I was talking to a Marshall at Holyhead today who was on Snowdon last night until dark... He claimed it was still 24deg on the way down around 11pm...
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I was talking to a Marshall at Holyhead today who was on Snowdon last night until dark... He claimed it was still 24deg on the way down around 11pm...
Did the Snowdon Uphill race again tonight... this year was not the high 20's on the start line like 2019, but was still warm and humid... with a stiff headwind for substantial parts. Zero visibility at the top... which made for a comedy sprint finish between the three of us, as nobody knew exactly when the finish line was going to appear!
Once the race settled down after the initial road climb, found myself in a little group containing 12-15th... with the top 10 just tantalisingly out of reach, and the people behind never really putting undue pressure on us.... We battled most of the way up the mountain, and when it flattened around the Finger Stone we were going at it hammer-and-tongs like a cross-country race...
I came over the line 13th (4th v40) in 53:49, winning our little three-way sprint by a matter of seconds (largely i expect by knowing the summit area a little better, rather than any running talent... we were pretty evenly matched all the way)
Was a pb by almost 6 minutes, and really that is what i wanted... to go well clear of 55mins.
I'd love to think that with training i can get to 50mins... but being realistic, while i think there's perhaps a minute or two that could come off (i can always get a bit fitter, and be more determined on the steepest parts, where i broke into power-walks)..... but looking at the results today even the likes of Vicky Wilkinson ran 51 mins, so perhaps i'm kidding myself that sub-50 is attainable.
Great racing, glad the ominous reports of cancellations/shortening of the race didn't happen.
Holyhead Mountain tomorrow.
Well done Travs.
Without the humidity, headwind and with your determination, under 50 could be on the cards.
I've just looked at the results and was surprised to see that the field was so low in numbers, only 56!
Yes, when i did the race in 2019 there were almost 180 starters. Although i think either that race, or the following Snowdon International was maybe a qualifier for a big World/Euro race.
This year not so.... but there were 77 entries... but i expect the dire weather forecast and hints at shortening the race, had put a chunk of the entrants off...
Snowdon Twilight uphill race yesterday evening. One of my priority races for the year, so could i do it justice?
Felt heavy-legged warming up, but i knew it was just nerves... once id done my drills and sprints i knew i was ready.
I had a vague plan to hang on to Sarah Mcormack for as long as physically possible... this lasted a couple of km... i was actually moving better on the steep stuff... but on the rough underfoot but reasonable gradient terrain (of which there is a lot) she was quicker and pulled away, eventually beating me by 3mins.
Found myself in 6th at the top of the road section, as we headed onto the Llanberis Path proper.... with only some very good runners in front.... George Foster (who won), a couple of Scott sponsored athletes, and acouple of guys on the fringes of the Welsh squad.... although i was somewhat worried about the guys lining up behind me.... Sarah, a quick guy from Mercia, a young lad from Manx Fell Runners, Chris from Glossopdale, Virgil Barton, Mel Price.
As we entered the proper path/fell, i slowly dropped to about 11th, and remained towards the back of a group which was 7th-12th
Despite moving well, i was somewhat resigned to finishing outside the top 10 again. However on the steep climb to Clogwyn, and the Alt Moses section, the race closed up again and i found myself more in a battle for 7th-10th.
By the top of the steeper sections i was now in 8th, but with a quick section now, and one of the Scott athletes on my tail, i was worried about dropping back again. Thankfully i held my position, 8th across the line... 7th about 20secs in front and just out of reach... 9th basically chased me up the final steps and i held him off by 3 secs.
At the presentation was very pleased to find i had taken the v40 prize. Most pleasing was a pb of nearly 90secs.... 52:23
If i'm being really picky, i'd perhaps have hoped to be 60-90secs quicker and really pushing the 50minute mark... however i think i underestimate a 90 second pb... its a decent chunk to take off in a 50minute race, and i was in good shape when i set the pb couple of years ago.
Most pleasing was having a real bash up the steeper sections.... i didn't (couldn't) run all of them, but i made up time/places, and had enough left to hold it on the quicker sections which followed.
I managed to beat one of the Scott athletes.... i'll await their offer of sponsorship in the post (probably be waiting a long time!)
Well done!Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
Forgot to mention that i wore road shoes.
I'd definitely do so again if dry.
Still 50/50 whether I'd wear them in the up-and-down race though
Great work Travs
Good omen for your trip to the World Veterans Mountain Race in September -- although there will be some tougher M40 competition there!
Is the route exactly the same as in the up-and-down race, or is there more road distance in Llanberis before you get up onto the path?
Anthony it is the same route, however it starts at the bottom of Victoria Terrace,so its actually around 2-300mtr shorter than the full race.
I'm doing the Swirral Grind uphill in 3 weeks, which I believe you entered last year.