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Hi to all fellow forumites and Forum viewers,
Would anyone that is doing the Tour of Mont Blanc like to meet in Chamonix prior to the event? Perhaps the night before in a bar and have a few (probably soft) drinks and a chat. Maybe even consider running together on similar schedules.
What do you think is this a good idea?
Sounds like a good idea. Subject to the response you get just let me know where and when.
I'd be up for this Alan. early evening/late afternoon on the thurs would be best for me with family in tow.
Yeah possibly, we arrive on the 27th, but was thinking of heading off up high for a few days, 28th back on the 29th I think. Nothing organised at the moment apart from flights.
Just thought I would resurrect this as it is getting close to the big day.Quote:
Originally Posted by Full Moon Addict
Have any of you got any suggestions of any family friendly spots in the center of Cham where we could meet up? I only know of a few pubs but they are a bit loud, and probably not the best place for kids, or a chat.
I am in touch with a few LDWA folk doing this, and we have also spoken about a meet up on the Thursday evening (I'm not arriving in Chamonix until Thursday afternoon). I was in Chamonix for a couple of nights in July, staying at the Hotel Gustavia opposite the station. It has a reasonable bar/restaurent - we ate there the first night because it was convenient, and the 2nd night because it was sufficiently good not to bother trekking round town trying to find an alternative that a dozen people could agree on. I am going to suggest this as a meeting point because it's the only one I know, and it's a bit off the main drag; we can always go on somewhere else. Would that be of any interest to you?
Sounds Like a good idea should we meet at about 20:00 hrs on Thursday night. Anyone else that wants to meet up are welcome, it would be nice to meet some of you before taking on the TMB.Quote:
Originally Posted by MostlyLurking
8pm it is, then. I've posted on the LDWA forums and e-mailed a few that I have addresses for. See you there.
Fiona
See you all there. Looking forward to it.Quote:
Originally Posted by MostlyLurking
Alan.
May head down. We are camping, probably at Les Arolles or somewhere else as close to the centre as possible.
I'm incredibly disorganised. What have we been sent in the post that we need to take to registration? anything?
Edit: found my runners card and for once Bella didn't get to the post before any of us so no teeth marks.
Well the race is undeway good luck to every one you can follow progress here.
Ifor
And for those of us spanners who can't speak whatever jingo that website is posted in (Franglish, I think) is there a Thicko Brito version i.e. vaguely English.
Yours Sincerely,
A Dumb Geordie
There is English on the main page but the live stuff looks to be just french.. 2nd menu option Tableau Passages is the live porgress, choose your race then Du 1er au 100eme would be 1st to 100th... not too hard.Quote:
Originally Posted by theNoor
Ifor,
How do you find out where someone is in the race if you have their number e.g 2214 and 430 (John Fleetwood and Britta)? And similarly, only their name e.g. James Archibold (Borrowdale Fell Runners)?
Ta.
Go to
http://live.ultratrailmb.com/tempsReel.php
in the section Fiches Coureurs enter the number and make sure dos is what you are looking for, it will give their progress
It's gteat - I;'ve been tracking our clubmate Simon Ellis who seems to be moving slowly through the field 21 hours in!!
Well done to all - blummen brilliant
By the way, the winner has already finished!
Congrats to Simon Ellis of Tattenhall who made it round in 34 hours or so. Fabulous stuff.
I notice Lizzie Hawker had a sublime run also, 15th overall and first lady by miles.....
Britta currently 43rd lady.
John finished in 51st place in 28h 30mn 48s and Britta in 916 in 43h 23mn 10sQuote:
Originally Posted by theNoor
well done to both :D
What an awsome event!!! Concratulations to all that took part and completed the various races. Some really excellent results, especially Lizzy Hawker 1st Lady, 1st Brit and 14th overall - fantastic!!! John you must be made up with 51st - I recall you had a score to settle after the pain of last years tour? some very consistent times on your tour, so well done to you.
The UTMB was a bit of a learning experience for me and in some ways was a race of two halves... up to Grand Col Ferret - going great, spring in step, enjoying the party, loving the thrill of the route, the superb scenery, all the lights of the runners moving up the mountains and enjoying the various chats with passing runners. After the Col Ferrat I seemed to go through a continuous episode of bad patchs and lots of various pains - it felt like the mountains where really against me. I got really bad legs, the right knee locked up and would not let me run (although when I say run I mean only the downhills and flats at this stage for me) so a lot of time was spent walking, this was just so frustrating. Not sure what caused it and not had it before on any UK long distance runs, maybe it was the long and punishing descents, or possibly footwear choice...> who knows? I used Inov8 trail shoes for the first half then changed to Nike Pegasus at Courmayer for some extra cushioning [what did other other folks use?].
