The Snowdon Mountains And Their Stories

Running Ultras crept up on me – it evolved. Gradually the training and the distances increased until I was back in Snowdonia. Re-visiting peaks I’d climbed as a single woman 15 years ago, now married and as a Mum with a family of three boys but still in awe of the mountains and super excited to discover new areas.

My 100-mile journey began with the challenge of the GBUltras Beacons Way event in July. Living near the start in Abergavenny, the stages were accessible to recce and provided some great days out. I’ve learnt valuable lessons from every event but the learning curve is steeper than the terrain!

I made a great start, reaching the halfway point of Pen-y-Fan within 16 hours. But then I crashed. I got cold, couldn’t take any food and slowed right down. I learnt that people used poles, stopped to fuel properly at checkpoints, changing clothes would set up for changes in temperature and weather. I pushed on until mile 83 but got concerned about my pace, the number of people waiting for me at home. The responsibilities as a Mum, my head went, I stopped.

The event was very humid but I carried on into the starlit, cold night in my damp kit. Unfuelled and overly tired from running with no poles – So much to learn. The event was magical, the community support was amazing. Countless messages of congratulations and positivity for stepping up from 50 miles previously. And an offer of support should I wish to enter the Snowdonia 100 a couple of months later. It wasn’t even on the cards but the idea seeded and I pressed the book now button.