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| Prizes from the battle!! |
In 2011, I entered the Snowdonia Marathon after only running for a few months, and managed to hobble round in 4 hours 31 minutes after 19 miles of ITB problems, nevertheless I completed it.
3 weeks ago, myself and 5 'virgin' marathon runners from Amman Utd RFC embarked on this major challenge once more.
On a crisp and cold saturday morning, the 2200 runners walked from Llanberis village center the 1 mile or so up to the start line like gladiators ready to go to war. I had met loads of old and new friends on the way up, Nicola Quinn, Karl Gordon, Lisa and Mark Wright, Non Davies, Jon Kettle, Haydn Baker, Delyth Wright from The Dirty Daps, Muddy Tracks offroad Facebook group, and my fellow rugby marathon rookies Alun Rees, Carwyn Thomas, Nick Griffiths, Steve Liles and Carl Jeremiah.
My plan was to run 8 minute miles to Beddgelert at 13 miles and take it from there. The first 3 miles went along in a wave of adrenaline and chatting to the throngs, that quickly changed at mile 4, the first climb of the day up to Penypass, my heart was suddenly pumping as the climb took hold, but the summit was reached in 38 minutes without undue problems, then started the long freewhweel down to Penygwrhyd Pub junction. This was like a scene from Tour de France, people on the roadside cheering you on, that was fab!
Next was the 3 mile offroad section down to Nantgwynant, rocky underfoot, I was in my element on the gnarly stuff, passing people less sure of their footing. Back up onto the road to Beddgelert, still 5 miles to go until the halfway point, the miles were feeling easy and relaxed, but dodging the cars was a bit tricky on the narrow roads!! I finally ran into Beddgelert in 1 hour 46 minutes, the crowds again were cramming the pavements, I thought my 2011 time was sure to be beaten at this rate!
From halfway, there is a slow, long 2.5 mile drag uphill, this was the second of 3 big climbs on the course, this was by no means the steepest, but it just goes on and on and on!! The next 7 miles or so are a bit of a 'no man's land, very open and exposed to the elements, this was the first point when I noticed my pace starting to go slower, 8.20, 9.00, 8.45, 9.15, the first signs of fatigue were setting in at mile 19 when cramp started to attack my left calf. I gritted my teeth and jogged gamely on to the last climb of the day, the fearsome hill from Waunfawr to Bwlch y Groes ( highest point of the course). My 4.30 was surely beaten, so I changed my focus to a possible sub 4 hours, if I could just get over this final challenge, it might just be a possibility!!
Recurring cramps were really hampering my progress, so a mixture of jogging/power walking finally got my over the steepest part of the climb, there were runners strewn all over the hill with cramp and severe fatigue, come on fellow warriors, the end is in sight!!
At 24.4 miles, the climb ends, I look at my watch, 3.45, that leaves 15 minutes to get down the steepest and most dangerous offroad part of the course to reach my 'sub 4', but this was to be my favourite part of the race, my mountain descending skills really came to the fore, I ran my fastest mile at 6.23 as I careered past numerous less sure footed and tired runners down onto the final bit of tarmac, that last 200m 'funnel' was awsome, large crowds cheering me home to the finish line, a final sprint and over the finish line in 3 hours 57 minutes 25 seconds, yes!!!
Over the course of the next hour, my fellow rugby newbies all finish their first ever marathon, what a day!!
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| Happy with my 3.57!! |
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| me and karl Gordon |
