Snowdon 24
This inaugural event by Always Aim High Events is as much a test of mental resilience as it is physical strength. The format is quite simply to ascend and descend Snowdon ( 1085m / 3560 ft) as many times as you can in 24 hours. The last lap only counts if you cross the finish line before midday.
After having unplanned abdominal surgery in April, my training plan for Lavaredo Ultra Trail had to be put on hold as there was no way that I would have been ready by the end of June. Snowdon 24 seemed like a good alternative as it gave me a couple of extra training weeks, it’s mountain running, time on feet and also the format meant that I could bail at any point in case my body had enough.
This race didn’t disappoint on any level (apart from the campsite and car park location which made for a very slow and painful walk after the event was over) - communication was great on the lead up and the event village in the heart of Llanberis was a good lay out offering plenty of space, food vendors, portaloos and also a ‘chill out zone’ for us solo runners which we could use as a pitstop in between laps.
At registration the night before the race, I bumped into a couple of friends who I’ve met on the trails over the last few years which was a great start to the weekend. I’d also travelled there with my good friend Kelsey who was also taking part in Snowdon 24. I felt relaxed and ready to get started.
I work with a mindset coach, Dawn Blackwell who is also a great friend, and one of the many valuable things she has me doing is to set several goals rather than just one. This is to help me manage my own expectations (because I can be horribly self critical) and maintain my focus. For this race my three goals were;
Bronze - complete the Triple Snowdon, 3 laps
Silver - complete Mont Blanc, 5 laps
Gold - anything more than 5 laps
Although my training time was slightly restricted by recovery time from my surgery, I was still able to turn out some good quality sessions on the lead up. I live in a relatively flat area of the country so for this kind of race I need to travel. I put in a good couple of days in the Peak District, time on feet whilst recce’ing Ring O’ Fire with a friend in Anglesey, followed by my own recce of Snowdon and then more mountain miles with another friend who was taking part in the Ultra Trail Snowdonia, so great training for my legs. I felt as ready as I could be and went with the attitude ‘what will be, will be’.
The race started promptly at midday on Saturday 9th July, we were off!
Having recce’d the Llanberis path a couple of weeks before, it was fresh in my mind. I knew the terrain and which parts of the route were more runnable than others. My usual approach to races is to tread cautiously and not go too hard too early, but on this occasion I wanted one fast lap under my belt and had accepted that I might pay the price later on but that was my choice and I’d just have to suck it up if it came to it.
The first 3 laps were strong for me and I completed them in 2.10, 2.35 and 2.52, which I’m super happy with. I pushed hard up the mountain and felt confident and fast on some of the technical rocky terrain coming down. Fortunately I didn’t pay any price for that first fast lap, although I now wonder if I could have pushed even harder.. perhaps I’ll head back one day in the future to find out. I just need to learn to walk again first (currently sat here with swollen feet and very stiff legs as I write this blog!)
Halfway through the third lap I knew that five wouldn’t be enough for me even though my feet were really starting to hurt at this point (Arthritis). I was feeling okay considering. I was fuelling and hydrating well and just really enjoying the event. I was also way ahead of the 4 hour per lap buffer I’d set myself, having completed the first two in 5 hours. There was plenty more play time!
I took a longer rest after the third and headed out for the night shift, excited to see sunset AND sunrise over Snowdonia - a scene which will remain etched in my heart forever. The temperature was much cooler now and the trail was much quieter as many participants had stopped after 3 laps. I love sunset and also the tranquillity and quiet of night running, so I was ready to settle into my strid and head into the darkness.
Laps 4 was mostly done in darkness following a beautiful sunset over Snowdonia - other than that and a chilly breeze that had picked up on the top of the mountain, it was fairly uneventful. I enjoyed the cooler temperature after the unrelenting heat of the day and it was also so peaceful and quiet out there. I felt happy and relaxed on the trail.
I managed to time the summit of lap 5 with the most spectacular clear sky sunrise which I’ll never forget. As the first light of the morning appeared on the horizon, the mountains were silhouetted against the hues of the morning sky and I could see tiny lights much further down on the trail which of course was the head torches of everyone still out there, exhausted but still working hard to achieve their goals.
I was exhausted at this point, my body was hurting pretty much all over but I still felt really positive and wanted to tackle one last lap. I took a longer rest and ate some breakfast. it was now a bright sunny morning and with that came some much needed energy. A seventh lap, even if I wanted to, just wasn’t possible with the remaining time, which meant that I had plenty of time to get the last lap done without any pressure.
The sixth and final lap literally took everything that I had left in me but I still enjoyed it knowing that I didn’t have to do it again. Everyone I passed on the trail was upbeat and cheerful as most were also on their last lap.
Just past the train tunnel about two thirds of the way up the Llanberis path is a really nasty section which is steep and has plenty of loose rock. It’s tough on fresh legs, let alone after you’ve been on them for best part of 20 hours. As I took in the views and ate a Voom bar for an extra dose of caffeine, I saw a guy called Richard who I’d shared a few miles with earlier in the race. I think he was probably having the same dreadful thoughts as I had ahead of that section. ‘C’mon, we’ll get through it together’ I said to him as I started the upward scramble and he got up on his feet and started moving. It was very much a case of small steps and setting small goals; ‘I’m getting to that boulder then having a short breather’ and we worked together just like that until we got to the top where we were rewarded with the most incredible cloud inversion. I felt so proud of myself in that moment and will admit to having a little cry.
The descent was slow and clumsy.. the exact opposite of my first one the day before but I was still out there and still moving forward. I had reached my gold goal and was now on the way back to the finish line. As we passed the halfway hut, Richard bought us both an ice lolly and we thanked each other for the support we’d given each other.
The finish line was emotional, other than feeling exhausted and very sore, my head was fully in this race from start to finish, I didn’t falter once and I’m really proud of myself for that - I also have Dawn to thank for her hard work and perseverance with me.
Final result; 6 ascents, 58 miles, 18,500ft elevation gain and 6th solo lady. I’m more than happy with that and therefore never have to do it again!
Kit: I wore the Salomon Ultra Glide for 5 laps and then switched to the Pulsar for the last one. Both shoes are phenomenal on dry rocky terrain with their decent grip and generous cushioning (particularly the Pulsar) for comfort on a long run. I also had the Salomon Speedcross 5 on standby in case of wet weather but luckily they weren’t needed.
Nutrition: I used a mix of Tailwind in my water (alternating caffeine and non caffeine) and also Voom bars which are relatively new to me but I’m impressed with the buzz they give me. I also ate dehydrated Firepot and Summit to Eat meals which are quick and easy to prepare (just add hot water) and pack a load of calories. It was a very hot day (and I sweat a lot!) so I also took a salt tablet at the start of each lap in addition to the electrolytes from Tailwind and Voom.
Dawn Blackwell is a performance coach helping her clients to visualise their goals and reach success in sports, life and business. I’ve worked with Dawn over the last 12 months and have since made big leaps forward with my mindset and goal setting, tackling events such as Race to the Stones, the Marathon Des Sables and Pilgrims Challenge.
