Welsh 1000m is this Saturday...
Pen-Y-Pass
Perhaps the classic of all Welsh classics takes place on Saturday, the Welsh 1000m, and this one is a beast. The role-call of winners includes fell-legends such as Kenny Stuart, Gavin Bland, Lizzy Hawker and Angela Mudge, amongst others.
A new route in 2011 was brought about after a fifth 1000m peak at Glyder Fawr being discovered last year – making this already tough event even tougher.
Kenny Stuart leads John Wild at the Welsh 1000m
After the heat of 2010 and 2011, the weather looks to be the complete opposite and closer to the biblical conditions of 2009 and for the 22 mile race. Starting at AberGwynGregyn on the North Welsh coast, this route visits the five summits now designated over 1000 metres – Carnedd Llewelyn, Carnedd Dafydd, Glyder Fawr, Crib Y Ddysgl and Snowdon. summit of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).
One notable entrant in the ’5 Peaks’ start list is former 1000m winner Colin Donnelly. The Lochaber runner makes an excursion back to his former stomping ground, and looking at the line-up, his knowledge of the event and his liking for the claggy conditions, he could be in with a shout.
Final race details and news on the 2012 event are now online at the 1000m website.
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Reactions so far
Peter Lewis Jun 8, 04:28 PM
I will be marshalling tomorrow ( CRUMBS THE WEATHER LOOKS INTERESTING) on possibly the most exposed of the 1000m summits that of Mr lewellyn.
I was also marshalling on Lewellyn the same year that the poor chap in the military class walked over the cliff edge just above Fynnon llygwy, i even remember talking to him around 50minutes before that horrible accident.
It was only when i got back to my car and seeing the Ogwen Mountain Rescue land Rover parked next to my car did i realise something was wrong, and it was not until watching the national news did it dawn on me i had spoken to the man less than an hour before his tradgic accident.
There is possibly only one other Snowdonia race tougher than this 22mile 1000m slog and that’s the annual Peris Horseshoe organised by Eryri Harriers in September.
Ive done both races several times and on finishing the 1000s you are very tired, but not so tired that you cannot walk the 5miles down the Llanberis path from Snowdon.
On my first attempt of the Peris Horseshoe i was so exhausted opposite the Royal Victoria Hotel in Llanberis where the race finishes that i could not operate the clutch pedal of my car ( Competitors finishing this years 1000m for the first time may not believe me that there is another level of exhaustion you can experience in mountain races, enter the Peris and find out what i mean)
The 1000m is an endurance event that depending on the weather is possibly to complete if you are a fit mountain walker, and the organisers have even allowed campetitors to start a few hours earlier than the main race to ensure they finish the race in the alloted time.
Put it this way the Peris Horseshoe being just under 18miles is without doubt the hardest fell race in Wales and probably in the top ten of toughest fell running events in the Uk .
The 1000m is a half marathon in difficulty whilst the Peris is the full marathon.
Good luck to all those starting from Aber tomorrow and i will check you in as you pass me on Lewellyns summit.