Focus will soon return.

I’m committed. Signed up for Ultra Tour of Snowdonia. 100 miles, 33,000 feet of vert around Snowdonia National Park North Wales. May 12, 2023. 

I’m kind of in limbo right now. No real focus on training with no big race lined up. Yes, I do have the Arc of Attrition lined up the end of January but I think I’m going to defer it for next year. Just not feelin’ it. 

Lottery season has begun though. I qualify for the Hardrock 100 in Silverton Colorado. Their lottery is odd and very limited. I believe I’ve got a .4% chance of getting in, but since there are few qualifying races I feel like I have to try. UTMB got me into it. The race itself is the same as UTMB in distance and vert but it’s all at altitude, I believe topping out over 14,000ft! I’ll have this year and next year in the lottery until I need another qualifying race. Obviously it would be expensive having to fly into likely Albuquerque, and I’ll go alone, no family since it’s in June during school. 

Other considerations are the West Highland Way in Scotland. Been around since 1985 and known internationally. A solid option I’ve gotten into in the past. Nothing too difficult or obscure, just a must do race and I have yet to race in Scotland! Downside is it requires a two person crew and a chase car. 

Ultra Tour Snowdonia in North Wales. It’s filling fast, will be beautiful, and also gets be qualifying for UTMB races. 

Nothing else really inspiring here in the UK, maybe I haven’t researched enough.

Running is going well otherwise. Just plinking away at miles. Had a fantastic day out in the Lake District yesterday. I was driving my mother-in-law and her husband home to Scotland so took advantage again of a run break in Pooley Bridge on my return trip. Was planning on running the Ullswater Way, 20 miles or so around Ullswater. The weather was warm, it was wet and windy though so opted for this run to stay out of the high fells. It was beautiful! I took a few detours and wrong turns but still had a great run around the lake. Here are a bunch of photos. The run covered most of the Ullswater Way and a few sections of the Lakeland 100 that I ran a while back.

Not the exact route I did but gives you an idea of the terrain.

Ullswater from the start at Pooley Bridge

Aira Force waterfall

UTMB Race Video!

Wasn’t expecting this but it’s pretty cool. Chris and Gail, my brother and sister who crewed me, are even at the finish! I’m wearing a yellow Alpenglow Sports shirt during the day, an orange jacket the first night, and a black long sleeve the second night. All with orange shoes. #1658. 

My buddy who owns Alpenglow in Lake Tahoe gave me crap for the “old shirt” that I got from him at 2017 Western States 100. I like the yellow, and this is why, it stands out! Ha ha ha! Wishing him well, he had a nasty mountain bike crash, broken clavicle, ankle, and tibia, he’s alright and fortunately didn’t need surgery. 

The video gives a good view of the course too showing a handful of the pros coming through during the daytime.