Snowdonia marathon 2013

If the demand's there ... and of course I've got to be capable of it myself ...

I am sure you will be,i would like to think come October I will be somewhere near it myself but I have got a lot of work to do as I have yet to get sub 4 for this one yet

Belated birthday wishes Chrissi hope you had a good day and everyone spoiled you

New bike arrived Friday and I managed to get out a couple of times over the weekend, did a 2.5mile loop from the house that went out along a quiet road and came back along a cycle track.  The new bike felt very solid (good!) and It wasn't too bad the first time I went out.  However the second time mr Panad suggested I took the opportunity to try using panniers (new bike has a rack, so not necessary to use rucksack like i did on the old bike, and he said it would make me 'wider' so cars etc would be more likely to give me more room) and grab a little bit of shopping at the same time.  In theory it went fine, got on with panniers no problem, but got a bit spooked as it was quite windy and I couldn't hear traffic coming up behind me (was on a busier road as well) until it was going past me, but hey ho, I did it and it was another challenge tackled

Hey gang-been a busy few days at Brer Towers with work etc so time for a catch-up. Trex-of course you will be pacing the 4hr gang-we have faith in you

RR-I go to Spin twice a week, have done for a year now and use it as substitute for easy run. It is in the hope that it offsets chances of injury; it is a hellish way to spend 45 mins especially as the group I am with are all hardnut triathlon/Ironman competitors. They go at a hell of a rate and I kinda get sucked into their pace, I am literally dripping with sweat at the end and wonder what the hell I'm doing there! However, all my race pbs have occurred since starting it so I reckon it must be working.

Panad-another challenge indeed, well done girl. What sort of bike did you get? My 'new' one is still in the conservatory 2 years on awaiting some sort of action. Must get on it but admit to some sort of fear that I will come a cropper due to my own incompetence rather than some nutter in a car.

My spin instructor is a multiple Ironman,and he does like to push us, but to be honest even though he is my mate I would much rather be out on my road bike than in his gym,but perhaps I should stick with the spinning if it would help with my running.

Brer - I went for a hybrid commuter this time - before I was riding my mountain bike that I'd bought mainly for riding with the girls along cycle paths etc - so got more roady tyres on this one, the weight is about the same but includes the rack/panniers/lights etc in that.  I do have a road bike as well which is great on good roads and when you're going 'fast' (my version of fast being quite slow compared to some people) that's v light (I can hold it on one finger) and has super thin tyres though so not so good on the rough country lanes I commute on, and I wouldn't feel comfortable on it in all weathers (ie combinations of v wet/v windy/icy).  I find the road bike quite strange in that I actually feel a lot safer/more stable on it going faster rather than slower, but guess that's as it's what it's built for!

I definitely think cycling has helped my running, maybe not as much as more running would, but there's a limit to how much my legs/knees can take ad how much time I have to run, cycling can be fitted into the commute or I can do it at home when child care constraints mean a run is not possible - I have a turbo trainer that my road bike attaches to, I don't have a treadmill!

Also my long term goal over the next couple of years is an iron-distance tri so need to up my cycling anyway - we'll keep quiet about the swimming for now

Phew...a tri..now I'm really impressed I swim like a puppy!

Lovely weather   Did 13 miles with a friend on Cannock Chase on Sunday, looking for hills in preparation for Trail Marathon Wales.   Quads not very happy, so went on club run last night thinking that they might loosen up ..... some hope   Mind you, the 7 miles we ran were so cold and wet that it must have been good training for something 

Just been looking at photos from the Moel Eilio race on Saturday.   Now, while I wouldn't dream of entering such a thing, it does look like a nice run out and just wondering if anyone has run this race/knows the route?   Does it use some of the Snod route (or am I on the wrong mountain)?  Thoughts appreciated.

On the subject of TMW, only realised on Saturday that there is a 4.5 hour cut-off on the full marathon at 20 miles.  Whilst this wouldn't be a worry for most on here, it's going to be a bit too close for comfort for me 

Panad - thanks and glad your back on your bike ok

Brer - after reading panads posts i was feeling very  about my bike gathering cobwebs in the shed too

SD - they told me last year that they wouldn't be too strict on the cutoff it was more to discourage people who might just want to walk around. 

The course i did on Sunday was really good but pretty full on - i was exhausted after. I'm now "Licensed to Run" lol and even more funny tell beginner groups how to run.  Not sure i'm going to go on to the Coach qualification thats pretty scary but who knows.  It's definately inspired me again of what i'm capable of

Lol Chrissi and Brer my bike was happily gathering cobwebs as well until commuting to work on the bike became an option when Flo went to secondary school last Sept, then my loathing of driving was enough of a reason to get on the bike!

Hi all 

Chrissi Belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Panad Well done on getting out on bike my friend, doing a lot more cycling here as well using my bike to commute back and to to Colwyn Bay when working there and for fun.......been taking a peak at tri' s 

Brer glad to see you as nuts as normal matey 

T-Rex who else is going to pace the sub 4 group!!

Training going good here, running, bike and gym concentrating on leg strength and hill work ready for Snowdon International race in July, life here getting back to normal, bit skint but hey ho 

HI TR41, glad to see you back again matey and that life is getting back to normal. You don't need cash to hoof it up and down those beautiful mountains where you live..the best things in life are free

I live in permanent nutland...marathon on Saturday but it'll be a slow one after the last couple of events!!! Number 6 of 2013, only seven more to go to reach target of 13 in 2013.

SD, are you doing the race up Moel Eilio or just want a good route from Bryn Gloch? I can tell you a cracking route following the Moel Eilio skyline and along up to Snowdon then a route back to Bryn Gloch if you are interested. It isn't quite as gruesome as it sounds

Brer - definitely not doing the race  but could be interested in the run from Bryn Gloch   I usually 'run' up Mynnydd Mawr from the campsite, and have tried run from campsite to the top of Bwlch y Groes through forestry (that was an interesting experience!) .... so any suggestions appreciated.

BTW, good luck for Saturday's marathon .... go easy on RFR 

Chrissi - thanks re: TMW.   Feel slightly better about things now .... did the half in 2:46, so should just about make the cut off, but there won't be much time to spare!