I did a lot of cycle racing in my twenties, including long distance events such as 24 hours, and actually one record. If I were trying to knock off the 3000s in six hours I would certainly take the same minimal gear/energy food approach. But I assume most people are just out to enjoy the experience not to break a record. If - at the age of sixty odd - I can get round the 3000s in a civilised manner with a muesli breakfast before starting, sausage breakfast after Snowdon, salad lunch in Ogwen and still get under 12 hours enjoying the whole day, still able to finish the day in time to have an evening in the pub, I don't see the point in making myself miserable. And anyway, there is actually a trade-off between speed, sustenance, rests, energy, time. I was still able to jog the last few miles down the valley. I think I would just have got slower and slower with the snatched food approach - speed is less tiring than slogging. And that is another recommendation - try to increase your natural speed and certainly look at your footwear. If I were trying now, I think the only change I would make is using poles, faster downhills.
