UTS 50k 2024 | Everything you need to know!

[@cameronmangan6353]

Thanks Chris. I'm absolutely loving your channel, quality and overall attitude. I'm running my first ultramarathon this year in the Peak District at 100k. Pretty nervous but I also know I've been training well for it. Your ultra videos have been a great help. Hopefully there is a few more before my run in July. Thanks again.

[@ChrisBranch]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate that, and best of luck in your training 😊🙏

[@1603_theadventure_mattrix]

He’s back!!! thanks Chris. Might need to put down as a destination run!!!!! 🇦🇺🦘🐠

[@ChrisBranch]

Haha thanks Matt! Don't worry, I haven't gone anywhere. Life has been a little hectic training for this ultra, but I've been doing a lot of work in the background to make this channel better. I have a good pipeline of videos to come, which I hope will be very helpful for people. The upload frequency may be down until mid May, but then I'll be back on my weekly schedule. I hope your training is going well 🙏

[@matthewpaulden9604]

Glad you’re back ..great video👍😀

[@ChrisBranch]

Haha thanks so much. It's been a little hectic recently, but I've been working on the channel behind the scenes. I have a lot to come, but my frequency will be back to normal after the race. I hope your training is going well 😊🙏

[@martinweston8147]

I’d add take the correct kit regardless if UTMB decides it’s a “hot” or “cold” race. Last year people should have taken the “hot” kit even though it was classified as a “normal” race. Look out the window and at the weather forecast. Fill up your water at CP 1 regardless.

[@ChrisBranch]

Great point. Absolutely; it's on us to protect ourselves in the mountains 🙏

[@dami9n.b]

And also a bivy bag? Really?!

[@ChrisBranch]

@@dami9n.b the emergency bivvy bags are tiny and cheap, and if you have an injury that means you can't move, which is entirely possible in the mountains, then you'd be grateful for it 👍

[@ClaireFarrer54]

I'm based in Australia and really enjoying your channel and beautiful UK scenery. I'm training for my first ultra so currently binging all of your videos, which have been extremely helpful, thanks so much, appreciate it!!! 🙏 👍🏃‍♀️

[@ChrisBranch]

Hi Claire, thanks so much for the comment! I'm so pleased these videos are helping, and best of luck training for your race ☺️🙏

[@lidialoskan5096]

Dear Chris, I just wanted to say, it was a pleasure to see this video of yours! Thank for sharing your experience, nice course shots and tipps on event village/logistics! It will be my first time on UTS this year, and my first 100k, so every bit helps! Good luck to you on a race day, hope you will enjoy the race this year as well!

[@ChrisBranch]

Oh wow, UTS is a brave choice for your first 100k! I'm doing that one too, so say hi if you see me. Best of luck! ☺️🙏

[@TomChaton]

I'm running the 25K in 4 weeks. We're both using Heather Hills for elevation, the best / only hill in Essex 😁

[@ChrisBranch]

Amazing! The 25k will be great. And yes, Heather Hills is the only place we can even remotely prepare our legs for Snodownia 😂 Best of luck with your training 😊🙏

[@andrewkirkhouse4693]

Thanks for the info Chris. The information youve given is also going to give me some food for thought on the ultra 50k on the pembrokeshire coast path in june. First ultra and its supposed to be a toughy.

[@ChrisBranch]

Ooh I bet that's a beautiful ultra! Best of luck with your training 😊🙏

[@har28ho26]

Thanks for sharing your experience! Congrat u r one of the finishers!🎉🎉🎉

[@ChrisBranch]

I hope it helped 🙏☺️

[@mjogorman1]

Great vid thanks Chris. After seeing your video on the 2023 event I signed up for this year, and it will be my first mountain ultra, can't wait!

[@ChrisBranch]

Amazing! Best of luck with it! It's a fantastic race, you'll love it :)

[@peterconrad2159]

Great video again! In my opinion, the main message for the average runner is, as always, take it slow! Even maintaining a 10 min/k over such a distance is hard, more likely it would be a 12 min/k. Easy stroll on the flat, but not so easy on the trails. Have fun!

