MOUNTAIN RACING AT SLATEMAN
For Alex Cox, his third Slateman outing in glorious conditions was meant to be his best yet. Fate, however, had other ideas. Here he recounts his day of triumph over adversity in the Welsh mountains…
So here I am, stood at the top of the Dinorwig quarry, having (just about) beaten the infamous ‘Zig Zags’, and once again I’m overwhelmed with the beauty of Snowdonia. The surrounding mountains are covered in grey slate that shimmers in the sunlight while the waters of Llyn Padarn sparkle beneath me. Looking back down the mountain, I see a procession of athletes, all in the middle of their own personal challenge.
It always amazes me how hard I find the assent up the mountain, but when my legs start to burn I only have to remember that these loose slate paths have been trodden numerous times before by the incredible men who once worked the mines.
But then this year has proved the hardest yet for me, and I’ve been forced to walk up to this point. My legs are really paying the price now, but I know I have to crack on and complete the task ahead.
A SMACK IN THE LEGS
The home of Slateman is the small village of Llanberris, which is nestled at the foot of Wales’ highest mountain, Snowdon. Tim Lloyd, director of Always Aim High Events ensures the event is familyfriendly, which is why there’s plenty to see and do in the village over race weekend. The ruins of Dolbadarn Castle watch over Llanberris and also provide a nice feature on the run course. [If you want to visit the summit of Snowdon and don’t fancy walking then the mountain railway will take you up the 7.6km climb by steam-powered locomotive.]
The weekend starts on the Saturday with a tough sprint race, which features a closed-road bike course that takes you up and back down the Pen-y-Pass followed by a run through the Coed Dinorwig forest. For those who don’t fancy a swim, a duathlon of a 2.4km run followed by the same bike and run section as the sprint athletes has recently been added.
Sunday sees the start of the classic event with a 1km swim in Llyn Padarn: temperatures can range from a spine-tingling 9ºC to a record 13ºC, as seen at this year’s event. Once completed, athletes then have a 51km bike ride that immediately starts on the climb up the Pen-y-Pass descending down to Capel Curig, followed by a scenic ride through the Welsh valleys on the return to Llanberris. The final 11km trail run starts with a jog to the base of the mountain that lulls you into a false sense of security and then smacks you squarely in the legs with a climb up the old slate mine.
EVERYTHING TO PLAY FOR
It’s Saturday morning, and as I pack the car with my race kit my mind is firmly focused on the race. As we, my wife and daughter, drive up to North Wales, Blair Davies, my coach, gives me a call to see how I’m feeling about my first race of the season. My reply is short, but I tell him that I’m basically feeling good.
Having competed at Slateman for the last two years it’s a race that now holds no surprises for me. Pre-season has been going well and despite a busy life juggling work, a wife and a 5-year-old budding dancer and triathlete, I’ve been able to hit the numbers.
“Just remember to stick to the race plan and all will be well,” says Blair. Said ‘plan’ involves: Getting on the feet of the elite men from the start and then as I filter back to my normal position, to keep swimming hard and use the bodies as much as I can to pull me along. The bike is all about power. Blair has been crunching all my numbers and provided a comprehensive power plan that ensures I have plenty left in the tank for the run but that also smashes my previous year’s bike splits. While not comparable in conditions – 2016 was torrential rain and 2017 it was blowing a gale – my times were perfectly matched, so this year we have everything to play for.
The run plan is simple in comparison – run hard to the base of the Zig Zags, jog up the mountain, recovery jog at the top to bring the heart rate back down and then press on and have fun running the trails. What could go wrong?!
As we turn off the A55 and start the final drive towards Llanberris I catch sight of the mountains and can’t help but get a tingle inside! The excitement builds as we drive down to registration and I grin as memories from previous years come flooding back.
Registration is the usual slick affair – head to the visitor’s centre and look up your race number, pop over to the bank of volunteers who ask for your name and number and after checking your ID hand you your all-important race pack, which contains your race tattoos, timing chip, race number and other goodies. It’s then that I realise I’ve forgotten to bring my number belt, and so take an unplanned trip to the expo. And so begins a sequence of unexpected events…
13°C? NO WAY!
As the 6am alarm rings I lie there running though the race in my head, breaking down each section into small chunks so I can process it one more time. I head to transition, place my bike on the rack and begin to lay out my kit. Bike racked, shoes ready and covered in the customary talcum powder, and I’m ready to race.
