You didn’t think we were just going to share the story of Susan’s 50k and not mention Jamie hitting 100k, did you?!

After a DNF in last year’s 100k at 40 miles I said never again, 48 hours later I had re-entered as I don’t like been beaten. What was unknown after entering was the roller coaster months to come where my hip totally gave in and resulted in hip resurfacing surgery back in December.  It was also unknown at the time if I would be running never mind stand on start line for what I’d confidently say is the hardest race I have ever entered.  After taking a regimented approach with my rehab I made my mind I would commence running on March 1st. As the weeks went on slowly got stronger and I decided I’d at least stand on that start line (Sue was trying to persuade me to drop to the 50k) I ignored this thinking I’d rather stick to the 100k and just see how far I got. 

 The big day arrived, kit check was the Friday morning the then it was an afternoon relaxing (may have had 2 beers lol) before sorting my pack, drop bag and having an early night as I had to be up at 3-15 am (not that I slept).   The alarm seemed to go off 5 mins after setting it!  I quickly got dressed had breakfast and made my way to the start which was a good 20 min walk.  

There were 2 waves for my race I was in the second wave at 5 am.  Soon Conquest of Paradise was being played on a loop which is the UTMB anthem and wave 1 was off. It would soon my turn moving onto the starting pen once again hearing Conquest of Paradise being played, I felt quite anxious and emotional that 5 months post- surgery I am stood on a UTMB start line.   We were soon off running through Llanberis loads of people clapping us on as we head out of town and heading up the tourist path (Llanberis Path).  3/4 way up just going under the bridge I was met with the most spectacular sunrise and I remember smiling thinking this is what it’s all about.  Cracking on you don’t summit Snowdon the 1st time you veer off down the Pyg Track.  It’s quite technical so seemed to take forever to get to Pen y Pass the 1st check point which had a 8-15am cut off. I was there 7-45 so it was a quick bottle fill and continued moving.  We were strongly advised to carry additional fluid as it was a gruelling section with no way of getting water. I knew the next climb (Glyder Fawr) was brutal with several false summits and it was getting warmer so I ensured I was fuelled and ready for the ascent.  On reaching the top you are met with a bolder field followed by a nice runnable section then an awful very steep decent on loose scree. Once surviving the scree there was another nice section but it soon followed with 4 points of contact decent. Once down it was again a nice run by the Lin (Lake) before another ascent, it was now uncomfortably hot! Arriving at CP2 I had 1hr in the bag before cut off I spent a little time hydrating /refuelling as the next section was another brutal climb!  It was getting hotter as I made my way up over grass, bogs, rocks then a physical 4 points of contact section before a final climb to the top. I was rewarded with the most spectacular views of the coast, a quick pitstop to rehydrate before ploughing over a bolder field followed my more climbing.  I was plodding along nicely when I fell, I quickly put my poles out on front to break my fall it kind of worked, a cut knee and worse … I snapped my carbon pole, a bloodied leg , I got to the next summit which was a marshalled one thank fully as they looked at me and asked are you ok ,I replied I’m fine but I broke my pole which was a bigger problem as I was not even half way on the total assent.

The lovely marshal took my pole and did a great job of fixing it. I lost about 15 mins there but knew it would help worth it having both poles as long as the fix lasted.  I cracked on, soon I was descending not a nice decent mind negotiating slabs of slippery slate, 4 points of contact and the odd bum slide, I was very cautious as last year a runner had fallen and broke his leg (we could see the bone).   I got down safely the next climb nick named Roseberry on steroids (same shape but no path and another 4 points of contact) we were met by a marshal who advised we had to go around it this year as there was a rare heather (thanks heather) although it was a longer way around it including narrow patchy paths but definitely better! Now there was finally a runnable decent to the farm, last year this was a check point but it could not be used this year so we had an additional 4 miles to go. I was out of fluid now, nowhere to fill my bottles but 2 miles or so I managed to fill my filter flask, tasted awful but I needed fluids. At the water check point I managed to get a litre of fluid, some either got none due to running out or rationed to 240 ml not good at all.

