I confess to being ticked off it won't be 100 miles, but as they say, it's not my race, my reputation or my insurance policy.
Similar problems at Ben Nevis tomorrow?
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I confess to being ticked off it won't be 100 miles, but as they say, it's not my race, my reputation or my insurance policy.
Similar problems at Ben Nevis tomorrow?
Wow, that's a huge course change. Not really a tour as such anymore. Gutted for you all.
Some of the favourites pulling out now that the course has been significantly altered - Iker Karrerra, Julien Chorier, Miguel Heras.
Coincidence that they are all Salomon athletes and it's a North Face event........??
Congratulations indeed.Quote:
Originally Posted by cyclops
North Face runners would probably be pulling out too if it weren't a North Face event.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yaks
Heras will run but isn't keen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yaks
The re-route is a major disappointment; replacing one of the great 100 milers in the world with a 100K loop around the woods and trails of the Vallee de Chamonix and the Val de Montjoie.
Francois d'Haene has expressed my views well enough:
I regret that the course is not maintained despite the conditions which would i think would have captured the spirit of adventure, challenge and support that are normally the core values of the UTMB. I have invested heavily in this race and have prepared for an adventure that is now not going to happen and I'm very disappointed.
I'm struggling to find the motivation to run it to be honest.
According to the reports from the press conference things are due to be getting colder and they already had quite a lot to deal with during the TDS [""We had a #TDS aid station last night with 300 cold, wet abandons. You can't imagine the challenge of caring for them." #UTMB Race Director, Katrine" irunfar on twitter]. It's a miracle they are going ahead. It seems the qualification system isn't working, or conditions really are rough for competitors to be dropping out at such a rate (Way more over than 300 dropped out of TDS of course!)
It must be very dissapointing, as the whole reason we sign up to these events is to be challenged, but 100km with 6000m of ascent in those conditions doesn't sound like a walk in the park!
Attachment 6348
Just a very quick screengrab from the ultratrail.tv channel - the scenes with runners in are worse. They are basically saying the compulsory kit is not enough to keep folk safe. It seems very foggy too, which must add to concerns!
Just getting ready to go down to the start, also spent a lot of time & money & effort getting here. Conditions are bad but I havnt run one race this year in anything but poor conditions. Finding it difficult to get motivated but having run in the Round Rotherham 50 to get here even a low level run in the alps on a rainy day is far more inspiring. Good luck everyone.
Gutted about the course change for everyone,after all the build up vids etc can't understand not having a better plan B in place esp after 2010.
Anyway try and enjoy and good luck..
I know Mrs Crumbly has been training and looking forward to this all year (as well as a few mates from Macc), so this is right kick in the teeth. Very disappointing, but I hope at least some folk find the shorter route a consellation (sp.?)... you know what I mean.
Sorry folks:boohoo:... must be berluddy infuriating.
Under these circumsatances, are qualifying points transferable to the following year?
Gutted for everyone, nothing can be done about it though and at least everyone is alive and safe.
I guess the aforementioned TDS CP was Cormet de Roselund? Had rained on off all day, but mostly ok in top and waterproof and got better on the huge climb after Bourg St Maurice, sun even out before passeur de Prologne briefly. Then rain started and over-the-top a cold wind and heavy rain shower hit there as came off the tehnical descent (I was stuck in a people train behind slow descenders socouldn't get down quickly). As I approached Cormet the rain kicked in harder and it was rammed in the marquee, took me ages to warm up and find a space to settle, open pack and get gear out and on. Needed 3 layers (2 baselayers) and two bowls of soup to stop shivering and got going. Not to be though, I was like bambi on dsecents after here, especially in the mud which was considerable in places, no strength and struggling uphill. So I checked out at Col Joly (80k), immense race!
Well done to those that finished TDS, even without effects of cold, rain and mud (not sure if course is always a muddy one? as made it more technical than UTMB in my experiance) its a beast of a course! CP data table says 5550m+ to where I finished at Col Joly - I'd garmined more.
After the 2010 abandonment, the points were not tranferable to 2011, and as such I did not have enough to enter. Having been involved in 2010, I feel for those people not being able to do the course they have worked so hard for. A massive disappointment for everyone.Quote:
Originally Posted by lantern rouge
I entered for 2012 but didn't get through the draw (in hindsight, I'm now glad I didn't), so it looks like a guaranteed entry for 2013 as I have more than enough points. Surely they can't have bad weather 4 years running. :thunbdown:
DB
Just back from finishing the CCC ( + reviving bath and cup of tea - can't face a beer yet) which had two climbs taken out reducing it to c87km and 4500 m of ascent. From Arnuva (c18km in) I had 4 layers on top and full leggings and waterproof trousers, hat and thick gloves for the rest of the race. I wasn't too cold but boy was I wet.
