Snowdonia Marathon – 26th October 2019
The Snowdonia Marathon looked difficult enough in profile without the severe weather warning for heavy rain the day before and on race day. But when Bourton Roadrunners’ Martin Cook trudged up to the start line with 2500 new running buddies, wrapped in a foil blankets, bin bags, and clear plastic ponchos, it was clear that the rain hadn’t dampened anyone’s excitement. Martin, an experienced runner and triathlete with a full iron man among his achievements, has had a good season but he knew that behind the beauty Snowdon’s peaks, slate valleys and rivers, there would be significant running challenges.
Martin’s plan was to get under four hours (and hopefully by quite a way) and the first couple of miles were exactly on target-pace... then the climbing started. Snowdonia has beautiful scenery and he was enjoying it during the next 2.5 mile climb. Running up the valley, against the flow of the river that had carved it, with huge piles of slate lying at the bottom of cliffs so high that the low cloud obscured the top, it was dramatic and inspiring.
Martin Cook (369) at Snowdonia Marathon. Click on photo for a larger version.
photo by john gibson
Martin overcame his tendency to try to maintain his speed uphill and settled into a comfortable rhythm towards the youth hostel at the top of the Pen-y-Pass at 4.5 miles. He walked through the drink station to get a good drink of water then set off on the long downhill that he felt he had been earned. At about mile 6 the route turned off tarmac and continued down a slate covered track with regular concrete drainage channels. Vehicles obviously use it regularly as it was well packed down and fairy easy to run on but the combination of wet slate, grass and drainage channels meant that concentration was vital.
Reaching tarmac again at mile 8 felt very strange as the legs had to power along again after so long fighting against gravity on the descent. Fairly soon he was back to a comfortable pace and enjoying himself. More of the race was run next to a river which gave way to a lake, trees stretched all the way across the road and the locals were out with very enthusiastic cheering and endless (much appreciated!) tubs of sweets. The next five miles ticked-by easily enough and Martin saw his loyal support crew of Michelle and John several times, who eagerly offered more sweets and ‘helpful’ advice on posture: “relax your shoulders”, “head up”, etc.
At mile 13 there was the second big climb, of about 2 miles, and Martin went into it with the same approach as last time: take it easy, find a rhythm, maintain the effort and not the pace. Slowly and surely he reeled-in and overtook many people he had seen come past him in the previous flat(ter) section. When he got to the top at around 15 miles, his legs seemingly failed to realise that I had stopped going uphill! Every step was just as difficult as when he’d been climbing and the comfortable pace that he had just a couple of miles before had gone. He persisted. Pains came and went in his knee and ankles. An ache/pain (i.e. it hurts but it’s not an injury) started in both his hips and didn’t go away.
Martin struggled against his mind for a few more miles and then at mile 18 as he went through a drinks station he decided that he couldn’t run much longer and he would walk as soon as he got to the turn uphill at mile 20. He thought that when he next saw Michelle he would stop for a hug and perhaps ask John if he wouldn’t mind running with him for a bit. Fortunately for him they had got stuck in traffic and he didn’t see them again until the end as he was not 100% sure that he would have finished if he had stopped at that point. This is where he was glad that he hadn’t remembered the race route that well, because the turn uphill (Waunfawr) was actually at 22 miles and he did keep running until he got there.
And when you reach that climb (“the Welsh Wall”) you know it. If we had that hill to train on then “The Steeps” would need a new name! It was brutal after 22 miles and Martin didn’t see anyone manage to run all the way up it. He probably walked for a mile and a half before breaking into some kind of “run” that wasn’t actually any quicker than walking. In the early afternoon the rain and low cloud had passed and he remembered to look around him and take in the view. The peaks were spread out on both sides and there were amazing views including over Snowdon itself.
At about 24.5 miles the steep uphill finally turned into a steep downhill with the remains of two days of rain racing down the track with the runners. More slippery slate and grass, and Martin saw two people fall over, and huge puddles whenever the trail levelled off for a few metres. His right knee was really hurting and he kept stopping to massage the muscles around it but eventually found that clenching both fists and my teeth seemed to reduce the pain more. He’s not sure why and it didn’t matter, it meant he was now running got a few hundred metres at a time between stops.
Around 25.5 miles the tarmac returned but it was still steep and very uncomfortable to run. As much as he wanted to stop and curl up in a ball somewhere the crowds were out in Llanberis and with his name on the race number, and BRR on my chest, he had to carry on. So he set off at a faster shuffle, past 26 miles and he was thinking how 0.2 of a mile seemed almost beyond him. Finally the finish arch was ahead and Martin saw the timing clock... beginning with a 4. He crossed the line in 4 hours and 56 seconds for a chip time of 4 hours and 18 seconds.
The race hurt physically and missing his target time hurt psychologically but it was a spectacular experience and the Snowdonia Marathon lived up John’s recommendation and all the stories he had read about it. After the race Martin said “Thanks to Wife Michelle for putting up with me before, during and after, John for driving all the way to Snowdonia and back with a cold and all my Bourton Roadrunner club mates who have trained and encouraged me since last December. Next year’s event will have a ballot entry system opening on 1st December and my name will be in the ballot”.
Highlights
Martin Cook and 2500 new running buddies, wrapped in a foil blankets and bin bags, faced the challenges of the Snowdonia Marathon.
Llanberis Pass, Snowdonia, from Pen-y-Cwyryd.
Place names like Llanberis Pass, Pen-y-Pass, Pen-y-Cwyryd, Beddgelret, Waunfawr and Bwlch-y-Groes can provide their own challenges to some.
Add rain, heavy mist and a sharp wind....
And a few hills like the “Welsh Wall” that might make “the Steeps” blush, sets the scene for the Snowdonia Marathon.
But don’t be put-off, it’s worth it to experience the natural beauty; it’s just not for the feint-hearted.
Off-road section at 6 miles, after Pen-y-Cwyryd, Snowdonia Marathon.
Bourton Roadrunners’ Martin Cook at Snowdonia Marathon.
Martin will certainly be looking to get his name into the ballot for next year’s 40th running of the event.
Other reports may be found on our recent race reports page.