Snowdonia Marathon 2011

Hi Folks,

Need to split this into two posts, hope no-one gets in between!

As I’m so easy to get side-tracked, thought I’d do this off line and paste in! If I start reading posts before I do this, it’ll never happen

It was great meeting so many at the weekend, putting faces to names.  The Padarn on a Saturday night is the place to go. I never realised how hard Karaoke is! ‘ Sweet Dreams (are made of this)’ seemed appropriate.

Rou, that was some performance, you looked so in control the whole race.

Jason, sub 3 next year?

Some excellent running out there.  A bit of ascent, a few puffs of wind, and a light misting seems to suit the majority…….

For me I had a plan, mentioned a few pages ago of taking it steady up the first hill, let gravity have it’s fun going down the other side, keep a good pace going to Bethgelert, keep the same effort level on the way up to Rydd and see how it’s going there.

Started off and for once in my life I actually stuck to the plan. I was slower up the hill than last year and it showed later on in the race. TR39 and I chatted about the world around us and soon we were at the top of the hill. I’m sure it was longer last year.  Flew down the other side elated at how fresh and strong I felt (Ok, so it’s still 21 miles and change to go, still felt good though).  On the way down the track I had short issues and had to slow to re-tie them. The gels were pulling them down. Not a sight those behind would want to see. Caught back up with TR39 and back we were enjoying the world. Hit the road at 8 miles and we both took a gel.

I think I get bored on flat/almost flat surfaces. Between hitting the road and Bethgelert I kept playing about with my stride, lengthening, shortening, quickening, slowing.  My legs felt like they needed a stretch.  Maybe it’s because I do most of my running off road? They’re just not used to keeping a constant stride length/cadence. As I left Bethgelert heading up the hill I turned around, jogging backwards to look at the runners behind and see if I could see TR39 as I’d gone ahead on one of my leg stretchers but couldn’t see him. As I still didn’t believe I could keep going as well as I was I knew he’d be overtaking me soon so turned back and trundled off. I did let the pace slow but kept the same effort level, just thinking that I’d keep it up as long as possible. Again this hill didn’t seem as long or as steep as it had last year. I started to think that all the hill work I’d put in this year had actually made a difference.

At the top of the hill I made a decision. Back myself. Keep the same effort level going and sub 4 was on. Took another gel at 16m and set off with absolute conviction that I could do it. If the wheels were going to have come off, I would have had a hint by now. Somewhere around the 18m mark TR39 caught me. At the water station shortly after TR39 went to get some water and I think got held up/delayed there(?). I had carried on, expecting him to catch up again. I knew what was coming up and even though the previous hills had gone better than I expected, it’s still a long hill with a fair

amount of ascent. I had stated before I was going to run up this hill, no walking allowed. Pleased to say I managed it, even though one lady did walk past me…..

Got to the end of the tarmac at 24m, looked at my watch and realised that not only was I going to go sub 4, it was going to be sub 3:50! This filled me with so much positive energy I could have run up that hill again. With every step through the race I had felt stronger & stronger. Off across the mud, stones, grass. Side winds that had you leaning 30 degrees into them, nothing was going to slow me down. Until I hit the tarmac the other side. There’s a photo of me on the site Britnick linked to (308) taken just as I hit the tarmac. The grimace on my face at that point was my muscles suggesting that flying down mud is fun, doing the same on tarmac with fatigued legs is not. We had a little discussion and I won. It now wasn’t just  a case of sub 3:50, but how much. Sped up even more and was just so elated as I came into town.  Accelerated to the finish line, looked at my watch. And stared at it for what seemed like hours. 3:47:21. Couldn’t believe it. Thought my training had gone to pot and I had no chance over distance. Glad I don’t know what I’m talking about.

Stayed around the finish area as I thought TR39 must be close. Within a few seconds he came storming down the high street and over the finish. We were both so happy for each to go so far sub 4 as we’d both had confidence issues going into the race. All throughout the summer TR39’s and my training was as near as damn it identical, and we finished within a couple of minutes of each other. Perhaps we should have had more belief in our ability?

