Snowdonia Marathon

What an event to pick as 1st marathon.

Started well and paced the Pass climb as planned/done in training (was about 5th at the top), but did NOT ease back on way down as I'd planned - Garmin froze and whilst I felt I was running comfortably I couldn't have been (should have realised this when I could seen Dennis Walmsley just down the road) - BIG mistake. Informed 10miles in 62mins so eased back, but too late. Struggled up the climb out of Beddgelert and forced to walk a few times before hitting Waunfawr. Cramped a few time up the climb and then on the last climb after the end of the descent (when I thought I might have creeped under 3h15m). Finished in 3h17m38s - slightly disappointed, but philosophical - will be back next year to make amends and to run the course ore sensibly!!

Marvellus fun................all going well until 2 miles when i had to stop for a natural, felt light headed and then fell over !!

Got up with a few cuts and then carried on running gingerly just checking everything was OK, got back into my stride and managed to get home in 3.54, keep the cramp off and carry my 2 year old son 100 metres to the finish line.

Absolutely fab day, thanks to Tom & Dean who paced me around most of the way and all the fab spectators and supporters.

Great race...loved every rain sodden minute of it , especially the down from Waunfawr the offroad part was brilliant. Only downside for me was the traffic dodging through Beddgelert.

Didn't look at my watch all through the race just wanted to keep going, heeded the advice of other seasoned Snowdonias who kindly offered it.....it worked well for me and got me round. Not a good time 4.50 (chip) compared to my Windermere time but enjoyed this race much more overall and hope to be back to 'do better' next year.

Full of a cold and sore throat this morning, felt it starting on the drive home. It must have been 'lying in wait' (thanks to my children) .

Respect to all......runners, marshalls, organisers and spectators !!

Fantastic day - really loved the course; the organisation was brilliant; the spectators along the route really encouraging (especially the families with the whistles and plastic milk bottles and the car playing "The Hills are Alive" very loudly!!); the weather just added to the fun! 

Really chuffed with my time of 4.43 - especially as I thought I was going to die on the hill above Waunfawr!!!   This marathon beats FLM hands down for me - shall definitely be back!

ITB - definitely saw you in your green binbag!

Hope the organisers can keep the race on a Saturday for next year.  Feel really knackered today and glad that I don't have to go to work.  Just planning on lazing around with a coffee and the Sunday papers!!

Thanks to everyone on this Forum for advice, encouragement and everything.  It's been great.

Chris

After 1/2 way about 50 runners passed me - I struggled to the finish - I had a purple vest.

Have learnt from the experience and hope to rectify mistake(s) for next years race.

Da iawn/well done Chris

JB, think I passed you on the hill I had a white vest with red and black stripes, I asked if you were ok! you looked like you were struggling, So was I.

Thats a great time for your first marathon, well done.

Hello all. finally home and looking forward to a nice roast dinner tonight!!!

My race was overall quite pleasing as chip time was 4.24 compared to 4.36 last year, so I guess i have to be pleased with the improvement. For the first 8m I for some reason suffered with a really dodgy stomach resulting in 2 lengthy toilet stops. The first was unannounced, and sadly on view to numerous other runners! (sorry if you had to see that!). No idea what caused me to feel like that. My buddy had by then gone of in the distance, but a good half stone lighter I battled through the next 5m and caught up and overtook him in the space of a mile. I then seemed to get into a rythym, and was feeling ok until the cold/wet got to me at 21m, and having started to walk like most others I got a cramp in my right thigh. I managed to walk/jog through that, and thankfully it had passed by the steep downhill stretch. The rest is a bit of a blur, but got in safely which is the main thing.

Did anyone go to the evening do? We lasted until about 9.15, but then had to retire as we were falling asleep in our pints.

I sadly dont recall seeing anyone (that I could recognise anyway!)

Fantastic day. Race plan went well apart from forgetting my orthotics! and slightly over-estimating the Waunfawr hill. (Walk/run) (Chip) 4hr 9min 47sec. Happy for first Marathon.

I gained loads of ground on the downhill into the finish. FH must have passed you at the end what were you wearing?

Going for sub 4hr next year! PF  CD and I must have just missed you, we did see Run Gary, T- Rex and Safety Pin and had a beer or two! Well done everyone!

Chris22

s4c - Monday 9-9.45pm

JB, thanks mate, hows the legs?

Just got back from a 4 mile warm down to stretch my legs.

Did any one use a garmin on the run? I made it 26.60 miles.

No probs Chris - legs feel pretty good

Unfortunately my Garmin "froze" - buttons wouldn't work - have let batteries go dead and hoping to access the data tomorrow after recharging it

I probably did 26.6miles after "zig zagging" up the Waunfawr climb!

great time had by me and sz.

i knocked 7 mins off last year, coming in on 4.22 and with not really road running since last snowdon i am pleased. felt it know but picked up momentum once i got to the off road bit and started to fly past a few people.

saw safety pin, t rex, phil, and run gary run but where was everyone else? me and sz had our r&c t's but no other memorabilia to be seen. maybe next time.

close run thing between us again paul

fellrunner - i asked a few people if they were you. they weren't. so i probably looked like a total chump. hope you had a good run. i know you'll be peeping onto the thread!