Event: Man Vs Mountain 2023

Date: 2 September 2023

Paul Allum will be taking part in the Man vs Mountain in September to raise funds for Jessica’s Helping Hand. The charity was set up in memory of his niece Jessica and we are raising funds to support families battling childhood cancer.

Man Vs Mountain is an epic welsh mountain adventure race starting at sea level in the stunning Caernarfon Castle. The track twists and turns for 22 miles up to the summit of Snowdon in the United Kingdom and down the other side into Dinorwic Quarry.   Next comes a series of punishing obstacles such as a 25m river swim, jump into a disused quarry lake, and then abseil down the side of a sheer rock face. It finishes with the infamous Vertical Kilometre for you to tackle before you can cross the finish line victorious.

The average length of time to complete the 22mile race is 5 and a half hours. We will reach an ascent 5055ft.

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You can read a review of the event below from RadSeason.com

“The start line is overshadowed by the fairy-tale like opulence of Snowdon’s Caernarfon Castle, expect to take a few moments to admire your surroundings before it’s time to take off!

Everyone is cheery at the beginning, and there’s a lighthearted, breezy mood. All runners are in this harrowing race together, so it’s great when everyone gets on well at the start.  The first mile is very cheery because it is dead flat and there’s time to acknowledge where you are and admire the scenery. Intro over, it’s time to get serious. Many people start the incline, popping in their earphones and beginning to seriously power up the steep 13 mile stretch up towards Snowdon’s mountain ranges.Checkpoints emerge at various spots on the way up so you can grab a refreshment however, it’s best to keep on trudging for fear of seizing up. Eventually there is a bit of a downhill stretch, relief sets in, only to realize you have to go up again as you make your way to the steepest part to reach the summit by lunchtime. 

The terrain is slippery and steep, but when you see the summit photographer, all troubles melt away for a picture. Finally it’s time for food and water, then get ready for the downhill sprint. The downhill trail is busy, but it’s a great opportunity to get up some speed and get ahead of the pack. Beware though, you may get injured if you go too fast! After getting down the other side, it’s time for the road run to Llanberis, then an uphill vertical kilometer climb through the slate mines in Llanberis and trail run back to the town center. Once you are back in town, it’s time for the fun part of the race and you can get ready for a swim! You can see the finish line from here, some describe it as a mental test, but there’s so much more to do! 

The Rat Race has a dive board jump into a natural cavern lake, an abseil then a slide into the lakes and some swimming. Wearing a mandatory life jacket can hamper the swim, but the top of the slide will be the best view of the whole entire race. Sprint to the finish after the cold swim but there’s one final obstacle you must be able to handle. A rope climb is drunkenly managed and so entertaining for others to watch as you get photographed at the finish and receive the well deserved medal.

Sounds easy, right?