The Trail Marathon Wales Blog

After overwhelming numbers of entries to Trail Marathon Wales, closing the race a full 8 weeks before the event and subsequently receiving high volumes of enquiries for a waiting list, an entry transfer provision has been put in place. This following system of transferring entries has been used to great effect by other races of a similar situation and have also facilitated the entries online.

The transfer window ensures that the event retains strong start numbers and allows runners who no longer wish run or are unable to participate through injury, to exchange their entry.

For the period 7th May to the 28th May (21 days) we will accept runners requests to transfer their entry. The system of transfer will be as follows:

* Entrant contacts Race Organiser and states that they wish to exchange their entry. (info@trailmarathonwales.com)
* Organiser provides contact details of person on waiting list (half or full marathon). This is on a first / next on the list basis.
* The funds transaction from here is between the initial entrant exchanging with the new entrant.
* Once funds are exchanged the initial entrant should use his / her password and log in details (which were provided via email when you entered) and change the details on the online system to the new entrant.
* After all of this has happened initial entrants must inform the Race Organiser of the changes made.

No exchanges or transfers will be accepted after the 28th of May.

Well, after a period which saw us having to route, re-route and then re-route again, we have finally agreed the full and half marathon routes for the 2012 Trail Marathon Wales.

The event is organised by runners – trail runners, so every detail of the route has been devised and planned with the interests of the runners at heart and with a view to the whole event being memorable as an exciting occasion, but most memorable for a classic trail running route.

When we sat down and looked at the possibilities for these routes the task was both exciting and daunting. Firstly, this is Forestry Commission Wales land and we had to be sympathetic to the constraints of access in getting 700 runners on the day safely round the paths and roads of this famous forest. Additionally, due to winter felling operations many parts of the forest that we wanted to visit were unavailable and some remain so. We also had a huge amount of options when it came to routes (Coed y Brenin spans about 9,500 acres), which sometimes can be a negative as opposed to a positive as the choice is vast!

Secondly, putting on a trail marathon (and half) in the purist sense (i.e getting as close to 42.2 km) has been a challenge. As we are using to CyB overflow areas and car park and have the start finish area on the top access road from the centre (close to Go Ape), we also had to make sure that paths and roads used were pretty accurate. That meant that we would find a great first few miles only to find that by the end of the route the overall distance would be 27 or 25 miles.

Though the routes have been agreed visually and verbally by the Forestry Commission, they remain ‘provisional’ until all of the permission forms have been submitted, however we all are all confident that these routes will be the final ones once the t’s have been crossed and i’s dotted.

Thirdly, Coed y Brenin is most notably a mountain biking venue, no, mecca, and one thing we could not (and did not want to) do was run on the MTB trails. So, major junctions and MTB trail crossings also had to be adhered to and there will be pinch-points on the day that will need good marshalling.

Finally, we have received a great number of first-timer entries and people relatively new to trail running, seasoned marathoners, fell runners, ultra-trail runners and international standard trail and mountain runners wanting to run the event. So, balancing an event that meets the needs of all of these groups has been a tough task. We could have routed the race at low levels, along valley floors, upside being that the elevation of the races would have bee reduced, however the big downside on this is that the amazing views and vistas of this amazing landscape would have been lost.

We could have also routed the race via some very big climbs and taken the runners over some brutal paths that, quite frankly, would have only suited the hardcore fell runner. The upside here would be that you take in those amazing vistas and make the race brutal, the downside is that you deter those looking for a challenge but not a miserable day out and have a race with 3000m / 10000ft of ascent.

As has been noted from the launch of Trail Marathon Wales, this race will be challenging (we are in the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park after all), but achievable, visiting some classic areas of Coed y Brenin, and some that people will have never visited. So, the 4500ft (approx.) and 2300ft overall gains on the full and half respectively are reasonable for this type of terrain and far less than some long distance trail events of comparative nature, and much less than your average mountain race.

GPX files have been uploaded to Map My Run for the routes. However, we are not confident that the elevation data is correct on this site having loaded and reloaded (we will sort this out), hence the reason for adding the bikehike.co.uk elevation jpeg images here. Equally we are aware that GPS units these days vary from brand to brand and from one runner to another, so please remember that all data is approximate. Also we will be adding more data in terms of aid stations and so on over the next week or two to the routes.

We also hope to do some photo and video recces over the next month too and post them up online well ahead of race day. And we will be heading out onto the routes in the next two weeks with spray cans in hand to start indicates the two routes with arrows and wording on the ground, meaning that those wishing to come up and check out some of the route can do so.

