Snowdonia Marathon 2009

FF - it isn't very flat round there , more undulating than many believe. Many think the new forest quite flat - it isn't. But with a good snod time you'll be OK. Why don't you head on down to Arundel on the south coast for the Doyen of the Downs 30 XC in December - it'll be cracking!

Peter - you must be Tim's brother?

where's Fellruner?

CD My thoughts exactly - he needs to get on here and sign it off!

Mike...I did New Forrest Half some years ago and know it's not flat....

Well having been allowed near the laptop after a bottle of Shiraz with a credit card...I've kind of booked next year up.... but thinking 2011 could see me doing an ultra....if I survive what I have in store for 2010.  I think Mr FF just sobbed when I told him what was next...... pretty sure he thought it was something I had to 'get out of my system'!!

Yes...FR....come finish us off with some wise words on when I should go for another run....I'm assuming it's best to wait until walking isn't such an issue!

..... but I feel I may miss you all....

Hi  Steve-Zodiac -  I am Tim's brother yes! Did you see Tim (only spectating) at the end of the race? He actually mentioned he had seen someone he knew - but couldn't see them again when he looked around for them - I'm assuming that will have been yourself??

FF Shiraz? or Cabernet Sauvignon? or was it both you lush!

Peter - Yes I've known Tim for sometime, i worked with him some moons ago - I said hello at the end, I came in a few minutes ahead of you so must have been running close to you during the last few miles over the hill - I ran the downside flat out  and passed a few runners. It was also nice to see Tim. You coming back to finish unfinished business?

Hi Snowdonia Snail, if you're still looking in, sorry but I forgot to mention before that I did see you as I struggled stiffly down the other side of Waunfawr. I should have stopped to ask if you were you, but I had the bit between my teeth and I was unstoppable. Well done with your litter-picking duties. There was rather too much of that, not just from the cups but from discarded gel wrappers as well. I can proudly say I took every vestige of my own litter to the finish.

Talking of the cups, I had a few amusing moments where I felt as though I was racing scores of polystyrene cups getting blown away from the checkpoints. The cups usually won. Some of them showed interesting aerodynamic properties as they took to the air like flying saucers.

Brit Nick,

I didn't expect you to stop, and like I said I didn't know it was you until you'd gone. I just felt I had a duty to tidy the rubbish up from the mountains that I often graze, some runners gave me their rubbish some were left on the floor, lucky I had a 3/4 empty rucksack going up. Very good Brit Nick, wish everyone was like you. I saw the clip on the S4C coverage where all them cups went flying at the top of Pen y Pass.

SS

I was most concerned about the littler problem, thats why I mentioned it in my report on my race, if only they had more bins , most were full and massivley over flowing by the time I got there. There were cups a good mile or more form the water station, at the water stop by the lake a massive gust took piles of them into the lake. With often only young cadets at the stations were they then going to walk all over the area - probaly several miles picking them up?  I hope someone did - I feel guilty about them, I always take home my gels wrappers and tops but I had to use the cups.

FF - It's a cracking half , I did it this year having failed by a day to get a place in the full , I did the full last year and they found even more undulating bits for the marathon loop. You really should try the Doyen of the Downs - at just 30 miles it's accesible especially for those who can manage Snowdon. It's hilly and tricky underfoot but last years crystal clear weather with thick frost made this memorable. 

Hi all - just tried to sneak in ahead of Fellrunners sign off to say 'well done' to you all.  Sounds like weather not so great again - maybe next year !  Annoyed that I forgot to watch on S4C but willed you on in spirit.  Will I come back for 2010 ?  Has FR started 2010 thread yet ?

Anyone who completes this hilly madness in anywhere near their target times is a running god !

Hi Wharfy,

There's a 2010 thread already, running away like an express train. Such a committed bunch there cannot be elsewhere.

I forgot to mention before, limited report posted here.

 Wharfy

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/forum/forummessages.asp?URN=6&UTN=148798&SP=&V=1#8056343

  I have an ample supply of both Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, with a few bottles of Rioja for special occasions....and on examining the left overs this morning...it was the Cabernet Sauvignon that is to blame for next years race schedule...

