Ben Parkes, this years’ comrades Marathon, running as a novice, was easily the hardest thing I’ve even done in my life. The last 35km absolute broke me. But I #gotitdone and will be running the “down run” in 2020! Congrats on UTCT. I teared up a little at the end there with you watching this video. Amazing effort! You can definitely hold you head up high after that!
For my own part, Skaala up in Loen, Norway. But you need to come try Stranda Fjord Trail Race on the Western coast of Norway, epic race and scenery just about an hour from where I live :)
Some Saffas (Calitz and Greyling) set the world record for most ascent in a day by going up and down 18x in 20 hours (they were not allowed all 24 due to a covid curfew...)
This actually brought a tear to my eye. I love how open and vulnerable you are in the videos, Ben, always honest about the emotional struggles this sport requires from us. It's so much more inspiring than seeing someone who seemingly never struggles. I would love to see a video from you on your favourite mental strategies for when the going gets tough! Well done again and thanks for all you do!
I know this is 3 years ago and you have come a *long* way since this but it's so honest and real that I just had to comment. Well done for grinding it out and "getting it done", really so happy to see you cross that finish line. x
Way to go, BEN!!! I'm seriously so impressed. Thanks for filming the whole thing. I don't know how you found the energy to do all that, but I'm so glad you recorded it to share with us. I hope your legs are feeling better by now!
These are my favourite videos of yours Ben. Those ones where you truly have to go deep into the well and see what you've got. I think at the end of it all, all we can ask of ourselves is if we truly lived and gave it our all, and seeing someone live that out by doing something like this is inspiring.
thanks for filming and sharing even when you're so much tired! very very good job, congrats. now I have the masochistic dream of running that trail one day...
Take a bow sir! And please put this video at the very top of your library of videos. You’ve exceeded all other videos with this one. Thanks for filming your journey. It literally had everything. What a man. You have balls of steel & the heart of a lion! Unbelievably well done Ben 👏🏻🏃♂️🇿🇦
Nice one mate, I can say been there felt like that :P (not at that race though). This will probably be even more satisfying of a victory than had you got the PB in the marathon, when you're down and feeling out and coming out on top. Massive kudos. One thing I might add, maybe next time (I'm sure there will be ;)) share the elevation remaining or done rather than pace and km's such a road runner thing to do haha :P just playing. Loved it so much, thanks for sharing with everyone.
I do sometimes put all the elevation stats on the screen, but it’s always hard to get accurate data for it.. For races I want it always to be 100% legit and elapsed elevation is hard to get out of Garmin / Strava. so just went to distance and elapsed time. Will see if I can sort it for the next trail race!
Brilliant vid. Well done Ben. Done this race twice. I know your pain. I had a good laugh when you said at the top of Platterklip that the "hardest climb is done". My hardest race - Getting ITB issues 30km into the Comrades and "Getting it done". But my UTCT100 experience last year was neck and neck for the hardest race. (Was better prepared this year). Keep the vids coming.
Loved this video. I was born in Cape Town and lived there for 33 years. So nice to see the trails and places where I used to run. But I've never done them all together in one grueling race. It looked tough! I'm so glad you finished!
Seeing the footage and hearing that how it is being described makes me very grateful for having started trail running in Utah. That terrain and type of trail is common here. Looks great!
Wow!! What an incredible event. You had me in tears more than once. Absolutely stunning route, from the sofa at least. Thanks for sharing and well done on getting it done!! #keeponkeepinon
Having to take 1-2 weeks off running due to a calf strain. Absolutely devastated earlier... but seeing this has re-inspired me to come back stronger. You’re a beast Ben! 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
Injury is tough to wrap your head around when it means you can’t run. Rest up and you will be stronger than before! Rest is a good thing and forced test can really do us good! Keep your head up, my man! 👊🏼
Absolutely inspirational from you Ben. Massive congratulations for finishing it and to Sarah too. Some of the terrain looked absolutely ridiculous to get through. In places it was more like timed mountain climbing rather than trail running. You did well mate, you did well.
Congrats Ben. As a South African I know how tough the cape town routes can be. I think it's time you try the True HARDEST race on the planet. IT'S TIME FOR THE BARKLEY MARATHON @BEN PARKS
10:19 --> This is what people who have just escaped burning buildings or have been dug out after being buried by an avalanche look like. I was watching your progress on the website as the run was going on and figured it was pretty tough, but I had no idea how difficult things could be. Amazing. Thanks for sharing the journey!
Awesome. By far the best and most honest video you’ve posted. Not only did you not give up on getting it done, you didn’t give up filming the experience for those who watch your channel.. Well done Ben.
Well done Ben - epic achievement and awesome video capturing the event. My toughest run to date has been the Great Wall Marathon - but was also one of the most memorable. Keep up the great content and look forward to seeing your next event!
Amazing! This is why we run, when it gets tough it gets interesting, makes the accomplishment so much more rewarding, saying that, that trail looked literally killer so fair play for finishing haha
Respect mate! I live in Cape Town, V02 Max of 60+ and often do Platteklip or Nursery Ravine. For anyone reading this, I'm knackered after a max effort on either of those climbs on their own. No idea how anyone is able to do this race. Well done!
Dude!!! Well done on the run. As a fellow UTCT 100K runner & a local to Cape Town it was awesome to watch your video. That Suther Peak is a beast but you nailed it even with the cut off bus on your ass. Not easy training in flat-as-a-pancake-London so double bonus points to you. Come back soon!!!
WOW!!! I truly could feel your pain while watching. But I also could feel your relief an proudness when you crossed that ultimate finish line. What a race and what a fighter you are. WELL DONE and CONGRATULATIONS. Just awesome!
Wow! Wow! Wow! That was amazing! You truly are a warrior Ben. What an incredible effort! It can really be heard in your voice how much that race tested you and pushed you to your limits but you kept going, and as you say, got it done! A stunning achievement to finish within the cut-off time. And to do so why filming this video to give so many other people an insight into the most difficult of races. Of all the different types of videos you make and put out, the race videos are the ones I like the most. I get to see a whole host of different races I didn’t even know existed and get a glimpse of what it takes to get through them. This is probably my favourite of all the ones I’ve seen so far, simply because we saw how you overcame the challenges of what you rightly said was a stunning but brutal course. Thank you for sharing these experiences with us, and keep up the great work.
Brought a tear to my eye watching you cross the finish line. Nicest bloke in the world and an inspiration. Well done for digging in deep and getting it done!!! 💪🏿 c’mon
BEST VLOG SO FAR!!! Well done Ben, massive respect for completing the race/cut off times....your determination shone through from start to finish.....amazing effort!!! 👏💪👊👍🏅🙌
Congrats on finishing! Glad you enjoyed the views of my home town :) Fun seeing you in all our local parkrun and hiking routes :) Next time you come to CT keep an eye out for trails in Stellenbosch and Kogelberg nature reserve also very stunning! Hope you come back again soon! Just moved to the Eastern Cape and there are some tough trails here! There is even a 100 mile trail in Addo Elephant National Park if your interested (37h cut-off). Keep up the hard work! Really enjoy your channel :)
Well done Ben! Awesome that you still kept shooting in those dark times in order to show your experience to the world. We really enjoyed your video.. FYI, in South Africa people will still ask you if you think you can do the Comrades after you've told them you've done UTCT. Good luck for coming back here for Comrades next year, you'll enjoy that one.
Very inspirational Ben, I’m sure I speak for many that we are appreciative of the content you give us. After reading your post on Strava I hope you don’t give up on trails, is it possible you went out a little fast at the start?
I ran the first 3k fast ish.. the road section early was the only bit I’d be good on, so wanted to enjoy it!! Soo slowed down to my comfortable pace with the aim to just finish, so all happy!
CCC had a similar boulder field going into La Flegere and I just fell apart (heat, sun and ran out of water) and timed out at the last AS but I still hold my head high as I didn't train well due to a cross country move to a new job. Similar training to you as I didn't live with lots of mountain climbing until May. Well done and excellent job remaining in the moment to push forward. I always enjoy your videos! Keep up the great work.
Proper effort! Hard to believe that the cut off was 15 hours when the race started in 2014! The cut off has been extended to 24 hours in 2021, but the route also changed quite a bit with more vert and more mountain. Well done on getting back under 17 hours! Its a massive feat.
Fair play for sticking it out. Definitely 100 miler Raw Ultra in Wicklow Way Ireland in Dec 2018 - storm and rain, darkness for 14 hours.........hardest ones are sometimes the best memories....
Wow just wow!! I’m a little late watching this but completely in awe of your challenge and your determination to finish such a brutal race. Your resilience is inspiring.
I will remember this video when conquering the Rotterdam marathon in about 7 weeks. It'll be my second marathon and I've been struggling for 2 years with my running. My training is going "okay-ish" and I'll be running for a cancer foundation charity because both my mother in law and my stepmother have cancer. In a nutshell: I feel a lot of pressure and I'll break into tears if(!) I cross the finishline. But I'll be remembering this video and the obstacles (literally) you had to climb and overcome before crossing this finishline. It will motivate me on april 14th to keep on pushing!
O my God Ben, that was awesome. The effort, the video and the trail. Your expressions say how tough the trail was, but one cannot ignore how beautiful it was as well. Kudos for your effort. A BIG CONGRATULATION for ticking this off.... Well done
What is the hardest race you've ever done?!?
Ben Parkes, this years’ comrades Marathon, running as a novice, was easily the hardest thing I’ve even done in my life. The last 35km absolute broke me. But I #gotitdone and will be running the “down run” in 2020!
Congrats on UTCT. I teared up a little at the end there with you watching this video. Amazing effort! You can definitely hold you head up high after that!
For my own part, Skaala up in Loen, Norway. But you need to come try Stranda Fjord Trail Race on the Western coast of Norway, epic race and scenery just about an hour from where I live :)
FatDog in BC, Canada. 😋 Beautiful trails. My fav place.
Langdale Marathon 2019, i was not in good shape mentally unfortunatly.
Endure 120k🏃♂️ but nothing compared to this...
7:39 lol i thought this guy behind gonna jump down🤣🤣
Same here 😂
He was done with the race 😂
Strava "Run this route again to see how your progressing" haha. Well done mate this is amazing.
When Ben says it's brutal, you have to respect this climb :')
Some Saffas (Calitz and Greyling) set the world record for most ascent in a day by going up and down 18x in 20 hours (they were not allowed all 24 due to a covid curfew...)
This actually brought a tear to my eye. I love how open and vulnerable you are in the videos, Ben, always honest about the emotional struggles this sport requires from us. It's so much more inspiring than seeing someone who seemingly never struggles. I would love to see a video from you on your favourite mental strategies for when the going gets tough! Well done again and thanks for all you do!
I know this is 3 years ago and you have come a *long* way since this but it's so honest and real that I just had to comment. Well done for grinding it out and "getting it done", really so happy to see you cross that finish line. x
Way to go, BEN!!! I'm seriously so impressed. Thanks for filming the whole thing. I don't know how you found the energy to do all that, but I'm so glad you recorded it to share with us. I hope your legs are feeling better by now!
These are my favourite videos of yours Ben. Those ones where you truly have to go deep into the well and see what you've got. I think at the end of it all, all we can ask of ourselves is if we truly lived and gave it our all, and seeing someone live that out by doing something like this is inspiring.
Watching that makes me home sick. Living now in the UK. Used to love all the long hikes and a bit of running out their. Well done Ben
These videos are extremely motivating. I really admire your passion and talent!
thanks for filming and sharing even when you're so much tired! very very good job, congrats. now I have the masochistic dream of running that trail one day...
Take a bow sir! And please put this video at the very top of your library of videos. You’ve exceeded all other videos with this one. Thanks for filming your journey. It literally had everything. What a man. You have balls of steel & the heart of a lion! Unbelievably well done Ben 👏🏻🏃♂️🇿🇦
Thank you for the kind words Roddy!!
my home ! The cape trails and road running scene is just so beautiful
That is incredible that you can overcome physical and mental toughness to conquer a brutal 100k. congrats.
Nice one mate, I can say been there felt like that :P (not at that race though). This will probably be even more satisfying of a victory than had you got the PB in the marathon, when you're down and feeling out and coming out on top. Massive kudos. One thing I might add, maybe next time (I'm sure there will be ;)) share the elevation remaining or done rather than pace and km's such a road runner thing to do haha :P just playing. Loved it so much, thanks for sharing with everyone.
I do sometimes put all the elevation stats on the screen, but it’s always hard to get accurate data for it.. For races I want it always to be 100% legit and elapsed elevation is hard to get out of Garmin / Strava. so just went to distance and elapsed time. Will see if I can sort it for the next trail race!
@@BenParkes you did great Ben and so was the video, sorry it was only a suggestion :)
OMG!!! Proper man tears watching this Ben! Blown away by your mental strength. A very emotional watch. Many congratulations, and to Sarah also 💪💪
Brilliant vid. Well done Ben. Done this race twice. I know your pain. I had a good laugh when you said at the top of Platterklip that the "hardest climb is done". My hardest race - Getting ITB issues 30km into the Comrades and "Getting it done". But my UTCT100 experience last year was neck and neck for the hardest race. (Was better prepared this year). Keep the vids coming.
Well done for getting Comrades done Galen!
Loved this video. I was born in Cape Town and lived there for 33 years. So nice to see the trails and places where I used to run. But I've never done them all together in one grueling race. It looked tough! I'm so glad you finished!
Seeing the footage and hearing that how it is being described makes me very grateful for having started trail running in Utah. That terrain and type of trail is common here. Looks great!
Epic Achievement again Ben! great video was awesome watching! and was great meeting you and supporting!
Thanks again for your help Greg! Hopefully your cap will be with you soon! All the best to you
Wow!! What an incredible event. You had me in tears more than once. Absolutely stunning route, from the sofa at least. Thanks for sharing and well done on getting it done!! #keeponkeepinon
“Than sitting on the sofa.... watching TH-cam” 😂
What a vlog - absolutely epic and inspiring. You’re never going to forget this race - such grit in ‘getting it done’ 👏💪
Having to take 1-2 weeks off running due to a calf strain. Absolutely devastated earlier... but seeing this has re-inspired me to come back stronger. You’re a beast Ben! 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼
You’ll be back stronger than ever and ready to run soon David!! 🤜🤛
Injury is tough to wrap your head around when it means you can’t run. Rest up and you will be stronger than before! Rest is a good thing and forced test can really do us good! Keep your head up, my man! 👊🏼
I’m not a runner but Ben, you are a world class motivator. Thanks for your content. I’m in and may try running when the bike season is off.
Thanks for making and sharing that video. That was brilliant, well done..
Absolutely inspirational from you Ben. Massive congratulations for finishing it and to Sarah too. Some of the terrain looked absolutely ridiculous to get through. In places it was more like timed mountain climbing rather than trail running. You did well mate, you did well.
An incredible performance, you're an absolute superhuman for all of your mind boggling achievements. Well Done Ben, you're an inspiration!!
This is an example of some of the most heroic action a human can make. I am amazed and humbled.
Inspirational stuff well done! Love how diverse you are as a runner! Fast on roads and fearless on trails. Keep up the amazing work :)
Congrats Ben. As a South African I know how tough the cape town routes can be. I think it's time you try the True HARDEST race on the planet.
IT'S TIME FOR THE BARKLEY MARATHON @BEN PARKS
10:19 --> This is what people who have just escaped burning buildings or have been dug out after being buried by an avalanche look like. I was watching your progress on the website as the run was going on and figured it was pretty tough, but I had no idea how difficult things could be. Amazing. Thanks for sharing the journey!
Really gutsy effort Ben! Very inspirational.
it was
What an amazing vid. The raw emotion and vulnerability that you showed was awe inspiring.
Congrats! Very inspirational! Thanks for taking us along
Awesome. By far the best and most honest video you’ve posted. Not only did you not give up on getting it done, you didn’t give up filming the experience for those who watch your channel.. Well done Ben.
Unbelievable journey Ben, thank you for sharing!
Utter legend. Superb video too. Cant wait to see what your next challenge is!
Great vid, ultra running at its finest. Epic course
holy moly that terrain and profile is something else and then you had to run 100k :O
well done, well done!
Well done Ben - epic achievement and awesome video capturing the event. My toughest run to date has been the Great Wall Marathon - but was also one of the most memorable. Keep up the great content and look forward to seeing your next event!
Thank you for sharing this experience with us. Truly amazing. You just made me purchase a Getting It Done hat 👍
Such a good human, congrats Ben
Thank you Jamie!
Congratulations Ben ! It's just awesome what you have done !
Crowds look amazing, so supportive
Whilst this was a while ago,. it was inspiring to watch it today. Cape Town is such a beautiful place!
Amazing! This is why we run, when it gets tough it gets interesting, makes the accomplishment so much more rewarding, saying that, that trail looked literally killer so fair play for finishing haha
Respect mate! I live in Cape Town, V02 Max of 60+ and often do Platteklip or Nursery Ravine. For anyone reading this, I'm knackered after a max effort on either of those climbs on their own. No idea how anyone is able to do this race. Well done!
So inspiring. Thanks so much for being so honest and sharing your journey through the race. Amazing.
Unbelievable effort Ben. Huge respect. You are a true inspiration.
You are incredible! Congratulations on overcoming and achieving this amazing goal. I got choked up watching you cross the finish line!
What an absolute inspiration you are Ben. Total legend in my books, well done.
Aww, thank you Kerry!
Dude!!! Well done on the run. As a fellow UTCT 100K runner & a local to Cape Town it was awesome to watch your video. That Suther Peak is a beast but you nailed it even with the cut off bus on your ass. Not easy training in flat-as-a-pancake-London so double bonus points to you. Come back soon!!!
Will be back to Cape Town soon Derrick! Well done to you!
Absolute legend Ben . You are a true inspiration and to see you and Sarah embrace at the finish was magic. Well done mate .
WOW!!! I truly could feel your pain while watching. But I also could feel your relief an proudness when you crossed that ultimate finish line. What a race and what a fighter you are. WELL DONE and CONGRATULATIONS. Just awesome!
Wow! Wow! Wow! That was amazing! You truly are a warrior Ben. What an incredible effort! It can really be heard in your voice how much that race tested you and pushed you to your limits but you kept going, and as you say, got it done! A stunning achievement to finish within the cut-off time. And to do so why filming this video to give so many other people an insight into the most difficult of races.
Of all the different types of videos you make and put out, the race videos are the ones I like the most. I get to see a whole host of different races I didn’t even know existed and get a glimpse of what it takes to get through them. This is probably my favourite of all the ones I’ve seen so far, simply because we saw how you overcame the challenges of what you rightly said was a stunning but brutal course.
Thank you for sharing these experiences with us, and keep up the great work.
Brought a tear to my eye watching you cross the finish line. Nicest bloke in the world and an inspiration. Well done for digging in deep and getting it done!!! 💪🏿 c’mon
Aw, thanks man!
BEST VLOG SO FAR!!!
Well done Ben, massive respect for completing the race/cut off times....your determination shone through from start to finish.....amazing effort!!! 👏💪👊👍🏅🙌
Wow, just the raw humanity, thanks for sharing!
That was a fantastic video Ben. Really inspirational. Well done.
@7:40 that person just started running on the wall!
An incredibly inspiring video, well done Ben.
Great work Ben, inspirational
Congrats on finishing! Glad you enjoyed the views of my home town :) Fun seeing you in all our local parkrun and hiking routes :) Next time you come to CT keep an eye out for trails in Stellenbosch and Kogelberg nature reserve also very stunning! Hope you come back again soon! Just moved to the Eastern Cape and there are some tough trails here! There is even a 100 mile trail in Addo Elephant National Park if your interested (37h cut-off).
Keep up the hard work! Really enjoy your channel :)
Well done Ben! Awesome that you still kept shooting in those dark times in order to show your experience to the world. We really enjoyed your video.. FYI, in South Africa people will still ask you if you think you can do the Comrades after you've told them you've done UTCT. Good luck for coming back here for Comrades next year, you'll enjoy that one.
Amazing Ben ! Crazy race ! Respect for you !!
Very inspirational Ben, I’m sure I speak for many that we are appreciative of the content you give us. After reading your post on Strava I hope you don’t give up on trails, is it possible you went out a little fast at the start?
I ran the first 3k fast ish.. the road section early was the only bit I’d be good on, so wanted to enjoy it!! Soo slowed down to my comfortable pace with the aim to just finish, so all happy!
Congrats, that is just awesome how you endured and pushed through it....Embrace The Suck and relish in the reward!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Congratulations on completing that challenge. Inspirational personified
Absolutely inspiring stuff! Thank you for taking us on the journey. 🏃👍#Legend
You are such an absolute legend, Ben. Love your content so much.
CCC had a similar boulder field going into La Flegere and I just fell apart (heat, sun and ran out of water) and timed out at the last AS but I still hold my head high as I didn't train well due to a cross country move to a new job. Similar training to you as I didn't live with lots of mountain climbing until May. Well done and excellent job remaining in the moment to push forward. I always enjoy your videos! Keep up the great work.
Proper effort!
Hard to believe that the cut off was 15 hours when the race started in 2014!
The cut off has been extended to 24 hours in 2021, but the route also changed quite a bit with more vert and more mountain.
Well done on getting back under 17 hours! Its a massive feat.
Excellent episode.
Fair play for sticking it out. Definitely 100 miler Raw Ultra in Wicklow Way Ireland in Dec 2018 - storm and rain, darkness for 14 hours.........hardest ones are sometimes the best memories....
Huge Respect Ben.
Congratulations on finishing. A true inspiration for everyone. We'll done young man.
Absolutely awesome. Well done Ben.
Absolutely amazing, pure grit and determination! Absolute credit to yourself mate. Top top work!! 😍
Amazing!!🏆I think you deserve extra kudos for holding the GoPro and filming all the way round. 🎥
Great video, i love that u show your emotions and the mental strength! keep it up Ben, its because of you i started running!
Amazing Ben!! Well done!! Gosh!! 💪🏽💪🏽 incredible!! Stunning photos! Cape Town is beautiful- happy to call it home :) Well done!!!!🙌🏽
was waiting for this run updates
Impressive terrain !
Well done Ben.
Great job Ben! You’re a real inspiration for me as a runner, thanks!!💪🏻✌🏻
Awesome effort Ben.
Such an inspiration! Keep up the good work Ben, incredible stuff!
What a watch congratulations Ben amazing getting it done buddy
Well Done Ben! Congrats mate! The beauty of ultra is going through all the emotions we ever had in a short period of time. :D
Wow just wow!!
I’m a little late watching this but completely in awe of your challenge and your determination to finish such a brutal race. Your resilience is inspiring.
Well done for getting it done Ben! That looked unbelievably tough!
Omg. What a help. Thank you and congratulations! 😍😍
I will remember this video when conquering the Rotterdam marathon in about 7 weeks. It'll be my second marathon and I've been struggling for 2 years with my running. My training is going "okay-ish" and I'll be running for a cancer foundation charity because both my mother in law and my stepmother have cancer. In a nutshell: I feel a lot of pressure and I'll break into tears if(!) I cross the finishline. But I'll be remembering this video and the obstacles (literally) you had to climb and overcome before crossing this finishline. It will motivate me on april 14th to keep on pushing!
O my God Ben, that was awesome. The effort, the video and the trail. Your expressions say how tough the trail was, but one cannot ignore how beautiful it was as well. Kudos for your effort. A BIG CONGRATULATION for ticking this off.... Well done
Sometimes completion is way more inspiring than finishing in first place. Well done, great video!
Inspirational as always mate you have great determination to get the job done massive respect on finishing such a tough race 🙌🏻 kudos
SO AWESOMELY MOTIVATING!!! I was emotional watching you finish. Thank you for showing people you can make it through anything...😊
Such an inspiration Ben! Congratulations 🎉
Well done Ben. Phenomenal effort
Thanks for bringing us along in your journey. You are amazing.
Well done Ben!!!
Emotional stuff! Glad you felt the Cape Town Love