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Thread: Ultra Trail Snowdonia

  1. #1
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    Ultra Trail Snowdonia

    Anyone else got this new race on their radar for May 2018...?

    It's organised by Michael Jones who I understand is a very good mountain ultra runner, won the Lakeland 100 and placed highly in lots of other stuff in the UK and abroad.

    There's a 50 and 100 mile race. The 100 mile race includes approx 39000ft of ascent and no less than three visits to the summit of Snowdon, along with Moel Siabod, Carnedd Llewelyn, Glyder Fawr, Y Garn, Elidr Fawr, Moel Eilio, Moel Hebog, Cnicht, Lliwedd... 50 hour time limit. The 50 mile race is the 2nd half of the 100 mile race.

    Looks an absolute beast. After a good year long-distance wise in 2017, I've taken the plunge and signed myself up for the 100 mile race.

    In terms of stats it's basically 2 x 10 Peaks long course. Although the advantage of an early evening start means at least having a full bank of sleep to start with, instead of around 3 hours on the 10 Peaks, but obviously means running through the night (two nights actually in my case, should I make it that far).

    There's no entry list as such that can be viewed at the moment, but I understand the entries will be capped at around 300 across both races. Whether they'll get that many entries due to the difficulty, and being a new race, I'm not sure, but I believe a good number have already entered.
    Last edited by Travs; 25-11-2017 at 09:13 AM.

  2. #2
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    To pricey for me £1 a mile is my limit, should make for a good day out and I will bear the route in mind when I am stuck for ideas of where to spend a weekend .
    However good luck with it

    All being well and if I can cope with the logistics I actually have a pretty long jaunt planed for next May, more of which next year if I think it is a goer.
    Last edited by JohnK; 26-11-2017 at 08:23 PM.
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    Full sounds a very tough undertaking, but then who wants to just do a fun run?

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by Derby Tup View Post
    Full sounds a very tough undertaking, but then who wants to just do a fun run?
    Me please Miss!
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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Derby Tup View Post
    Full sounds a very tough undertaking, but then who wants to just do a fun run?
    Says the course is fully marked so for me the lack of the need to navigate would take away a lot of the fun.
    The older I get the Faster I was

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by JohnK View Post
    Says the course is fully marked so for me the lack of the need to navigate would take away a lot of the fun.
    I saw this, but certainly won't be taking it for granted. I'm no RO, but I fail to see how they can guarantee that a fully marked course over 100 miles, won't be tampered with over the course of 48 hours on a busy Snowdonia weekend...

    I'd also prefer unmarked, but the physical challenge still remains quite considerable... (bit of an understatement!)

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Travs View Post
    I saw this, but certainly won't be taking it for granted. I'm no RO, but I fail to see how they can guarantee that a fully marked course over 100 miles, won't be tampered with over the course of 48 hours on a busy Snowdonia weekend...

    I'd also prefer unmarked, but the physical challenge still remains quite considerable... (bit of an understatement!)
    Wise move never take anything for granted in any race of any distance.
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  8. #8
    Hello all!

    Just came on to the forum to talk about the race, but seems word is already out there about it so I'll just answer the above questions. Please feel free to look around on my site too or visit my Facebook page by searching UTSRACE.co.uk

    Price: I'll admit not the cheapest race in the UK, but justified now I've added up all my costs. I'll probably still only break even in the first year as I have to buy a LOT of equipment to make this happen (course markers for example: £1500+).

    Entries: I've taken 90 in nearly 5 weeks which is great and gives me some confidence that this will sell out as I'll be capping entries at 100/200 between the distances.

    Course marking: Fully appreciate people preferring to race on an unmarked course, it'd certainly make my life a lot easier! But this isn't a nav race. I want it to be fair for everyone and do my best to eliminate local knowledge advantages etc. Think that's best left for Fellrunning IMO and there are other ultra races in the UK that are unmarked if that's your thing (Paddy Buckley Round too?). I hope to attract an international field in future and they're used to racing on marked courses. Also helps me in terms of competitor safety and event liability.