Hopefully the intro here explains the process. The Trail Marathon Wales team is a small one in this first year and we realise that not everything will be perfect in year one. Still, we wanted to get this right, we wanted to keep all parties (landowners, local farm residents, runners and the Forestry Commission) happy and most of all we wanted to produce a route that would challenge, inspire and livelong in the memory – befitting of what we hope will be the first of many Trail Marathon Wales events.

Full Marathon

Map My Run
Marathon Overview
Marathon Mapping Detail

Showing as 26.1 miles we are confident that final measurement will produce a route of a little over 26.2 miles. We were sure that as no one will be setting a PB (and indeed the time is incidental to most trail runners) a few extra yards / metres would not bother runners too much.

The race takes in classic locations in the Forest such as the Tyddyn Mawr hills, the Gain waterfalls, parts of the Volcano trail, Afon Eden, Hermon, THE trees of Coed y Brenin (the King and the Champion) near Ty’n y Groes before returning towards to Visitor Centre and taking in some of the Sarn Helen running trail, then descending to the finish for the last 2km! We have even remembered to route you past a few wood ant mounds, something which Coed y Brenin is renowned for.

Terrain
The thought process of the marathon route was that we needed to have a wide and open start for the first 3 km to enable runners to sort themselves out before we hit any singletrack. Also, much of the first half of the race is on fire roads that are generally rolling areas, with the high-point of the race reached in the first 7-8 miles. The views on these high paths (especially over to the Rhinog range) are breathtaking.

After a long descent the race then has a couple of short tarmac (on unclassified roads) sections through Hermon and onto the Volcano trail, amounting to no more than a kilometre or so. This tarmac was unavoidable in some parts of the route if we were to transit from one part of the forest to another.

The second half of the race contains a fair amount of single track paths, and two particularly sharp climbs, which though steep are not too long. This goes for much of the route, as we have tried to avoid endless climbs and offer the short-sharp alternatives. Equally there are some classic trail descents to keep you on your toes, especially the Volcano trail which is classic trail running and guaranteed to please with its lush green glades and enclosed exciting ascents and descents.

After returning alongside Afon Eden you will then have the ascent to the Visitor Centre, but we have cruelly added a final 4km loop at the end which ensures you take in the Sarn Helen sprint route and get rewarded with a final 2km that gradually descends to the finish.

Fuel stations
There will be a mixture of water and fuel stations. These will alternate, and full details on their exact locations will be issued in the coming weeks and via the online route.

Essentially, water stations will be just that. A chance to hydrate and have a drink, refill your bottle or pack if you have one. Fuel stations will have water, electrolyte drink, gels and probably chopped energy bars and bananas.

Half Marathon

Map My Run
Half Marathon Overview
Half Marathon Mapping Detail

Though shorter, the Half marathon will be equally as challenging and breathtaking.

The race takes in classic locations in the Forest such as the Gain waterfall, parts of the Volcano trail, Afon Eden, THE trees of Coed y Brenin (the King and the Champion) near Ty’n y Groes before returning towards to Visitor Centre and a final sting in the tail climb that will certainly be memorable! Similar to the full we have also included to route you past a few wood ant mounds, something which Coed y Brenin is renowned for.

Terrain
The thought process of the Half marathon route was that we needed to have a wide and open start for the first 3 km to enable runners to sort themselves out before we hit any singletrack. Again the first 6km is a steady mix of short elevation and gradual downhill.

The race then enters the Volcano trail which is classic trail running and guaranteed to please with its lush green glades and enclosed exciting ascents and descents.

After returning towards Penrhos and Ty’n y Groes, you will head along the Eden and cross the bailey bridge, to then have a very sharp climb to the lookout point and the last 1.5km to the finish.

Fuel stations
There will be a mixture of water and fuel stations. These will alternate, and full details on their exact locations will be issued in the coming weeks and via the online route.

Essentially, water stations will be just that. A chance to hydrate and have a drink, refill your bottle or pack if you have one. Fuel stations will have water, electrolyte drink, gels and probably chopped energy bars and bananas.

Appropriate PDF files and maps will be available for download on the Trail Marathon Wales webpage later this week.

Matt Ward, Organiser
Trail Marathon Wales

When we set out to put on the Trail Marathon Wales the remit was clear – a memorable event with a memorable route, in one of the most beautiful parts of Wales.

As the entries rolled in this last few months the scale of the responsibility to deliver on the second bit of that remit became clear. What we have also seen is a great number of first-timers (trail marathon that is) and people relatively new to trail running, seasoned marathoners, fell runners, ultra-trail runners and international standard trail and mountain runners, all getting involved for what should be a brilliant mix of running abilities.

