A backdrop of wild rocky mountains, hidden valleys, cascading rivers, deep forests and glacial lakes accompanied the tenacious trio of Lucy Deville, Fay Tosdevin and Lyn Snow around this beast of a course on Sunday.
Billed as the toughest half marathon in the UK, the Snowdonia National Park plays host to this popular event for the 9th year in a row. Excited the ladies lined up with some 700 others to take on the challenge.
Starting in the villiage of Llanrwst, the course took the ladies up to Lake Geirionydd before continuing ever upwards to Lake Crafnant.
“The first 5 miles were all uphill” says Fay “Proper hills too… like the one we call the “Hill with no name” in Ventnor. The scenery was amazing though. That second Lake was flat and beautiful”
The ladies had a bit of welcome downhill to the village of Trefriw. The relief didn’t last long as they were taken up the eye wateringly steep 1:7 Forest Hill at the 11 mile point. But they treated to a downhill finish taking them via Gwydyr Castle and back to the finish at Llanrwst.
Fay was first back in a smidge over 2 and a half hours, giving her a cracking 5th place in her age category.
“That was the most enjoyable run I’ve had in ages” she beams “I’m still buzzing! There’s nothing like being in the mountains to inspire me to get fitter”
Lucy was under the finishing arch just 10 minutes later as she took an awesome 2nd place in her age category.
“What an amazing experience”
Lyn finished in her signature strong fashion in a little over 3 hours to complete the set for the IWRR girls.
Well done ladies, a tough challenge well executed
Fay Tosdevin – 2.34.07
Lucy Deville – 2.45.16
Lyn Snow – 3.06.18