Mrs TR39 took a few pictures and as I was starting to cool down I headed off back to the hotel. For only the second time in my running life (The first was my first race) I got a bit emotional on the way, you know that absolute happiness where a tear forms in your eye, a lump appears in your throat and you just want to leap around hugging everyone.

As the race rating says – Will you do this race again?

My answer. Do you need to ask?

08:48     08:51     09:20     09:55     09:02     06:42     07:07     07:35     08:03     07:53     08:08     07:59     07:54     09:28     09:46     08:43     07:58     08:28     08:11     08:10     08:07     09:21     12:25     11:37     08:58     07:17     01:37

And for Stuart -  2,485 feet ascent, 2,533 descent according to mapping software.

 

301st to cross the start, 304th to cross the finish

Sub 3:30 next year? I did take over half an hour off last year’s time….

Cracking report Chimney the hold up was trying to open the sweets we where given!!!

Nice one Chimney. Great write up. I too had that tear in the eye moment at the end. It's a great feeling isn't it

I was just 15ft off with my total ascent prediction of 2,500ft!! Awesome.

Iv spent 2 days trying to decide if I loved or hated the race. Either way I would reccomend it to anyone as the course has to be run to be believed. The support and the field of runners are possibly the warmest Iv encountered.

Congrats to all the finishers and the supporters who braved the conditions.

Ian H - we'll decide for you: you loved the race.  No other marathon has such drama or presence.

Liked that report, Chimney.  I suppose it could be worse - at least you haven't called yourself Chimney Pot.  Lol.

It's on S4C on Friday night, think it's 10:50pm.

I'm afraid I can't keep up an endless stream of ridiculous, but true, stories.  Besides you lot are rapidly catching up.

I was intending to have some escapades on Crib Goch but in the end, although I had the time and the weather was reasonable, I decided against it.  I felt I had done enough for one weekend.

"It's like the Marie Celeste in here."

Barman, Vaynol Arms

Have posted my report on the 2012 thread for the interested.

Seems I'm in the minority with a that's it from me.

Rou - I think I passed you going up a hill out of Beddgelert. I had a yellow vest on. You ran past me at 12.2 miles as I leaned on a rock doing my laces up. Well done indeed.

Having enjoyed reading Gobi’s report I thought I’d just post my report summary. Not the best pre race prep after car broke down just after leaving home (could have been worse – could have been well on the way!) and I leave my Garmin in my car! Collared by someone who I know from the TV production company and proceed to give a crap interview! Get to the start and I line up near the front with stonemonkey who I have liaised with over the past 4/5 years on the Snowdonia forums! He looks it good shape and having run 2h45m in London I was sure he would finally go sub 3hr (we talked/joked about it each year!!). I feel in good shape although I know that my averaging 30-40miles pw and not running for more than 2h25m in training may catch up with me. That said I was ready to give it a good crack this year and with my experience re the course, 9 previous marathons and the fact that I had really been enjoying my running the last couple of months I really thought this year I could go sub 3hr. Mile splits, courtesy of Stonemonkey who I ran with for the 1st few miles then was slightly ahead of me thereafter until Waunfawr: 1) 5:52 – Comfortable at back of lead group chatting to stonemonkey
2) 6:02 – Still comfortable at back of pack
3) 6:48 – To just after start of Pen Y Pass climb – decide to ease back
4) 7:39 - Pen Y Pass – running on my own – don’t want to risk it pushing too hard/too early
5) 7:09 - Pen Y Pass – running comfortable on own – sensible decision me thinks
6) 5:15 - Pen Y Pass - PYG – very comfortable – not too far behind a couple of runners ahead7) 5:22 - Onto Gravel and big stones – concentrating on footing – descending well
8) 5:48 – Still on own – keeping pace with runner ahead. Comfortable
9-13)     - Running comfortably on own (averaging 6:12)– catching 2 runners ahead
14)7:01 – Catch Iain R just before Beddgelert (déjà vu!) – great support – boost for climb!
15)7:03 – Felt strong/comfortable up climb – drop Iain – dragging Altrincham AC runner up
16-180   - Running with Altrincham AC runner, but feel pushing it too much for me (ave 6:15)19-21)   - I wish Altrincham runner all the best (he does 2h46m!) - ease back to 6m25s22)     - Into Waunfawr – catch up with stonemonkey – hope that we can help each other up!
23)10:35 – Nothing in the legs - really struggling – walk/slow run strategy
24)8:53 – Still struggling – trying to dig in/hang on – I know that sub 3hr on the cards
25)7:31 – Glad to get to the top – ready to mince the legs on the descent
26)5:48 – Descending well although almost end up on backside a couple of times
27)1:12 – Nice to get back onto tarmac/the flat – beaming for the last 100meters given support and the realisation that I was going to clock sub 2h55m - end up clocking 2h54m44s Without doubt my best marathon – to run it at Snowdonia makes it that much more special – and for stonemonkey and me to finally go sub 3hr (and some) and finish 17th and 18th  respectively was something!! I really feel that I don’t think I could have run the race any better, which is something I don’t think I’ve said before after a marathon!! 

