23rd May 2023 - UTS 50

Beautiful beyond belief, Savage beyond reason

So on 12th May I "raced" UTS 50. 

This turned out to be 56km, 13:26 of absolute torture.  Spent all day just ahead of the cutoffs in the most pain I've ever had.

At 08:00 1200 of us set off up the Llanberis path to the summit of Snowden of the first time.  It was probably the hottest day of the year so far.  The initial climb of 1000m to the figure stone just short of the top took 1hr20.  I found this tough but manageable on the gravel path.  Parts of it were even runnable.  Then the fun started.

The descent down the Pygg Trail was hard.  the day was heating up and the path was rocky and involved a lot of scrambling.  My right knee started playing up and quads and hamstrings were cramping so early in the day!  Eventually we passed the top of the Llanberis pass (Pen-y-pass) and made our way down into the valley to CP1.  I was only 35mins ahead of cutoff which was worrying.  I stupidly only filled two bottles and had half a banana (only food left) and headed out.

Second climb was after a nice few miles of flattish trail running.  This takes you up the west ridge of Snowden on the Watkins path and eventually along the Rhyd Ddu ridge.  On a normal walk this would be beautiful and really spectacular.  On a 26degC day with my HR at 170 and power marching while running out of water it was hell.  I was struggling to eat.  Legs were gone and I must admit this pushed me past my limit.  Channelled my inner Goggins and barely made it to the top.  16miles in and >2000m climbed.  I was spent.

the descent down the Ranger path to CP2 at 20miles was hell.  Right knee and quads were a mess so I couldn't run.  I filled bottles in a stream and made CP2 with 7 mins to spare.  They were rationing water and hardly any food left but again I headed straight out.

The next section is only 5miles over Mynydd Mawr.  This smaller mountain is still 700m!!  I called Mel on the way up and she told me the tracker was saying I would be 3mins outside cutoff at CP3.  I pushed on and the descent was awful.  Again knee and quads were smashed.  I did however pull a bit of time back and arrived 15mins to spare.  Same routine.  Grabbed food and water and bolted out.

The last section of 9miles was evil.  One big climb, Moel Eilo at 700m or so was brutal, then a few smaller climbs which finished me.  The last 4-5miles into Llanberis were hard.  I did manage to jog the last bit and I've never been so pleased to see the finish line.

So hardest race I've ever done.  Absolutely destroyed me.  400 DNF's says it all.  I was thinking about the 100km next year but after this I'll give it a pass.

Would I go back and do it again?  Not while I have a hole in my arse!!