UTMB etc 2012

2 days later and back home ,still dont know who won,got lost in the snow at night with loads of people who followed and stood around for a good while getting cold and wet deciding where to go,a bit like theGreat Lakes race accept a bit more scary and at over 2000 metres.and no map or compass.Finnished an emotional and physical wreck dehydrated and halucinating all the way to the end. but i did scrape into the first 1000.All good fun and well done to the organizers under the circumstances.Does anyone know how to ask for water with no bubbles please?

I was slightly disappointed that they shortened the route but the weather was pretty grim for the CCC so I am not complaining about that. The weather was ok to start with so I reckon everyone would have been fine going up Tete de la Tronche but it was snowing heavily later on so not going up Flegere was the right decision.

I started of in shorts and t shirt but I changed into merino wool leggings and top at Bonnati and that kept me warm enough in the snow while moving. I got my torch out at Trient and I put my water proves on then due to the slower night time speed and the heavy rain/snow. That was definitely a good call as the weather got increasingly after leaving Trient.

My favourite moment of my race was the climb up to Catogne. I was wrapped up warm, totally on my own, couldn't see any other torch light above or below me, just a million of big fat snowflakes falling down towards me. It was almost magical.

Yes it was cold wet and grey but I really enjoyed the whole ultra race experience and I am definitely coming back for more. They upped the points to enter the UTMB so bring on the TDS next year (If I get in that is).

Erik - we couldn't have been too far apart as my headtorch went on at Trient - possibly should have been a bit before but I couldn't be bothered faffing around in the middle of the forest when it was pretty obvious where to go.

Having had a great ascent to Bovine and descent to Trient, I really struggled up to Catogne, more so mentally than physically but the roaring fire at the checkpoint and thought of meeting up with my family at Vallorcine put a bit more fuel in my tank. Got me going again and back in Chamonix just after 1am.

Just a thought on route changes - I guess when making such decisions they need to do so with the slowest runners in mind as they can't start taking ascents out halfway through the race. There must also be some places that just physically cannot be omitted (Col Ferret ?).

Top moment of the whole week for me was having my final walk around the finish area around 11am on Sunday morning before heading to the airport was the sight of one of the teams finishing the PTL, all looking completely done in but carrying their children the final hundred yards to the finish line being cheered to the rafters by all and sundry, very humbling.

Not sure whether to try and get into the CCC again next year or go for the TDS as a (hopefully) pre cursor to the 2014 UTMB.

Eau naturale. This doesn't mean that you have to take your clothes off!

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Originally Posted by Bob the Dog

Erik - we couldn't have been too far apart as my headtorch went on at Trient - possibly should have been a bit before but I couldn't be bothered faffing around in the middle of the forest when it was pretty obvious where to go.

Having had a great ascent to Bovine and descent to Trient, I really struggled up to Catogne, more so mentally than physically but the roaring fire at the checkpoint and thought of meeting up with my family at Vallorcine put a bit more fuel in my tank. Got me going again and back in Chamonix just after 1am.

Just a thought on route changes - I guess when making such decisions they need to do so with the slowest runners in mind as they can't start taking ascents out halfway through the race. There must also be some places that just physically cannot be omitted (Col Ferret ?).

Top moment of the whole week for me was having my final walk around the finish area around 11am on Sunday morning before heading to the airport was the sight of one of the teams finishing the PTL, all looking completely done in but carrying their children the final hundred yards to the finish line being cheered to the rafters by all and sundry, very humbling.

Not sure whether to try and get into the CCC again next year or go for the TDS as a (hopefully) pre cursor to the 2014 UTMB.

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I finished at about 0130 so you were probably a bit ahead of me. I made it for last orders so I was pleased with that!

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Originally Posted by stonewaller

Does anyone know how to ask for water with no bubbles please?

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De l'eau plate or de l'eau non gazeuse.

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Originally Posted by Feet in the Cowclaps

De l'eau plate or de l'eau non gazeuse.

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Well either those, or simply ask for 'council pop' slowly and louder than normal. You'll be reet :closed:

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Originally Posted by Nudger

Eau naturale. This doesn't mean that you have to take your clothes off!

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ou mème l'eau plate. Did they have salt water? I made the grim mistake of drinking that at the montcalm marathon.

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Originally Posted by Twister

ou mème l'eau plate. Did they have salt water? I made the grim mistake of drinking that at the montcalm marathon.

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Were you there this year.. we did it.. the salt water is crucial.. always take it.. just don't taste it.. in heat its a proper life saver. 4:55 at montcalm marathon and no cramp.

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Originally Posted by IainR

Were you there this year.. we did it.. the salt water is crucial.. always take it.. just don't taste it.. in heat its a proper life saver. 4:55 at montcalm marathon and no cramp.

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Yes I was there this year, bringing up the rear ;) I found that it absolutely ruined the climb for me, I've been training in heat all summer without salt and with limited water after reading Tim Noakes "Waterlogged", and this is working extremely well for me. But for some reason on race day I decided to drink the salt water and then battled for half an hour with the driest saltiest mouth I've ever had, on top of that I ate some of the saucisson which was also salty and made me feel worse. Then I went the wrong way at the junction for Montcalm/Estats and did quarter of the climb up to Estats before someone told me I'd gone the wrong way. Demoralising to say the least.

I blame it all on the salt water.