[@ChrisBranch]

Absolutely! I think I averaged 16-min miles, which is about 10-min kilometres. Absolutely savage terrain 😂🤦‍♂️

[@timothysmith7088]

Well done Chris, a very informative and well laid out study of the race, some great tips and information there 👍

[@ChrisBranch]

Thanks so much, I appreciate that. Best of luck with your training ☺️🙏

[@nicholasprince9405]

See you there Chris, great video man, really really useful & well presented

[@ChrisBranch]

Thanks so much! I'm glad it helped. Best of luck at the weekend 😊🙏

[@benjaminaigledelanversin1208]

Great video, very informative!

[@ChrisBranch]

Thanks so much! Happy training 😊🙏

[@richsquire7383]

Chris - that video is awesome. Really helped me prepare mentally for the big event on Saturday. So far, weather looking warm and sunny, so all my thinking is on hydration. Off to order those salt tablets….

[@ChrisBranch]

I'm so pleased it helped, and best of luck at the weekend! ☺️🙏

[@richsquire7383]

@@ChrisBranch Thanks Chris. I followed your advice, carried 4 bladders, used electrolytes and started slow - was 780th at first aid station but finished 350th but with very little in the tank. The 50 is a brutal beast who takes no prisoners. And the food was absolutely rubbish except for the hot one at the finish.

[@chuisarah7877]

Thanks for sharing Chris this is so helpful and informative 👍🏾

[@ChrisBranch]

I'm so pleased it helped ☺️🙏

[@grahammethold]

Great video Chris. Thanks for posting. I’m doing the 55k for the first time this year and off for my final recce to Snowdon next week. Good advice on shoe choice - I’ve been split between using my Hoya Speedgoats (all rounder) and LaSportiva Mutant (grippy). I’m still undecided but will use the recce to guide me (and weather conditions on the day e.g. is it going to be wet). Are you running it this year?

[@ChrisBranch]

Thanks so much, I'm so pleased it helped! The Mutant would be my choice if I needed more grip too 👍 And yes, I'm doing the 100k 😬

[@ActiveIdeas]

Fantastic video Chris! I’ll see you there next month, also on the 100k (super excited!) but I’ll probably be abit further back in the pack ;)

[@ChrisBranch]

Great! We'll definitely catch up. I'm certainly not going to be taking it too fast, so we may be running together. It's going to be a beast, and slow and steady is definitely the right strategy. I'm starting to get nervous now 😂

[@ActiveIdeas]

@@ChrisBranch Letssss goooo! And all of a sudden race day is here mate (also nervous haha)! Best of luck for if I don't see you at registration or on race day 🌟Let's get it done ❤

[@ChrisBranch]

@@ActiveIdeas leeetttttttsss goooo!!! I'll be around most the morning, and I'll be cheering off the hundred miles, so hopefully see you 🙏

[@ActiveIdeas]

@@ChrisBranch 👊🏽

[@davidhayes6052]

Hey Chris, love the channel, it’s really helped with training and nutrition planning. I’m doing the 55k this year. Would you recommend the “gloop” in the bladder based on last year’s experience or go with just water and use tailwind in the soft flasks? Thanks and hope training has gone well.

[@ChrisBranch]

Thanks David! And no, I learned the hard way that a gloop can backfire if you really need the water 😂 I think I drank about 1200 calories in that second climb up Snowdon, and I still needed more water. I was lucky it didn't mess my guts up! This year, my strategy is to take lots of the sticks of Tailwind to top up at aid stations, but otherwise prioritise hydration with my bottles and bladder. That second climb (in the 50k) is the biggest gap between aid stations, and in hindsight it was pretty stupid to rely on just my two front bottles for hydration. Best of luck with the race!

[@colososchi18]

Loved the tips. I will be running the 50k this year and glad to hear all these tips beforehand. Thanks you ! Quick question - what camera / resolution you used to record your race from last year ? Thanks !

