Never dont the race mate so dont know but looking at photos you see lots of road shoes which tells me that it aint techinal and theres nothing to steepQuote:
Originally Posted by rocksteady
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Never dont the race mate so dont know but looking at photos you see lots of road shoes which tells me that it aint techinal and theres nothing to steepQuote:
Originally Posted by rocksteady
Then I suggest you do it, Scott. I've seen runners come off it looking like they've gone through a car windscreen.
Alot of it is simple and fast, hence 63 mins for ten miles, but don't under-estimate the descent. It's dangerous in parts because it is fast and the slate and schist are sharp.
Wilson is wanting to do a few races in the UK including the Snowdon International.
He said he likes the profile of the race.
For those that saw him race at the Commonwealth Champs at Keswick he was awesome on anything that went uphill or flat but struggled on the descents.
The Keswick races were the first time he had done a hill race where there was any down hill. His only other mountain race was an uphill only in Austria (which he won) a week before Keswick.
Wilson has since been training uphill & DOWN.
Should be a good race.
http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/biograp...498/index.html
I understand what your saying, but we dont see runners running races like Borrowdale in Road shoes, when i see fell races being run in road shoes to me it suggests its road runner freindly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brotherton Lad
You're right about the shoe choice, but that's why it's such a good race. Road runners and fell runners meet on a course that's not ideal for either, but offers each a hard test. There are some very mean Italian mountain runners there, too.
The age of the record is an indication of the challenge.
Just wondering if the record will actually go many good runners have had cracks at it; Holmsey, Jones, and the likes of De gasperi, But the Kenyans do seem to be a different breed to all others no one can touch them on the roads and tracks, i wonder how chemwenkos road times compare to Kennys.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brotherton Lad
Hmmh interesting news, but.............................................
I'll put a lot of money on it to say that there's no way will he beat Kenny's record - he may get up in sub 40 but he'll never get down in the descent time required to break the record - no way, never - dead cert.
But twill be interesting....
Ekkkkk :O check out them road times now thats fast 5mile 22mins :O Do you know by anychance which other races hes planning ? Borrowdale could be interesting for him ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Insider
Kennys best for 10k was 28:51 so only 15 secs slower and I do believe he trained running downhill as well :)Quote:
Originally Posted by scott baistow 93
I think Borrowdale would be very interesting for Chemweno ;)
Ill eat my hat if this record goes. Kenny was as fast on the road and much better at running downhill.
Not with hundreds of tourists in the way!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by RhosgadMath
Gets busy at A and E at Ysbytty Gwynedd on Saturday evening.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brotherton Lad
Good thing about the Snowdon race is they post the times to the top as well as the times down so it will be easy to see where he makes or looses time.
I don't think it's really a fell race as it's all on path. But there are some steep bits where people have taken tumbles and as BL said those bits of slate are sharp. Also, the paths have some pretty big stones in them. It would be easy to do an ankle in if you don't watch where you put your feet.
Be interesting to hear what the "roadrunner"(Andi Jones) has to say on the matter. I'm sure he will try hard to defend his tittle. And, Ian Holmes might want another win too. He was fast going down last year.
One things for sure though. I'll be towards the back as usual ;-)
In only his 2nd mountain race at last year's Feuerkogel Race Geoffrey Gikuni (KEN), 23, a 61 minute half-marathon runner, was just 7 seconds off Wyatt's record and he was reported to be "larking about" at the start so much so that he lost 30 seconds. In his first mountain race I think he may have even beaten Wyatt's record at Grossglockner. That being so he should probably beat anybody to the top anything on his day. Now that'd be a sight if he came with his countryman to Snowdon.
I made the mistake of wearing thin-soled fell shoes when I did the Snowdon many years ago. It was complete agony coming down. The Irish team doctor kindly attended to my blisters and got me going again.
It's a lovely place though. I remember the sheep were sleeping in the sunshine on the benches along the main street. You couldn't budge them to sit down.
With his winnings from the 4th Globus Marathon (St. Wendel) where he knocked 3 mins off his own course record, despite bad weather, he bought a cow. Remember this name! Geoffrey Gikuni.
Edit: www.run2gether.com will take you to the Kenyan training camp in Austria.
Is RR running? Though he'd made the European and Commonwealths marathon teams so didn't think he'd do Snowdon?Quote:
Originally Posted by nightingale
the africans are dominant when it comes to distance running ,no matter what the terrain is.if there was money in the Borrowdale or the Peris race etc,the elite would compete,mabye not the record on the first attempt ,but when they know the coure well enough the records would tumble,even the 24hr challanges would fall.such is their ability.you`ve gotta put this in prespective,KWC isnt even a top runner in Africa he`d most probs be classed as a club runner in our country
What i doubt any african could do Billy blands 13h Bob graham.. they wouldnt get half way round before thay snapped, only international runner i think who could have a crack at Wasdales and peris is the mighty Killian jornet.Quote:
Originally Posted by rocksteady
I'd like to see them do the Tryfan Downhill in 8 minutes!Quote:
Originally Posted by rocksteady
Austria's Gerhard Hötschel pulled 8 minutes out of Jonathan Wyatt (NZ) and Al Aqra (JOR) at last year's Oetscher on the descent. Bit of local knowledge to help but nevertheless still mind-bogglingly impressive. And GH is not even an African!Quote:
Originally Posted by Welsh Harrier
Don't know. Thought he might to see if he can do 5 in a row. You probably know more about it than me though.Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
I can't see the record ever being beaten. There's no doubt KS mark is an incredible record but does the slight course changes make it impossible for the current crop to beat? (No longer allowed to use the train track, stepped section).
