Looks incredible! Thanks for posting , I am thinkng of getting some salamon XA pro 3D gtx trail running shoes instead of my xtalons, bloody silly long name but reviews look good
Those XA pro's are an okay summer shoe, I liked mine despite them being on the heavy side. I'm still to figure out why there's a market for GTX trail shoes though.
Don't like GTX, especially in walking boots. They make my feet sweat a lot. Never tries salamons but wouldn't mind giving them a trial. Running shops near me don't seem to sell them.
Round 1 was pretty cheeky. Ground conditions to CP1 had me really questioning my footwear choice (real bad decision to wear worn trailroc's), thankfully it got slightly better. We all got a bit buffeted by the wind which was relentless on the Waun Fach ridgeway and then a heap more clag to the finish. A great day out on the welsh hills, the adversity in wicked conditions certainly amplify the achievement.
wondering whether to bring my head torch, just incase!?
training is going well for me, been doing trail marathons as training runs, two of them in fact, and will be doing a back to back 13-15 mile run tomorrow and then one on friday, not long to go now, really looking forward to it !
If you need a headtorch you'll be outside the 21:30 final cutoff, but it's never a bad thing to have in your pack just in case. The 25-mile cutoff is 15:30 so if you get through that there should be plenty of time to get home before dark.
ah right, that's true, well my last trail marathon 2 weeks ago was a slow and steady 5hrs 40, so i am guessing with the additional 16 miles and accounting for the huge ascents add another 5 hours, so aiming for around 10hrs ish,
In 2012 I did it in 10h07 for 73/114. I'm usually 3:50-4:00 for a road marathon. It was a fine sunny day but very wet underfoot.
The section straight after Pontsticll Res (heading towards Corn Du) was particularly boggy. There is a bit of a path through it but don't be tempted to head out onto the white, 'dead looking' grass - it's not dry land and you'll sink without trace.
Whoa there a minute. I have for the first time just seen the map of the course. Out has gone the muddy section through woods and dull road section through Trefil quarries and in has come a strenuous loop up to Fan Frynych and back (the westernmost loop). The trail leading from Storey Arms to the fence marked Craig Cerrig-gleisiad on the map is idyllic, but I've only ever come down it. Going up might be a different story!
This makes the course more hilly and I would say about 2 miles longer than when I did it in 2012.
Comments
Dank - Hope these pictures are giving you a flavour of the Brecon Beacons.
I think this one is the Bryn Teg ridge but it's hard to tell - they all look the same in these conditions!
But as you can see there are often quite useful waymarks!
Don't like GTX, especially in walking boots. They make my feet sweat a lot. Never tries salamons but wouldn't mind giving them a trial. Running shops near me don't seem to sell them.
Just to reassure a little ...
At least you're not doing Round 1, Dank-art. They could be facing this tomorrow:
Or this:
And quite possibly this:
The middle picture is Waun fach - not one of my favourite summits!
blimey is this all part of the Brecons route? Do we do Pen Y Fan?
No, those last three are on the Round 1 route (Black Mountains).
How did Round 1 go, folks? A little bit damp, I think? A few reports wouldn't go amiss.
Can't miss Pen y Fan out. Tricky little descent off it.
Roll on Round 2
Sorry guys, should check in more often!
Hope you enjoyed round 1, tough conditions.
All the links for Round 2 should be working, entries coming at a steady rate, hope to see as many of you as possible.
Any questions please fire away...cheers
wondering whether to bring my head torch, just incase!?
training is going well for me, been doing trail marathons as training runs, two of them in fact, and will be doing a back to back 13-15 mile run tomorrow and then one on friday, not long to go now, really looking forward to it !
If you need a headtorch you'll be outside the 21:30 final cutoff, but it's never a bad thing to have in your pack just in case. The 25-mile cutoff is 15:30 so if you get through that there should be plenty of time to get home before dark.
ah right, that's true, well my last trail marathon 2 weeks ago was a slow and steady 5hrs 40, so i am guessing with the additional 16 miles and accounting for the huge ascents add another 5 hours, so aiming for around 10hrs ish,
In 2012 I did it in 10h07 for 73/114. I'm usually 3:50-4:00 for a road marathon. It was a fine sunny day but very wet underfoot.
The section straight after Pontsticll Res (heading towards Corn Du) was particularly boggy. There is a bit of a path through it but don't be tempted to head out onto the white, 'dead looking' grass - it's not dry land and you'll sink without trace.
Whoa there a minute. I have for the first time just seen the map of the course. Out has gone the muddy section through woods and dull road section through Trefil quarries and in has come a strenuous loop up to Fan Frynych and back (the westernmost loop). The trail leading from Storey Arms to the fence marked Craig Cerrig-gleisiad on the map is idyllic, but I've only ever come down it. Going up might be a different story!
This makes the course more hilly and I would say about 2 miles longer than when I did it in 2012.
... and counting.
No, let's say 43. I expect frenchy knows but isn't letting on ...