8 X Mount SNOWDON in 24hr Insane Trail Ultra | 80miles x 8,000m Elevation
Last year (2023) I took on the Snowdon24 event for the first time, feeling prepared, I’d run the route from Llanberis 10+ times in training. I knew how far each rep was, I felt confident but I didn’t have a plan. I wanted to do at least 6 reps in 24 hrs last year, liked to think I’d do 7 and hoped I’d do 8. But hoping to do 8 is very different to having a PLAN to do 8.
Last year my hope was born out of my enthusiastic naivity and I got my ass kicked by the mountain on the 5th rep and only managed to crawl up and down for 6. I’d learnt part of the lesson… but this year I was back again and I wanted more. I wanted to prove what I believe to be true. I believe we are far greater and more capable than we current allow ourselves to believe. I wanted to prove this truth to myself.
Realising that ‘hoping’ is not ‘planning’ this year I came back for the Snowdon24 event with a plan for 8 reps. A plan so detailed every 10 to 15mins I knew exactly where I needed to be along the route that brought a focus to my mind like I’ve not experience before.
I didn’t have to battle to stay awake for the whole 24hrs
I didn’t have to battle to never stop and rest or sit down at any point (only sat on toilet to do a poo twice)
I didn’t know what time it was, I just knew how long till my own ‘homemade’ check point
When I came to the end of my 7th rep at 5:55am with just over 4hrs left and the marshal’s asked me if I was stopping like the majority of the other running… I shouted "f*ck no, I’m here for 8 reps and we’ve got 4hrs left, I’m straight back out.”
Their doubt, made me doubt… but I came straight back to the plan. The plan was to start the final rep (rep 8) at 6:30am, so I was 30mins ahead of schedule. The plan said we could do it. I followed the plan.
‘Put one more big shift in Jacko’ was what I said to myself…
...but I knew I needed help.
One of the reasons I’ve fallen in love with the ultra running events is what each event teaches you about yourself which you can translate into life. The Ring O Fire 216km ultra marathon in 3 days taught me the power of support and the strength in vulnerability. That is a lesson I’ve held onto and will continue to hold on to until the day I die. That lesson meant that this plan involved having a support runner with me for each rep. I can’t thank, Angelo, Liam (2 reps), Mai, Dan and John enough for coming up the mountain with me I couldn’t have done it without you.
And then of course to the true GOAT of the mountains and the most important part of our team. Mrs J aka Catherine, aka Joicey aka Mrs Jacko who dragged me up rep 6, had two hours sleep before I rang her with tears in my eyes to ask her to join me for the final rep. After the 7th I was starting to struggle and I knew there was only one person I need to get me up that mountain one more time. Like every time, she delivered. The smile on her face when we reached the top of that mountain make me feel so alive.
These mountains are now our home and there's no other place I’d want to be with you.
The power of a plan… the power of support… combined we can do great things together.
Donate to Head for Change Charity here - https://www.justgiving.com/page/jacko...