This race required a bit more than a Facebook post to give it justice.....This race has really struck a cord with me and and left me with an excitment and adventure that I just had to share.
Before we go any further you must have the following with you before you start reading this:-
A cup/sizable mug of tea or coffee.
A biscuit/packet of or some cake.
A comfy seat.
Ready? Lets go! 😀😁😀😀
When I first heard about UTW I had to put this on my "To do" list.I signed up and thought "amazing, this will be great, plus I have a good 9 months to get to some kind of preparedness". A few marathon distance uber hilly races on the lead up and we'll be good to go...! That 9 months flew by and I am sure I probably should have done training runs longer than 20 miles.....?! I do have a theory though that cumulative mileage can also do the trick, running tired and be prepared for that feeling of "this will not be quick or pretty but you are still moving forwards!" Plus I am now one of those ladies of 30 years old... and it scientifically proven (and actual fact) that us ladies get better at endurance as we get older...!
Anyway enough about the faff of training for the race lets get to the weekend in hand!
Friday 24th August - After a week of feeling every single niggle, feeling of tiredness (blame work for that one!) and general thoughts of "oh my goodness, am I ready?" I woke up feeling all of the above! Marvellous I thought...but after having a word with myself we set off North Wales bound. Mum, Isla and I ...and a good packed lunch!
Always liking to be early I arrive at registration to find fantastic familiar faces. I have a bit of a chat and I collect my bits and pieces for race day and a bag of goodies. If you don't get excited at the goodie bag I am not sure you are a real trail runner nowadays.....?!
Right, needed something else to eat (packed lunch had already been consumed!) We head to Coed y Brenin for a cuppa and a flapjack - I sit there thinking "tomorrow this will be the 30 mile point and you'll have broken the back of the race!"Got to get to that point without breaking though....
My usual night before a race rituals then commenced, double check kit, food, clothing, which socks do I wear?! I ate a good dinner and hoped for a good nights sleep! I spent some time pouring my attention over the map (those that know me well I can sit and look at maps for hours!) and eventually fell asleep with approx 1/4 of a single bed thanks to Isla and her lack of personal space awareness!
Saturday 25th August - Race day! Alarm 3:45am, I ate breakfast before the brain realised what I was doing, got dressed, checked kit again and sat for a minute to think about the day ahead......but not too much!
My super Mum drove me to Dolgellau at this silly o'clock, I said my goodbyes to Mum and Isla and promptly head for my first of many nervous wees, standard!
Race briefing continues to make this all alittle more real and immediate! Cue another nervous wee!
Standing on the start line the sun is still not up and of course it starts to rain....."shit, jacket on or off?! I have like 30 seconds to decide" No jacket, Just go!
We are sent on our way with a muted cheer, and I have selected the wrong setting on my watch!! "Really Faye!!" Anyway for the first 500 meters of so I am having a minor over reaction in my head, but I sorted it! Right, off we go!
This race really breaks down into three sections, I had in my head a few different ways of looking at this beast. "Its just 8 10km's" okay, or "Its just under 2 marathons" Nah that's too big! Right, just use check points and landmarks - simple!
The first five miles set the bar for the elevation and the terrain of this first leg, I was also carrying a bit of a grumpy mood, I was wanting to be running alone and others heavy breathing at this hour of the morning was grating! This mood passed as it started to rain, A LOT and I couldn't hear the breathing or see others then....(I am not a grumpy one really, just when I am getting into a race I need a bit of time...)
Cloudy conditions, wind and rain continued and a slight feeling of claustrophobia came across me as seeing any distance ahead was tricky. I also was annoyed that a chap followed me and then told me it was the wrong way....may I add it was not the wrong way....and shortly after I overtook him. Sorry matey!(may I add the man in question did not get lost and got to the end he just got a small stern glare from me)
At some point I reached Mynydd Moel at 863m and then up and over Cadair Idris, I remember a trig and promptly ran past it and started to descend the characteristic rocks of the Pony Path. By the way its still raining at this point, I haven't put a jacket on, and its past the point. Brain is telling me I will get hypothermia and my feet promptly ignore this and keep moving forwards.
I cross the bridge with a bunch of guys, say a little "hello" a "well done" and smile for a waterproof clad photographer. In my head I am preparing for another climb, sea level back up, up, and up some more! Bloody hell, this second section was testing, this was where I thought more than once "Sod this!" I felt I was walking backwards and was now thinking "you idiot why didn't you put your coat on!?" A steep section of muddy and slippy ground started the trail following "the wall" (This is just what I called it, not its official name!)
The descent of Manganese mine then began, and on tired legs I appeared to leave my feet behind on a couple of occasions collapsing in slow motion into several areas of foliage....But the sun was now shining and I could hear the birds singing! I even mustered up a few photos! Along with a guy who was exclaiming "I thought the downs would be quicker than the ups!?" I respond with that of previous experience (and many a run where my descents are slower than my climbs) "Around here often not the case mate, just take your time and don't fall down!" That guy probably questioned me at that point but hell I was actually descending okay for me and I got down without falling on my own face..!
