Job done, part two

Another day of high winds and driving rain, a pattern becoming all to familiar for Snowdonia Marathon entrants. This year the temperature was a little warmer and the wind direction was more in favour of the runners, until the exposed section at the top of the last climb when the violent gusts were of no use to anyone. Otherwise it was a case of water, water everywhere...

With three targets I had placed a lot of pressure on myself. Sub four hours was never a reality after the first climb, though a still a tantalising prospect for the next 17 miles; the spectre of the scotsman never materialised as he was down in the programme as V65 and finished well adrift in 4 29; and the biggest prize, the O/70 win, came with a margin of 45 mins.

Personal stats were: Time 4hrs 5 mins; distance (according to Garmin) 26.55; and pace 9 mins 14 secs per mile. Total up and down was just over 3,100ft.

Other finishers included Albert Sunter 3.43, Michele Sunter 4.02, Tony Varley 4.24, and Kathryn Swindell 4.52.

Tony seems to have a problem which arises every time at 21 miles and this year was no exception although this time he was not to be caught motionless at the drinks station talking to the marshalls. As you can see he lost 19 minutes to me in the last 5 miles so he must have suffered over the later stages. As I ran in to the finish I got a call from a Chorley Harrier on his was back to his car. "Well done, Tony" he shouted. Another case of mistaken identity.

The winnings included a nice mirror with stained glass Snowdon image by a local craftswoman, a Brooks rucsack, hopefully a free entry for next year and.....a buff with a Welsh dragon motif.