From Sarah Hayes…
Petra Bijsterveld and I entered this years 41st Marathon Eryri. It was Petra’s 7th time at this event but my first. I have done a couple of marathons previously but knew this one would be different and potentially much more challenging given the elevation of the course (2600ft). The route encircles Mount Snowdon on roads in the Eryri National Park. Although billed as a road marathon there were a couple of sections of trail at about mile 6 and mile 25.
We travelled together to Llanberis on the Friday staying in a hotel very near the start/finish.
After collecting our race numbers we carb loaded on pub food at the hotel and had an early night conscious of the grim weather forecast for race day.
Hearing about Petra’s previous experience of the event and her top tips were invaluable. I felt I had a good idea of what was to come.
As always a marathon experience is of two halves. The first was enjoyable despite some heavy downpours and even some hail. I was able to keep my head up enjoying the spectacular scenery. The second half, not surprisingly, was more challenging. The downpours seemed heavier and wind felt even colder. I jeffed along counting down the miles. I was trying to keep up with fueling but feeling more and more nauseous with each passing mile. However the support from the locals was great. Shouts of ‘Da iawn (well done) Sarah’ spurred me on.
The final and interminable climb however was almost too much for me. I had a self indulgent weep once I’d reach the summit at mile 24. A kindly marshall who could see my distress gave me a cup of tea and encouraged me on my way.
My legs would barely work on the final descent but I manage not to slip in the muddy track that took us back to Llanberis.
I crossed the finish line saying to myself never again but after a beer and a pub meal with Petra back at the hotel I was already contemplating returning again for the 2026 event!
From Petra Bijsterveld…
This was my 7th time running this wonderful marathon which has been staged since 1982. Often still called by its previous English name Snowdonia Marathon, Marathon Eryri is a road race which starts and finishes in Llanberis and circumnavigates Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) via a clockwise circuit, taking in Pen-y-Pass, Beddgelert, Rhyd Ddu and Waunfawr. The 2674 ft of ascent are divided over 3 climbs, from mile 2 to 4.5 up to Pen-y-Pass, mile 13 to 15 out of Beddgelert, and mile 22 to 24 out of Waunfawr. There are just 2 short off-road sections: a rough but very runnable track for about a mile at mile 7, and a downhill mile of slippery mud, grass and slate at mile 25, where many a runner in super slick road shoes has come a cropper.
This year there was meant to be a trio of Harriers on the start line, Rebecca Mon-Williams, Sarah Hayes and I. Unfortunately Rebecca had to pull out due to injury leaving Sarah and myself to represent the club. We stayed for two nights in the lovely and ideally positioned (near the start and finish) Royal Victoria Hotel in Llanberis, which always is completely filled with runners on this weekend. We collected our numbers on Friday afternoon, had a meal in the hotel followed by an early night.
The weather forecast was not great: a temperature of 6 to 7 degrees, intermittent heavy showers and a brisk breeze of 20 mph. I reckoned this could result in a ‘feels like’ temperature around freezing. Coming out of the hotel it didn’t feel too bad. Standing at the start it still didn’t feel too bad either. I have always run this race in just a vest and shorts, with gloves if needed, but this time I had taken what I thought was a pretty cautious approach and was wearing arm sleeves and my windproof (which is also showerproof). After mile one I took off my gloves and windproof, already too warm. However, by the time we reached Pen-y-Pass it started to rain heavily, or was it hail, and it was pretty cold in the wind. The precipitation was coming at us from the mountains sideways. Unbeknownst to me Sarah had wisely put her waterproof back on. I decided to tough it out thinking it would just be a shower, and didn’t cave in until mile 10, by that time I was already totally soaked of course. As an experienced ultra-runner you’d think I would have known better, but my road racing mindset really is quite a different thing and I always verge towards the minimalist side. After all, what is the worst thing that can happen on a road race….well you can get pretty cold as I discovered. It turned out to be the worst weather I have experienced on this route and there were times where I started to genuinely worry about hypothermia. There were some runners who DNF’d around mile 19 because of the cold. My legs were frozen and I think it affected my pace, I felt like the Tin Man during the second half. At least the cold spurred me on to keep running as that was the best way to keep generating a pitiful bit of heat. To compound the misery of the weather there was something decidedly not right with my stomach right from the start, making it very difficult to get any fuel in, and unfortunately what I managed to get down came out again as twice I miserably stopped at the side of the road to vomit into a hedge. The desperate lack of calories didn’t help with my temperature regulation, and it is a miracle really that I didn’t hit the infamous wall somewhere along the rain sodden course.
I was delighted to reach mile 22 at Waunfawr and the final climb and descent, always better than plodding along the flat. I knew that barring an accident (always possible on the slippery off-road section of the descent) my finish was guaranteed. I checked my watch and noted I was well behind my time from last year, which was to be expected but I still felt disappointed. I think the 4:30 pacer must have gone past me around mile 10 as I was throwing up into the vegetation, as I had not seen him come past. As it turns out I was way behind him, reaching the finish line in 4:42:31, almost 15 minutes slower than last year’s PB of 4:28:04. Under the circumstances I shouldn’t be disappointed, but I am a bit.
Sarah had been behind me and caught me up around mile 12 and was running strongly, but I went past again on the climb out of Beddgelert. Having been more sensible by putting her waterproof back on earlier she remained a bit warmer throughout than I was. Nevertheless she had her own fair share of suffering and found the second half a tough gig, but was delighted to achieve her aim of a sub 5 finish on her first time on this course in 4:56:19.
We rejoined at the hotel and celebrated our triumph over the weather and the miles over a meal and a beer. I guess I may well be back at this race, though I have alternative plans for 2026. But once you have collected 7 slate coasters the temptation to get to 10 is there, as the marshal at the finish reminded me!
(1 2:33:56 Michael Kallenberg, Swansea/RAFAthletics)
(24 2:58:47 Ceri Merwood, CDF Runners 1st F)
1092 4:42:31 Petra Bijsterveld
1271 4:56:19 Sarah Hayes
2208 finished