Legs feel OK now. I’m still on a bit of a high after Saturday. I have had a lot of messages from other runners, which I have been made up with.  

Nice one JB - you got the job done by mile 22 and finished very well.

23 sound horrific but you showed a lot of balls through 24 and 25

Reading your splits it supports my analysis of why I didn't do a sub 3.

Thank you Gobi

Yep, the Waunfawr climb was pretty horrific, but, as of course you know, you have to respect the marathon and if you haven't done the training it can really come back and bite you back!! I am hoping with a bigger mileage in 2012 including some longer (& slower!)/timewise runs I would run the last 5miles a lot stronger (something which Iain R has discussed with me - he said I would probably have had the lowest weekly mileage of any other runner in the top 20 - Iain probably does double my mleage!!)

As I've said before I was sorry that you could not approach this marathon 100% and give it your best shot - I recall you saying before that, having done it as part of the triple, in 2006 you wanted to come back and do it justice - it is a shame that you haven't had that oppotunity

JB - it doesn't matter that much as I ran ok. I keep thinking the weather must have been great in 2006 for me to think the goat path was manageable. If I had jogged it in Saturdays conditions I would not have see the mountains and would not have come back.

Did you notice how nice the weather was on Sunday ?

Yep - weather day before/after was, pretty much ideal!! Since you did it back in 2006 the weather has been "interesting/challenging" each year - I keep on saying that we are due a nice one next year. I thnk the weather conditons were a lot worse for the fantastic spectators marshalls etc than the runners. That said I would like a drier one - it would make the descent into Llanberis a lot quicker.

I briefly spoke to you after you finished and got out of the finish area, but you were shooting off to get dry/warm (I was in my hi viz orange running jacket)

JB - I noticed it was nice the day before as well. I did have 3 lovely days in Wales. Nothing would have got me down that hill any quicker with better grip I may have been even slower.

Safe to say I really needed those dry clothes.

if you fancy another great race in Beautiful Wales, Matt (the commentator on Saturday) is organising Trail Marathon Wales. Have a look at www.trailmarathonwales.com entries went live this morning !!!

Well done to everyone who completed Snowdon this year.  Watching on the telly, reading the various reports here, has been inspirational and you all deserve a massive congrats.  Off to the 2012 thread to make sure I catch everyone.  Well done guys.

Excellent report, Chimney. Good result too. Same goes for TR39, Stu and everybody else on here. SNOD 2011 seems to have excelled on the PB front. The success must taste really good if it prompts a 'welling up'. It is a sensation I have yet to experience after 15 years. I look forward to the day when I might put in a performance that might justify it. SNOD next year, perhaps?

You will BN, you will...