UTS 2020: Invitational Event

Dear APEX Runner,

As per the previous news item, we stated that we would leave it as late as Sunday 23^rd August to make any final announcement regarding this year’s UTS.

Due to ongoing uncertainty regarding Welsh Government legislation and outdoor events of over 30 participants, as well as the current quarantine restrictions in place for those returning to their home country outside of the UK, the decision had been made not to host UTS this year in its original, 500-capacity format.

INVITATIONAL EVENT FORMAT FOR 2020

For this year only, the event will move to an invitational format, with no more than 30 participants in each race, in full compliance with the current Welsh Government Covid-19 guidelines for outdoor events.

We are currently inviting a range of athletes to attend this year’s event, which will offer us the opportunity to prove the new routes, as well as capture valuable imagery and marketing content, to help support next year’s event. With some of the UK’s top elite runners signed up in each race, it’ll also make for some great dot watching for those at home!

At the risk of sounding like a HR manager, if we haven’t been in touch with you via email by midnight on Sunday 16^th with regards to racing next month, then your entry will be automatically deferred to 2021 (event date: 4-6^th June).

REFUND & DEFERRAL POLICY

For those who cannot attend next year's date for whatever reason, a 70% refund shall be offered up until the end of this September, after which the standard refund rate of 50% shall be reinsated. If you wish to take advantage of this, please email the Race Director: mike@apexrunning.co

Please note that the entry fees for the 100km & 170km races will increase for the 2021 event. However, no current entrant shall be eligible to pay any difference in entry fee. If you feel you would like to pay this additional difference voluntarily, again, please email the Race Director, or consider supporting APEX Running by entering the upcoming VERTual event, buying an item of merchandise (once on sale this autumn), or attend a recce event next year, etc. 

VERTUAL EVENT REMINDER

We know many of you may be disappointed (or relieved) by this announcement. We would like to remind you about the upcoming UTS VERTual event too.

In light of the above announcement, we’ve decided to extend the deadline for completing your VERTual challenge to the end of September. This will also enable you to plan a trip to Snowdonia before or after the race to run sections of the route and compare your segment times to those that are run during the live races. Find out more and enter the event HERE.

During what has been an incredibly testing year for all race organisers, I would like to personally thank you for your ongoing patience and support of UTS and APEX Running. I’ve tried to do everything I can to make the event a reality this year and very much look forward to making a fresh start with my events next year, in hopefully more favourable circumstances. Entries for the 2021 edition of UTS will go live at 9am on Saturday 7^th November.

We have lots more exciting news to come over the coming days and weeks, including details of the new event HQ and revised race routes, plus announcements of who will be racing in each event next month, so stay tuned!

Michael Jones - Ultra-Trail^® Snowdonia Race Director