Ultra Trail Snowdonia 50k, UTMB (UTS 50 2023) - The Most Beautiful 50K In The World?

[@runningcafe1]

For a more detailed, written account of the race, check out my blog post here: www.runningcafe.online/post/ultratrailsnowdonia50 All of the gear I use for running, and to make my videos, is linked in the description. 👟 🎥

[@DevRunner]

Stunning views! Thanks for taking us along for the journey!

[@runningcafe1]

Thanks Dev, they were stunning views for sure!

[@tommyrunner]

nice video mate. Thank You for review

[@leerunsultras]

Looked epic that mate, and a qeek after the 100 attempt. Bonkers

[@runningcafe1]

It was an awesome race mate, you'd love this one if you haven't yet done it. Hope trainings going well

[@jamstaa69]

Keep watching these videos, kicking myself at my mistakes that lead me to DNF as a time out at cp3.. lots of “if only had..” goes through my head. Booked in for next year! Where I’m gonna get it done! Hope I can run it as cleanly as you did. Well done, if I haven’t said it before 👏🏼🤞🏼

[@runningcafe1]

Sorry to hear you got timed out, I know how it feels to DNF a race and want to put it right. It's a tough race and it was such a hot day in the 2023 edition. You'll smash it next year, have a great race when it rolls around 🙏

[@jamstaa69]

@@runningcafe1 thanks, yeah was a very hot day.. now I know more about the course and terrain elevation I know my training was not enough.. so fingers crossed next year.. I've since done another Snowdon ultra and finished feeling quite strong, even with a slight IT band ache showing up, but it was about 1 mountain summit less in elevation. But more confident for UTS now I've completed something similar.. just a pain we have to wait a whole year between tries 🤣 🤞👍

[@wildgingerruns]

Nice film! Love the fly through and gradient profile at the beginning too. My last ultra was a DNF too so it was great to complete this one, well done on your race! Claire

[@runningcafe1]

Hey Claire, thanks for the kind words. Congratulations to you for smashing it, saw you at the start and you looked ready to go! I look forward to watching your vid on the race. Thanks!

[@anthonywilliams8087]

Well done. It's a beautiful course. I may enter next year. My brother did the UTS 100km on the same day as you. Looked quite tough for everyone with the heat.

[@runningcafe1]

Thanks. I'd highly recommend it, absolutely stunning course. Congrats to your brother. That is one hell of a race to take part in

[@shaunnicholson5389]

Well done mate. Amazing to back up the Thames Path effort with this the following weekend. Incredible.

[@runningcafe1]

Cheers Shaun. Yeah, I was still pretty tired from the Thames Path to be honest but the views and insane terrain kept me awake and alert! Loved it

[@racer125mx]

So so lucky with the weather with have a video of snowdon on our channel, another great video. 👏🔥

[@runningcafe1]

The weather was exceptional, we were lucky for sure

[@mark2rob]

Great video Craig. Some races are for getting good times but with spectacular scenery like this and amazing weather you were right not to push too hard and have a more enjoyable day. Well done.

[@runningcafe1]

Cheers Mark. I agree, it's better to take your time sometimes especially when the weather is particularly brutal!

[@gingerwhiskyman7032]

Great footage, capturing the day brilliantly! I must have been just in front of you on descent down Pyg Track. A few of us passed mountain rescue crew taking a walker off the mountain. Not sure it was very good news at all from what we could tell 😢

[@runningcafe1]

Cheers! I absolutely loved the day, one of the best races I've ever had 👌 Hope you enjoyed it too. Oh no, that's awful to hear. It really is a tragic reality when it comes to doing these mountains; there are always risks involved. Thanks for watching fella

[@recollir]

Great video. Thx. You finished just a few minutes ahead of me. Saw you passing me on the last stretch after leaving CP3.

[@runningcafe1]

Cheers! Awesome. I hope you had an enjoyable race, it was an amazing day

[@FilmMyRun]

That’s awesome. Looks like you ran the route in the opposite direction to what we did last year. Your weather was soooooo much nicer though! Incredible to see Snowdon without cloud! Well done on the finish. Not an easy race.

