfaction from picking off other runners and this was ample motivation. There came a point – I can’t remember when – where I knew I was going to run all the way up and that as such a sub-4 was in the bag. What a feeling.
It got pretty damned gusty up the top of the Bwlch (mostly very helpful tailwinds, it should be said) and I instinctively positioned my left hand in front of my race number as it the wind seemingly had the potential to tear it from my chest, and with it any official recognition. This, coupled with the fact my Garmin had some minutes prior issued a “low battery” warning, was inducing a sense of mild panic. I figured I might as well convert this panic into something more useful like a sense of urgency, so I kicked hard along the undulations, weaving all over the shop to best negotiate the bumps before the big descent.
I’m no fan of downhills full stop, let alone one as vertiginous as this, so I did my best to make gravity work for me, while silently cursing my lack of a fell running background. As I hit the High St, I made to sprint it really hard only for my left leg to threaten to cramp up – this took me totally by surprise as I don’t normally ever “do” cramp. I settled for a steady dash over the line, rather than my usual graceful eyeballs-out zombie apocalypse-escapee lurch.
Overall then, 3:50.58 and a PB to my great surprise. A good 6 days as I had also knocked 2.5 mins off my best half at Birmingham the previous Sunday. Splits:
8.41 8.47 9.21 9.37 9.31 7.49 8.01 8.04 8.16 8.00 8.46 8.39 8.21 9.09 9.16 8.34 8.17 8.27 8.20 8.33 8.45 8.53 11.11 10.39 8.54 7.39 1.02
Dennis- great run and report
TRex- we had the sunshine in 2012
Thanks Jason. Sorry you had to go at it half-cocked, must have been frustrating. Quite the novelty seeing myself on same page of results as you though
wow what a great report Dennis, it brings it all flooding back so eloquently! Well done to you!
Dennis, it was just a relief to be able to complete
Enjoyed it much more than I normally do! Lol!
Ace Dennis, you were one of the gazelles overtaking me on Bwlch-y-Groes... race you next year!!
Didn't realise it was you in the union Jack shorts Lemmy , you parked next to me in the car park (eventually
)
Enjoyed that report Dennis, great run.
wow some great reports of the day (and the day after TRex) well done everyone especially the first timers
JD - don't you normally enjoy it much then?
Chrissy- I always enjoy it afterwards
But it was certainly more relaxed this year, due to not running eyeballs out
KK There was a MASSIVE puddle but I managed to hop over it...
Need to meet the SNOD's next year... It all just gets such a blur... Maybe have some sort of identifying symbol... SNOD written in permanent marker on the forehead?
Hi lemmy, I met you at the expo! Saw said shorts disappearing at the start. You did well!
Has anyone got a gpx I can download of this years route ? , my garmin gave up after 5 miles.
PM details if you want. Cheers.
Superb report, Dennis. Amazing time too. You must have held back in the first half to pull that one off. Those splits suggest a much flatter course than it is (excepting the odd hiccup). Brilliant.
Wabo, you from "The Manor?" Guessing from your very small picture... Nice to see you at Expo... It's all very exciting, you up for next year? See you out and about in Essex & The Smoke... Hackney Marshes parkrun for me tomorrow... On your patch of turf...
As soon as i finished on that rain lashed street of Llanberis, all i could think about was next years race, if they had provided a debit machine there and then for next years race, i would have rushed to the car and coughed up straight away.
The race was the only one i have competed in this year, i am no longer hungry or competative in my training, and was surprised that i posted a time of just over six hours.
I was half expecting to not finish at all, my halfway time of 2-29 was a big surprise, five years ago i was doing my 20mile long runs considerably faster than that, and i was able to run up Beddgelert hill comfortably, the first time in 19yrs, a very strange experience indeed.
My only training for the entire year has been one 15 mile run, and the rest has been general keep fit runs, never approaching 10m.
Can i go sub4 on the marathon again ? Who knows, its down to how much training you put in, and whether i can regain my speed, which ive certainly lost in the past two to three years.
Theres one thing i do konw, is that i will be there New years Eve, debit card in hand, dreaming about the finest marathon in the Uk.
Sorry I didn't recognise you Lemmy, oddly enough no one seems to look much like their grinning profile pics after 24 miles...
Would be good to finally be able to put some names to faces at next year's event. Room at the Vic already booked so I should be able to stay out for an isotonic shandy on the Saturday.
Cheers Nick. I sometimes wonder if I go out too conservatively; there was certainly still gas in the tank at the finish. SNOD probably not the race in which to experiment with an explosive start, mind...
lemmy yes I was with rach and dave and have met you at elvis races
I will also be there on new years eve, loved this race