UTS by UTMB 50km - race Blog

Mount Snowdon.

I think it was something like January 2024 when I decided I wanted to go down the UTMB route, with the end goal of getting to UTMB in Chamonix...eventually. Being a UK resident that meant I have 2 options to get my coveted running stones. Step 1 was completed by running in the Arc of Attrition back in January 2025, so now it was time to take on the Ultra Tour of Snowdonia (UTS) 50km (actually it's 57.5km).

There's no such thing as an easy UTMB race, but pretty unanimously the Ultra Tour of Snowdonia (UTS) is viewed as just about as hard as it gets in the UK, with UTMB themselves stating it's the most like for like event to the world finals in Chamonix. So here I am, Saturday 17th May 2025, 8.30am and in wave 1. Here we go........

Thankfully the pace was steady in the pack from the off, everyone knows it's going to be a tough day on the trails so save for the very few at the front, we're all taking it sensibly. After the inevitable traffic jam on the very steep road leading to the climb proper, thing start to take shape. It's very busy but with plenty of space as we all adopt the sensible run/walk procedure as the days sun already starts bringing on the sweats and we dodge those sensible early riser tourists out for a great days hiking. Not a cloud in the sky and boy were we going to feel that later on!

After a brief chat with Steven from 'Film my Run' (youtube) on my way up the Llanberis path we're soon in a rhythm and whilst a significant effort, topping Snowdon (almost, as we actually cut off a little before the summit) isn't too challenging on fresh legs and full of enthusiasm. Not for long.

Near the top of Snowdon on the Llanberis Path

The descent down the Pyg track is horrendous. Steep, very technical and as I found out, not at all suited to the carbon plated Hoka Tecton X3's on my feet. I chose these more for comfort than anything else as they nurse a foot condition I have better than anything else, but after turning my ankle about 3 times down the Pyg track I wasn't convinced I'd made the right choice. Still, I got down relatively incident free and off round the valley (still descending) to aid station 1. For all the reported issues in the 2024 event, I thought the aid stations were good in 2025. Plenty of food, drink and excellent volunteers. The medical section though, already had some folk in it.... This race is no joke.

With my feet seriously feeling the Pyg track descent by way of fatigue and a nice blister (genuinely my first ever running blister for context) on the big toe, I set off in a small group weaving around a relatively flat and mostly runnable section in partial shade before we start climb 2. Back up Snowdon, this time to the summit, and via the difficult Watkins path.

We'd been warned about taking plenty of water as the sun was at its peak and the long c18km section was the hardest of the day. half way up the Watkins path I'd downed 2 bottles so decided to chance it with a small waterfall to refill. No filter but it tasted damn good so what the heck. The Watkins path flattened out for a short while before the final section which ranges from very steep steps to physical climbing and endless false summits. It just keeps going relentlessly. It was hot, the pace was slow and everyone was feeling it.

near the top of Snowdon on the second ascent

Finally we summit Snowdon and all presumptions of an inevitable DNF fade away. Crowds of tourists make the initial section hard going but soon we're off down the Rangers path in relative calm. The Rangers path, in keeping with the day so far is still pretty technical but it's definitely more runnable than the Pyg track so progress is good. The feeling in the quads and feet though is getting worse as cumulative impact forces and fatigue only increase, The sight of aid station number 2 is very welcome.

Descending Snowdon via the Ranger's Path

I take my time here indulging in Coke, watermelon and a few other small snacks. My eating so far has been decent, and my leg energy feels great for it, but with the heat belting down, it is becoming less appealing to stuff things down my neck. Standard.

Short dog stroke on the way out of the aid station later and I'm off again. This time with another couple of similar paced runners. After about 1km we start the next climb and decide whilst the early slope is runnable, there's little to be gained in doing so. Better to preserve some energy for the proper climb on Mynydd Mowr. 'Only' 700 metres ish in elevation but with a severe kicker along the way. Possibly the steepest non scrambling section yet....... and it's a bastard. Several runners laid on the side of the trail just trying to manage cramp, a couple of DNF's at this point too and it's easy to see why. Any euphoria of the hardest half being done is long gone. The climbs might be smaller, but it's hard to class them as noticeably any easier.

half way up Mynnydd Mowr

After the brutal section comes a relatively nice and runnable ridge line to the top before the killer descent. This time not technical at all really, just steep grass. Fortunately now stability wasn't a huge concern the Hoka Tecton x3's we're doing their job well. Excellent grip and maintaining some levels of comfort all things considered. This section passes pretty much without much to comment on until we briefly get lost in the woods but manage to keep being lost until we simply hit the right path again. This seemed a better option than back tracking uphill. All in all this is still probably the easiest section of the race at just c8km in length. So whilst Mynydd Mawr is definitely a toughie, the sight of the final aid station (3) at Betws Garmon comes in fair time.

