Race Date: Sunday 3rd March 2019
Bi-lingual Race Report by: Stuart Jones
This nigh-perfect event is sponsored by Jones Crisps (probably the best crisp manufacturer in the whole of north Wales). The goodie bag contains a sharing bag of the crisps. The medal has the sponsor’s name, as does the very nice t-shirt. And this year there was an additional Jones-related challenge and prize on offer – for the fastest Jones in the race.
Gwynedd, on the mainland side of the Menai Bridge (the start line!), has the greatest density of Joneses in Britain, at 17%, so there was bound to be plenty of hot competition. The results (available here) show 78 members of the extended Jones family finished the Half (from 1,700 runners) , 50 Joneses finished the 10k (set off an hour after the Half) and a further 24 took part in the kids’ Anglesey Dragon Dash (out of just over 200 Juniors).
Two days after Saint David’s Day the poor weather was hardly a surprise, and was much like last year when ‘The Beast’ had just passed by. This year Storm Freya had a go at marshals and runners but could not dent what is a really good atmosphere for supporting running.
Obviously after travelling 134 miles to get to Menai Bridge you’d expect to find two other Steel City Striders on the start line! Philippa Moorhead and Emma Nicholson were ready and waiting for a great run, too (and both reached fantastic new shiny Personal Best times).
In the warm-up Ben was feeling very fresh and benefitting from two successive big mileage weeks and a minor taper. I was feeling old and achy after two big mileage weeks and naff all taper. He was set on holding back in the first two miles so as not to blow up. I was set to ease in properly so my knees would not object too much. Pippa was looking to enjoy herself and Emma wasn’t giving much clue as to her aim.
The route is a beaut, much appreciated by the Barnsley Harrier I chatted to at mile 2, and by the Totley runner up near the lead. We were far enough away from the mountains to have a good view of their majesty, and near enough to the sea to smell the salt. The hill at half way, such as it is, is a nice stretch with a little surprise extra.
Ben was told by a marshal that he was in about fifteenth place at that point. I had no idea but was having that feeling we all get when running is just hard. We convince ourselves we must be running poorly, and then find the opposite to be true. I started to work it out at 6 miles where the basically out-and-back route does an uphill / downhill loop for a couple of miles. Last year the leaders passed just as the road split; not so this year. They were nowhere to be seen. Was I faster or were they all slower?
At about nine miles I was asked what pace we were at. I wear a watch for Strava but never check it anymore during the races. A quick flick of buttons showed we were running at 7 minute 12 second mile pace. Multiplied by 13.1 out loud went, ‘thirteen sevens is 91. 12 seconds is a fifth, so add two point six minutes and one for the point one and, Shit! I’m on for PB!’ I apologised to the youthful Bangor Uni. student for swearing. She asked if we were going fast, then? ‘One thirty four is fast for me’, I replied.
The next two miles passed in conversation and panting with a Nottingham runner as we compared thoughts on the hill at the Holymoorside 10k. I left him behind, much to my surprise, on the short upward slope in the last mile.
Ben gave me a shout-out as I approached the car park finish. I turned the corner, saw the finish line clock and tried to raise my arms in triumph as I recognised a new course and all-time PB! So much for being uncomfortable, ungainly, over-full and running badly!
Ben bought me a coffee after I’d got dressed huddled against the Fire Station wall. How had he done? Ninth! PB! And according to the live tracker, first Jones! How does one check that the prize for this is real without appearing mercenary? The local newspaper said it was true, and the bilingual commentator said the presentations would not be made for a while (in fact not until the last placed Half Marathon runner crossed the line in over 3 hours) so we made for a warm Coffee House in Menai for a while.
On return we found a swathe of age winners, etc. waiting for a box of Jones Crisps, a gift from a well-known sportswear manufacturer and a little envelope. Then it was announced that a new award would be last; ‘Fastest Jones’.
Zoe Jones was 9th female, but first Jones female. Unattached. Ben Jones, Steel city Striders, was 9th male, 5th in his age group, and first Jones. Slate trophy, bag of Jones Crisps and a cheque for £100 in the post.
Ben Jones set a new course and all-time Half Marathon PB (including his fastest ever 10 miles) of 1:17:26.
Stuart Jones set a new course and lifetime Half Marathon PB (third in a year, and including my fastest ever 10 miles) of 1:34:27.
