UTMB etc 2011

Thanks for the links. The 3rd one down is particularly good, and shows the true beauty of that dawn over col du la seine.

Nick

- have just picked up on your tales of woe. Relly sorry to hear it- for the UTMB but also in case it puts your grand slam in jeopardy. All my bes wishes are with you for a speedy recovery and I will keep an eye out for you at the HP40 and RR. Good Luck

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Originally Posted by Alan Lucker

Thanks for the links. The 3rd one down is particularly good, and shows the true beauty of that dawn over col du la seine.

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Alan, the third clip is enough to make me want to go the whole way round next year. :D:w00t:

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Originally Posted by MorganW

Alan, the third clip is enough to make me want to go the whole way round next year. :D:w00t:

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It was a privilege to be in such a beautiful place whilst taking part in one of the best races on the planet. On all my previous TMBs it has been dark on these first 3 high points, so it was great to finally get a look at the amazing scenery, and even more special to see it with a dusting of snow.

Most of the field had to put up with more hours of darkness than if the race was run as normal, so this was a nice positive experience to draw on later in the run.

It’s the UTMB for you next year Morgan. If you do I hope you don’t get to see that scenery and the UTMB goes to plan for a change.

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Originally Posted by BritNick

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.

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Sorry to hear of the injury Nick, must be gutting to say the least. Hope you bounce back and it doesn't hamper your grand slam attempt too much !

All the best for your recovery,
Jan

Bad luck Nick, & of course well done to those who finished. It sounds like shin splints to me too, although an x-ray wouldn't be a bad idea in case it's a stress fracture. Mind you, they're probably as bad as each other, both needing some recovery time & not much treatment apart from painkillers. I got shin splints a few years ago while walking LEJOG. I had to stop for a couple of days, got Mrs Splatcher to post me a pair of running shoes & industrial strength iboprofen, & I then kept going slowly, with no laces in my shoes for the next few days. The real agony was any pressure at all at the front of my ankle. 10 days later I was OK again. I wouldn't wish that on anyone - I had to keep going or give up, as I didn't have slack in my schedule to rest up any longer. Hope to see you in Buxton, Nick.

I've just posted my pictures of the week in Chamonix and my race as far as Arnuva, after which it got dark on the way up to Grand Col Ferret. Report is yet to come.

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Originally Posted by BritNick

I've just posted my pictures of the week in Chamonix and my race as far as Arnuva, after which it got dark on the way up to Grand Col Ferret. Report is yet to come.

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I see that you retired at La Fouly. Surely a misnomer for La Folly .... !?!? :p

Greart snaps, not a hint of inclement weather. Hope you're recovering well Nick.

Look a bit closer Jan. Also the pictures waiting for the start look pretty wet to me. I didn't take any more on the move until after daybreak and dryness on Saturday because I didn't want to wet my equipment unnecessarily ;-)

Unfortunately I'm not recovering yet. The leg's more sore today for no apparent reason.

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Originally Posted by BritNick

Look a bit closer Jan. Also the pictures waiting for the start look pretty wet to me. I didn't take any more on the move until after daybreak and dryness on Saturday because I didn't want to wet my equipment unnecessarily ;-)

Unfortunately I'm not recovering yet. The leg's more sore today for no apparent reason.

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Ah - I see what you mean ! But I thought that was normal for the Alps ....