Snowdonia Trail Races

With a selection of distances on offer this year IWRR had a bijoux team to represent the diamond Isle in this years events.

Steve Bennett, Steve Apsey and Ian Russell made the journey to Wales to take on the half, the marathon and ultra respectively.

No fewer than 5528 ft of ascent faced Steve in the marathon and a colossal 7200 ft for Ian in the 60k ultra. Voted the best marathon in the UK not once, but twice by Runners World magazine, this race was established in 1982 as a polar opposite alternative to the concrete carnivals the major cities were offering. If that was the objective, then it is mission accomplished. You couldn’t get any more different. Not a flat road or a high rise in sight, this course circumnavigates then finally ascends Snowdon, Wales’ largest peak. It’s not a peak let’s face it, it’s a full on mountain!

Starting in Llanberis at the wonderfully named Electric Mountain, Ian set out first on his epic journey. Just like the marathon that he’s completed the year before, this beast of a course also started with a hill.

“The Ultra had another mini mountain after the whopper at the start! It was brutal!” he described on his strava profile “You could see Snowdonia and all the other mountains at the summit. I did have a bit of a “It’s great to be alive moment” up there”

Taking in the picturesque Cwm Tresgl and Cwm Pennant before rejoining the marathon route.

“I lost a shoe in knee deep mud early on…. I’m just glad I found it!” chirps pocket rocket Ian.

A couple of hours later the Steve Apsey set off on the marathon route with the rocky 3 mile trail of 1500ft ascent to tackle first. Of course what goes up must come down and a steep descent followed toward the woodland area at Beddgelert where the course levels out for a bit of relief from the elevation if not from the rocky terrain.

Shortly after Stevie Bennett was off in the half marathon accompanied by a familiar face in Mr.Keith Ruth. They took in many of the sights of the marathon course before beginning their ascent of the main attraction (ie that flipping great big mountain) via the Ranger Route.

“It was thick mist and cold at the top” Mr.Bennett tells me later in the day

No such luck for the other 2 runners tho, as they began their ascent via the Pyg Pass. 3406 feet of ascent still lay before them, a huge challenge had it been on a steep and stoney mountain trail. But no, it was far worse! It was rocks, boulders and massive monoliths of Jurassic lava to clamber over. There was no path, the boulders were the path! Luckily for them both, they happened to meet up at this point and tackled this formidable path together

“It was great getting to “run” with Ian for a bit” said Steve

It was worth the effort as at 1085m above sea level, (that’s 3559ft), the views at the summit are second to none. No time to hang around and enjoy them though as the boys all embarked on the tricky and technical descent back to Llanberis.

“That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done” admitted Stevie B “but the scenery was stunning and the camaraderie was great”

“I loved it” said Steve Apsey “Hitting that summit was amazing”

“I’ll be back next year” said Ian