Snowdonia Marathon

Two Kenilworth members, Connor Carson and Ros Matthews, made their way to Snowdonia to take part in the annual marathon from Llanberis... otherwise known as 'the toughest marathon in Europe'.

The route begins with a climb to the top of the Pen y Pass (1,100ft) dropping down to the Pen Y Gwyryd junction, the race then follows the old road (slate/loose stone) along to the campsite then continues to Beddgelert (200ft) and then continues a slow uphill drag along the A4085 to Waunfawr. From here it is a rapid climb to about 1,200ft at the notorious Bwlch y Groes (along mainly mountain trail) and then a steep downhill to the finish back in Llanberis (if your legs are still with you!) The mountain scenery was breathtaking throughout, and long sections were off-road and through rain and hail storms.. but the final ascent at mile 23 up over the mountain trail and the final decent down to Llanberis was not one was not one for the faint-hearted.

Connor Carson, who had run the race in 2009 ran valiantly to clock 3:15:29 - just two weeks after Amsterdam when he achieved a PB of 2:57! Ros, who was new to the race but had trained on sections of the Hilly 100 in preparation, struggled towards the end having sustained an injury a couple of weeks earlier, yet managed a respectable 4:15:30 (but will not be doing it again in a hurry!)