Kenny to roll back the years at Snowdon
Kenny Stuart
Legendary mountain runner Kenny Stuart is to return to the place of one of his greatest mountain records on the 24th of July, as he is the guest of honour and official starter at this year’s 35th International Snowdon Race, some 25 years after his record run.
The 2010 International Snowdon Race / Ras-yr-Wyddfa organising committee this week announced the return of the race record holder to the event. Kenny will be the official race starter and also be guest of honour at the prize giving for this prestigious event on the international mountain running calendar.
Kenny starting the Alva Hill Race
2010 marks a very special date in respect of Kenny’s record as his mark has now stood the test of time for an amazing 25 years. His time of 62:29 for the 10 mile route from Llanberis to the summit of Snowdon and back has not been serious challenged in that period – however with the return to the route of Kenny’s historic run this year the gauntlet is now clearly thrown down for today’s elite fell and mountain runners to challenge his time.
Does Kenny feel that anyone can get close to his record mark?
“I think it will take a fast road runner with good climbing ability rather than a pure fell runner to break it. You need to be clever on the way down, but its not very technical, you just need to be able to run hard down and be confident. Andi Jones could get close, but he needs someone to push him, a group of good continental athletes and Andi could run the record close I think.
Andi Jones
I’m a bit surprised that the record still stands. The route is a fast one, suiting fast road runners and indeed continental runners, I am sure that it will be broken at some stage, though when I don’t know.”
Time has been kind to Kenny over the last 25 years, and speaking to the race organisers this week he says that it really doesn’t seem that long ago, “No, it’s amazing really, I don’t know where the time has gone to be honest.”, said the quiet-spoken Cumbrian, who still “keeps fit” running 4-5 times a week around his life-long home of Threlkeld.
With John Wild at the the Welsh 1000m
His mind is as sharp as the day he took the historic record on Wales’ highest peak, and Kenny’s memories are still vivid:
“I only did two Snowdon races, in 84 and 85, and I didn’t have a good experience on my first visit. It was a red hot day, and I didn’t feel very well, I still finished second though, so I remember that year for the wrong reasons. 1985 however was a special race, and one that I can distinctly recall.
My memory of the race that year is that about three quarters of the way up I was feeling very good, and I was with Robbie Bryson. We pulled away from the Italians and I was surprised that they didn’t go with us. Robbie was a good uphill runner, and was first to the top, I was 11 seconds behind him but I was confident that I could bring him back on the way down.
I caught him quite soon on the descent and from then on it was about holding my form and pushing on. It was a great race for me that year.”
Speaking about his return to Llanberis, Kenny also has fond memories.
“It will be nice to come back to the race and I’m honoured to be the starter and prize-giver this year. It will also be good to meet up with people like Ken Jones again, I’ve stayed in his house a few times and it will be nice to catch up. I’m really looking forward to it”.
