Never giving up... Training for UTMB 170k (part 1)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- Here we go again! It's time to put behind us everything that happened at UTMB 2022 and give it another crack. We're doing things very differently this time around, so follow along as we start our campaign to finish the full 170k UTMB.
Awesome training plans to get you that PB you deserve!
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Can’t believe it’s been a year already! You’ve got this and Sarah too, enjoy it! 👍🏼 🏆
Yes.. crazy how fast it comes around! Thanks very much Jon!
re. crew, it really isn't too demanding. My 70 y/o dad did it last year for me. Set off straight after the start for the first checkpoint, then back to Chamonix for a bit of sleep before an early bus ride to Courmayeur... the last three are actually pretty easy to get to and he loved being part of it all! The UTMB buses seem to work well although it just means you need to be smart as you can't have a campervan full of supplies.
Thanks
How you described your accident is exactly how I thought it did happen when I saw your first video about this after utmb last year. I even remember this exact spot and was wondering why no one put on their head torch, I did and felt like I was almost the only one at least around me. Especially in the first 30km soo many people seem to do so many things wrong. Like going out way too fast and fighting for every second which is ridiculous given how most people feel in the second half. Wish I could be your crew but I got lucky in the lottery myself again. Hope to see you out there on the course (again) and looking forward to more training videos from you guys. My top tip for utmb is: Get through most aid stations quickly but make sure to fuel well in Les Chapieux (km50) and Arnouvaz (km90). In both cases it's long and hard way to the next aid stations.
Ben you are brilliant, and an inspiration. You can be too hard on yourself, all you do it’s amazing how you do these runs and film them etc. Recently seen Seth need a break, just try to manage your output so it’s sustainable. Good luck at UTMB!
Yes I saw Seth needed a break. Can't even imagine the stress of a daily video. It's pretty intense. Thanks very much for the message!!
Really enjoy this style of vid, the glorious views and you chatting. Much appreciated. Really looking forward to you tackling the beast!!
my legs hurt just by watching those downhill runs 😂.
Love to see you being in great form
Great positivity! Glad you're getting back on it Ben. And Sarah has Comrades done, with UTMB and a 200 to come!
Go Ben and Sarah! Best on the training for UTMB!
happy for your recovery and looking forward to your utmb 2023 vlog in the future!
@Ben - I have been off from training for half a year due to mental challenges. I decided during my time off that WHEN I am back running I’m going to treat myself Ben merch (you are such an inspiration and mood lifter)! A few days ago that day came, and since I had a few months with more and more running I treated myself some running merch from you! Thanks for all your great content Ben and Sarah!
Excited to toe the line as well, thanks for your videos, they are very helpful in preparation. Good luck with training and see you in Chamonix!
Ben, Sarah, so hyped for you guys! I've been following you for months since registering for the Mozart 100, 2023. I found Ben's video from Mozart 2019 where there were obviously some unlucky issues and then again some bad luck on the UTMB.........and guess what, this year I crashed out of the Mozart.......oh dear!! Anyway I can't ignore the parallels and so it's very motivating motivating to see your attitude of cracking on at it again!!! Watching things like this really helps me and others and of course I'll be back too!!! Massive love and respect to you Ben and Sarah for all your motivational and informative vids!!! can't wait to see the follow-up!.......you can do it guys!!!!
Very best of luck this year at UTMB-magic scenery! Thx
What a stunning place to train - for UTMB or anything 🤩
Can’t help this year Ben, but if you’re out there again next year, we’ll be there supporting through the week. So if you need extra crew, we’ll be there! All the very best for this year Ben!
Thanks Steve! Hopefully I won't need a third attempt next year! haha.. maybe see you out there in 2024, no doubt we'll be out there for something. Such a great week of running!
Love the channel Ben…better luck with the utmb this year…looking forward to your upcoming videos 💪👍
Great to see you in a better place Ben. Can’t wait for the other episodes
Thank you Cole.. see you soon hopefully!
You got this Ben! Took me 11 years to complete my first mountain 100-mile race. This is your year!
Bet that felt amazing crossing the line.. Never give up your dream!
So excited for you both to be back and really been enjoying following on Strava. Best wishes this go around! And if I could find a way to be there I’d definitely crew you both!
Good luck to both of you. Hope the training goes well.
Great show Ben, Sarah can’t wait for the next episode. Good luck on al the training 🏃♂️ 👍
Wish I could be there!! Just take it easy, hope you have good weather! Best of luck to both of you!!
Wishing you both all the best on UTMB-The Return the scenery just looks stunning. 😊
Incredible video. ❤ So good to go over it mentally.
Great to hear you're both getting out there again this year. Enjoy and you got this 👍
Thank you very much!
Good luck to both of you!
Yes yes yes Ben you can do it! Love your positive attitude and that you aren't letting last years injury stop you from trying again! Chase that dream buddy!! ❤
HEYVERYBDY! Love seeing you getting out there again!
Hi Ben,
I'm a recently new subscriber to your channel and find it interesting that you focus on both road and trails. Whereas myself, I'm focused on trails.