Next Races:

Nov: Saab Salomon Turbo X

Jan: Tough Guy - Nettle Warriors

April: London Marathon

September: New Forest Middle Distance Tri

Mike...I have googled Doyen of the Downs and it actually looks like a great way to end the year. Actually there is a strong possibility I may well sneak it on the end of the calendar for 2010!  Mustn't forget the family and full time nights/work commitments.  New Forest was my first ever half marathon and I remember it being pretty but hot and lacking in shelter a lot of the way...with a really long hill around mile 4 and 9...I think....

I've the Flying Fox 10 on Sunday, organised by the Stne Master Marathoners, it's a lovely race round lovely Staffs countryside. On the 15th Nov there is the Seagreave Wolds 15.7 challenge , a LDWA event , a tough XC course really designed for walkers, lots of stiles and tricky stream crossing. A cracking good run  - very tough.

Thats about it for races I can think of till Doyen in December. I'll have to get some serious XC training in ready for Doyen, though thats still just one run a week, I just don't have the time with work. I'm trying to do work right now , I may go out later and get some deliveries done.

I'm up for the Rotary Shakespeare Marathon in April, same day as London, before then there will be Rhayder round the lakes 20. Last year I did a 30 ultras in March but it was a shambles billed as a 30 mile loop and ending up a 7.5 miler out and back four times. I'll have to see what else there is in the way of halfs and locla 10K to support.

Hi all

Managed a comfortable 3.59 with a negative split............didnt find Waunfawr hard and I didnt walk

1189

We took the first 5 in a relaxed 50 mins.......

My OH did a very respectable 4.32....a female ......lol

No after effects.............back to Dartmoor soon..... for more training

Be there next year.....guys....

Try concentrated jellies (9 pence a packet from Sainsburys) and gels...... had four of each at every 5 mile point.........worked fine....for me anyway

best for now.............. all

Hi All,

Just popped in to say that I had a great day on Saturday.

As I know the area fairly well, I really wasn't looking forward to the first 4.5 miles, Llanberis to Pen y Pass. However, adrenalin on the day does wonders! The piercing initial rain, constant wind in the face all went to nothing when I felt so good in beautiful scenery.

Anyone else at the top of Pen y Pass when the gust of wind made the drinks table explode into a mist of polystyrene cups?

Even the last bit approaching Waunfawr and onwards wasn't so bad, especially once I calculated that if I maintained a 10 min mile, I could beat my London time. Pace bands are a great aid. I ended up 56 minutes faster than my 'sitting comfortably in the warm in the lounge' realistic time guess beforehand.

Downhill on the slippery mud made me think that chasing a time was a silly thing to do, yet despite taking it easy in places, I reached the town in good time...then that sickening right turn! The guy in front of me virtually gave up there and then and someone else up ahead had withered.

With less than a mile to go, I knew where I was and knew I just had to keep going. The 26 mile marker, the left turn down the raod and right into the finish straight, saw me beat my London time by a good 8 minutes

Big thanks to every one involved, especially the cadets with the chocolate bars and the bloke in the green jacket who kept turning up at various places around the course looking us in the eyes and shouting encouragement to us all.

Next year.. Lose some weight....Shakespeare Half (cant stand going round same route twice)..Berlin Marathon 26 Sept and more than likely Snowdonia again on Oct 30th.

Anyone else notice the Suzuki Jeep with "Gail.... Personal Trainer" stickers on it around the course?

I saw her and it in various lay-by, (just the jeep and one person), no-one else around.
Yet each time I noticed the Jeep go past me, there was someone in the passenger seat!

I remember this happening 3 times! just seemed a bit strange.

Gail the trainer cut my VW up on the A5 - trying to overtake when her 4X4 just ddin't have the ummf for it.

 I'm wondering if it might have been me you saw collapsed by a green car at the end after the hill! I got going again but only just!

Stratford isn't a full two loops , more figure of eight. Got to be worth the lovely scenry and the thatched cottages rather than Londons innercity. Thats what I reckon anyway - plus its just 40 mins from home!

If you don't get to Berlin try Robin Hood Nottingham - brilliant marathon!

Tre4 - The guy in the green jacket - he was brilliant! - who was he?