From Hilda Coulsey…
This race in Snowdonia completes my epic 13 months of marathons, 7 attempted across the world, 6 completed (I’m including the 20 mile, 1280m elevation Madeira masters), with age 70 PB set at London earlier this year of 4.23.
Eryri (Snowdonia National Park) is such a beautiful part of the world and the route circles Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) itself. Although the usual 42.2 km it has 750m elevation, hence an equivalent of 29.5 flat miles so it is a bit of a brute. It is road for most of the route, “undulating” is being kind as with three major hills to climb the final being the killer, off road up and down in the last few miles which is fairly relentless, in a challenging way. The weather was kind with some wonderful views, a couple of showers and striking rainbows added wonderfully to the scenery. Support was amazing in the villages and little pockets around the route, deafening on the finishing straight, very inspiring.
It was lovely to be there with Petra, having done it some times previously she was not only very knowledgeable and therefore helpful re the route and logistics but also keen to blast it to get her PB. I was less driven, calculating that I might manage it within 5 hours which was achieved, alongside Chris the rhino which was fun, and bagging the FV70 first prize. Relaxing before and after in a hotel local to the start and finish in Llanberis with a super atmosphere was luxury.
Definitely I’d recommend this run, it is in a most wonderful part of the world, almost on our doorstep. Stunning.
From Petra Bijsterveld…
Looking back at my rather long race report of this race from last year I could almost copy and paste it and say ‘exactly like this but slightly faster’. So if anyone were to have the urge to read a full description of this race please scroll to the October 2022 page.
I will keep it a little shorter this year, especially as Hilda has already summed it up beautifully above. And first of all I should say it was great to be in Llanberis with Hilda, the first time in five times running this race that I have managed to persuade any Ilkley Harrier to join me at this wonderful event. Much more fun to celebrate one’s achievements when you are not on your own. We had a fabulous time, a Welsh mini-break!
Having taken quite a chunk off my time last year I was keen to at least equal that time or shave a little more off. Whilst my overall fitness is good my training had not been very road marathon specific to put it mildly. After recovering from the CCC race in September I had about six weeks to focus on training, then my best-laid plans were somewhat derailed by having Covid in early October, as a result I had not really done enough long road runs.
Still, I was feeling good in the run up the race. I had carefully studied my splits from last year and even carried a printout with me on a little laminated card, I do like my prep! I intended to be slightly ahead of those splits at all times, but not too much, for fear of overcooking it. And it worked out pretty well, 7 minutes ahead at halfway, 4 minutes ahead at 24 miles (top of the last climb) and still 4 minutes ahead at the finish. Coming down the final descent and sprinting into Llanberis with my legs almost giving way, I overtook a man on the bend before the finishing straight and as it happened there was no other runner ahead of me. It was amazing having the whole finishing straight to myself, walls of sound on both sides with so many spectators all shouting my name (it was on my race number), it felt quite surreal. That’s how the winners must feel!
It was definitely a tough gig and I gave it all I had, I could not have gone any faster to go sub 4:30, and I wasn’t really aiming for that on this occasion. I was 4th FV60 out of 40 women in the category and delighted with that.
But you never know, with more specific training perhaps I could go faster still, there is always next year if the ballot is in my favour…. In any case both Hilda and I have already booked the Royal Victoria Hotel for 2024. More Harriers definitely welcome!
(1 2:31:21 Marshall Smith, Ashford AC)
986 4:33:01 Petra Bijsterveld
1364 4:58:07 Hilda Coulsey 1st FV70
2228 ran