This time I need more than a few minutes. Whilst my stomach and legs have felt more or less issue free (other than fatigue), at each aid station I have felt nausea for a few mins and here I need probably about 10-15 to get things under control. Add probably another 5-10 mins of chatting and eating even more watermelon, whilst drinking coke and it's time to get moving. All day I've caught up with the same 2 female runners at each aid station only for them to leave before me and make use of their impressive climbing legs to move in to the distance. Nevertheless, we've built up a temporary friendship on the route and exchange well wishes for the final section, all feeling pretty knackered and a wee bit unimpressed by the thought of having to climb another mountain.

As is typical of the course, a short flat section out of the aid station (with another dog to stroke) leads to the stat of the final climb - Moel Eilio. Starting steep, the climb then heads through a tree felled and leg snagging woodland which draws my blood a good few times before spitting us out on moorland like trails that are very runnable. So we do. And it's a nice feeling so late in the race.

This time my group feels all about like for like ability wise and we remain in single file for a good while till we turn right........ bugger.

Moel Eilio gets serious. This final climb feels as steep as anything else today and looks to rise up indefinitely in to the sky. It halts my forward progress significantly and not for the first time today I'm reduced to a very slow grind up to the top, only this time with several short rests along the way. The going is tough but at least it's a non technical grassy terrain and although exceptionally steep, it's consistent all the way up from here. I'm knackered, everything hurts but I've trained for this so "stop fucking about and get busy moving" I think to myself.

At the top of Moel Eilio, yet another wonderful volunteer (there were so many) chirps "all down hill from here, except for one small hill". Actually no, it turns out to be 2 small hills and one pretty fucking big one in the middle. Runners all around are groaning at the sight of the wall in front of us except one Dutch runner who recced the route last week and said smiling "yeah, this is a shit one".

Up we go and all things considered it passes without major issue and drops us on to yet another painfully steep descent just to make sure our quads haven't forgotten they haven't finished suffering just yet. But the descent is short and we finally hit a pretty well manicured path that takes us most of the way back. A short incline to join us back on to the Llanberis path and by now myself and a runner called Nick who I've been running with for the last 5km+ have found a nice running rhythm at quite a decent pace to take up back to Llanberis (thanks mate if you ever read this, neither of us wanted to run but we kept each other going). UTMB did decide to route us around the back of Padarn park before entering the final straight where I gave it my customary flat out sprint finish. Afterall, the finish was lined with awesome spectators and I feel seeing someone sprint across the finish might either inspire a young kid or just bring a smile to someone's face at least. Then I threw up. Twice.

the sprint finish

So how was it? Well, considering this wasn't a goal race of mine so my training hadn't been for mountain running, I was pretty chuffed. The conditions were challenging on an undoubtedly savage course and I got round i good shape and injury free. My plan for the day had been achieved in its entirety. It was a test to see if I had worked enough on my weaknesses to stop cramps ruining my race, and also to see how my problematic IT bands would cope. Happily I had no significant cramping and absolutely zero IT band issues - a first for both on an Ultra for me.

My finishing time was a steady 11.5 hours (with over 1 hours of that sat in aid stations - a perk of not being on a time goal) but with an event specific training plan I 100% feel a sub 10 hours is well within my legs. Near the end I said to Nick my running friend at that stage "no way am I coming back to do this again". 3 days later I'm sat here thinking I just might be back in 2026!

"Beauty beyond belief, savage beyond reason" - that's the best description you could give.

For all the criticism UTMB gets during events, for me it was spot on. Good enough aid stations, great volunteers, great atmosphere and that feeling of being part of something special. no regrets at all.

Now, let's see if I can get to Chamonix with these 4 running stones.......

Wonderful