Saracens Head, Beddgelert, Caernarfon

The Saracen’s Head was the first pub that was both open and directly on the Snowdonia Marathon route.  I knew it was coming up just after 12 miles and so while the other runners all veered left toward the water table set up by the race volunteers, I moved to the right and dashed off the course and into the welcoming arms of the pub.

The assembled drinkers (the place was packed at noon:30) had a nice chuckle and one of them asked if I was dropping out.  “Nope, just fancied a pint,” I said as I pulled out my beer money.  “I’ll have that one, please,” I pointed to a Robinson’s something or other (my glasses were coated with rain and sweat and were fogging up pretty badly).  I stood and chatted with the friendly bunch and tipped them off to look for the CNN coverage of the 30 Pack Marathon if they thought this was odd.  “Am I the first marathoner in today?” I asked, earnestly.  “Ever,” came the reply from both bartenders and the owner who had just returned with a camera.

I cleaned up the spectacles and finished my beer while making fun of the fools we saw running by in the rain.  Then, making my excuses and bidding fare well, I left to rejoin them.