    Markers: Quite right, I cannot guarantee markers won't get tampered with, so all competitors must carry map and compass as a backup, as well as possess the ability to use them, should they need to, due to the nature of some of the terrain the course covers. The markers are there to act as reassurance you're on the right track, more details on the matter are on the website!

    It's basically the event I always wished for in the UK and with that amount of climbing is not to be taken lightly. I'm always open to feedback so if you've got any questions please feel free to email me directly: [email protected]

    Hope some of you can make it!

    Mike

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by APEXRUNNING.CO View Post
    Hello all!

    Just came on to the forum to talk about the race, but seems word is already out there about it so I'll just answer the above questions. Please feel free to look around on my site too or visit my Facebook page by searching UTSRACE.co.uk

    Price: I'll admit not the cheapest race in the UK, but justified now I've added up all my costs. I'll probably still only break even in the first year as I have to buy a LOT of equipment to make this happen (course markers for example: £1500+).

    Entries: I've taken 90 in nearly 5 weeks which is great and gives me some confidence that this will sell out as I'll be capping entries at 100/200 between the distances.

    Course marking: Fully appreciate people preferring to race on an unmarked course, it'd certainly make my life a lot easier! But this isn't a nav race. I want it to be fair for everyone and do my best to eliminate local knowledge advantages etc. Think that's best left for Fellrunning IMO and there are other ultra races in the UK that are unmarked if that's your thing (Paddy Buckley Round too?). I hope to attract an international field in future and they're used to racing on marked courses. Also helps me in terms of competitor safety and event liability.


    Markers: Quite right, I cannot guarantee markers won't get tampered with, so all competitors must carry map and compass as a backup, as well as possess the ability to use them, should they need to, due to the nature of some of the terrain the course covers. The markers are there to act as reassurance you're on the right track, more details on the matter are on the website!

    It's basically the event I always wished for in the UK and with that amount of climbing is not to be taken lightly. I'm always open to feedback so if you've got any questions please feel free to email me directly: [email protected]

    Hope some of you can make it!

    Mike
    Hi Mike I note you want to make the race fair for all competitors, however looking at your website I see you are allowing outside support this in my opinion can make for a very uneven playing field, by virtue of the fact that some competitors will be far more able to put together a slick support crew than others (eg a support crew using a camper van with full facilities compared to another support crew working with a flask out of the boot of a car, then of course there will be competitors that are unable to put a support crew together, obviously the competitor with the better support crew has an advantage over the others.

    much fairer if all competitors have the same level of support.

    Obviously this is my opinion and I am not looking to offend, but you said you welcome feed back.

    However I wish you well with your venture
    Last edited by JohnK; 07-12-2017 at 10:35 PM.
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  10. #10
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    I'm entered in the 100 race. My view for this particular race is that support is not necessarily likely to increase a competitors chances. There are already something like 14 aid stations (what these aid stations may or may not entail I guess is tbc), but that averages out to some kind of support around about every 7 miles, so I can't really see the need/benefit of any extra support. Apart from the availability of a mobile dropbag, rather than just at the halfway point for those of us unsupported.

    My personal view is that those people taking on this race without the "mountain sense" to carry plentiful supplies, along with the comprehensive kit list, are probably going to struggle to complete regardless of whether they have additional support.

    In fact I've had two separate offers for additional support which I have declined, but said I'd more than welcome them to meet me out on the course with the odd chocolate bar and words of encouragement, but anything else is not needed.

    However I understand the point you are making, and for a race such as the Spine Race, which obviously has huge distances between checkpoints/official support, I've always been of the opinion that allowing support was a little unfair, and am glad to see that the support option seems to have been removed.

    I am by no means the most experienced ultra runner out there, and all of the above is solely my opinion (although hopefully based on some common sense.... after all I've been deemed competent and experienced enough to do this race...!)

    Peter Eccleston
    Coventry Godiva Harriers

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