[@runningcafe1]

Thanks Stephen, it was a tough one for sure. I watched your video a few times as prep, and I soon realised the course had been turned around! Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing haha. Yeah, we lucked out with the weather it was unbelievable.

[@michaelday1896]

Wow such a great race and good placement. Great video

[@runningcafe1]

Cheers Michael. This was definitely one of my favourite races yet

[@DM_RUNNING]

Great film, awesome run 👏🏃‍♂️💪

[@runningcafe1]

Thanks Daniel!

[@jamesbarnes9469]

Great video Craig! The scenery looked stunning! It sure looked busy in places! 😲 Well done for getting it done. Think I’ll have a look at this one next year. 👍

[@runningcafe1]

Cheers James. The scenery was unreal, I couldn't believe my eyes at certain points. Loved this one, and I highly recommend it if you get a chance!

[@juliemckie72]

Congratulations, looks like you had a blast!! Hope your legs are feeling ok after your amazing recent efforts 🎉 Excited to see what’s next for you

[@runningcafe1]

Thanks Julie, it was a blast taking this race on. Legs okay now thanks! Next up for me in terms of a big one is the Mozart 100 in Austria!

[@philrunshills154]

Nice video Craig. I chatted to you a few times en route, good luck at the Mozart 100,!

[@runningcafe1]

Thanks Phil. I remember our chats, it was a pleasure meeting you out on the course. Hope you enjoyed it. I'm nervous but excited for Mozart 100, let's see what happens!

[@richardantrobus7186]

great work on your run and capturing the amazing day. I can say everyone felt the heat that day... even at the front of the field people were really working on that last climb

[@runningcafe1]

Thanks Richard, it was an amazing run for sure. You're right about the heat, it was pretty intense. I saw lots of people struggle on the last climb and take a few minutes to chill

[@maidstoneharriers5731]

Nice one Craig!

[@runningcafe1]

Thanks guys

[@reluctantfellrunner]

Fantastic effort. Great conditions for it. Best wishes on the next.

[@runningcafe1]

Cheers mate. It was awesome for sure!

[@trailrunningphil]

Great video mate

[@runningcafe1]

Cheers Phil

[@Ripper218]

Great vid mate & well done!

[@runningcafe1]

Thank you!

[@JCRoblox7]

Great video, and I agree that heat was 🥵

[@runningcafe1]

Cheers! It was definitely a warm one

[@PanosAnas7]

hurrah!!! Great run, Great video, you inspire us mate !

[@runningcafe1]

Thank you so much!!

[@mattb6873]

Crazy busy for a trail race! Congrats

[@runningcafe1]

Agreed, there was about 1,100 starters for the 50k which is an insane amount of people. Good to see a great turnout!

[@mijzzzz]

Well done you,love your positive attitude!

[@runningcafe1]

Thank you!

[@CharlotteJ-zf3mr]

Well done again buddy!

[@runningcafe1]

Thank you 🙏

[@jamesherbert8089]

I done snowdon on the 14th may, we were wondering what the event was, so I take it this is it? Brilliant achievement

[@runningcafe1]

This was the big event over the weekend, but there was also at least one other race going on too. Congrats on doing Snowdon 👌

[@jamesherbert8089]

@@runningcafe1 tough challenge, fair play

[@anto_runs]

Cracking effort especially in the heat! Genuine question - how much of it were you actually able to run?

[@runningcafe1]

Thanks Anthony! It would be very tough for me to put a percentage on it, but I'd say you could 'comfortably' run about 30% of it without there being some insane elevation gain or challenging terrain like bogs/mud pits etc. At the end, there was a long road of about 3 to 4 miles to the finish so that was a nice way to end the race i.e. some solid uninterrupted running

[@conradburdekin722]

Brilliant stuff Craig. Do you think you’ll use the sticks on flat runs as well like Thames 100?

