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A Journey Across North Wales

Ian Grace / 13.10.2008

The adventure begins with the long drive from London up to the race start location of Pendyffryn Hall Country Club, just out side of Conwy on the North coast of Wales (The northern most point of Snowdonia National Park) making it to the race briefing and registration just before the planned 9pm. Registration completed in a swift manner and then straight into the bar for a necessary pint before the briefing. A few familiar faces in the assembled racers from the Devon coast to coast race and time to catch up.

The Endurancelife team outlined the proceedings for the first day,which was to commence with a race start at 7am. The Day one proceedings were to be Run / Kayak / Bike and Run (well actually up and down Snowdon) so it was time to pack the transition bag, pitch the tent and get some sleep before the early breakfast and race start.

Race Day 1 (45 miles/1895m ascent)

An excellent spread was laid on by the team for breakfast at the ungodly hour of 5:45 which meant an early start, but considering the transition bag needed to be handed over by the 6:30am deadline in order to collect the race route and maps an early start would be required for the next 3 days. (The earlier you got the transition bag in the earlier you got the race route and map.) A bit of race planning and a few team photos taken and then all of a sudden it was time for the 7am race start.

We set off with a 3 mile run from the Country Club, down to the coast and across the busy A55 coast road before heading to the Beacons Marina at the end of the Conway estuary. Being a slow runner, I was dropping back through the field as the faster people came past before arriving at the transition.

Deciding not to put on any warm kit for the early paddle I had a quick transition (changing to some old trainers only) I was first out on the calm waters of the Conway Estuary. Heading upstream for the 6.3 mile paddle, I managed to keep ahead of the teams of two for about 10mins, and then gradually as the distance passed, and I got colder and colder, the double kayaks came cruising past, but I was still keeping out in front of the solo kayakers until about an hour into the paddle.

I was starting to get cold (wish I had put some more kit on) and dropped a couple of places by the time the paddle was over. The kayak ended with a climb up a muddy bank and a carry to the transition area where the bikes were waiting. By this time I was quite cold and shivering and got changed in to my cycling gear. The sun helped me warm up a bit and I was glad to be off the water.

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