Utmb

[Fellmincer]

I also have the impression that "anglo-saxon" winners are less popular than EU ones.

I am actually franco-phile rather than franco-phobe, so I am very glad to hear that the locals supported the winning Brits. Perhaps fans of mountain running are different from TDF supporters - after all, one doesn't hear of UTMB spectators shouting threatening abuse at participants, which does scarily happen from time to time in the TDF.

I was talking with BGSec last night about this. We were amazed at how everyone gets behind the trailers in each event. From children right through to the elderley, lining the paths and streets of the villages along the course. I only made it to Les Contamines and i got almost emotional at the crowds in St Gervais shouting your name and your country, holding out their hands for you to high five. Amazing experience! And in the weather too, people still made the effort. Totally humbling.
I just couldn't imagine many folk back home doing that. Must be in that in these villages everyone has a strong connection with the mountains and a respect for the sportsmen and women playing out their game here.

[Alexandra]

I'm quite big for a runner and think poles make a huge difference. The hands on knees walk that us fell runners use isn't possible for 30 hrs.[/QUOTE]

I use poles all the time when out walking, but have never used them running. Do you use them when actually running or just for eg uphills when you'd be walking anyway? And when not actually using them, do you carry them extended or take the time to telescope them or even to put them in/on the sack? Walking, I feel my poles cost me a lot of time when getting over styles, opening gates etc but probably enable me to go faster on unimpeded flat stretches.

[Alexandra]

People have great runs with and without. I think for the faster runners sticks are less necessary.

I used them in 2009 and found them superb. I was steady early on, well down the field, but the last 12 hrs was probably my best few hours of running ever and I moved through the field easily finishing just outside the top 50 in 29:15. I'm sure it was because I was using the poles.

But I don't think there is a definitive answer. I'm quite big for a runner and think poles make a huge difference. The hands on knees walk that us fell runners use isn't possible for 30 hrs.

Looking again at the video of this year's UTMB, the 2nd finisher was carrying sticks, as were at least 30% if not 50% of the first 19. One had them very neatly collapsed on his sack at either side, others jutting up above their heads behind, others had them folded in their hands and others again long and unwieldy in their hands. At any rate, sticks had not held them back much if at all.

[Zlod]

I was talking with BGSec last night about this. We were amazed at how everyone gets behind the trailers in each event. From children right through to the elderley, lining the paths and streets of the villages along the course. I only made it to Les Contamines and i got almost emotional at the crowds in St Gervais shouting your name and your country, holding out their hands for you to high five. Amazing experience! And in the weather too, people still made the effort. Totally humbling.
I just couldn't imagine many folk back home doing that. Must be in that in these villages everyone has a strong connection with the mountains and a respect for the sportsmen and women playing out their game here.

I think that the French are really into participation sport whereas the British are into spectator sport. So whereas the British watch the football on the Telly, the French are out there watching the utmb in the real world. I think the French have got the right idea.

The support you get in the utmb is amazing and really helps to make the event.

[IainR]

Looking again at the video of this year's UTMB, the 2nd finisher was carrying sticks, as were at least 30% if not 50% of the first 19. One had them very neatly collapsed on his sack at either side, others jutting up above their heads behind, others had them folded in their hands and others again long and unwieldy in their hands. At any rate, sticks had not held them back much if at all.

I used the poles EVERY step of the way, cham > cham. The reason being that I thought I'd do what I did in 2008 and carry them for 60 miles...

As for size, I'm 6ft and 13 stone, but would say I'm quite long legged so have a quick walk, and the poles help to keep a momentum up.

[BritNick]

Could any fluent French speakers out there please explain to me (in English) exactly what happened at the UTMB? I've scanned the website and I'm still confused. I'm sensing that they might not have run the full 166km. Why? Where did they start from? How come the starting video shows everyone setting off from Chamonix? How come there were so many non-starters?

[Feet in the Cowclaps]

From what I've heard, the UTMB was cancelled three hours into the race because of bad weather.
The "UTMB restart" was then run using the CCC (Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix) route the following day.
There were many non-starters because a lot were told the race was cancelled and were not informed about a restart, and there were also probably people who didn't fancy running the CCC rather than the real thing.

Check out the articles on the North Face blog.

[Derby Tup]

What race did Jez Bragg and Lizzie Hawker both 'win' then Feet? UTMB or CCC? Are their results official as there were very different times posted a couple of pages ago?

[Feet in the Cowclaps]

From what I gather, they won the "UTMB restart race" which was run over a course which was very similar to the CCC one, 90kms rather than 98kms. Jez Bragg won in 10:30:37.

[Rombald]

My French isn't brilliant but from following online in various places this is what I picked up.

The UTMB started as planned on Friday evening at Chamonix but was cancelled about three hours into the race due to bad weather conditions and/or a landslide ahead blocking the course. The leaders had reached Les Contamines at the time. Then there were various rumours and some confusion through the night about whether the the race would be restarted and eventually it was decided to start it from Courmayeur at about 10am on Saturday and follow the CCC route. Some people decided not to restart or weren't able to do so as they didn't get the information in time. Jez Bragg and Lizzy Hawker were the winners of the replacement race. Great runs by them. Lizzy had been the leading woman in the original race on Friday by a decent margin at the time it was cancelled.

Kilian Jornet and Geoff Roes were among those who didn't restart. Kilian went to a race not too far away in northern Italy on Sunday and became the Ultra SkyMarathon World Champion instead. (Not a bad result for a plan B I suppose.)