Snowdon-Saturday 24th.

Three W's surprised each other at the start of the Ras Ryngwladol yr wyddfa on a dullish afternoon in N.Wales, and got the "What are you doing here?" quickly out of the way. If we'd parted with a pound for a programme, we'd have noticed the Westies' presence.Anyway, what a sanitised race, what with a microchip weighing down the left ankle; expensive Axminster covering the holes in the road; best quality plywood bridging the cattle grids; the steepest part of the course being on the road 1/2 mile from the start and finish;the path itself resembling Argyll Street on a Saturday afternoon, both in terms of wayward walkers and hard rocky surface; and not even a free bun at the end. So with the summit in mist, the race offed with the young internationalists from as far afield as Serbia, leading the chase ahead of about 500. What a great hill for actually running, which until you reach the climb onto the summit ridge is relatively easy and straightforward.Ronnie was well placed behind the tanned foreigners as he rounded the summit and passed me on the way up, and eventually finished in a very crditable 34th (1.14.59) (note the precise digital timing!!)I found the long gradual descent more painful than the climb, legs turning to sticks of rhubarb half way down, even letting Kate J. pass me. Well pleased with the 1.28.36, bettering the 1.30 which as somewhere between Ben Lomond and Ben Nevis times, i had set myself as a target. Dave finished shortly after, but because they'd lost his chip he was officially a non-starter, but hehad a blooded knee to show for his efforts!! The whole Snowdon thing is clearly a big event, but the route is definitely not the most exciting around, and with the exorbitant entry fee, I for one would have preferred a free bun at the finish, instead of a digital chip at the start.!!

Posted by Gordon Robinson on Thu 29 Jul 2004 | comments are closed

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