[@ChrisBranch]

It's was GoPro Hero 9 and 4k last year. I've just got the DJI Osmo Action 4 which I'm looking forward to using this year ☺️

[@freeridethealps8350]

Thanks Chris, this series has been great ahead of my first UTS. Alas an ankle ligament injury has hampered training so cut off is the aim. Q - what survival bag do you use, as I got one but it’s quite bulky to be the size required ? Thanks and hope to see you there

[@ChrisBranch]

Bad luck with the ankle! Sorry to hear that. You'll still have a great day out in the mountains trying to stay ahead of those cut-offs. I just bought my survival bag on Amazon for £7. It's super light and small, but I didn't put too much thought into it so I don't know if there are better options. Best of luck with your final few weeks training 🙏

[@ic9037]

Thanks for the video! Which pack did you use? Salomon 12L adv?

[@ChrisBranch]

Yes, that's the one 👍☺️

[@ic9037]

@@ChrisBranch nice! I have the same. What’s your 3rd warm layer for the cold weather kit?

[@ChrisBranch]

@@ic9037 I'm going to go base layer, Salomon light hoodie thing, then an OMM wind proof thing, and then the Salomon Bonatti waterproof. I got this from someone far more experienced than me - apparently having a wind proof as the third layer is toasty 👌. I must say that I haven't actually had to use this system yet, but I trust the source 👍

[@jaysfan1910]

Great video! What is the navigation like, is it easy to follow the markers as running it this weekend?

[@ChrisBranch]

Thanks so much! And yes, navigation is really easy. They have markers very frequenetly, and the GPX is accurate if you have maps on your watch. Best of luck! 😊🙏

[@swm2k2]

Hi Chris, thanks for the video I’m doing UTS50 for the first time so really helpful. One thing I can’t decide is if I want to do the gloop camel pac like you did last year. Don’t want to carry too much liquid if possible (and don’t drink loads although conditions tbc) so think it maybe best option with litre of fresh water up front. Would you do this approach again if you were doing the 50k again?

[@ChrisBranch]

Oh great, you'll love the race! And good point; I've actually decided against the gloop this year - last year taught me that if you need the extra liquid, you need the extra liquid - drinking gloop wasn't very pleasant on that second climb up Snowdon 😂, but it was fairly easy to carry enough fuel between and top up at aid stations. I am also looking into bottle filters to drink mountain water, that was another lesson from the heat of last year. Otherwise, I think everything else I said I'm sticking to 👍 best of luck with it!

[@stndrdnz]

Great vid! So, it's not too much or unnecessary to have the precision salt capsules while drinking from tailwind filled flasks? The tailwind is not enough salts/electrolytes on its own? Cheers, Brian

[@ChrisBranch]

I use both and I've never cramped. Everyone I know who has done the sweat test to check how much electrolytes the use are surprised to find out how much they need! Last year was hot too, and the climbs always make me sweat more.

[@stndrdnz]

@@ChrisBranch that makes sense. I never took a sweat test, but I sweat profusely, and after 20km+ runs my face is often covered in dry salt. So I presume I could use the extra intake, too. Thanks for your sharing your thoughts!

[@ChrisBranch]

@@stndrdnz No problem, I'm glad it helps :)

[@michaelmccrossan7655]

Definitely do a mandatory kit breakdown ❤

[@ChrisBranch]

I'll be honest, I'm really struggling for time now in the run up to the race and probably won't get the video out in time for it to be relevant. Did you have any specific questions?

[@michaelmccrossan7655]

@@ChrisBranch no but a video n future would be great. What distance will you do for your final long run? Not as prepped as I should have been 😂 had a few setbacks but I'll push on and get through it 💪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿⛰️

[@ChrisBranch]

@@michaelmccrossan7655 I ran a road marathon today to connect with my friends running the London marathon, and then I'll do a 6-hr trail run next week. I'm knackered, but next week is my last big week and then the taper begins 😏

[@michaelmccrossan7655]

@@ChrisBranch yeah I done the same. Ran a marathon today in the countryside with alot of hills ⛰️🇮🇪 I look forward to the taper myself. Thanks for the reply. I appreciate your content. Best of luck with the race, you'll smash it 💪👌

[@ChrisBranch]

@@michaelmccrossan7655 thanks so much, good luck to you too!

[@acwvaleting3291]

Looks like a good one to tackle for my first ultra 😂

[@ChrisBranch]

Hahaha I can sympathise - it was my first ultra too! Take it easy and protect your quads 🙏