[@runningcafe1]

Cheers Conrad. I definitely wouldn't use poles for flat races like Thames Path 100. I intend to use them only for longer races with significant elevation. That being said, if the course is incredibly muddy/boggy then I might consider using them but it really depends. They're incredibly light but they take some extra space and need to be carried the whole time, so I'm gonna be choosing my moments wisely

[@UTMBWorldSeries]

Congratulations. What was your favorite moment?

[@runningcafe1]

Thanks guys. I loved the second massive climb up mount Snowdon, which was brutal yet beautiful. Fantastic event

[@PurePresentations]

❤ Eryri.

[@wetqerterterqyer]

Made it look easy

[@runningcafe1]

Haha, it definitely didn't feel easy the whole way through but the views got me through

[@nicmarlow6388]

well that didn't look like effort for you at all! 🤣 huge well done, such a beautiful route and brutal climbs, just what a proper day out in the mountains should be like. What's next?

[@runningcafe1]

Thanks so much Nic, absolutely loved this one and I highly recommend it to any other trail runner! The views were exceptional, so they definitely helped through the long slogs. Next up on my schedule is Endure 24, which is a chilled version of a backyard ultra. But, the big race for me this year is Mozart 100 which is a 100k trail race in Austria in June. Nervous but excited!

[@richardantrobus7186]

@@runningcafe1 I look forward to seeing your video on Mozart, hoping to be out there next year

[@nicmarlow6388]

@@runningcafe1 ohh Mozart 100 sounds epic! Amazing, really look forward to hearing about that one and seeing how you get on :) best of luck!

[@bardn5350]

You still said TAYMES, cancel Running Cafe! ;) Looked proper lush & clear and just a weekend after bagging 80+ miles!? Nutter. Definitely on my list ✅

[@runningcafe1]

Let's start a petition to cancel Running Cafe. He needs to learn to speak the King's English properly!! It was a fantastic race. You should defo do this one!

[@VELATRICK]

I’m about to do this race next week, how much of the course is actually runnable? Or is 90% of it hiking the ascents/descents? Would love your help.

[@runningcafe1]

Sorry for the late response. Hope the race was good and you enjoyed it

[@mornedercksen5445]

How did you find the cut off times ? I saw many say there is not a lot of grace on it.

[@runningcafe1]

Cut off times were fine in my opinion. Biggest problem I heard from people was running out of water, particularly between aid stations 1 and 2. Only three aid stations after race start, and tonnes of climbing and it was a hot day.

[@timshields8720]

Arghhhh, all those people with damn sticks. Hate them. Ruddy cheating, blocking the path, digging up the landscape and unnecessary extra weight to carry. Weak. Swim against the sheep mate. Just saying.

[@runningcafe1]

I guess I cheated then, need to contact UTMB to get my time revoked

[@timshields8720]

@@runningcafe1 just having you on mate. But also hopeful you don't start relying on them because it makes it easier for you. The races that you are doing shouldn't be a walk in the park. It's the challenge that is inspiring. Keep it up mate. Your vids are 👍 great.

[@FuknNoName]

They’re good sometimes, it was my first use too. Helpful on llanberis path steps up to bridge under tracks, top section of watkin before south ridge and then up to Foel Rudd but other than that a phaff and I stowed them. People got them out on the tarmac road climb out of llanberis when everyone was bunched up and it was horrible. I kept getting whacked by them and I accidentally stepped on a few and got a right glare off one girl.

[@runningcafe1]

@@FuknNoName I did think it was a bit inappropriate for everyone to get them out at the tarmac climb out of llanberis when everyone was bunched up. They're good for saving your legs for when you're taking on a massive ascent. For me, I had knee pain from the Thames Path 100 a week before so they were very helpful. Definitely wouldn't use them every race but they were good for this one 🙏

[@richardantrobus7186]

I was really thinking about taking my poles for this race... 25k I wouldn't have, 100k would have helped, in the end I was ok without although I was envious near the end of the race.