Mel Sykes Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB - Young Hearts Run Free Podcast - Season 8 Eps 6

We’re ramping up the temperature this week as we get ready for summer!!c

We welcome back to the show, oor pal from Yorkshire, Mel Sykes to give us her lowdown on what proved to be a challenging and toasty race in the Welsh mountains at the Ultra-Trail Snowdonia 50k (ish).

First though we’ve an extended intro featuring your dynamic duo. There are all sorts of funky happenings across the nation and that takes us on a wonderful meander to Cape Wrath before being catapulted back to the capital as it awaits this weekends Edinburgh Marathon.
We also take a much-needed deep breath and convey how it’s not always plain sailing this running lark. The peaks and troughs all of us must work through from time to time are discussed, all that insta shit and Strava success can often overshadow folk dealing with loss of mojo’s or what seems like constant injury woes. Hopefully some sage advice in amongst our blether!
Mel arrives to lift the mood, and she’s plenty enough chatter to keep us entertained. You might remember she recently finished 3rd at the Manchester to Liverpool Ultra (covered in Season 8 Episode 3). She changed the terrain and elevation profile to toe the line at the super popular UTS by UTMB.
A non-exhaustive list but we cover 1. Running Poles. A help or a hindrance? 2. Greedy race organisers. How many entrants is too many? 3. Drinking from streams. A risk worth taking? 4. Aid station heroes. Do they work harder than race participants? 5. The heat in Wales. Don’t forget your sunscreen!!
There’s some mild controversy and debate in there to get your heckles up. And Mel reveals her next challenge, one we’re pretty sure she’ll have the spine for.
Enjoy folks and good luck to wherever you’re off adventuring this week, whether it’s racing, meandering or exploring.