Category: AL
Distance: 28km / 17.5miles
Ascent: 2,600m / 8,500ft
"Peris Horseshoe" Race Details by Fell Running Routes.
Following on from Ian's great write-up of Snowdonia's Peris Horseshoe (Peris the thought), I thought I would add my tuppence worth. Part of the attraction to these long races is investigating the “sneaky routes”. Snowdonia is too far away so any investigation I could do would be by looking at maps, trolling the forums and blogs and chatting to people with “the knowledge” (Geoff a veteran with a whole one Peris Horseshoe to his name). The navigation would become more important in the second half as up to Pen Y Pas the field would still be close enough to play follow the leader. The research" proved to be mixed result with some successes and failures. The biggest failure, trying to cut the corner to the Snowdon Ranger path probably counteracted all the successes!
Peris Horseshoe Mountain Fell Race Snowdonia September Pennine Fell Runners
Less than optimum route choice!
I opted for the early start (1/2 hr before the main field, which is a great idea). The race started as it means to carry on - "brutally"! From Llanberis a 2700 ft climb through the disused quarry then continue up to Elidir Fawr. Scramble over a load of rocks then some contouring and another climb up to Foel goch. A nice descent than another climb up Y garn. Another long descent before a real slog up to Glyder Fawr.
Peris Horseshoe Mountain Fell Race Snowdonia September Pennine Fell Runners
We gained height very quickly right from the start - looking back down to the start field.
Peris Horseshoe Mountain Fell Race Snowdonia September Pennine Fell Runners
Looking back down into the quarry we have just been through.
It is by the lake before starting this climb that the leaders started to overtake me. After that turn South-East to try and find a good line off Glyder Fawr down to Pen Y Pass. I took my time in the glorious sunshine in the first half and got to Pen Y Pass (which is the end of the Half Paris) in 2:30 where the "mars bar" man commented that I was looking very fresh.
The hardest bit was then then the run up the gradual climb of the miners track to the turn off to Lliwedd, I could not be seen walking by the tourist so heart and lungs screaming I kept running up the slight incline! It was to some considerable relief that I cut off the main path and headed up the trail towards Y Lliwedd. I loved the “easyish” scrambling over Lliwedd and the east ridge and because of my early start I had loads of people around me. I would never have found/done the east ridge on my own as it was pretty claggy over the Lliwedd ridge and Snowdon.
Peris Horseshoe Mountain Fell Race Snowdonia September Pennine Fell Runners
Looking back at Lliwedd from the "East Ridge"
Once at the top of the East Ridge we are once again reunited with the masses. A lot of whom have gone up on the train and get in the way even more than the walkers. Follow the train tracks down to the standing stone that marks the top of the Range path and then straight down to the col before Moel Cynghorion. The dire warnings about the climb up (and decent from) did not materialize. I actually done too good a job of “keeping something back” so I found it was a nice steady climb up.
Peris Horseshoe Mountain Fell Race Snowdonia September Pennine Fell Runners
About to leave the "Ranger Path" to start the last climb up Moel Cynghorion.
Peris Horseshoe Mountain Fell Race Snowdonia September Pennine Fell Runners
The summit of Moel Cynghorion is not the most exciting place in the world (but at least it is downhill from here)
Shouted out my number, over the style and then "that" decent where I got over-taken by a couple of people who gained a couple of hundred meters on me. They were off to my right and looked to have taken a better line as it looked less steep, something to lookout for next time! After the checkpoint I set my target to reel them in (more than likely pointless as I was probably half an hour behind them because of the early start!) I caught them and another woman with a dog who I did recognise because I nearly tripped over the bloody thing a number of times climbing Elidir Fawr. Crossed the railway line then join the road. As I was bombing down the hill a guy out side the building (pub?) on the bend having a fag shouts out the other runners went that way pointing to a gate behind the building. I could have kissed him I do not want to imagine how I would have felt if I went wrong a few hundred metres from the end of a 17 mile race. A bit of a windy track through the wood to arrive at a very low key finish line to meet a fellow Pennine Fell Runner who was hanging around to welcome us home.
I could have pushed it a bit more in the first half, with better lines and pacing I reckon I could easily have taken 15 minutes off my 5:31 time, but still pretty happy with it as I love Snowdonia and it was by far my biggest Mountain Races. The Peris Horseshoe is a fantastic race and I am at a loss to know why it is not more popular. I think sheep and lake land classics come to mind! In 2013 the Peris Horseshoe is a British Champship race so it will be considerably busier hopefully I will be there again!
Peris Horseshoe Mountain Fell Race Snowdonia September Pennine Fell Runners
Very early - climbing Elidir-Fawr Pic from "Picasawab Alastair Tye's Gallery"
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