Snowdonia Marathon 2011

Chimney- great report

JB- congratulations on a cracking and well deserved result

Stuart- still eating now!!

Sub 3 SNOD sure sounds good

Signing off here now- thanks to everyone- it's been a blast as always! See you in 2012 and on 2012 thread

I've got six, so there.

Don't fret, Stu. This is normal. This year's discussions are normally exhausted on this year's 'Fred' before we drift in dribs and drabs over to next year's Frederick to discuss future matters appertaining to next year's SNOD. There's always a few weeks' blurring. We'll cope I'm sure.

I've just uploaded my story.

jason - if you're still here - I think the # coasters is 40 + 68 = 108.  Well, I know 108 came into it somewhere ...

Good coverage of you on S4C - at the finish and a shot of you earlier charging up a hill eating something.

Rou -  you looked serene throughout - I think you need to pull some faces if you want to be #1 lady!

I'm to be seen about mile 7 on the "gravel" section.

Shame to see this thread languishing on page two, put it is now in its dying throes. 

Anyone else like to report in on SNOD '11?

Would be good to hear from bionic bt, Eric Davies (who wins the award for being closest to target time - just 4s under), or anyone else, really.

I had a disappointing 4 hrs 32 mins. Felt i ran ok too, didn't walk at any point till Waunfawr. Speed work beckons methinks. Had to do my shoe laces up 10 times en route which was mighty frustrating, and  didn't help.

Really enjoyed it though, as usual.  Loved the new finish (didn't do last year), and the trail section too. Sorry i didn't see anyone from here either before or during the race.

Will be back next year to do it properly, and see you on the new forum.

My next race will be Rhyader in March.

First i have to get back to the track at Eirias Park and get some speed back.

Currently i am running at 8minute pace but before i do Rhyader again i want to approach that race fully prepared and up for a sub 2.30 which i know i can do with the training.

My 17th Snowdon was a total joke with little leg speed or endurance.

The day after like last year i felt like i had not done the race and as the weather had improved (typical) i went up Foel Fras from Rowen.

I knew at mile 2 to 3 that i would struggle over the distance but like Iorwerth pulling out of the race is not an option.

In years to come people will ask how many Snowdon Marathons have you done and i will proudly tell them 17 so far.

Few will ask what time you did because the majority of us do not take any form of excercise.

All people want to know is how many times you have done the race.

Winning the race is another matter but how many of us are good enough physically and mentally to win this incredible race.?  

Sorry about that, sp.  C'mon - fellrunners knots are par for this course!  In fact I do my shoes up like that all the time. If you had been on a 26-mile offroad run you would have been delighted with 4:32!!  Looking at it like that might help.

sp- double knots pulled really tight- simples- until untying them. Never had a lace come loose since started doing this

PJL- you live in a different world to me. Time is important to me- more so than how many times I've run a particular race. Time targets are individual, and if only the person who wins the race should worry about their time, then there are going to be a lot of disappointed runners out there- all but one by that logic. In my experience, more people ask me what time I did than how many times I've run the race. I'd suggest trying to get more training in next year and you might be a happier man

Right that's it for me definitely- never look to the past, always the future.

In the words of Mr Shakespeare, "The rest is silence". 

Dear jason

Ive now been running close on 32 yrs and have run a fair few marathons but over the years i have realised now i am pushing 50 i have little chance of running 1-18 for a half as i did years ago and running sub 36 !0ks.

I now enter races for sheer pleasure of it and times mean little to me.

This years training went very well following the sub 3-30 Runners World training schedule ive used in the past.

The problem this year was that just over four weeks ago i fell from a ladder whilst cleaning the guttering behind my house.

I had intended just running a sub 4hr Snowdon which i know i can do because my training runs along the course were showing i could get to 20 miles well within the timelimit.

Those people who ask me how many Snowdonia marathons i have done rarely ask me did i run under three, four or even five hours.

To the average non runner the only marathon they have heard of is London and most people confuse the Snowdon marathon with the Snowdon race up and down in July.

When you have run as many Snowdon Marathons as i have times mean little, i go there for the sheer pleasure of the race and scenery.

Just about everyone this year on this Runners World Forum have not done many Snowdon Marathons.

I think one or two may have done four or five but ive done everyone since 1995.

When you have been running as long as i have times mean little, its the pure enjoyment of the race that i go for.

So what if i ran 3,4, or a slow 5-25 like this year i got around and collected my coaster.

If i can stay motivated i may try for a sub 3-30 in 2012 being the 30th anniversary race but if i have commitments throughout the summer then i will turn up and just enjoy the weather and challenging nature of the course.

When you have been running as long as i have maybe you will just enjoy the pleasure of the race rather than being pleased or diappointed with a particular time.

Right ok someone wanted an official closing ceremony thingy on this thread so here goes in my poshest voice

I now declare this ere 2011 thread offically closed so bugger off over to the 2012 one and join the nwe party