I had family support at Vallorcine which was a great boost and also had some strapping put onto the wonkey leg - However if I had known what was to come in that last section I would have thrown the towel in there and then - 17km but by far the hardest on the entire route, being very steep, rocky, loose and very technical (and quite dangerous in the dark - when already goosed!) I started to loose the will to live, trying to reach La Flegere was never ending and was dismally lonely - did everyone hate this bit?
The finish eventually came, after 31hrs which was a great releif. The North Face souvenior clothing is great, but way too big, need to put on 2 stone to make it snug!
Back for more next year maybe... still too many aches and pains - suffering from DVT after a 15hr drive back!
There's a report on the UTMB on ITV Yorkshire (Calendar) this evening apparently.
Thanks Feet in. Only a short report but more on tomorrow night's prog! I'd love to do this event one year.
I had a shocking effort in this year's race.
I was going pretty well until Courmayeur (got there in the dark). However I was finding it difficult to eat. I then went really slowly up to Refuge Bertone, getting overtaken by 30 or more people. I was falling asleep on my feet and then went for a 30 minute sleep in the sun outside the refuge. This tiredness then really scuppered my plans and meant that I had to climb up to the Big Ferret in the heat of the midday sun.
I was so knackered at La Fouly that I had to stop to sleep by the side of the road for 15 minutes (less than 500m from the checkpoint). I felt like giving up at La Fouly, but carried on, running OK to the base of the Champex climb. Boy, did that go badly wrong! I was passed by maybe 100 people, requiring 2 more 15 minute naps by the side of the path on the way up. By this stage I wasn't even choosing nice grassy bits to sleep on, but would sleep anywhere, however uncomfortable. It was an appalling plod up to Champex. Getting a good time was now furthest from my mind. Even finishing seemed a totally duanting prospect.
Deciding that things couldn't go on like this, I decided that I needed a proper sleep at Champex. I got my head down for 3.5 hours and had some nice pasta both before and after the sleep. I then set off again in the dark (10:50pm). Bovine was a slog, but I kept up with the others. I was suprised that I was the only one running downhill. Things only really perked up at Vallorcine. I'd realised that I'd had a pretty awful run from Courmayeur and decided I wanted to finish on a high note. I was feeling more awake and stormed up to Flegere with my iPod on (which made a huge difference). There was no stopping me on the way down and I got into Chamonix at 9:16am.
Really pleased to finish: it only seemed barely possible at one stage. Pretty disappointed with the overall result (432nd). Pleased to come out of it uninjured. I now have a lot of motivation to do well in the last two races of the Vasque series: try to rescue something from the latter part of the running year.
I was really pleased to see Andy Rankin (my Three Peaks Yacht Race partner this year) come in as first British male and to see Lucy Colquhon (Team Vasque) winning the ladies CCC. Matt Davis also had a storming run.
Congratulations to everyone who finished.
Very well done on sticking with it Zlod. I sincerely admire your persistence. From last year, I know how you must have felt. Its totally dispiriting to be passed by streams of people. This year I had a good run even though I felt sick most of the second half. Went well up Bovine, but just couldn't push it from Catogne onwards because I felt so sick.
Real Ale Man - I felt the same about the Aiguilles Rouges section. I got stranded on my own coming down and plodded. this section adds 1-2 hours to last year's times in my view.
I won't be doing this again in the foreseeable future as its too much of a commitment, but would like to make a film of it from a runner's perspective some time. anyone fancy starring? :cool:
Well done to all the Brits who got round - and a special mention to Lizzie - what a performance!!
Zlod - I wondered why you were where you were when I saw you coming down into Cham as I was running up to La Flegier to meet a pal. Sounds like you had a tough time out there - well done for sticking with it - Bon Courage as they say.
I was there on holiday this year after running it last year and really enjoyed the atmosphere. Made me want to sign up again for next year.
Hey Saz - you'd love the new finish - just when you want it all to end (90 miles in) they send you up a nice 800 meter climb before allowing you back to Cham.
What do you guys think about the Spanish lad running with no kit? Worthy winner or cheater?
Just need to get in for next year to experience it!
Re the Spanish guy, 2 years ago Mark R changed to a bumbag for the last section of the race, getting everything in that was needed, so it can be done, but you are pushing it on the waterproofs bit
Lad is the description for Kilian Jornet he is only 20... and he won very convinsingly. Makes a change from a 50+ winner. There is someone how could give Billys BG record a good run for the money. Not bad on a pair of skis aparently either...
Ifor
I started well I thought, got to Cormayeur after 12 hrs and was happy enough, the descent to there was harsh and I was starting to ache, but felt things were going OK. The problem was, foolishly, I didn't drink enough in the night section, maybe the cool temps meant I didn't feel the need to drink, but also the dry air up high sucked it out of me, anyway as soon as I ran over the shadow line into the sunlight I died. Kept going to La Fouly but decided to call it a day.