The ascent of Col Ferret in a full on blizzard will live long in the memory. Probably a good thing it came relatively near to the start. It pretty much rained all day, falling as snow above 1600 - 1800 metres. Conditions underfoot were very muddy in an awful lot of places especially the descents.
My wife and daughters saw some some pretty distressed people at some of the checkpoints. I was in and out as quick as I could to ensure I didn't lose too much heat. I am just mightily glad that I finished when I did as a couple more hours out in those conditions would have been not much fun to say the least.
Of course it is hugely disappointing for the UTMB participants but I am sure it was done in the interest of safety and taking account of the ability of the organisers to deal with the problems which would have ensued. No doubt they will receive criticism from certain quarters but sadly that seems to go with the territory of organising races these days.
I am sure many will disagree and I would respect your opinions which is what mine is.
Well Done Bob the Dog, conditions look pretty crap on the UTMB, criticism should levelled at the weather:wink:
Would be good to see a more inventive alternative. The trails inevitably go high and I shudder to think of the logistics to make last minute changes to a race on that scale but a radically shortened course which for many will be more night than day doesn't seem a particularly inspiring solution for a race of that scale and reputation.
Seconded Steve... Bob's account sounds pretty grim and the organisers are damned if they do and damned if they don't... the weather is seriously at fault!Quote:
Originally Posted by stevefoster
497 abandonments at Cormet de Roselund in TDS :w00t: large part of the 57% drop-out/timed-out. The weather before TDS hadn't beeb bad for as long as before CCC nd UTMB and I reckon a lot of people caught out.
Mrs.Crumblydown has finished UTMB in 18 hours:thumbup:
Fair play to her...chuffed for her. Sounds as though the rate of attrition (sp?) is pretty high.Quote:
Originally Posted by stevefoster
Spoke to a couple of Brit finishers of the UTMB and they certainly didn't think they had been short changed having faced some very testing conditions (including 9 hours of darkness in snow and mud) similar to those in the CCC which would have made the full UTMB a virtual no-no. Watching others come in around the 18 -19 hour mark there were some pretty haggard and emotional cases - well done to Mrs Crumblydown and all.
To both guys eternal credit both were drinking beer within minutes of finishing whereas it has taken me 14 hours to be able to do likewise, but having got the taste there will be no stopping me now.
Certainly no walk in the park.Quote:
Originally Posted by Britta
I don't fault the decision to re-route, rather the quality of what was offered up instead.
But I accept the logistics are tricky!
Well done Morgan! Also well done to all the other fell runners in the 4 events - it's a great one to follow on the computer, with live results and TV and various news on Twitter... Although supporting on the course last year was even more fun :)
For hardy British fell runners, I think the compulsory kit was fine for UTMB.Quote:
Originally Posted by Britta
I ran UTMB in shorts, all night and day. Sleeveless top, thermal, good quality outer-shell, gloves and hat Never cold, never wet.
Again, I accept that our Continental brethren wouldn't "risk" this, and standards over here must rule. And the organisers must set standards to protect the all competitors, starting with the "weakest".
So they went with a 4 layer requirement.
Does anyone know what happened to the PTL? Was that re-routed, shortened or stopped? I can't quite work out the results!
From what I read the 4 layer was recommended but not compulsory... And probably just fine if you kept moving...Quote:
So they went with a 4 layer requirement.
I feel the UTMB seems to suffer from being the last race to start - resources are tied up with the other three events and so the TDS appeared to have the 'best' race, while the UTMB was shortened drastically. Wonder whether it would be better setting the UTMB off first, with an option to delay by a day or two if needed! The CCC and TDS seem to be well enough supported now to cope with that?
Britta, bar one re-route in the 2010 bad weather, I've never known them interfere.Quote:
Originally Posted by Britta
Maybe they hold the view that the entry requirements are so high, that PTL team members can look after themselves.
Suggestions on iRunFar to move the event into July. :D:wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by Britta
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!
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!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob the Dog
De l'eau plate or de l'eau non gazeuse.Quote:
Originally Posted by stonewaller
Well either those, or simply ask for 'council pop' slowly and louder than normal. You'll be reet :closed:Quote:
Originally Posted by Feet in the Cowclaps
ou mème l'eau plate. Did they have salt water? I made the grim mistake of drinking that at the montcalm marathon.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nudger
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Twister
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
I blame it all on the salt water.