When we launched we also clearly stated that the route would be announced in the early Spring. This was to enable us to liaise with the Forestry Commission (very important when you are running on their land) as to where we can and can’t go, and which paths / trails are open / closed and so on. As of today we are fully on course for that and are pretty confident that the routes will be unveiled by the end of March. (Spring officially starts on 20th March, so that is still pretty much ‘early Spring’)

Looking at the entries we also feel a sense of responsibility to cater for all of those running tribes that are detailed above. The route will be challenging (we are in the Snowdonia National Park after all and hills are pretty much unavoidable), but runnable, wide enough in the early stages to get large numbers of runners down safely, and visit areas where we can house feed stations and gain easy access for any casualties for the services.

Add to this the fact that we have been unable to visit some of the areas that we would have liked to this winter due to felling of trees and clearing of areas, putting the route together has been no mean task – especially when you add into the mix the fact that we have 9000 acres to chose from!

All of that said, we are pretty close to nailing a great route and hope that it will be worth the wait. We are very excited about some news that we have regarding the half marathon and second half of the full marathon routes, but are yet to fully sign-off with the FC.

It’s all on target, thanks for your patience…

It’s early Feb, there is ice on the ground on much of the Coed y Brenin trails and we have around four and a half months (or 133 days) until the start of Trail Marathon Wales. Let’s hope the temperatures and trail conditions will be slightly improved come June 23rd!

In year one we aim to make this one of your most enjoyable events of 2012. To help ensure that everyone has an enjoyable and safe race we have looked at the entry numbers and as an organising team, along with the Forestry Commission Wales team at Coed y Brenin, decided the following:

The Full Marathon race will be limited to 350 (plus elite invites) runners

The Half Marathon race will be limited the same number of 350 entries

As of the 10th of February the numbers are approximately 252 in the Full and 188 in the Half (I say approximately as there are some elite entries in there too). So, we have made the decision as an organising team that as of Monday the 13th of February there will be a further 100 Full and 160 Half Marathon entries remaining.

We will keep you all up to date with regards to remaining places via our Facebook and Twitter feeds.

The TMW Team

Or so someone once said.

Between now and the 2012 Trail Marathon Wales race day we will be giving away a series of fantastic prizes each month courtesy of our partners and sponsors.

In January Cader view Lodges kindly donated a free 2 bed lodge at Cader View Lodges for one night (June 23rd) for all who had registered for the event before the 31st of January !

To decipher the winner of our January competition we used www.random.org. As of 31st of Jan we had 409 entries. The randomiser chose number 140. So the winner of a free 2 bed lodge at Cader View Lodges for one night (June 23rd) and the 140th entrant to Trail Marathon Wales was… Andy Towne from Macclesfield.

Look out for some great prizes courtesy of Salomon, Suunto, the Really Welsh Company, marathoni and others between now and June…

Trail Marathon Wales – Media release

Entries open for Wales’ brand new trail marathon

Next June will see a great new running event coming to Wales. Trail Marathon Wales aims to be a ‘challenging and stunning’ full (and half) distance trail marathon set in the world-renowned MTB heartland that is Coed y Brenin. The centre is set in the Snowdonia National Park, one of most famous mountain biking areas in the UK – if not the world – and with its superb facilities and visitor friendly accessibility the centre will play perfect host to this exciting new event.

Taking place on the 23rd of June 2012, Trail Marathon Wales will have full (26.2 mile / 42.1 km) and half (13.1 mile / 21 km) marathon race routes in the stunning trails and tracks of this world-renowned Coed y Brenin forest. The event aims to be Wales’ first true trail marathon taking in fully marked trail single track, forest roads and paths in some of the most stunning forestry and heathland in the UK.

Event organiser Matt Ward states:

“We are really excited to be launching this event. Trail running is an ever growing sport, and to have an event in this location will be very special. Having a full and half distance marathon will mean that runners of all standards can come and enjoy the event, and we are sure that the location and environment will ensure that Trail Marathon Wales will be a huge success and a race to remember for all of those taking part.

“Our plans are in full swing with regard to the route, the event village and the general event logistics. We have some exciting plans for the day, and over the coming months we will be releasing details on event partners, attractions and some unique and sustainable features of the race. We are totally committed to using as much local resource as possible, in terms of suppliers and manpower, in addition to this it is an absolute goal of ours to make to event sustainable, have a low environmental impact and be around for years to come to benefit the local economy and communities”.

The organisers are also working closely with Forestry Commission Wales at Coed y Brenin to deliver what will be a race route to remember. The exact course details will be released in the early Spring of 2012. A number of elite athletes have been provisionally recruited to take part in the race, ensuring that the event has a highly competitive element – whilst hopefully attracting good club runners and first time trail marathoners alike.

Online entries for the event opened yesterday (1st November) and have attracted over 40 participants in the first 24 hours.