Race Date: 25th October 2025
Race Report by Karen Clark

I had secured a ballot place to participate in Marathon Eryri in 2023. Unfortunately, I sustained an avulsion fracture to my kneecap, together with a tendon injury, 10 weeks before the race was due to take place. I was unable to run for several weeks. It became clear that I wasn’t going to be able to start gentle running in time to run the marathon. This posed a dilemma. Entry into Marathon Eryri is by ballot. It wasn’t a given that I would be successful in subsequent years. I did consider walking the 26 miles. I contacted the Race Director and ascertained that this would be allowed, providing that I had reached mile 18 by the cut off time. The times are generous, so it was an option, but the other consideration was running out of day light.

As an injured runner, I was invited to volunteer, instead of running the course. After much deliberation, I decided to give up on my goal of completing the marathon in 2023 and take up the invitation to volunteer with the children’s races instead.

Helping with the children’s races was fun. There were separate races for different age groups. The children’s races are run at the end of the marathon course and are timed to finish before the first marathon runner returns.

I was well looked after. I joined a team with another tourist and local volunteers. At the end of the session, volunteers were provided with a lunch and drinks and a place at the finish line, to watch all the action as the lead runners finished.

I was offered a place in the 2024 event, without needing to use the ballot. The issue was I had been offered a free deferral on another marathon; the races would have been 6 days apart. Both races required overnight stays. I made the decision to run the other marathon.

I entered the ballot again for 2025. This time I wasn’t successful. It seemed cheeky to ask for a place, 2 years later. I waited for the second ballot. I was unsuccessful!

I contacted Etch Rock to enquire how many runners were on the waiting list, so that I could weigh up the likely chance of securing a place. Etch Rock replied within a few hours, stating that there were over 1000 runners waiting for places, so they couldn’t confirm where an individual was, on the waiting list. Whether there were really 1000 runners is anybody’s guess, but clearly this tactic wasn’t going to shed any light on my chances of obtaining a place.

I gave up on the hope of running marathon Eryri this year and decided to try again for a place in 2026. I booked other events throughout September and October, not expecting a place to become available in the marathon.

In August, I noticed a post on the Marathon Eryri face book group. An injured runner had concluded that she wasn’t going to recover in time to run the 2025 Marathon Eryri. This was my opportunity. I contacted the injured runner and arranged to purchase the place, through Etch Rock.

At this point, there wasn’t time to complete a 12-week marathon training programme. Every Sunday in September and the first 2 Sundays in October were filled with various races. There wasn’t time to get a long run in, each week. Options, I either carry on doing my regular weekly running sessions, do the races and just go for it on marathon day or I sacrifice one or more of my pre-booked races. I decided to participate in my pre-booked races. I added a few miles on after a couple of the Sunday races, in locations, I was familiar with. (Not quite the same benefit as completing a long slower run).

The marathon week approached. The weather forecast wasn’t promising. It had rained heavily in Llanberis in the days leading up to the marathon.

The race Headquarters is in Llanberis. Numbers and t-shirts need to be collected in person the day before or on the morning. I collected my race pack and took advantage of the offers in the onsite, pop-up shops, the day before.

On the morning of the race, the rain was relentless. Runners are supporters were trying to shelter in the event tents, for protection from the elements for as long as possible. I was pleased to bump into Emma Clossick, a former strider, who had also secured a place to run marathon Eryri. Neither of us, knew each other had places.

The race starts approximately a ‘10 minute’ walk from the Headquarters. The course starts with a slight downhill for about 2 miles before the climb to the top of Pen Y Pass. There was a strong side on breeze and large hail stones, as I climbed Pen Y Pass. The breeze was so strong that I needed to hold onto my running cap. It was wet and cold. I focused on the white building, (a Youth Centre) at the top of Pen Y Pass, reminding myself that there is a descent from this point. There was a large crowd of supporters outside the youth centre, which was a welcome distraction from the cold and wet conditions.