I had 3 more miles to get to the 50k check point and my drop bag. On getting there I was on empty I knew I needed to eat and a lot ! I did just that , fuelling on pasta, a potato pot , 2 muller rice to get me going again . I knew there was another 3500 ft climb coming so I had to risk over indulging. Loads of people DNFd at Carpel Curig I was soon out leaving the village into some woods chatting to a fellow Liverpool supporter we started the climb. I soon dropped off the pace I felt awful, I was getting to next flag then pausing I had nothing in my legs ,upset tummy and felt nauseous..  I was thinking that’s it I’m done as I struggled up climb been passed by several runners, one lad asked if I was ok I told him no stomach issues , he said I have Rennies, I thought why not nothing to lose. I ate it and I think I belched my way to the top lol. Once I summited I felt a new man my mood changed watching the sunset in the mountains, I thought this time last year it was pitch black I can get to the next cp in the light of day so  I ran and ran , one guy shouted thought your running legs had gone as a shot past him . 

I got the farm before darkness, the marshal who looked after me here was fantastic took my bottles to fill them told me I’m doing amazing and had loads of time if I wanted to rest. I thought no way am I losing my banked time I’m going now, this  was as far as I got  last year exhausted , broken and had nothing more , where this year I felt mentally strong and I shed a tear thinking how good I felt with limited running and major surgery.  I cracked on with another runner we soon got stuck in a snake of runners on single tracker , I’m thinking there all moving to slow should I push to get past and if I did would I suffer later , I decided to go for it and pushed on soon 2 other runners followed me.  After what felt like hours we got on the Watkins path and the assent to Snowdon, we played cat and mouse taking turns to lead in between rests.

At the end of the Watkins path you join the minors track which was very sketchy in places pitch black, windy, drops, 4 points of contact scrambles , parts on scree it was bloody awful and never ending . I kept thinking get to the top and you’re going to finish this.  After what seemed to take forever, I reach the summit. In my mind I was going to photo take a photo on top but it was quite chilly very windy and I was exhausted so that idea soon went out of window. I was soon descending Snowdon at 1st I was thinking this is amazing with runnable switch backs that soon disappeared into loose deep dolomite type switch backs which slowed me down and frankly hurt my feet .You could see the lights of the check point which seemed never to get closer , also a stream of head torches going up the next climb which looked horrendous!  Eventually I was back on terraferma and heading towards the check point, Bron-y-Fedw. The cut off here was 5.30 I was here at 2.15, even though I had plenty big time I wanted to get back out so bottles filled, quick snack and I was on my way with only 2 more climbs left.  When I was descending Snowdon seeing the stream of head torches making their way  up  Mynydd Mawr it looked awful but it was actually ok .. I reached the top to see my second sunrise of the race , it was so good after a super tough night to be in daylight and only 13 miles or so to the finish . I was feeling great on the climbs but my feet were screaming on any decent. It was so frustrating as I felt I could really push but any down I was in excruciating pain.  I arrived at my final check point Betws Garmon at 5.30 am the cut off was 8.30.   So not finishing was no longer a concern or option. Again, it was a quick stop hot chocolate, a couple of sandwiches, bottles refilled and I was off.  Leaving the cp I was soon with a group of runners and going through some beautiful woods, well beautiful but very tricky, muddy , fallen trees to clamber over not want you need with 50 miles and 20k of assent in your legs.

Just as you leave the woods you pass the famous red chair, again no photo it was to much effort.  We were soon on the final assent up Moel Eilo . It looked a big climb but it was nice and soft /grassy I was exhausted but still moving getting to a flag counting to 10 leaning over on my poles then moving to the next flag.  I was soon at the top and thought that’s it until I could see runners that had descended in the distance and making their way up an another climb my heart sank.  Think the adrenaline was kicking in imagining crossing that finish line so pushed on . On the way up the sneaky hidden climb someone had dropped a Torque Cherry Bakewell Gel, I picked it up and devoured what I can describe as liquid cake.  I was soon at the top and descending to get to the Llamberis Path , be it a tricky decent with screaming feet .   Once I was on the path I had 2.5 miles to go all downhill , I rang Sue just in case the tracker wasn’t accurate to tell her i was going to be there soon, she was already there waiting . Entering the village, I felt quite emotional what I had accomplished, 5 months post -surgery and I was about to finish the hardest race I’ve ever entered, not scraping in either 3 hours before cutoff.  If anyone who reads who is battling illness /injury takes anything from this report Never Give Up, believe and do everything it takes to battle back. 

One final thing, well more a dedication to one of the most inspirational people I know at our club, you helped me more than you know, to battle back, thank you Tony!