Emma Nicholson set a lifetime PB for the Half Marathon of 1:46:22 (six minutes faster than anything she has run before).
Philippa Moorhead set a new lifetime Half Marathon PB of 2:16:48 (six whole minutes up on her previous best).
The race was won by Gwyn Owen of Eryri Harriers in 1:13:45. First female was Alison Lavender of Oswestry Olympians in 1:21:55. No Striders ran either the 10k or the Junior race.
| Pos | Name | Category | Time |
| 9 | Ben Jones | MSEN | 1:17:26 |
| 147 | Stuart Jones | M55 | 1:34:27 |
| 375 | Emma Nicholson | FSEN | 1:46:22 |
| 1138 | Philippa Moorhead | F55 | 2:16:48 |
And again, but this time in Welsh…
Ynys Mon Hanner Marathon
Sul Mawrth 3ydd 2019
Noddir y digwyddiad No berffaith gan creision Jones (mae’n debyg y gwneuthurwr crisb gorau yng Ngogledd Cymru gyfan). Y Gwobrau Mae bag yn cynnwys bag rhannu y creision. Mae y fedal y noddwr enw, fel sydd gan y crys-t neis iawn. Ac eleni roedd her ychwanegol sy’n gysylltiedig â Jones a gwobr ar gael – Jones cyflymaf yn y ras.
Gwynedd, ar ochr y tir mawr Porthaethwy (y llinell gychwyn!), mae dwysedd mwyaf o Jonesiaid ym Mhrydain, sef 17%, felly roedd yn anochel y bydd digon o gystadleuaeth poeth. Dengys y canlyniadau (ar gael yma) 78 gorffennodd yr hanner (o redwyr 1,700) aelodau o’r teulu estynedig Jones, gorffennodd Jonesiaid 50 y 10 k (gwrthgyfrif awr ar ôl yr hanner) a 24 pellach yn cymryd rhan yn y plant Ynys Môn Dash Ddraig (allan o ychydig dros 200 Iau).
Dau ddiwrnod ar ôl Dydd Gwyl Dewi y tywydd gwael yn prin yn syndod, ac roedd llawer fel y llynedd, pan ‘Y Bwystfil’ wedi mynd heibio i gan. Eleni mae Storm Freya wedi rhoi cynnig ar Marsialiaid a rhedwyr ond nid allai dolcio beth yw awyrgylch wirioneddol dda am gefnogi rhedeg.
Yn amlwg ar ôl teithio 134 milltir i gyrraedd Porthaethwy byddech yn disgwyl dod o hyd i ddau arall Striders Dinas dur ar y llinell gychwyn! Philippa Moorhead ac Emma Nicholson yn barod ac yn aros ar gyfer rhediad gwych, rhy (a chyrhaeddodd ddau amser personol gorau sgleiniog newydd gwych).
Yn cynhesu oedd Ben yn teimlo’n ffres ac yn elwa o ddwy wythnos yn olynol milltiroedd mawr a thapr mân iawn. Roedd yn teimlo’n hen a gwynegu ar ôl pythefnos milltiroedd mawr ac yn naff bob tapr. Gosodwyd ar y daliad yn ôl yn y ddwy filltir gyntaf fel na fydd yn chwythu. Yr oedd yn gosod i leddfu’r yn briodol fel y byddai fy gliniau nad gwrthwynebu gormod. Roedd Pippa yn edrych i fwynhau ei hun ac nid oedd Emma yn rhoi llawer o syniad ynghylch ei nod.
Mae’r llwybr yn neilltuol yn fwy cadar, gwerthfawrogir gan yr Harrier Barnsley sgwrsio gennyf i ar filltir 2, a chan Totley ddaeth yn ail agos at y blaen. Roeddem yn ddigon pell oddi wrth y mynyddoedd i gael darlun da eu Mawrhydi, ac yn ddigon agos i y môr i arogl halen. Hill yn hanner ffordd, fel y mae, yw darn braf gyda ychydig o syndod yn ychwanegol.
Dywedwyd wrth ben gan Marsial yr oedd yn am waith bymthegfed ar y pwynt hwnnw. Nid oedd syniad, ond yn cael y teimlad hwnnw byddwn i gyd wrth redeg yn unig caled. Yr ydym yn argyhoeddi ein hunain rhaid inni fod yn rhedeg yn wael, ac wedyn yn gweld y gwrthwyneb yn wir. Dechreuais i weithio yn 6 milltir lle mae llwybr yn y bôn allan a ôl dolen tuag i fyny / i lawr am ychydig filltiroedd. Pasiodd arweinwyr y llynedd yn unig fel y rhaniad ffyrdd; Nid felly eleni. Roeddent yn unman. Yr oedd yn gyflymach neu’n arafach bob?
