GOG Triathlon runners packed well at Snowdonia Marathon with mixed emotions for two experienced veteran athletes

By Don Hale and Simon Roxburgh

The Snowdonia Marathon has twice been voted the UK’s best, and this time it saw another strong entry from GOG Triathlon members with some impressive finishing times despite the challenging weather conditions.

And for two veteran runners, it also included some mixed emotions!

Super vet Ann d’Alburquerque probably shed tears of joy after completed this gruelling race and then finding out that she was the 1st F70 age cat winner in 5.19.44.

After the race Ann admitted it was a tough but enjoyable race, saying: “After initial rain we had a lovely long dry spell, but the winds and rain returned for the last four miles of mostly muddy trail.”

And for long-distance athlete Llinos Davies, it brought back many feelings and memories of her late father, Gwynfor Meredith Evans, who previously competed in this same event several times. His loss more than 30 years ago, eventually gave Llinos the impetus, and sheer determination to follow in his footsteps one day.

That day finally came last Saturday, as she bravely completed the course in 5.19.09! Llinos explained: “I have a photo of my lovely dad completing the Eryri Marathon, circa 1982/87. He was due to do his 7th Eryri Marathon on 29th Oct 1988, but sadly he had a massive heart attack just five days before and died.

“After being too scared to enter this marathon for decades, I finally took the plunge and completed it in his memory on Saturday (I intended doing this on 24th Oct 2020 as I was 60 in that year).

“So many memories of following him around, and with not so many runners then. We could follow him up Llanberis Pass in the car. The race finished by running through the village and across the road by the museum as shown in the photograph.

“Also got the coaster he was given in 1987, his last coaster for this event, and my first. Cheers to my amazing fellow competitors, lovely supporters, marshals, and everyone manning the food and drink stations, and handing out much needed sustenance.”

GOG Triathlon results at the Snowdonia Marathon

The 1st male runner home for the club was Steve Allport 3:30:37 and 1st GOG female home Michelle Farrell in 4:26:27.

Anne d’Alburquerque won her F70 age cat in an impressive time of 5:19:44. Other equally impressive GOG times included: Neil Vicars-Harris 3:52:09, who took a massive seven minutes of his personal best time, Gareth Bowyer 3:58:19, Gareth Jones 4:44:39, Ben Shacklady 4:57:44, Llinos Davies 5:19:09, Bridget Harpwood 5:30:25, John Farrell and Sarah Marriott 6:27:24.

*This is the link to the provisional results at the Snowdonia Marathon Eryri 2022:
https://www.tdleventservices.co.uk/event-results/events?event=3838

Stunning show from Simon Cole in the USA

Further afield GOG trailblazer Simon Cole set a new course record at the Merrymeeting Parkrun, in Maine USA clocking 16:43 for the 5km route.