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Ultra Trail Snowdonia by UTMB 100m - My first race DNF
- adventureruncoachi
- May 20
- 5 min read
Well the dreaded 'Did not finish' was going to happen at some point, so why not on one of the toughest 100 mile races in the world?
Ultra Trail Snowdonia by UTMB is a 163km and 9,500m+ mountain race that attracts some of the best ultra athletes in the world. But more importantly, the race explores some of the best mountain running that Eryri has to offer.
The course goes over most of the mountain ranges in the northern half of the National Park, some of them more than once to create what can only be described as a mountain runner's dream and quite possibly, a road runner's worst nightmare.
If the route doesn't have you scrambling up or down some rocky boulder field, you are probably navigating a waist deep bog or hopping through the tussocks and heather off piste in the rugged North Wales landscape. Bliss!
Changeable weather was forecast throughout the race and nerves were high. There are so many variables to consider with a race of this distance, and the weather just adds another layer to that.
We were treated to a dry but windy start in Llanberis and as soon as the gun went, the nerves were gone and I was holding myself back from getting carried away.
I took a steady start up Yr Wyddfa and as we descended the Pyg track to Pen y Pass, I found myself in a group with Dan Lawson.
Shit.
I've gone out too fast.
I shouldn't be here.
But I had stuck to my plan, it felt like an easy pace. Dan thankfully made a reassuring comment that he was starting nice and easy and had no intention of going out fast. Phew! Maybe I should be here?
After a sustained climb onto the Glyderau and a fun technical descent into the Ogwen valley chatting to fellow runners, the biting wind had me reaching for my jacket and gloves.
A quick water refill by Llyn Ogwen and it was time for a steep scramble onto Pen Yr Ole Wen and onwards to the rest of the Carneddau mountain range.
The race route is phenomenal! Less than 30km in and you've covered 3,000m of climbing and 3 mountain ranges in Eryri.
As I left the main ridge line of the Carneddau at Foel Grach (around 40km in) the race had stretched out to a point where I was on my own.
4 wild horses had to round up an inquisitive foal that attempted to say hi to me multiple times.
The pathless, wild beauty of the Carneddau had me in full Lord of the Rings nerd mode in my head. I was in Rohan on some side quest for the Hobbits, but with more electrolytes and less pipe weed. 2nd breakfast sounded good though.
As I approached Capel Curig, the night descended and the head torch went on as I started the ascent of Moel Siabod. As the mist rolled in on the summit at 50km, I started down the Daear Ddu ridge where I managed to twist my knee in the boulder field.
It was a totally avoidable situation. I became so frustrated with how slowly I had to go to navigate the ridge in the dark that I started moving poorly in an attempt to get down quicker. That's when accidents happen.
Once off the technical ground, I was able to run again with only a little discomfort. I made it to Dolwyddelan at 60km for the first allowed meeting with my elite aid station crew a little frustrated that I had fallen behind schedule.
Thankfully, Bethan had the beloved pringles and good vibes ready and waiting. She got me back out of the door feeling ready to go again.
I carried on through the night over Y Ro Wen and down into Blaenau Ffestiniog at 75km.
Another quick pit stop with Bethan for additional warm layers and more pringles and I was back out into the night to hit up the Moelwynion.
The knee was getting progressively worse, my pace was slowing and the lack of sleep was starting to impact my decision making.
I was cold but instead of stopping to put additional layers on in a sheltered spot, I decided to do it on an exposed steep scrambly section half way up Moelwyn Mawr.
As I descended from the summit, I got my first little taste of race hallucinations! Seeing creepy faces in rock formations doesn't sound that nice of an experience but honestly, it was hilarious and actually went a long way to cheering me up and forgetting about the throbbing pain coming from my knee.
By the time I summited Cnicht, the sun had risen with a beautiful pink sky, but even the stunning landscape couldn't cheer me up. I was basically having to walk anything remotely technical.
This section seemed to go on FOREVER.
The multiple waist deep bogs that I needed to navigate made me progressively more pissed off as my now insanely painful knee meant that I couldn't jump them. I had to accept I was going to be getting very wet.
By the time I got down to Llyn Gwynant, I had the majority of my race kit on. A mixture of getting wet in the marshes of the dead, the now pissing rain and the moving slowly meant that I was creating no body heat.
By the time I reached Moel y Dyniewyd at around 100km, I was just hobbling along. No more running.
Reaching Beddgelert at 114km + 6,600m, I threw the towel in. Despite Bethan and Nicola's best efforts to get me moving again, I knew continuing on for another 50km of steep rocky mountain terrain would be a death march that could put me out of action for the long term.
I had no desire to complete the race for the sake of completing it. I wanted to put together a solid performance and manage the challenges of a race of this distance well.
My immediate not particularly profound reflections are -
Doing hard things voluntarily is good. It's infinitely more rewarding and life affirming than type 1 easy dopamine hits.
I'm grateful that with commitment to training, my body can carry me through these immense landscapes.
Training reflections -
My training block through the winter was a great foundation for me to excel at the 100km & 100 mile distances. It contained a lot of specific, easy mountain running volume to maintain and build a big aerobic base while not neglecting working on thresholds, muscular endurance and general durability.
The loss of Tenerife Bluetrail 110km as the stepping stone to the 100 mile distance meant that the final 8 weeks leading into UTS lacked the specificity we would have liked.
Getting to run for Wales at the 50km distance meant that we couldn't get a different 100km effort in before UTS, but I wouldn't change that for anything. What an honour to represent Cymru.
It's time to regroup, consolidate the learning and start planning the next adventure. Wiser. Fitter. Stronger.
Strava link: https://strava.app.link/TwU0dZxZh3b
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