The first aid station was positioned at the top of the climb. I stopped briefly for water, before continuing. There are 12 official, well stocked aid stations on the route. This is supplemented by many unofficial volunteers with pop up tables, stocked with goodies.

From this point, the course heads downhill; streams of cold rainwater ran across the route. The course turns off road, onto a trail section, comprising of a gravel and grassy path. This section was very muddy and slippery, underfoot. I eased the pace, as many runners were losing their footing.

The route returns to the road, where supporters were lined up in cars with open windows, cheering runners, as they passed by. This section is a gentle downhill towards Beddgelert.

There was a huge crowd presence in Beddgelert, cheering the runners, despite the relentless heavy rain. There were official and unofficial feed stations, along the course. My hands were so cold, I was struggling to open my gel. A local resident who

had kindly set up an unofficial feed station, helped me. His hands were so cold that he resorted to cutting the gel open with the knife he had brought to cut melon. He was apologising for keeping me waiting while he tried to cut the gel open. I was grateful for the help to get into my gel. Waiting a few minutes wasn’t a problem!

The course continues with an uphill for the next few miles. The was a strong headwind, making this section more challenging. The route is picturesque and should offer some distraction, but it was difficult to appreciate the views on the day, due to heavy rain and mist. I chatted with other runners as we battled the storm. This was uplifting, as fellow runners were encouraging each other.

The course levels out after an initial climb, with some undulation up to mile 22. At mile 22, the course goes off road and onto a steep narrow track. Locals were out cheering and encouraging the runners. Several runners were walking at this point. It was difficult to pass people safely. I had to run/walk.

I reached the apex, at mile 24 to greetings from the volunteers managing the final aid station. The volunteers wear themed fancy dress each year and offer cups of tea, served in china cups, together with party foods including sandwiches, crisps and cakes. Much as I would have loved a warm cup of tea, I declined, as I was so cold. I thought that it was safer to continue and finish the course rather than stand around in the rain with a warm drink. I took a slice of cake and continued.

The descent down to Llanberis was treacherous. The course is on a mixture of grass and technical sections. The grass was very wet and had become a mud bath in parts. Trail shoes would have been beneficial to navigate this final section. Many runners were losing their footing and falling, some rolling and sustaining injuries. Marshals were advising runners to slow their pace. I made the decision to walk most of this section, accepting that this was going to be my slowest marathon ever!

I walked past an injured runner, who had fallen on the final stretch, damaging his knee. He had completed the race many times before in more favourable conditions. Today, he was determined to finish, even if the last mile was a slow walk.

Further down, injured runners were being attended to by medics. Understandably, they wanted to carry on, at this stage in the race. Injured runners were given foil blankets and advised to walk, the remainder of the route.

I chatted briefly with another injured runner, as I neared the end of the technical section. He had slipped on the final technical section and was struggling to weight bare through his ankle. His take was that he was finishing, if he had to walk across the finish line.

The last 0.2 miles is on tarmac. Despite the continuous heavy rain and cold conditions, I was greeted by the many supporters who had gathered in Llanberis to cheer the runners. As I crossed the finish line, a volunteer handed me a foil blanket. I was very cold, at this stage but pleased to have finished the race safely, in the conditions.

Runners are given a slate coaster and a water bottle, containing tap water. Refreshments are served in a local community hut. The cup of tea and digestive biscuits were so welcome.

Despite the adverse weather conditions, this was an amazing experience. I would like to run this marathon again, other runners, volunteers and supporters were so friendly and encouraging everyone to complete the course.

There would be no surprise given the challenging conditions that the course had its highest number of DNFs ever. Many Marathon Eryri veterans said it was the toughest Marathon Eryri they had ever run, but they will be back in 2026. I’d quite like to join them.

The race was won by Michael Kallenberg of Swansea/RAF Athletics in 02:33:56. The first female finisher was Ceri Merwood of CDF Runners in 02:58:44.

Striders results: