{"id":17738,"date":"2022-10-04T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-03T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=17738"},"modified":"2022-10-06T13:27:11","modified_gmt":"2022-10-06T11:27:11","slug":"how-was-it-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/2022\/10\/04\/how-was-it-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"How was it for you?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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IMAGES THAT FOTO\/GARY FLACK <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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THIS IS HARDCORE<\/h2>\n\n

Fearsome yet friendly. Harsh but hospitable. Excruciating but exhilarating. The Brutal is the Jekyll and Hyde of British triathlon. And it finally returned with a bang in 2022. We were there to face the Snowdon showdown\u2026 <\/em><\/p>\n\n

WORDS <\/strong>MATT BAIRD<\/p>\n\n

\n\n

After over eight hours of swim, bike and running, the moment I\u2019ve been dreading, dreaming of and sweating over for months has finally arrived. I strain every sinew to push forward as my walking speed hovers at 3km\/hr. The inclines are comically steep and the weatherbeaten path is as cracked as my mental resolve. But Snowdon is finally within my grasp and I can practically touch the summit. Job done, surely? <\/p>\n\n

An athlete coming down from the summit runs in my direction. \u201cNearly there mate, just another hour to the top,\u201d he smiles. I\u2019ve been looking at the wrong peak. This is hardcore. This is the Brutal, and I\u2019m \u2018only\u2019 doing the Half version. Time then to have a Snickers and a stern word with myself. <\/p>\n\n

The Brutal was born in 2012 and has since become a regular and rightly acclaimed presence on the long- and ultra-distance calendars. Half, Full and Double Brutals are on offer over the weekend (the Triple will return in 2023), with the Double seeing athletes face 465 of triathlon\u2019s hilliest kilometres over two days of endurance sport escapades. Mama. <\/p>\n\n

Based on statistics (elevation gain, average water and air temperatures, etc) and athlete testimony, I once voted the Brutal Half the second toughest middledistance race in the world on these pages, admittedly from the comfort of my pastry-encrusted chair. The defunct TriathlonX was the winner, meaning that the Brutal Half should now take the top spot. But would it be a case of lies, damn lies and statistics? Or does the Brutal Half warrant its spot at the summit of the toughest-tri top-trumps pile? It\u2019s time to put my money where my mouth is and find out\u2026 <\/p>\n\n

EXTRAORDINARY EXPLOITS <\/h5>\n\n

\u201cDaddy, you\u2019re never going to finish this are you?\u201d is my 10-year-old son\u2019s parting (and possibly rhetorical) question as I depart for Snowdonia ahead of the race. And he has a point. My training has been as dishevelled as a night on the town with Russell Brand in 2006, with trying to recreate Snowdonia on my usual stomping ground of Somerset a fruitless task. I do the hilliest half-marathon run possible two weeks before and it ends up having 250m of elevation gain. And the Brutal? 1,350m on the 24km run, which is even more than the 90km bike leg which boasts an ascent of the epic Pen-y-Pass. Like that time I entered a hot dog-eating contest in Las Vegas, I\u2019ve possibly bitten off more than I can chew here. <\/p>\n\n

Boasting whistles, waterproofs, maps and much more, the kit list for the race is longer than my monthly shop (yet is sadly missing pork scratchings) and shows the demands placed on athletes by the Snowdon ascent\/descent at the end of the run leg. It\u2019s also emblematic of the care shown by the organisers, namely ultra triathletes James Page and Claire Smith, who live and breathe endurance sport. <\/p>\n\n

Smith\u2019s extraordinary exploits \u2013 being the first UK athlete to complete a continuous Double Deca Iron (yes, 20 irons in a row), quintuple irons in a gym, Double Ultra off-road irons \u2013 have gained almost as much coverage as her bonkers races on these pages. \u201cI organise races that allow people to push their limits,\u201d Smith once told me. \u201cI love seeing athletes coming down from Snowdon absolutely amazed that they\u2019ve finished. That\u2019s what I get the buzz from.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n

CRAMP TEST <\/h5>\n\n

For pandemic reasons, there hasn\u2019t been a Brutal since 2019 and, among the trepidation, I sense the widespread relief and joy of this edition going ahead. After a well observed silence for the Queen, we enter the clean, clear and mild 18\u00b0C lake waters. It\u2019s my first multisport event of the year and \u2013 with the mass of bobbing heads and excitement of the countdown \u2013 I\u2019m reminded how much I relish racing. <\/p>\n\n

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Competitors in all distances start in a single mass wave <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

The horn blares and the Brutal is back, with Half, Full and Double athletes starting in a single mass wave. I know the Llyn Padarn waters from the Slateman and, with the surrounding peaks of Snowdonia being graced by morning sunlight, brooding clouds and a spot of rain (this is North Wales, after all), there are few more scenic openers in tri. <\/p>\n\n

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After two laps and 42mins of uneventful meandering, I try to launch out of the water to impress the photographer. My left leg instantly cramps-up and I\u2019m forced to lie down and crawl to the shore. Good practise for Snowdon, perhaps. I\u2019m initially impressed with my sighting and directional skills, until my GPS tells me I\u2019ve swum some 500m more than the 1.9km course. <\/p>\n\n

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Matt\u2019s leg cramps up as he exits the water, having just unintentionally swum an extra 500m <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

The first of today\u2019s four transitions is conducted at snail\u2019s pace, the Brutal\u2019s mostly \u2018completing over competing\u2019 ethos meaning I sport my laced bike shoes for maximum comfort. I\u2019ve spent the last couple of seasons getting my bike leg up to mediocrity \u2013 i.e. neglecting the swim and run, entering sportives and buying some flashy wheels \u2013 and I know what follows will be a stern test of any second discipline gains I\u2019ve made. <\/p>\n\n

The two-lap bike leg begins serenely, a cycle path jaunt alongside Llyn Padarn before we take a sharp left south to Waunfawr, surely a character from the new Lord of the Rings series. \u201cYou alright?\u201d I enquire of a racer sat on the side of the road after 10km. \u201cYep, just stopping for a sandwich,\u201d comes her instant reply. This is my kind of race. And, despite the hardcore feats and chiselled calves on display, that inclusive and relaxed atmosphere continues throughout. Every pass on the bike and run (and I\u2019m passed by plenty of people) comes with a \u2018Nearly there\u2019 or \u2018Good luck\u2019. I think I even heard athletes exchanging \u2018textbook sighting\u2019 praise in the middle the swim leg\u2026 <\/p>\n\n

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Matt cuts a high-vis figure on one of the bike leg\u2019s rare flat sections <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
PAIN AND GAIN <\/h5>\n\n

The first climb of the day comes near Ceunant and it\u2019s a beauty, the views extending to the Menai Strait and the isle of Anglesey, reminding us of how far we\u2019ve ventured into Snowdonia and the varied beauty of North Wales. The required hi-vis jacket might be playing havoc with my furiously-honed aerodynamic profile, but I coast serenely along the quiet A4085 towards Salem and newsreaders\u2019 nightmare Ffridd Uchaf, the biggest danger being my jaw repeatedly hitting the top tube from the high country scenery.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

The peak of Snowdon mostly lurks out of view and above the clouds, yet occasionally it\u2019ll pop out to say \u2018I\u2019ll be seeing you later, sunshine, so don\u2019t get cocky\u2019. On cue, in true Brutal fashion, there\u2019s a sting in the tail at the latter half of the first bike lap, namely the ascent to Pen-y-Pass. The climb begins at Llyn Gwynant and doesn\u2019t relent for 8km, a slow-burning and sapping sojourn that, while never out-of-the-saddle steep, slows my momentum to single-figure speeds. The payoff is the thrilling, brakepad squealing descent to Llanberis alongside drystone walls and the savage industry of the former Dinorwic slate quarry. It\u2019s breathless stuff, and lap two follows in much the same vein.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe road takes a skyward turn towards Fachwen, and I\u2019m soon muttering something similar under my breath as my pace drops to a half-iron shuffle\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

After four hours on the bike, my lakeside run loop begins serenely with a flat southern stint on a lakeside path before, once again, the difficulty ramps up in the second half. The road takes a skyward turn towards Fachwen, and I\u2019m soon muttering something similar under my breath as my pace drops to a half-iron shuffle. The route then joins the Last of the Mohicans-esque trails used at the finale of the Slateman, before I return for my fourth transition\/sit down of the day and prepare mentally for the Snowdon ascent. <\/p>\n\n

FEET IN THE CLOUDS <\/h5>\n\n

I\u2019m given a check by a medic before leaving transition, who informs me that the mountain is especially busy, with most of the 500,000 annual visitors seemingly on the mountain today. \u201cNever let being scared stop you from doing things,\u201d is organiser Claire Smith\u2019s mantra when it comes to out-sized challenges and it\u2019s something that I repeat once Wales\u2019 highest mountain looms into view.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

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The final run requires a medical check before athletes can start the ascent up Snowdon <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

The climbing is relentless, the terrain increasingly jagged and my speed soon drops to 3km\/hr pace. I begin to regret not joining my dad on the diesel train to Clogwyn Station, 75% of the way to the top of Snowdon, but that sit down, a nutty chocolate bar and an appreciation of the spectacular vistas soon banishes the mid-run blues. <\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

Whether it\u2019s the light mountaintop air or elation at reaching the summit of the cloud covered Snowdon, I decide to give myself a sub-10hr finishing target and now have an hour to <\/strong>descend 6km. Easy, eh? <\/strong>Nope, <\/strong>given the <\/strong>boulder-strewn terrain, sheer amount of hikers and my legs in tatters. By the end, I\u2019m auditioning for Monty Python\u2019s Ministry of Funny Walks, with my limbs unable to bend, my back the shape of a boomerang, and my toes scrunched into my shoes. I\u2019m just glad I recently had my bi-monthly toenail cut.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

