Contestants must make the five miles up the Llanberis Path to the summit (1,085 metres or 3,560 feet above sea level) and return down.

The race was first held in 1976 when Ken Jones from Llanberis put forward the idea to the village's Carnival Committee.

In 2010, nearly 500 runners competed, with the nations represented including Scotland, Italy and Kenya.

Radio Cymru broadcasts live from the event, and S4C produces a television highlights programme showing profiles on individual racers.

[1] In 2001, the race was part of the World Mountain Running Association Grand Prix.