Quote Originally Posted by Travs View Post
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!