I take a quick look around and am reminded of what a great event Slateman is – it’s just so inclusive. You see full carbon tri bikes, classic road bikes with shifters on the frame and even a handful of mountain bikes from those who just want to come out and have some fun in the Welsh hills.
They count us into the water and I take a few moments to get used to the cold. “There’s no way this is 13ºC!” I shout over to race organiser Tim. He smiles and over the microphone calmly replies: “It was measured this morning. Crack on and get ready.”
As I move to the front of the pack the countdown starts. Three, two, one, and we’re off. Time to execute the first part of the race plan – find feet and stick to them. As we take the final buoy I’m feeling good in a big pack, flying along, and coming out of the water I have the leading lady on my right. I hold back so she can get a clear exit photo and then run to get my bike.
As I exit T1 and start my climb up the pass, I’m feeling good. The plan is coming together so it’s time to get some power down for the first climb. But as I stand out of the saddle I feel the most excruciating pain in my groin and come to a swift halt. ‘This can’t be happening,’ I think to myself, as I breathe deeply to block out the pain. I get back on the bike and go again, this time making it halfway up the pass before the pain becomes unbearable. What do I do? How will I complete the race?
TEARS OF PAIN
As I ponder, I hear a familiar voice from behind: “Keep going Alex, you can do this!” [ BBC Breakfast presenter] Louise Minchin, who I met and chatted to in transition pre-race, shouts. I raise my seat to help isolate my groin and carry on. By the time I get to the top of the pass my quads are burning and tears from the pain run down the visor of my helmet. ‘That’s the hard part over with,’ I naively think to myself, as I gaze back down the
“‘This can’t be happening,’ I think to myself, as I breathe deeply to block out the pain. What do I do? How do I complete the race?”
pass and proceed to lower the saddle and fight on.
Racing down through Capel Curig you can’t help but to appreciate the beauty of the area. Slate-covered mountains to the left, valleys glistening with crystal-clear lakes on the right, it’s like the cover of a National Geographic magazine and we’re so fortunate to race through it. Plus, the views do a great job of helping you forget you have 10km of climbing still left to do!
Despite the confidence-boosting vista, I arrive into T2 feeling defeated and I’m not sure how/if I can carry on. The amended position on the bike has loaded up my quads, which are now burning. I struggle to get my trail shoes on and try to jog towards the mountain. As I take a few strides I feel the pain again and know this won’t be a fast or pretty run. I’m forced to walk, and after the 2km to get the Zig Zags I’m ready to throw in the towel. But a brilliant marshal convinces me to give it a try, so I reluctantly join the steady stream of athletes walking up the mountain.
The slate is loose underfoot and the gradients are unforgiving, but step-by-step we help carry each other along and somehow get to the top. That’s it then, no going back now. As I push forward, I take in the beauty of the area again and look out over the remains of the mining operation that time has forgotten. Before I know it I’m somehow in the forest. The surroundings have once again taken my mind off the pain and helped me through the mountain section.
DISAPPOINTED BUT ELATED
As you come thought the forest you start to glimpss the lake below and hear the sounds of the event village. ‘I can do this,’ I think to myself, as I carefully place one foot in front of the other, not wanting to risk a fall or add further injury.
Plodding on I race to the final marshals. ‘You’re almost there, keep going!’ they shout. As I reach the final straight, I see my wife and daughter standing in the crowd. My daughter runs over to me and after asking if I’m okay, shouts “Run with me daddy”. Seeing her little face gives me an immediate boost and we cross the line hand in hand and smiling.
I’m filled with mixed emotions. I’m disappointed that the race didn’t go to plan but elated that I finished and didn’t give in. Upon refection, I know there’s nothing I could’ve done differently to affect this year’s outcome, and I’m already planning to come back in 2019.
If you’re new to the sport of triathlon or even a seasoned pro, the Slateman triathlon should feature on your race calendar. If you don’t think you’re up to the Classic race then the Sprint will give you a decent challenge – and with the closed roads it’s the perfect introduction to the climbs in a safe environment.
Now it’s time for me to rest and recover from my injury and prepare for Blenheim, Windsor and Cardiff Bay, before I return to North Wales for Sandman and Snowman.