Written by Mark Thornberry - https://thorners.wordpress.com

I can’t pronounce Rhyd-Ddu in the Welsh…Henry the RD had us non locals tittering as he expertly curled his tongue around the consonants and breathed through his nose to subsequently form the correct sound to name this small hamlet we’d pass through at about mile 25. I’d definitely have opted for an ‘E’ (please Bob)…

It was the race briefing on the Friday night and Henry let us know there would be a couple of minor route changes…’no problem’ seemed to be the collective whisper. As a complete navigation klutz I listened intently…I can (and do) get lost in a car park.

It was the second running of the Ultra Trail of Snowdonia and whilst the race’s branding talked of the ‘Snowdonia 50’ – the supplied route trace showed it as 58.4 miles (Henry admitted that enthusiasm had got in the way of verification the previous year!).

I linked up with Dan Milton and Claire Turton whom I’d met through a couple of outings via the Social Ultra FB group…and had encouraged me to come and do the race…they spend a lot of time in Snowdonia doing the mountain goat thing and were keen to run the trails in the valleys.

Final briefing on Saturday morning and it was a relief to set off at 6.30am and escape the hordes of midges that were obviously on some sort of winged beast National Convention at Betwys-y-coed Primary School..our race HQ. Super thrilled to get a quick photo with Housewives Choice (and eventual race runner up), Max Willcocks, sporting his beloved House hockey socks.

I’d no particular race plan…just wanted to finish it in one piece and feel, like my last 50+ miler, that I could comfortably go on come the finish. Eye still very much on Centurion’s Autumn 100 in October.

We trotted off and after a few hundred yards starting climbing up (and up) a forest track towards the Llyn Elsi reservoir – the first 4 miles were to take 55 minutes and I kind of thought then that if I could hack around in 14/15 hours (given the ‘easier’ last 15 miles), that would be rather splendid.

The first couple of CPs went in a blur…though not without squelching through the first of many boggy moorland stretches where I was to often sink knee deep (I’m scraping 6’3″ with long levers). I do recall some stunning views…with narrow paths cut into the seemingly alternating green and slate mountainsides. We were to pass through the remnants of much of the region’s former slate quarrying industry – ravaged by the downturn in demand after WW2 and cheap foreign imports. Haunting but somewhat beautiful.

In complete contrast to most other races I spent about 80% of this one in the company of other runners…and I was most grateful for that. Felt bollixed at 20 miles but CP3 soon loomed into view and the brilliant volunteers were on hand to not only fill water bottles but to raise spirits in general. I exited the CP and at this point was on my own. Naturally went the wrong way across to an ill defined path that led up to a remote hillside. A quick gander at the map (first turning it the right way round) and I double backed to a steep road and the heavens opening. Not being arsed to get out the trusty Montane Minimus, I attracted some weird looks from a group of hikers clad head to toe in foul weather gear…the orange shorts not helping my cause…obvs. However, the rain moved on and I soon found myself trekking across some open fenland and down to the river Glaslyn at Nantmor. With the heavy rain of the last week, the river was in full roar and it was great but ‘careful’ fun scrambling along the riverbank. Before crossing the railway line just before the next CP at Beddgelert I was joined by Simon, whom I was to spend pretty much the next 7/8 hours with and another chap…good lad too…Saffa, but won’t hold that against him ;)

And not too long after, I bonked. The three of us had become five and we cheerily chatted as we made our way up the long drag out past Rhyd-Ddu and more disused quarry buildings to some more boggy ground on top. It was mile 31 or so and I just suddenly came to a complete stop. Faint, dizzy and generally feeling like sh*te, I saw the others disappear into the horizon. MTFU was the mantra, hoping a couple of GUs and some Babybels would sort the energy deficiency and the negative thoughts that began to permeate. I know the drill having been here before…and kept moving (slowly) forward…sip and nibble….sip and nibble. Fifteen minutes later and I made it my goal to catch up with the red shirted Simon whom I could see in the far distance. I picked up the pace and found myself tearing down the long narrow rocky path that would lead eventually to some open fields and then the road to Llanberis and the next CP.

Awesome and spectacular…which was brought to an abrupt halt as I over-relaxed and stumbled after slipping on the biggest cowpat in the world. Luckily I only had to find some casual water to clean my shoes…

Simon and I trotted into the CP and took some time out to wolf down a delicious local oggie (veggie option available). Spirits and water replenished we crossed the lake and walked up the steep climb that seemed to take bloody ages. With near 40 miles done I was in good spirits though and we hooked up with Dave just after Dinorwic, who was also to prove fine company. Moving steadily we made our way across some open, but this time quite dry moorland and reached Bethesda. The CP was located near the car park for Zip World Velocity – “…home to the longest zip line in Europe and the fastest in the world..” At sixty quid a pop it looked distinctly poor value compared to sixty miles worth of bimbling around the National Park.

And then came the leek and potato soup. There have been various points of my life when I think I have found the Nectar of the Gods (Guinness at the age of 14, Chateau d’Yquem ’67 some twenty years later) – but this time I truly had. Coupled with a cheese and pickle sarnie I became an Invincible. What could stop me now?

The route to the finish was pretty much straight forward and we dropped down to a trail that ran for a couple of miles parallel to the A5 that we could see off to our left. A short but steep climb up a tarmac road to Llyn (Lake) Ogwen and the welcome sight of a public khazi. I’d failed to ‘go’ since waking up some 13/14 hours earlier (the inordinate amount of food I’d eaten the night before and en route should surely have stirred the pot by now?) and I can only put it down to the impressive blocking powers of the two Imodium consumed at brekkie. Dave zoomed off before we got to the last CP(7), muttering about finishing inside the top twenty and Simon and I promptly took a tactical walking break.

We were greeted at the last aid station by a raucous crew cheering and cow bells clanging (!) Top stuff – soon to be followed by the offer of a beer. Turned down…but the sofa (!) looked enticing. About six miles to the finish we were told and mostly downhill. Huzzah! Simon and I walked out and after half a mile looked at each other…we needed to run this mutha. Twenty minutes on a single track road and we ducked back onto forest trails and some slippery mud. I went into over cautious mode and gingerly picked my way down to the river. With the light fading we spied the roof tops of the estate where the school was located and soon crossed the finishing line.

14 hours and 2 minutes, 8,100ft of ascent, 59.8 miles (average sourced from 3 Suuntos and 2 Garmins!), top half of the field. Happy with that. Simon, you’re a Wirral legend, thank you for literally being part of my journey,

Now, the jolliness of it all didn’t end there. I received a medal the size of an iPad and the immediate offer of “Pint?…ale, lager or cider?” as I crossed the finish was way beyond expectation. A choice of pasta with some garlic bread was on offer too and capped a just fab day. All in all, fantastic value for the (early bird) price of £50, which also included two nights camping and hot showers at the School. This event deserves wider adoption, though I don’t think Henry wants to see it get too big. Great course, great volunteers, great scoff…just, well…..great.

A big thanks to Henry @Snowdonia50 and Andy Milton for the pix above