APEX Running has announced that its 145km (3,900m+ elevation) Slate Trail Ultra is set to return over the weekend of October 18-20, 2024, and aims to become a permanent fixture in the UK ultrarunning calendar.
Joining it will be the inaugural 88km Ultra Tour of the Quarries (UTQ), which also runs along much of the Snowdonia Slate Trail in northern Wales.
Race Director Michael Jones said “In late 2020 I was delighted to take over ownership of this event from good friend Jonny at Up Hill Down Dale, who hosted it in January 2019 and 2020 previously. However, [with] full-time work for UTMB, developing UTS [Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB] took hold from late 2021, rendering a re-run of the event in recent years somewhat unrealistic.
“Recently free of those commitments and having radically overhauled the concept and vision I have for this event, I’m now fully focused on developing it over the coming years, with a view to joining the exciting new World Trail Majors circuit and continuing to highlight Eryri’s potential as a world-class trail, ultra and skyrunning destination through our superlative events.”
Launched in November 2023, the World Trail Majors aims to take a sustainable and independent approach to trail and ultra-racing. The new series gathers together a number of races worldwide, with the aim of… ‘providing an alternative to global racing with local knowledge and community at its heart.’
Snowdonia Slate Trail founder Aled Owen said “The Snowdonia Slate Trail Trust is excited for the return of the Slate Trail Ultra. Founded in 2017, we believe that this trail offers a truly amazing snapshot of all that is wonderful in Snowdonia — from rushing waterfalls and towering mountain views, to desolate moorlands and abandoned villages.
“The challenging terrain along the route also offers an insight into the culture and history of slate quarrying in North Wales. We look forward to following the race next October.”
For many runners, the full Slate Trail Ultra may lie at the more aspirational end of race completion yardstick. However, next year there will be the 88km ‘Ultra Tour of the Quarries’ – or UTQ – running alongside its bigger sibling.
Starting on Saturday morning and with a generous 24-hour time limit, the shorter 88km route takes in 2,700m+ of elevation with five aid stations, initially following the Slate Trail to Rhyd-Ddu before a detour that rejoins the Slate Trail at Ogwen Valley before heading to the coastal finish at Port Penrhyn in Bangor.
