UTMB etc 2011

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Originally Posted by andyhartley

Just back from France. Loved the CCC. What an incredible experience. The mountains, the cameraderie, the spectators, the rhythm of the running, the highs ( grand col de ferret and the view of the glaciers, the start, the swiss high pastureland down to Issaert, the food tent at Champex, knowing I would make it upon arriving in Argentiere, the finish), the lows ( the quad busting descent to Arnuva, the disorientating trail along the river to Martingny, the hellish climb to Col Forclaz and my vomiting (twice), the freezing rain and the dark lonely descent to Vallorcine, the frustrating climb in the dark in the last 4k).

Morgan, thanks for the mention in one of your earlier posts. About a minute after you left me at Trient I threw up again ( the third time). A nice doctor picked me off my knees and led me to the doctors room and I had a tablet , a sit down for 20 minutes then got on with it. I couldn't run for a couple of hours because my stomach was so sore from vomiting. Your words " courage" stayed with me and I got through it and halfway to Argentiere I began to feel better and started to pick off a few and stuck with it till the end.

After feeling grim for a few hours after the finish I've been on a high ever since. All the training was worth it! Well done to everyone who took part and got through the night! What an event.

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Andy

Glad to be able to help.

But you had to deliver, and you did.

Well done again.

Going back?

I would love to go back but I may have to wait a year. Her indoors has plans for even more more babies and apparently 60/70 mile weeks and 4 children are not mutually compatible ( so I'm told). I'll probably try and do something in in this country just to get some more points.

But I will be back!

Thanks Morgan. I did enjoy a good. I got enough things right to allow for a satisfying finishing time.

And well done to you Morgan on a fine CCC finish. Also congrats to all that finished any of these great races.

I know quite a few stuggle on these long tough runs with being sick, which must be very debilitating, and well done for anyone finishing any of the races after a few vomiting episodes. I think electrolytes (for me it was Nuuns) are vital in making this a less likely occurance. Hydration is vital to allow for food digestion. A vital part of hydration is salt. It is a bit of an amatuer assesment, but it is just what I know works for me and why I think it works. I think I used about 14 Nuuns and had 3 bottles of Gatorade during the UTMB. I also think it is easy to overeat on these things, which can add to a sickly feeling. It is a bit of a balancing act, but Im sure electrolytes allow for a bigger margin of error with the food intake.

For anyone interseted in a long winded write up of my experience of the UTMB 2011 this is the link http://alanlucker.blogspot.com/

Nice tale Alan.

The physical and mental pressure points on the (back three fifths of the) course appeared to have been the same for both of us; and my two big toes took a hammering too. :w00t:

A massive well done to all who finished and those who gave it a good go,especially Tom R who got me round the Montane 50.
I was suffering at the Adventure Hub ultra on Saturday in aid of points for the UTMB,so could hopefully be involved in 2012/2013!

For me it wasn't the salt- also took Nuuns- went through 7 tabs as well as tuck biscuits and the salt drink at the aid stops. I think it was cheese and salami! It was all too exciting and I was trying to get my money's worth. Always test out what you eat before race day otherwise you'll also be on your knees in the dark and rain being sick in a stream desperately trying to answer the 13th " ca va?" with barely a word of french to reply with. You're right about nuuns though- no cramp, less thirst- a revolution in my long distance running. Highly recommended.

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Originally Posted by andyhartley

For me it wasn't the salt- also took Nuuns- went through 7 tabs as well as tuck biscuits and the salt drink at the aid stops. I think it was cheese and salami! It was all too exciting and I was trying to get my money's worth. Always test out what you eat before race day otherwise you'll also be on your knees in the dark and rain being sick in a stream desperately trying to answer the 13th " ca va?" with barely a word of french to reply with. You're right about nuuns though- no cramp, less thirst- a revolution in my long distance running. Highly recommended.

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It is difficult to practice your eating plan prior to the CCC, TDS and UTMB (i didnt) because of the strange food on offer. The only things I ate was what I felt like eating at the time. So I had dark chocolate, cake, chocolate crispy bits, jam tarts in sections, the odd packeted energy bar (like hens teeth) occasionally some soup and bread, and the pasta at Courmayeur and Champex (the best food on it). Supplemented by my own energy gels and CLiff bars. One of the worst things about the food is that it isnt easy to tranport i.e. not in packets. So as not to be tempted to eat too much in CPs I had a mesh stuff sack used for a jacket, and put some food in there and carried it in my hand to graze on. The elite have an easier time as their support can hand them their own food at all the CPs. I never felt sick the whole way, just slightly awkward when I had eaten the large plates of pasta at Courmayeur and Champex.

Tres Bien tended to satisfy CP staff from me. It did make me paranoid though I started to think if I was looking rough as like you I had been asked at almost every CP from half way. I think they ask most people just to see the response as a precaution so that you ask yourself the question.

An expanded version of my tale from the Ilkley Harriers website here:

http://www.ilkleyharriers.co.uk/news...assets/CCC.pdf

A huge well done to everyone who finished and commiserations to the others who could not. Tom, it was great to chat for a while on the course. Thanks to you and Fly for asking after me.

I was holding it together pretty well, with no issues outside fuelling (I was amazed at how much I needed to keep eating to avoid the dreaded plod of depression). My feet remained comfortable thanks to the La Sportiva Crosslites, though a change to dry socks at Courmayeur did feel luxurious. I had no nausea issues and needed no electrolytes. My bottle of nuun remained undrunk. The salt in the soup and some of the foods provided all the salt I needed. On the descents I was getting some mild discomfort in my lower left shin. It blew up big time as soon as I began the descent from le Grand Col Feret. Initially it prevented me from running but soon, walking downhill, then any walking, became difficult. I began to get overtaken by multiple streams of other runners, which required me to stand or sit beside the trail to let them pass. I enjoyed the sit-downs but it wasn't getting me to sanctuary, where I knew I'd have to retire to avoid unnecessary damage. Trouble was, sanctuary was hours away at the speed I was crawling, so I had no option but to continue damaging myself while cursing and sobbing through gritted teeth (sobbing through frustration that the body had let me down so dramatically). By the time I dragged into La Fouly, nearly 4 hours after leaving le Grand Col Feret, I could hardly walk. I made a beeline for the medic round the back of a very dark building. I knew my race was over. She confirmed it as she strapped elastic bandage around the area and gave me a couple of giant paracetamol torpedoes. I don't think the bandage did anything useful but at least it served as a good indicator of why I was now out of the UTMB. My shin is still swollen and tender and I cannot walk properly yet. It is the first time that physical injury has forced me out of a race. Apart from the injury, everything else - leg muscles, digestion - was fine and dandy. Frustration remains, even though I know there's nothing I could have done to avoid dropping out.

It's now 0 out of 2 for me. I hope next time will prove to be 3rd time lucky.

Bad luck Nick. It sounds like shin splints. If it was I know people who say how seriously painful they can be.