A huge well done to our Lead EC&I Engineer Mark Eldridge for completing the Snowdonia Marathon in 6 hours 51 minutes to raise money for Awyr Las – the North Wales NHS Charity!
You can support Mark and our chosen charity Awyr Las here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/tenet-bluesky
Mark Eldridge – Marathon Eryri (Snowdon) 25.10.2025 Run Report
Being no stranger to running over the years I’ve often wondered whether to take on a marathon but have never made the commitment until now.
So, with the Tenet 20 years celebrations in mind and fundraising efforts for one of our chosen charities, Awyr Las – the North Wales NHS Charity, I decided to take the plunge.
Whilst confident that I could do it, I was never under any illusion as to the scale of the challenge. The standard marathon distance is only 26.2 miles so no problem, except that the Eryri marathon course has a few small hills in it which, when taken into account makes the flat equivalent distance 29.3 miles!
The course profile looks like an electrocardiograph so I set my training to hill work and focused on stamina and not speed. I targeted the 6 hour range with potential for improvement on the day if the going was good.
The big day came and arriving in Llanberis in the predawn cold, rain and general ming the weather forecast for the day was bleak. (spell check says no f in bleak)
After coffee and kit checks I was ready to go!
The official start was 10:30 and the first two miles or so to Nant Peris were on relatively flat roads which was great for the warmup before the first big climb of the day upto Pen y Pass at 360m.
Five miles in, the rain had set in good style by now and the brisk tail wind was forcing it right up into certain (non Welsh) places. Grim! The next section was the long but exhilarating offroad descent into Cwm Gwynant before rejoining the tarmac to the half way mark at Beddgelert, 13 miles and on schedule! No stopping here though and straight into the tough 2 mile, Rhydd Ddu climb. I could feel the legs by now but still needed to push onto mile 18 and the aid station at the Snowdon Ranger Hostel. This was a cut off point in the race and I was chuffed to be on time, arriving at 1500hrs.
Eighteen miles done, four and a half hours of running! This is the point where the distance begins to take its toll, energy stores are depleted and it can feel like you are running on empty! If you stop for too long it’s hard to get going again so quick snack and away.
Head wind and driving rain, the weather was relentless!
My next target was to break the 20+ mile mark and although a psychological milestone there would still be 6 to go. Waunfawr at mile 22 is the start of the final, most brutal climb up to the old stone quarries at Bwlch y Groes, the highest point on the course at 376m followed by the fast but treacherous downhill and offroad section to the finish line in Llanberis.
It was fantastic to hear the cheers from supporters as the finish line approached.
I finished at 17:26 after 6 hours and 51 minutes of running!
Official time 06:51:49
Not bad for an old timer, first marathon, M Vet 65 !
A massive thanks to all of the well-wishers, supporters and donors for the charity!
Big Thanks – Diolch yn Fawr!
Mark