I was having dizzy spells, black spots in my vision, had stopped sweating, started shivvering and was struggling to think clearly (converting km > miles etc). Dissapointed and annoyed at myself, not for dropping out, but for getting dehydrated on the night section, I'm sure that was a key factor in me getting so hammered by the 30+ heat. Maybe if I'd stopped for longer at Cormayeur or the town at the base of Col Du Ferret I may have had time to rehydrate enough, I'm not sure. But once I'd got to that state I'm not sure carrying on was wise. I sat for an hour at La Fouly and tried to get going a few times but was still feeling 'not there' (hard to explain, and light headed. Supposedly severe dehydration causes a drop in blood pressure so that may explain the black spots and dizzy spells. Going up the Grand Col I was literrally doing 10 yards at a time and crouching down.
I was still in plenty of time 20 hrs gone I think, but even the next day things weren't right, still a bit light headed.
Anyway I enjoyed the first 14 hrs or so and thought it was a great event, unfinished business for sure. Gutted to drop out, still going over and over in my mind if I did the right thing and guess I'll never know for sure. Annoying thing is I just don't feel that tired or sore in the legs/feet, like I just couldn't get going despite covering nearly 70 miles and 20,000ft of ascent. Went out for a long hill walk yesterday and ran today and my legs just aren't sore in comparison to post my WHW and PBR runs.
Oh supposedly the guy who won carried nothing, his pacer carried his rucksack, my wife watched him run in. From what I heard he got a 30 minute (2 x 15 min penalty).
I saw quite a few with just bumbags, I think it's just possible.
Bad time mate! Sorry to hear your story
I remember chatting to you in Courmayeur, and then you came storming past me up the hill, I then saw you for the last time near the top of Ferret having a blow-out – sorry to hear things went badly wrong after that. All I’d say is don’t persevere trying to analyse it anymore, you’ll just annoy yourself more. It sounds like a gradual dehadridation caused exhaustion and that is hard to recover from in the short term so probably a sensible move to throw the towel in, rather than be a rescue case! Start planning the next project, how about a winter BG??? – they’re good fun – more exciting than in summer!
I made it round but was in suffering varying amounts of pain from Grand Col Ferret onwards – bad knee, feet, chaffing etc…. These all seem the norm for the UTMB.
I am still limping around today, and will rest for a while, might even take up fishing for a change, or at least get some homebrew on the go now…
Were you the guy who was sick leaving Cormayeur?
I was a level up from (I think) you in the forest on the climb out and could hear you hurling for Britain, so brilliant going to recover from that.
Martin, you did well to wake up again at Champex. See you at Pumlumon if you are not doing the Bullock this w/e
I can't believe they didn't disqualify the winner. They had him on Video running up to col de motets carrying no water and hardly any kit - he may have had a water proof stuffed down his vest.
He is obviously a fantastic runner but to cheat your way round with pacers etc is totally against the event. If all you get is a 15 minute penalty it would be worth doing it BG style and taking the time penalty - now there's a thought!
Shame they didn't have the strength to do the right thing.
Some pics here:
http://sarzmountainrun.blogspot.com/...s-too-hot.html
surely it is unfair to call someone a cheat based on hearsay and rumor spread by those who should know better. there is a letter on the utmb site by michael polletti that makes the whole situation very clear if anyone is interested.....i say well done kilian jorletQuote:
Originally Posted by amadablam
Yes that was me being ill- the bolagnese did not go down well in Coumayuer. Had to live of sweets and cola for while after that.Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
Where?Quote:
Originally Posted by stonewaller
I don't understand it all, but I know for a fact that at the end he was still being paced and had someone carrying a rucksack. He may have been carrying a bumbag, but the guy who ran with him carried provisions. From what I heard he suffered a time penalty, but then he still used pacers later on.
A cracking runner, but I do think the organisers should have been stronger. 15 minutes was nothing, especially as this is now the record.
OK found it, that doesn't explain that he again used pacers after that infringement. I can see that you could push the gear into a waiste pack, especially if a pacer carried water and food. Still 20 hrs incredible.
The problem with this, and this is one of the reasons that Darwa Sherpa (2nd) got the biggest cheer of the day at the presentation, is that he new the rules and chose to push them to the limit and at times beyond, this makes you think how and to what degree he has done this when he wasn't watched / filmed. It brings his honsty into question. One thing you can't doubt though is that he is an amazing runner.
I agree with ama dablam. Kilian Jornet is obviously a brilliant ultra runner - almost in a different class - but he knew the rules and chose to break them. I agree with him that you didn't need a cag, spare batteries, food, water, bandage, etc, but the rules said you had to carry them. If there had been no rules I wouldn't have bothered with a cag in that weather either. If there's one person who needs to abide by the rules its the winner and the organisers need to enforce the rules properly to ensure credibility. Whats the point of rules if you can break them? In my view, they were too scared to illiminate him so just exacted a time penalty. No amount of excuses can alter the fact that he broke the rules and the stated penalties for doing so weren't applied.:mad: