Marathon Eryri – Race Report

Written by Jack De Bokx

I think this is one of those bucket list events! I love Wales and I love running, so a perfect combination. I also like nice weather (more about that later). I did this one for the first time last year under great conditions, won my Age Group and wanted to come back to do this again. Entered the ballot early January and got in again. Last year I did it two weeks after participating in the Sofia Marathon so I assumed that another week of rest wouldn't hurt, so this time there was three weeks between Chester Marathon and this one.

As you know Chester went quite well, so that was promising.....but looking at the weather forecast for Llanberis for a week didn't help with feeling confident. Set off on Friday to register, picked up my number and stayed the night at Betwys-Y-Coed. I was prepared for any kind of weather and on Saturday morning it didn't disappoint - rain, a cold breeze and a slight ray of sunshine (at least in Betwys).

Drove to the start quite early to get into a relatively close Parking area (so not depending on baggage drop) but as it was chucking it down at that stage stayed in the car as long as I could. The start is just up the road, so got out of the car, luckily it was dry at that stage - decided which shoes to wear (opted for an older pair of my trusted Puma Deviates), put my waterproofs in a bumbag, loaded with gels and set off to the start. I met some DRR runners, which was nice - loved the Welsh national Anthem at the start and 3-2-1 set off.

The first few K's are flat and fast on good tarmac roads, followed by the 4k climb on to Pen-Y-Pass. It's not a bad climb, only the last half mile is a bit steeper but I could run with a decent pace all the way up. Finally at the top you pass the youth hostel and warden centre to go downhill all the way to the crossing with the road from Betwys to Beddgelert. However, you don't go on that road, but take a parallel bridle path, which is gravel and stones - not too bad and nicely descending - just have to be careful where to put your feet. I could muster a really good pace on that stretch all the way to where we joined the main road to Beddgelert, which than stays relatively flat all the way until around the half marathon mark just through Beddgelert. Quite a bit of rain during that stretch though, no time to put my waterproofs on and it didn't feel that cold, so got a bit wet. Then the fun started! The climb up to Ffridd Uchaf is tougher than it looks and for me the most boring part of the run. By that time there was also quite a headwind - it was also a brief moment where it stayed dry and I even saw the sun for a few second, but being wet from the previous stretch meant that I was getting a bit cold. It didn't do my legs any good, so resorted to some run/walk on the steeper sections of the climb.

After Rhyd Ddu it gets a bit flatter and a bit of downhill so could get some pace in again and ran with a group of others, which helped a bit hiding from the cold breeze. Got some more wetness thrown at us but the pace made sure I didn't feel too cold. At Waunfawr the fun really starts, you get off the main road, run into Waunfawr on quite a steep section and turn onto some small farm roads to take the hill back into Llanberis. The road keeps on climbing, and the weather kept on giving :-). I stayed with the 3.30 pacer for most of that section - even he had to resort to a run/walk... it was tough.

After halfway it turns into a trail, and due to the weather it was pretty treacherous, with slippy grass sections, puddles and mud. Over the hill there was a fantastic drink station (all in Christmas gear - how appropriate with this weather!) - and a very steep downhill into Llanberis. Where last year it was dry and I could actually run, this year it was one big sliding party to the section where the tarmac starts again. But by than it's only 1 K to the finish. As always the reception in Llanberis was fantastic and I managed to stay ahead of the pacer to finish in 3.28.03 - 4 seconds faster than last year - who would have imagined that, with the most horrible weather conditions (even some who ran the Eryri many more times said they had never experienced this weather). Still - it was wonderful, the scenery is stunning and the run itself is a real challenge but a very honest one. The opposite of running through a city. I love both - but if I have to make a choice it would be Eryri. Will I do it again - of course!