Think you need to head to the Alps for an Alpine Scale Ultra? Think again! The Snowdonia Ultra-Trail is unique for the UK and SCARPA Athlete Camine de Grandis is up for the challenge.
The Snowdonia Ultra-Trail takes place this weekend and our man Carmine de Grandis, is preparing himself for the mammoth run.
The event is one of the toughest events in the UK taking place in the beautiful Snowdonia national park, this run is both stunning and brutal!
With 50k, 100k and 165k routes all with 1000m+ of elevation gain per 16km distance.
When we say this race is tough, in the first year in 2018 only 13 of the 46 people who started the race finished the 100mile course!
Being a mountain race, the terrain is another thing to battle, with paths, off road sections and scrambles, there is plenty to test the legs of Carmine and the other competitors.
Carmine is competing in the 165k event and is looking to test himself against the terrain.
He said:
“Ultra-Trail Snowdonia has been a race I have wanted to take part in since it started in 2018. 2021 was meant to be the year I completed an Adventure Race in Scotland, Itera 2021, but the pandemic meant the AR race had to be postponed… so I took it as a sign that I should be on the start line of the UTS 165. This race is described as “the ultimate grand-tour of the mountains of Snowdonia National Park”.
It features 10000+m of elevation gain/loss on predominantly technical mountain trails. It is also the “UK’s first alpine scale ultra: Beautiful beyond belief; Savage beyond reason”.
As a Scarpa Athlete Ambassador I am supported by passion and knowledge for the mountains… all that is left for me to do now is to go and “put one foot in front of the other” until I reach the finish line at Capel Curig – 50 hours max.
Will everything go to plan? Will I achieve my ambition? All I know is that I have the privilege of being a guest in the mountains and, hopefully, the mountains and its other guests (organisers, volunteers and athletes) will help me achieve my dream.”
Carmine will be wearing the Spin Ultra for the race, switching to the Ribelle Run for more technical parts of the the course.
To prepare Carmine has been hitting the trails around his home in Norfolk.
“Beeston Bump, Sheringham is one of my local hills in North Norfolk. Great views, great incline, a bit short… so great for reps while dreaming of the big mountains.
This hill has helped me prepare and succeed at some really renowned and tough Ultra-Trail mountain races such us CCC in 2021, TDS in 2014, UTMB in 2015, Lakeland 100 in 2014 and 2015, Hoffas Dyke Race (185 miles) in 2017, the Dragon’s Back Race in 2019, Bob Graham Round in 2019.
This hill has also helped me to train for many other races or special trail running challenges such as and the Norfolk Coastal Path Self-Supported FKT in 2020.”
Keep an eye on our socials to find out how Carmine did at the Snowdonia Ultra-Trail and how he found the experience.
Update
Unfortunately things didn’t go to plan for Carmine in harsh conditions. A fall in mile 3 and a blow to the knee, gave Carmine a difficult decision to make. He kept on for as long as he could, but took the brave decision to pull out before the night time stretch.
Not one to stay down for long, Carmine has vowed to keep training and come back to finish what he started one day!
Carmine de Carmine de Grandis is an Italian Trail and Ultrarunner, now based in Norfolk. Keep up with Carmine’s adventures on his Instagram @outdoorspirit1