The scenery on this course always looks amazing!!
I thought your offer to have someone crew for you is fantastic - hope it works out for you all. Good luck and take care out there 👊🏻
Very best of luck to you both, this WILL be your race! Smash it 🎉
Never give up Ben!
And Sarah too of course
Go crush it! Beautiful views, enjoy every second!
That is great ! This year I am not running but crewing and cheering friends on TDS and UTMB. May the power be with you this year👍🏼
Rooting and praying for you to finish Utmb 2023, I will be running TDS. Hope to see you and Sarah during utmb week. For now, train safe and sleep well ya
Great video as always so much respect for you and Sarah ❤
Thank you Georgina. Hope all is good with you!
Good luck Ben- really hope you have a good experience this year - so beautiful out there ⭐️
Insane resilience
Wow, really doesn't feel like that was a whole year ago. Best of luck once again!
Good Luck both
You've both got this! Its my first time at UTMB this year. Hope to see you out on the course!!!
Great video. So happy that you’re both going for it this year! I don’t arrive in time to offer to crew, but I’ll be up at La Flegere on Sat/Sun and will reserve some massive cheers for you both 👏
See you there Steph. I'll probably be in a right state by that time.. haha. Wishing you a fun time out in Chamonix!
Crazy to think it’s been a year, go smash it you guys
This is amazing! Best of luck to you both, I'm so buzzed for you, you're going to smash it!
Yes yes yes this is very a pleasant surprise
Good luck and hope to see you during the race! If you're lucky enough to make it through the lottery two years in a row you're definitely lucky enough to finish ;)
I can already feel the excitement and nervous energy of following those dots on the tracking. Love Sarahs judging look as you show her your empty gels. 😂 You are lucky to have her in your corner to up your nutrition game.
Great to hear you're training well. I'm coming over from Australia to race my first UTMB this year. Hope to see you before or during the event.
Amazing footage and insight! Also appreciate the part you hinted at about showing emptying nutrition packets. I'm very bad about fueling during long efforts. Got very good and efficient at it (Chicago marathon, Clearwater 50k) but kind of dug myself into a hole. Keep on trucking 👍🏼
Really enjoyed this video, got to see a lot of scenery and really got a feel of the training. Also good to go back to the scene of the accident and be able to deal with that before race day. Re filming on the race, I do always admire how you do it but equally footage and voiceover would be good too if ir puts less pressure on you
Not going to lie, can already tell I'll be in bits watching you cross the finish line
Great video as always Ben. A great reminder to me that my training is just a joke! I just hope to survive and finish the race! Great to hear you're both getting out there again this year. It would be great to run a few meters with you guys. Anyhow, have a really lovely and safe race. 😄🤙
All the best this year and will see you there in the mountains, doing UTMB CCC myself and documenting the journey and week for a documentary, would be great to meet up for a chat!
Sending good luck for you both you got this .
Instantly recognized a lot of those locations. Ran the UTMB 170k trail about a month ago, and even though it was pure misery most of the time, I actually miss it already. The scenery is amazing. Noticed you're wearing the green Zegama's, which is the exact shoe I wore. I struggled immensely with blisters sadly though.
I only wear the Zegamas as they give me zero issues and very comfortable.. amazing how different we all are! Well done on getting your run done.. sure there will be a lot of satisfaction in the long term!
@@BenParkes It was something completely out of the ordinary for me. Incredible experience! But was wondering, with the Zegama's, did you size up from your Alphafly's?
Best of luck for the rest of your training left and All the Best for the race guys, you´ll smash it :o)
Nice one! All the best with the training. I'll be over from New Zealand for CCC and am staying in Les Houches, looking forward to it immensely. I liked the Naak nutrition stuff and have used it in a couple of ultras this year now; not too sweet and at 250 calories a serve it certainly keeps you fuelled. I do get what Sarah means though; the oat flour in the mixture gives it a weird texture and taste that takes some getting used to, but I have grown to really like it. And the lemon & lime flavour is better, imo.
Good luck mate- I'm over in the area now, I hope the heat eases off for you/the race!
Here you go again! Felt bad for you both last year. It will taste all the sweeter when you cross that finish line! Just get that nutrition plan sorted and keep eating!!
HELERRREBUDDY and welcome back to the channel...
You and Sarah are going to be ace at UTMB - I have every confidence!
Thank you very much!
Only been running a little over a year with some good pb times set few big runs in the lake District and took on the challenge of the Welsh 3000s.
I'm not sure I'm up to utmb but couple years I'm dreaming of it such a stunning place to run
Best of luck Ben and Sarah.
Really fun video! I’m with Sarah though, you’ve gotta work on your eating! 😂
Yes.. that will be the key for sure!! Will be trying to get some tips on our next run together!
Good luck guys!! ⛰️ 🏃🏻♀️ 🏃🏻♂️ ⛰️
sooo lesson learn,. Start with the headlamp from start =P Glad to c you never give up, you gonna smach it !!
