I entered this event based on reviews and also after the fantastic time I had taking part in the sandman triathlon last September. I cannot fault any part of the event. A stunning and demanding route for both the bike and run meant that I had to push myself and I could have kept swimming in that lake for ages. Brilliant Marshall support and organisation in Llanberis meant everything worked perfectly. I would certainly recommend this event, for anyone ready for a proper challenge in beautiful surroundings. I will definitely return and am hoping to be able to fit in the whole adventure series next year.

As with previous reviewer, I struggled to find many/any reviews on the sprint distance for this race, but tons for the classic! so apologies for the length of this!!! 

This was only my second sprint tri, but I’d driven some of the bike route whilst tracking husband during the snowman legend last year but still wish I’d been more prepared!  Don’t get me wrong, I’m coming back to do this again and loved every second, but I had completely underestimated the run! 

Registration - super easy, quick and could park right next to electric mountain centre, so didn’t need to set aside as much time before race start as in previous events. Also, start time was at a sensible 9.30ish, so plenty of time to let breakfast settle and mentally prepare! We had hoped to arrive the night before, and register as the events village was open until 8pm, but traffic was awful. We arrived at about 8.30 in the end, so took the time to drive over the bike route, which I would highly recommend to familiarise yourself, as it was so much better knowing when the hill would end on the day and only took another 15mins or so. 

Transition area was as expected and race briefing explained everything you needed to know. It is quite large due to the scale of the event, so unlike me, do make sure you have a good idea where your bike is or leave something bright by your bike! It’s quite cramped and only small soft bags are permitted. If you do have a transition bag or box, there was a tent to store it in. 

As publicised, this was the warmest Slateman yet, with the lake a balmy 13 degrees. With air temps soaring, this was actually quite refreshing! However, due to the number of people in my wave trying to enter the water, I’d say I only had a couple of minutes to acclimatise, so I’d recommend getting as much cold water practice in as possible. I wore neoprene boots and only one hat and didn’t feel too bad, but had got three practice swims in the weeks before ranging from 7-14 degrees (with gloves and boots!). The swim course is well marshalled and easy to follow, but do be aware that the lake is really shallow for the first 25m or so then sharply drops away, so as you approach shore to exit, the land comes up quickly and you are wading up to your thighs/knees for the last bit, so the boots did help!

Run back to T1 is across a field and then you are on to the bike. First 2-3k is out through the village on roads, undulating and then you start on the pass, up to the visitors centre summit. For the sprint race, we had closed roads from here, which I’m so glad of! I may be from Sheffield, but I’m not great on hills! The first 8k of the ride to the summit was tough, and I had to stop a couple of times after the first 6k to refind my legs! Watch out for walkers when the road is shut - they seem to swarm onto the road just because they can, but on the up side, they did provide some well needed encouragement! Once you reach the summit, it’s a short but exhilarating 1.5km descent to a marshalled U-shape turnaround. They yell at you to remind you, but do make sure you get in the right gear as it’s straight back up! Saying that, it nowhere near as challenging as the outward climb and you also know that you’ve got the amazing downhill on the other side. Take this more steady climb to appreciate the view from here, as it is honestly stunning. You can get some good speed and make up ground (if you need to) on the way back and into llanberis. Also to stand up on the bike to bring your running legs back!

Back into llanberis and T2. There was a drinks station apparently, but I don’t remember it! the run takes you back across the field and then up a tarmac hill road for about 1.5k before you enter the woods. They are the most beautiful slate/bluebell Woods you will see, but for me the run element was lost and it became a walk/scramble! Lots of narrow rocky paths!and natural steps, and incredibly steep. If it hadn’t been so pretty, I think I would have cried, especially as temperatures had reached 21 degrees and I only had a small 250ml water bottle with me (I advise you carry more as the only water station is at 4km right at the top of the climb, which seemed to go on forever winding through forset tracks and country lanes). I found the signposting difficult on a few occasions - the route was marked every 100yrds or so by loose bits of white tape tied round trees, which in some places looked like it had just been left there from previous events or had possibly snapped off a longer course marker. The marshals were great when you saw them though, and the hose they offered to cool me down was much appreciated! Also, they were happy to refill water bottles. 

Then it’s back down into the events village to celebrate! You run back along the same field, but past a row of spectators and the steam railway to the finish arch, which is fantastic. The commentary was great, staff super supportive and loved the medal and the fact it follows the current interlocking trend of a lot of events, for those entering the series. 

Loads of opportunity for your supporters to see you in transition and out onto the various legs, including full and close observation of the swim. The events village had loads to do with food, shops, multiple bouncy castles (although each charging £3 for 10 minutes, we didn’t use them!) and a ‘chillaxing’ area with giant bean bags in the centre. Saying that, if you have time and run out of things to entertain the family - electric mountain centre is lovely and had a good cafe serving much cheaper food, and the main llanberis high street is only a 5 minute walk.

We stayed for the both days, as husband was in classic distance on Sunday and had a fantastic weekend. We couldn’t find accommodation in llanberis that was dog friendly, but stayed up the road in a country holiday park in Caeathro which was excellent and only 12 minutes drive away -Airbnb so very cheap, but had a cabin and shared pool and we were out at the event most of the time so was spot on. 

All in all, I’d say if you want a challenging, exciting and utterly breathtaking triathlon, you won’t get better than this or the snowman. But expect hills, and probably not to run all the route! I’m sure I was biased a bit by the weather, and in colder, rainy conditions, the swim might not have been quite so pleasurable, but I’d risk getting that to go back. Brilliantly organised event by AAH team, and now I can literally say I’ve been there, done that and got the T-shirt (& hoodie.... I can’t resist lovely merchandise, and I like to think I deserved it!)