UTS 2019: Event Preview
After a highly successful inaugural event last year, UTS has quickly gained notoriety as one of the toughest but most stunning ultras in the UK. With two courses truly Alpine-scale in nature, the event is set to become the UK's premier ultra-trail race in years to come. While the courses and the challenges they entail remain largely unchanged since last year, this year the event has stepped up its game several notches. Read on to find out what awaits everyone taking part next weekend, 10th-12th May!
A short walk from Llanberis town centre, the new race HQ of Glyn Rhonwy has hosted the UK Fell Relays twice in the past and is an ideal venue for UTS, offering plenty of space for free parking and camping (available from Thursday to Monday, the ground is rocky so we advise you bring a ground sheet!). Thanks to the generous folk at the nearby Gallt y Glyn pub and bunkhouse, there will also be a hot shower unit and running water on site!
During registration, all starters will receive a generous swag bag including long-sleeve tech-tee, headscarf, bumper sticker and window sticker, plus beer mat and cup! This year, the best in the business, Open Tracking will be providing GPS trackers for all, so your friends and family following at home can keep a check on your progress.
UTS 50 Swag!
The checkpoints and the volunteers that support them are really what make UTS so special! As well as a friendly welcoming smile from the event team members, all checkpoints will be supplied with water, cola, lemonade and squash, plus a selection of fresh and tinned fruit, trail mix, crisps and dips, a range of biscuits, various sweet and savoury sandwiches (made with dairy free spread, so plenty of vegan options this year!), plus Wild Trail bars. Many checkpoints will also serve TORQ energy drink and gels. Don’t forget to make use of the drop bag facility to pack some dry socks too!
In addition, all ‘hot food’ checkpoints (detailed on race numbers) will supply vegetable soup (vegan) and rolls, plus proper Yorkshire Tea and delicious Poblado Coffi, freshly ground in nearby Nantlle.
Again, No Limits Photography plus several other photographers and videographers will be out on route capturing the event and providing updates throughout, so if you see one pointing a camera at you don’t forget to smile!
For those that make the finish line, this year we have lovely lapel pin badges for all finishers to show off your endeavours to others. Offering a more practical alternative to a medal, once on your pack and worn with pride, they’ll be sure to act as a nice conversation starter when out on the trails!
On Saturday evening, share battle stories over a hot meal provided by Sandra's Suppers and a Bragdy Lleu real ale (4 to choose from, soft drink option available) and enjoy some live music! Made up of members of the infamous Cheshire-based Delamere Spartans trail running club, ‘Gresty’s Wasters’ will be performing a live set of indie and rock classics new and old from 8pm onwards. Local wood-fired pizza company Amore Pizza will also be on site to serve their delicious pizzas plus drinks.
The stunning Y Lliwedd, which runners will ascend this year.
Beyond this, there will be various ultrarunning themed films showing on the projector in the marquee, so grab a seat and a coffee and enjoy the atmosphere ‘til the early hours if you’re not too tired!
For those not still out on course, Sunday morning is all about the chill! Let local sports massage therapist Dewi from Vibe Fitness Personal Training ease those aching legs and at 11-12am local yoga instructor Cat from Tru Dru Yoga will be leading a relaxation class in the marquee free of charge. There’ll only be 12 mats available though so bring your own too if you’re keen!
As per last year, top 3 M/F in each race will receive a wonderful 3D printed trophy designed by Design Real and manufactured by Conker Living. Event partners Joe Brown Shops will again be providing £175/£125/£75 vouchers for the top 3 M/F in both races, plus a 15% in-store discount for all UTS runners stocking up on last minute essentials from their Llanberis store! Salomon and Leki have generously bolstered the prize pool too, including gifts for 40+, 50+ 60+ age group overall M/F winners.
Image: © No Limits Photography
The second UTS is shaping up to be quite an exciting event! If you’re one of the lucky runners racing, we look forward to welcoming you to Llanberis next week. If you want to keep a track of the event over the weekend, don’t forget to follow the Facebook page HERE, join the APEX Running group HERE and sign up to the email newsletter below to be the first to hear about entries opening for 2020, including some exciting new changes to the event. Tune in next week to read the race preview, covering who to look out for at the sharp end of each of the races!
This is UTS: Beautiful Beyond Belief. Savage Beyond Reason.
Race Director Mike