I could see ahead the trails and trees of the marvellous Coed y Brenin and I was buzzing (as much as I could be at this point) think I did a little "whoop!" Oh and this was half way - 40 km Com'on!!!!!
It was brilliant to be on trails that I recognised and although the usual pleasant flowing trails were not feeling as gradual as usual I could manage a far higher leg turn over and felt I was moving at a comfortable pace.
The aid station eventaully appears ahead and I thought "damn mum is waiting at the balcony of the visitors centre, I won't be able to say hello...!?" May I add my Mum had probably spent the equivalent of a number of years waiting for me at races... (love you mum!) Whilst I mulled over yelling as loud as I could I again visited the toilet and contemplated what to eat...? A cheese, a marmite and peanut butter sandwich in hand I started walking out of the aid station. I was approaching the shoe test path when there coming from the higher path is Mum and Isla ! I get to say "hello" and reassure her I was okay. The key with my mum is not to tell her quite the extent of the adventure until its all finished...!
I yell a "I'll be about 3 hours, see you at the finish" and I plod up the hill as fast as I could walk and eat my sandwiches.
At this stage I was thinking "cool, you know these trails, you love them and look the sun's out!" I begin that well known climb of the start of the Trail half and full marathons and I am not feeling quite so much love. I blame the sandwich - so I leave it on the ground for a couple of little birds, I didn't have the excess energy to be digesting such carbs right now...
On I go, steadily climbing the trails and ticking of locations, fence lines and fallen trees. I pass another runner and we wish each other well (he was to later come in 2 places behind me) I think about how many times I have run here and when I bought Steph and Dewi dog here and I turned the half route into 16 miles, no wonder she has to think twice about coming running with me!
I now was approaching the last 10 miles, I was ticking off the kilometres and at hitting about 10 miles I saw another lady, it was Katie Cole. Somehow I had caught her up (later Katie came in approx. 15 minutes after me having managed a hamstring injury from half way - great work Katie!)
For a good few miles we ran a hundred or so meters apart or next to one another and continued to make steady progress. I eventually take the lead and just keep going. The watch is now reading 7 and a bit miles to go (kind of) and that dreaded beep of low battery comes out of my watch "5 % battery" Bloody hell!!! With saying that, although I was annoyed and already justifying the next model of watch up, I thought save what you've got and just run, its only a bloody Strava upload right!? Ha!
I run the last 6.5/7 miles with no watch, just the guidance of marshalls. This varied quite considerably gaining and loosing the odd miles from one person to the next. Hell! I had come this far what a mile between friend 'aye!?
Then there was a climb (yes another f*&king climb up a steep hill, with tiny annoyingly positioned steps!) It went up, around a little, eventually reaching the signpost of the Precipice footpath. Views every which way and I could feel the pull to the finish - what a beauty! Plus there was no way you could loose focus or concentration on this footpath, bloody hell the sheer face meant the eyes were firmly on ahead!
I saw the friendly face of James Mackeddie with his camera (I have the evidence that I mustered something resembling a smile...!) I said a quick "good to see you" and he confirmed approx 4 miles to the finish "all down hill" he shouted. YES!!!:-)
On I skipped...well trying my hardest to keep as light on my feet over this narrow path whilst dodging the odd walker. It really was all down hill, how exciting! Although the quads were crying with any misplaced step, at the last check point I am given a a lovely big cheer that spurred me over the remaining 4km, just 4km between me a sit down!
At this point in a race the sheer excitement of finishing after such an epic day is hard to explain really, it just gives me a mini rocket boost pack on my trainers and no matter how tired I am, I have that little something in reserve for a strong finish.
Onto the road I go, over the bridge towards town, hanging a right and there in my sight is the finish gantry - "Oh my goodness I have actually done it!!!!"Cheers from friends, strangers, my mum, Isla barking......the best sounds ever! I had done it! I had covered 50 miles, almost 12,000 feet of elevation! Chuffed, SO CHUFFED!
A time of 10 hours 28 minutes and 42 seconds, that was a hell of a day! I had tackled my first 50 mile mountain ultra and had achieved beyond my thoughts. 2nd female and 8th overall - SO HAPPY :-)
A route like this one encompassed everything that makes this part of Wales so wonderful. From the rocky high paths of Cadair to the Grade II listed wooden railway bridge of Pont Abermaw and the majestic forest of Coed y Brenin.
Thank you Ashley Charlwood (Nomad-Running) and Matt Ward (Run Coed y Benin) for all the hard work and passion that went into creating this absolutely awesome race. As well, a huge thank you to all those that stood at checkpoints, aid stations and those that welcomed us back over that fininsh line with weary legs. Its a day I will never forget. 😃🌄