\"\"
Having mastered Wales\u2019 highest peak, competitors must then navigate 6km of boulder-strewn descent <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n

I finish having burnt 6,000 calories and clocked an overall time of 9:52hrs, some 3:30hrs more than my usual middle-distance time \u2013 proof that the Brutal\u2019s rugged rep is deserved. My watch tells me I\u2019ve 2% of energy left so I use this energy wisely to buy a sausage sandwich, the best pint in history and a Chinese takeaway complete with a binbag full of prawn crackers. <\/p>\n\n

I return to pick up my soiled tri kit before it\u2019s classed as a biohazard and see a chap about to start the Full Brutal run, on which he expects to reach Snowdon about 10pm. Despite my weary legs and protesting perineum, I\u2019m actually jealous and it makes me want to return next year for the Full. A seed has been planted. It looks like I\u2019m going to need a head torch with a monstrous battery life in September 2023. <\/p>\n\n

<\/div>
\n

QUICK FACTS <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

DISTANCES <\/strong>
1.9KM SWIM | 94KM BIKE | 24KM RUN <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ELEVATION <\/strong>2,602M <\/p>\n\n\n\n

MEN\u2019S WINNER (HALF) <\/strong>LARS SCHAUERHAMMER 6:16:35 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

WOMEN\u2019S WINNER (HALF) <\/strong>ELLIE HORROCKS 7:29:08 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

MATT\u2019S TIME <\/strong>9:52HRS <\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

\n\n
\n
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\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

MATT<\/strong> BAIRD<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Matt is 220\u2019s <\/em>former features editor and is now the editor of Cycling Plus. With the Brutal completed, his second aim for 2022 is to watch every single Nicolas Cage movie. A man has to have a dream, after all\u2026 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THIS IS HARDCORE Fearsome yet friendly. Harsh but hospitable. Excruciating but exhilarating. The Brutal is the Jekyll and Hyde of British triathlon. And it finally returned with a bang in 2022. We were there to face the Snowdon showdown\u2026 WORDS MATT BAIRD After over eight hours of swim, bike and running, the moment I\u2019ve been […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":18183,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","purple_page_number":"88","purple_custom_meta_purple_page_number":"88","purple_seq_number":"1","purple_custom_meta_purple_seq_number":"1","purple_source_article":"article_88-1.xml","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_article":"article_88-1.xml","purple_source_issue":"November-2022","purple_custom_meta_purple_source_issue":"November-2022","purple_external_id":"November-2022-88-1","purple_custom_meta_purple_external_id":"November-2022-88-1","purple_issue_code":"|0000083695||","purple_custom_meta_purple_issue_code":"|0000083695||","purple_android_product":"com.im.220mag.409","purple_custom_meta_purple_android_product":"com.im.220mag.409","purple_ios_product":"com.im.220mag.409","purple_custom_meta_purple_ios_product":"com.im.220mag.409","purple_web_product":"","purple_custom_meta_purple_web_product":"","purple_publication_id":"69718c89-6ce1-4a00-8e50-78dba8209b85","purple_migrated":"","kt_blocks_editor_width":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2022-10-06T10:25:12Z","apple_news_article-theme":"","apple_news_api_id":"7350f599-bf53-4704-a738-3a014cd4d564","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2022-10-06T11:27:20Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAg==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/Ac1D1mb9TRwSnODoBTNTVZA","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":true,"apple_news_is_preview":true,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_article_theme":"","apple_news_sections":"[]"},"categories":[24],"tags":[63],"apple_news_notices":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2022\/10\/Digi_0018_85_HWIFY.png","author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"10","apple_news_title":""},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2022\/10\/Digi_0018_85_HWIFY.png",500,500,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2022\/10\/Digi_0018_85_HWIFY-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2022\/10\/Digi_0018_85_HWIFY-300x300.png",300,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2022\/10\/Digi_0018_85_HWIFY.png",500,500,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2022\/10\/Digi_0018_85_HWIFY.png",500,500,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2022\/10\/Digi_0018_85_HWIFY.png",500,500,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2022\/10\/Digi_0018_85_HWIFY.png",500,500,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"THIS IS HARDCORE Fearsome yet friendly. Harsh but hospitable. Excruciating but exhilarating. The Brutal is the Jekyll and Hyde of British triathlon. And it finally returned with a bang in 2022. We were there to face the Snowdon showdown\u2026 WORDS MATT BAIRD After over eight hours of swim, bike and running, the moment I\u2019ve been…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17738"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17738"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17738\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18287,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17738\/revisions\/18287"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}