Shokz Open Run all day long. I was sceptical about bone conduction until a few years ago when a friend got me onto them. 💯
Ben, if you're not getting emosh in a video then I'm not really satisfied!! Thank you very much for sharing your journey.
Great to see you’re both back at UTMB this year! See you in Chamonix. I’m doing CCC otherwise I’d crew you
Won't even lie, just bought this tshirt and hat Ben is sporting in this video. Slickest look. Hopefully I look as cool as Ben does 😎
Good luck!
Well done, nice video. One day I will get there. Oh yes in France people still uses checks. They are a bit old fashion in France
😂
4:42 for those who don’t know “A over T” is an abbreviation for….
It's British slang meaning 'so as to fall over in a sudden or dramatic way'.
Thank you
Helloooeverybodeeeee! You guys are gonna do great 👍
Les Houches to Vallorcine just says rock climbing to me Ben, your rack and pinion train has only one other example outside of mainland Europe, that is the Snowdon train!
Now get back to the rock slabs in Valorcine and get climbing!
Great to see that you are back for UTMB. What Garmin watch are you using?
This was an Garmin Epix in this video.
I’m running the UTMB too this year! You should try the lime naak instead of the water melon one, it taste way better imo! Let me know if you do a trail run in Chamonix and want some company!
Appreciate the content - awesome.
How did you qualify/gain entry to UTMB this year.
Great video as always. I was watching your video on an easy run and burst out laughing when got Sarah with the water. I’m not sure why I found that so funny 😂
What litre size is that Salomon? 10L?
Wow , a year has flown past! Good luck to you both! You've got this! Nike UltraFly for this one?
Wish them energy gels are not that disgusting! Tried all but all are same gloopy mess 😂
Good luck on utmb hope knee bruises etc don't happen again
Best of luck, Sarah! Tor de Geants is not small potatoes 🤙
Great video, how did you get into UTMB 2 years in a row?
Good luck Ben! You got this! Which shoes will you use?
I have injured my knee twice when it has hit a rock that is partly covered. Not in dark but in sun. In many places you see the surface well when the sun is behind you but when it's in front, you don't. Then the trainer hits one rock, you fall and the knee hits the next rock.
ah, sorry to hear that. Hope your knee is all ok now!!
is Sarah filming her UTMB journey as well? Love the videos
A thought just came to me today: would you be considering to also shoot after lowering your PB's on the middle distances like HM and 10k?
A lot of focus has been on Marathon and ultras for you, but I was just curious to know, especially as parts of the longer distances (like fueling) are almost their own discipline.
Best of luck for this years UTMB!
Long time follower, merch buyer and fan!
If you’re still wondering; the Tramway du Mont Blanc goes from St. Gervais to Le Nid d’Aigle at 2400m, the starting point for most people who want to climb Mont Blanc!
i'm with sarah, naäk watermelon is really that bad.. have you tried the spring energy "awesome sauce" gel? it tastes soo good, just like applesauce (i swear), and amazingly has 180kcal + 45g of carbs. bit on the expensive side, but my staple for ultras!
I'm going to get some Spring when I get back to the Uk and try it out on some longer runs back home. Everyone raves about it.. I tried it about 4 years ago and didn't love the Cannaberry, but will try some new flavours!
You excited for the Nike ultrafly trail shoes, possible UTMB shoe?!!!
possibly!! We will get the order in as soon as it drops on the Nike app.
What will be the shoes you have selected for the UTMB?
What worked really well for me during the last race was the Maurten drinkmix... the gels don't work for me🤢
how many UTMB stones did you have for this years entry? and how many do you think are needed for a good chance of getting in? me and my friend are eyeing next year's UTMB, and while I'll have 15 stones by the end of the year, my friend will only have 5.
I just had 2, from doing transvulcania by UTMB last year. I'd say with 15 you're pretty much guaranteed to get in. 5 will have a good shout too. They use to do something where by you can enter as a group, so you both get in, or you both don't. Not sure if that's a thing anymore now Ironman took over.
Could you share your gopro settings? Also, which editing program are you using?
I know media mod mic isn't that good so you must be fixing its distorted loudness with some editing I guess.
We use Final Cut Pro. The media mod mic is ok.. not as good as a dedicated microphone that I'd usually use when we do road running and Sarah is on her bike etc. But it gets the job done on the trails where we have to carry everything. Everything is filmed in 4k 60 on the GoPro. We rarely change much in the colour. And hardly ever touch the audio.. as think it's ok given the environment we are filming in.
Hi Ben - I’ve seen a few runners using a roller cream on their legs prior to a run, can you suggest what this could be please?
Hi Ben , which poles do you use ?? Cool
Video
They are black diamond. Carbon Z. I like them!
How many running stones did you have? Trying to collect enough to maybe get in next year
Nothing better than taking revenge on a DNF. Best of luck.
Heh Ben, are we going to be able to track you at all on the UTMB?
I can help on Champex-Lac if required (my friends are 570 and 630 itra)