Andi attempts to re-write history on Snowdon
Andi Jones descending in 2008
Winners of the International Snowdon Race are guaranteed their place in history. To be one of the men and women that have won one of the 33 races held since 1976 takes tenacity, talent and qualities that only the elite mountain runners possess. To be one of those athletes that has won the race more than once assures almost legendary status.
Andi Jones is one such runner.
Winner of the race for the last three years, the 30 year-old school teacher enters this year’s race on July 18 in the form of his life – recently finishing top-Briton at the London Marathon – and takes his place on the 2009 start line with a motivation and determination to cement his place in the Snowdon race record books. Could this be the year that we finally see a runner winning the race for a fourth time?
In an exclusive interview Andi gives us his views on his form, mountain running and how much the Snowdon race means to him.
SR: 2009 seems to have been a good year for you to date, especially your run in London. What were your thoughts after that race?
AJ: 2009 has been a very good year. PB at half marathon, big PB at marathon so things generally going in the right direction. London was a great day. Training had gone very well for it and few key races prior to the big day had gone to plan. Aim was to break 2.15 but 2.15.20 was still a big improvement on my PB. Thoughts after the race were how I could further knock more time off this time. Runners are never satisfied with anything!
SR: Is marathon running where you see your future?
AJ: I like marathon running. It’s an event where if it goes wrong you can’t do another the next week. It takes a lot out of you and you need to recover well after it or risk burning out. There seems to be something magical about the distance. I find I can run 22miles no problems but the last four miles really needs to be trained for and focused on.
SR:You are one of those rare runners who can translate their abilities onto any surface – road, xc, mountain, track. How does mountain running fit into your schedule, both racing and training wise?
AJ: Mountain running fits in nicely. I like being in the mountains and off the roads. The surface is totally different and you get no hassle on the fields and mountains. The views are amazing and the climbs are really challenging. I don’t tend to do any specific mountain training other than long runs on the fells and mountains throughout the year. I find the long runs I do off road help a great deal with my road racing.
The uphill trek, alone again!
SR: The International Snowdon race is a special race for you, what makes you come back year after year?
AJ: I like the Snowdon area. I enjoy the challenge of running to the top of a mountain and straight back down and the thought for most people who go up Snowdon that it is a day out. I want to run quick in the race and each year I think about how I can get a little quicker and beat my PB for the route.
SR: This year could be your fourth win and therefore a record win. There are many great runners who failed to win 4, how do you feel about that, and do you feel that pressure?
AJ: I feel the pressure a lot. Three wins out of three so people do expect a fourth. I like to go out hard and hit the mountain hard from the start. I would love to win it again and make it a fourth consecutive win. The pressure is what people have to deal with in any race so you learn to deal with and cope with it. That’s not to say on the day I won’t be apprehensive about what is to come in the next hour of the race.
SR: Finally, the Snowdon record is held by Kenny Stuart at 62:29, from way back in 1985, given the slight change in course over the years do you think that this time is attainable in the modern era?
AJ: The Snowdon record will not get broken anytime soon. I can’t comment on the slight changes to the course as I wasn’t running back in 1985 being only 7 years old but it would take one awesome climber to get up and down as quick as Kenny Stuart did that day. I can see runners possibly from overseas climbing as well but the descent would not be as fast for them.
For further race information please visit www.snowdonrace.com
Press and media enquiries should directed to Jayne Lloyd on 07786 223763 or by emailing Jayne at [email protected]