[QUOTE=Ady;332106]I can't see the record ever being beaten. There's no doubt KS mark is an incredible record but does the slight course changes make it impossible for the current crop to beat? (No longer allowed to use the train track, stepped section).[/QUOT
Thats true. And, not allowed to cut the corners.
The course is quite clearly different to what it was in the days of Kenny and Mark (as regards the state of the path) not that they weren't great runners, and I'm sure Wilson if he runs is capable of getting close. I'll be interested.Quote:
Originally Posted by rocksteady
All who reach the summit in less than 59 minutes will get to use the train track back down to the finger stone.
Nice incentive to put a bit more effort in!Quote:
Originally Posted by cofi_Mynydd
I'm almost glad that I'm only able to watch this year. The only dilemma is where do I stand?
I don't think that they'd be willing to break both wrists the way Mike did when he set the record!Quote:
Originally Posted by Welsh Harrier
I didn't think the Keswick race had any descents (not proper ones) so surely on that basis he has about as much chance of breaking the record as England do of ever winning the World Cup (possible?):pQuote:
Originally Posted by Insider
Does anyone here ever wear road shoes in fell / mountain races? I've known Holmesy wear them at Ben Nevis (!) which certainly is technical and steep, although he is obviously exceptional in several ways. I get the feeling most people would be better off in fell shoes even on Snowdon, just some wear their roadies either out of habit or out of not knowing any better (in the case of some overseas runners who never do up and down races). I certainly wouldn't feel safe in them and I'm a pretty decent descender who rarely goes over on the ankles.Quote:
Originally Posted by scott baistow 93
It's technical enough. On dry rock you could get away with road shoes. you could on any race which is 99% rock. As to whether it's steep it is for about 1/2 mile and in places it's very rough. That's why even really good road runners don't get near Kenny's time, because to get down fast you've got to be a very very good descender.Quote:
Originally Posted by scott baistow 93
This descent scares me more than almost any other descent, even the last pap on Jura, because youa re going so fast and the surface is rough and sharp that any fall is going to nasty.
Someone tell these Kenyans about the £500 on offer for breaking Keith Anderson's Pen y Fan record of 30:00 minutes. Now that is a proper fell running descent, and (like Kenny's) a record I reckon will not be beaten by any runner today except perhaps a Bikele (and they are not going to show up in a million years). At the time Keith A was top class roadie + the best descender in UK fell running by a mile. But as organizer I think I'd have a heart attack if Kenyans turned up - it's bad enough with the Gurkhas and the Springfield Striders, never mind the "London Frontrunners" :o
I'm doing the race this year :-O
I'd wanted to try the descent out this weekend but didn't get time. Does anyone have any tips for the descent? I did try the ascent out a few weeks ago and noted the the steepest bits were either side of Clogwyn station (opted for Moel Cynghorion/Moel Eolio down to extend a bit). I'm new to this having only started recently (cajoled into doing the Old County Tops this year which was a baptism of fire). Any advice welcome and appreciated!
In my experience the steep bit isn't the most risky part, but the long straight descent either side of Halfway House is. You can build up a head of steam down there and the vertically laid stones turn into miniature hurdles which can send you flying out of control. The walkers can get in the way too and put you off balance. My left foot metatarsals haven't been the same since 2002.
So what are the recommended shoe selections?
Oh, and is there any problem car parking? If I don't arrive early do I still have a chance of finding a space?
I've seen the maps on the website but they don't give you any idea about how busy it gets.
Andi is not running this year due to the marathon which is a real shame as it would of been good to see him go head to head with Wilson plus I am sure Holmsey will want to have a say in the matter this time.Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
It gets really busy on Snowdon Race day - get there early and park in the designated places shown in the map...parking in the residential area's is normally a no-go - and the local traffic wardens seem to be very busy on the day. Apart from the 500 odd competitor's there's a lot of local support outside of the village that make it a big day out...The free parking along the lake (furthest away from the start/finish) isnt that far away...obviously the earlier you get there the closer you'll park to the start...
Remember to pay the local charges and you'll be fine :-)
Wear your Walsh's. They'll be fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tussockface
Plenty of parking but you probably wouldn't want to get there too late. It gets quite busy.
Looking forward to photographing this one again. I may try to get up near the summit if weather is clear otherwise I will be around 100yds up after the tunnel at Clogwyn.
On the shoe front I have done Snowdon twice in the last 3 weeks road shoes or trail shoes are fine if dry.
Looks like it's gonna be wet rock on Sat :-)
I'd rather wet rock than blazing sun anytime. The forecast seems to be changing daily so will probably change again by Saturday.
Yep - very true...id hate it to be another sunny day in Llanberis!