Snowdonia MarathonHere's how RW members rated this race in the past (450 votes). | 61 to 70 of 78 ratings | Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
2008 race reviewed by: Running Bench
 | | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great Race - hard as nails - wind, rain and pain!
In full: Great race - the weather added it's but to make a hard course even harder! 40 mph winds and rain hitting your face hard enough to make you wince!
A couple of killer hills and a little mean one as you enter the town to round it off.
Thanks to the marshals and helpers who hung around in this weather to help and support us and to the supports who cheered us on.
A couple of suggestions:
Carried my own food, but noted that there was nothing left at the feed tables - this could have caused issues for runners.
If there could be an area closed off for finishers to get their breath back and get a drink and a cup of coffee etc. Found it very crowded and ended up being pushed around by spectators while queing for a drink!
Besides that top run - prepare on the hills before hand - but expect to walk!
Date of review: October 26, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Wharfy
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: A great challenge with lovely scenery and great organisation
In full: The weather conspired to make it really hard this year, but what do you expect in the hills at the end of October ? Great organisation and thumbs up to the brave marshalls / helpers and supporters who toughed out the weather to keep us all going.
Date of review: October 26, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Huw Jones 3
| | Overall score | | 60% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 60% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 60% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 40% |
In short: Though conditions made worse by inadequate feeding stations.
In full: I've done snowdonia before, this was being my forth. While I previously thought 2005 was the toughest, the conditions this year proved that things can get worse!
The scenery while usually brilliant were masked by fog or sleet, and this combined with the cold condition means there very few spectators on the course this year.
The decent from the Waunfawr had me terrified. The path was like a mudslide, the decline was steep and the wind wanted to blow you in every direction it could. As the whole place was littered with sharp slate it made for a very uncomfortable mile and a half.
Of course, the weather and the atmosphere is not anything that can be foreseen by the organisers, and by hat goes off to the volunteers who stood in the wind and rain for hours helping the runners.
What I was VERY disappointed with was the feed stations. I've previously taken sweets with me, but in the past they have had an over abundance of Mars bars and other goodies from about 15 miles onwards so i felt no need this time around. This year, I believe these were replaced by Jelly beans. Not that I was to know this as at every station they had nothing. At one station I was even refused water as they had run out of cups.
Not everyone can run at a 3hour pace and for those of us who are a litter slow still require the benefit of something sweet and sugary later on in the race. To be refused this at every station was a slap in the face and made me feel like a second rate runner who didn't deserve it. Very disappointing indeed. Other runners I spoke to also shared this opinion.
I'll be back next year, hopefully the weather will be better, but after having fought though this year I feel prepared to deal with everything the course throws at me. But organizers, PLEASE CATER ENOUGH STOCK FOR ALL THE RUNNERS!
Date of review: October 26, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: DANNY PAINTER
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 80% | | Organisation | | 60% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Great Race
In full: A challenging route that was made more interesting by the weather, bloody good fun though.
Big thanks to all the marshalls, it wasnt a good day to be standing still!!
Date of review: October 26, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Evolving
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: first time marathon and brillant
Date of review: October 26, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Red Williams
| | Overall score | | 80% | | Would you do it again? | | No | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 40% | | Value | | 60% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Beast of a course on a killer day!
In full: Salute every single runner who ran the Snowdonia on an awesome day lashed by storms.
We had to battle through gale-force winds, torrential rain, hailstones and freeing temperatures.
Everyone who lined up at the start deserved a medal, never mind the finishers!
The wind was so fierce on the top at about 23mls that I got blown off my feet and smashed my head off a rock.
I was stunned but I staggered to me feet, dusted myself down and ran on covered in Snowdon mud.
10 out of 10 to the stewards, drinks guys and supporters who lined the streets - and even the hills - to come out, get soaked and roar us on - heroes all.
The ladies at the end handing out endless cups of tea and coffee were brilliant.
But the organisation could have been a whole lot better.
It took me ages to reclaim my bag and no-one knew where the showers were.
I asked stewards, worn-out, bedraggled runners and 1st aid people - no-one knew.
So I had to make a 4hr drive home dirty and wet.
Not the best end to a fantastic, unforgettable day running among some of the best, most haunting scenery anywhere in the world.
Runners unite - we should all give ourselves a massive pat on the back today.
And a special thank-you to Jess from Chester who helped me up the murderous climb at 21-22 and on to the finish - cheers mate!!
Date of review: October 26, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: bran
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: last years snowdonia marathon seemed so much easier. special thanks to supporters with jelly beans and flap jacks
In full: 40 mph winds, torrential rain. Only time I have ever needed to run/walk with my coat on all the way round, but still fantastic.
Sort of hoping waunfawr bit would be closed and a wonderful short cut would open up, not so lucky.
Missed out on jelly beans from official marshalls but the supporters provided enough, which was truly greatful. I am sure the scenery would have been great if it wasn't for the weather.
My wife wants a set of 4 of coasters, so will be there again next year.
Date of review: October 26, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Rosey666
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Maybe | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 100% | | Value | | 80% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 60% |
In short: Brutal !!!!!
In full: You can prepare for everything but you cannot do the weather. I will remember this one for a long time, it was great. A very big applause for all the marshalls for enduring the weather. Unsung hero's, thanks.
Date of review: October 26, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Peter John Lewis
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 40% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Incredible weather makes this incredible Marathon more challenging.
In full: This was my thirteenth consecutive Snowdon with number 108 once again.
I have had this number from 1995 and every year since.
Running with a cold didnot help and being soaked from start to finish was far from ideal but i got round in a slow 4.48 but atleast that lovely little slate coaster will go alongside the others.
Iorwerth Roberts my best friend thankfully completed the course in just over five hours to make it 25 Snowdons.He has completed every one apart from 2002 which was cancelled.
Last night i rang him up to see how he had got on and in all the Snowdons hes done (all of them)those were the poorest running he can ever remember so those of you who completed the race THIS YEAR WAS THE TOUGHEST ITS EVER BEEN and thats official by somebody who should know.
Will i be there next year YOU BET and wearing no108 again.
Give the race a go it cant get any harder or can it.
Date of review: October 26, 2008
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2008 race reviewed by: Dafo
| | Overall score | | 100% | | Would you do it again? | | Yes | | | | Details: | | Scenery | | 100% | | PB potential | | 20% | | Atmosphere | | 100% | | Organisation | | 80% | | Value | | 100% | | Beginner-friendliness | | 80% |
In short: Awesome race, a real test of mental and physical toughness, just great
In full: A fantastic experience, a great challenge and warm atmosphere making up for the atrocious weather conditions. The offroad downhill section at the end was a killer on the quads but the free sports massage at the finish loosened them up a bit. Fantastic
Date of review: October 26, 2008
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