Ar tua naw milltir Gofynnwyd imi yn gyflymder yr oeddem ar. Wisgo oriawr ar gyfer Strava, ond peidio byth â chwilio mwyach yn ystod y rasys. Dangosodd Fflic cyflym o fotymau Roedd yn rhedeg ar 12 munud 7 ail filltir gyflym. Luosi 13.1 yn uchel aeth, ‘ tri ar ddeg o saith bob ochr yn 91. 12 eiliad yn un rhan o bump, felly ychwanegu dau bwynt chwe munud ac un ar gyfer y pwynt cyntaf a, is Shit! at her, yr wyf ar gyfer PB!’ Ymddiheurodd i Brifysgol Bangor myfyriwr ifanc ar gyfer rhegi.
Gofynnodd os oeddem yn mynd yn gyflym, yna? ‘Un tri deg pedwar yn prysur i mi,’ atebais.
Y nesaf dwy filltir heibio yn sgwrs ac dyhefod gyda rhedwr Nottingham gymharu ein meddyliau ar y Mynydd yn Holymoorside 10k. Gadewais ef tu ôl, lawer i ‘m syndod, ar lethr i fyny byr yn y filltir olaf.
Ben Rhoddodd i mi a gweiddi allan fel yr ymdriniais â gorffen y maes parcio. Trodd y gornel, gwelais y cloc llinell gorffen a ceisio codi’r fy arms yn fuddugoliaeth fel cwrs newydd a PB erioed! Cymaint am fod yn anghyfforddus, yn drwsgl, gor-llawn a rhedeg yn wael!
Roedd Ben yn prynu mi baned o goffi ar ôl oedd wedi gwisgo huddled erbyn y wal gorsaf dân. Sut wnaeth ef? Nawfed! PB! Ac yn ôl olrhain fyw, Prif Jones!
Sut un yw gwirio bod y wobr ar gyfer hyn yn wirioneddol heb mercenary ymddangos?
Dywedodd y papur newydd lleol oedd yn wir, a dywedodd y sylwebydd dwyieithog byddai peidio â gwneud y cyflwyniadau am ychydig (yn ffaith nid hyd nes oedd y rhedwr hanner Marathon mewn sefyllfa diwethaf yn croesi’r llinell mewn dros 3 awr) felly gwnaethom ar gyfer Tŷ coffi cynnes ym Menai am ychydig.
Ar ôl dychwelyd Gwelsom amrywiaeth o enillwyr oedran, aros am flwch creision Jones, rhodd gan wneuthurwr hwyrach adnabyddus a amlen fawr ac ati. Wedyn, cyhoeddwyd y byddai gwobr newydd diwethaf; ‘Cyflymaf Jones’.
Zoe Jones oedd 9fed Benyw, ond benyw Jones cyntaf. Digyswllt.
Ben Jones, Striders Dinas dur, oedd 9fed dynion, 5Ed yn ei grŵp oedran, a Jones yn gyntaf. Tlws llechi, bag o greision Jones a siec am £100 yn y post.
Mae Ben Jones yn gosod cwrs newydd a erioed hanner Marathon PB (gan gynnwys ei erioed 10 milltir gyflymaf) 1:17:26.
Mae Stuart Jones yn gosod cwrs newydd a oes hanner Marathon PB (trydydd mewn blwyddyn, gan gynnwys fy erioed 10 milltir gyflymaf) 1:34:27.
Mae Emma Nicholson yn pennu oes PB ar gyfer hanner Marathon 1:46:22 (chwe munud yn gyflymach nag unrhyw beth y mae wedi rhedeg cyn).
Gosododd Philippa Moorhead oes newydd hanner Marathon PB 2:16:48 (chwe munud cyfan hyd ar ei gorau blaenorol).
Enillwyd y ras gan Gwyn Owen o Eryri Harriers yn 1:13:45
Benywaidd cyntaf oedd Alison Lavender o Groesoswallt Olympiaid yn 1:21:55
Rhedodd oes Striders 10 k neu ras iau.