So all week I was weather watching to see if it would be favourable or not at Coed y Brenin Forest Park in the Snowdonia National Park, well the forecast changed every day I looked so I really didn’t know what we were getting until the day, which was wet and enjoyable to run in at times.

I arrived the night before to register and receive my race number and goody bag with tshirt, microfibre towel, torq gel and park information, I must say it was a good touch allowing registration the day before, it took allot of pressure off me on race day, which was fortunate because I was running behind.

I got to the venue leaving myself 30 minutes before the start, normally I like to arrive about an hour before to grab a coffee and sort last minute preparations and warm up, but today I was a bit behind in my prep. We had to use the overflow carpark (As stated on the race instructions) with a 10 minutes trek to the start line, time for a quick toilet stop and then off to the start just in time for the gun to begin the race.

This was my first ever Trail Marathon so I was nervous and excited all rolled into one, the nervous atmosphere in the race village was electric, with the compare and music adding to the tension. We headed down the track away from the race village to come back up to the start line to face the spectators on the raised platform of the visitor’s centres, nice view for the supporters and loved ones to see these nutters off.

So we set off uphill under the visitor centre bridges, the uphill continued gradually for around 1.5miles before some gradual undulating ups and downs to the 5 mile point, where an uphill section for 1.5 miles to an elevation of 800ft, as bad as it may sound it was actually quite pleasant and the views were spectacular despite the mist and rain.

Then came a lovely technical downhill section through some stunning forest tracks, care must be taken over the tree routes that were slippery underfoot due to the weather, some loose stones were also a challenge but I loved this downhill bit and everyone was great when they heard you coming they politely moved out of the way to let you pass, but don’t worry I repaid the favour when they overtook me on the uphill sections, which brings me to the 11 mile point and the “Sting in the tail” ohohoh wow wow ouch ouch cheeky, horrible and lovely all at the same time, nice touch in a sadistic sort of way.

Nice downhill to the fuel station on half way before setting off along the brutal path under the A470, I don’t know if it was just me but this section of flat was murder on my feet, the path was made up of jagged stones and rocks bedded in the mud, it killed the balls of my feet and ankles and seamed to mentally and physically zap me, despite it being flat??

That went on for around 600-800m but felt like forever before coming out on a track which made me happier to be there again, the next three miles were pretty uneventful with a climb up to 1,045ft and the highest point on the course, where you convince yourself that its all downhill from here oooooooh no, no, no such a silly fool am I, for the rest of the race it was up and down with what appeared to be longer ups than down, I’m sure it wasn’t but its how it felt.

Much of the terrain from 20 miles was single track that would not be out of place in any fell run with plenty of obstacles and muds sections and with the heavy rain some of the paths were like streams.

Finally, the last decent to the A470 underpass arrrhhhhhhh that underpass again with those jaggedey little feet killers just poised waiting to mentally destroy you late in the race, but hey ho you just need to push on after coming so far, onwards to the last bit to the finish line which was up hill but nobody cares, it’s the finish line whoop whoop well done everyone for taking on and completing this challenge, and as they say “nobody said it was going to be easy” #DONE

Pros:

-       Well organised

-       Great Venue

-       Well-marked route

-       Well stocked aid stations

-       Good price

-       Nice goodbag

-       Volunteers #awesome

-       Visitor centre staff brilliant and friendly

-       Toilets – plenty, didn’t have long cues

-       Plenty for supporters to do

-       Stunning backdrops

 Cons:

-       Torrential rain, please sort this out for next year

-       Jaggedey little feet killers along the underpass grrrrrrrrrr

-       Part of the route in the second half was more of a fell run that trail run

 So overall a great race that I will no doubt attempt again in the not too distant future

My final word must go to those long suffering supporters, spectators and volunteers (Especially my Wife) that waited around for 4,5,6,7 hours in some pretty horrible weather, I can only imagine how rubbish it must have felt at times so a massive hug for Wifey and a high five for the rest of you #youramazing

Please have a look at the link to my page http://gingeral-trailrunner.simplesite.com