UTMB etc 2012

[Eirik The Viking]

Finishing time is big unknown for me on TDS so I'm going to start steady and play by feel. For Lakeland 50 last month I knew from training where I'd tackled similarly hilly courses that I should be around in 11-13 hours. But 130 extra feet up and down every mile is a lot and I've only tackled hillier routes three times this year I think - all BGR stages. So part of me thinks the 24 hour finish is ambitious so don't worry and 30 limit should be doable. Another part thinks I could go quite well under 24 now, if I get it right - but I'm not going to 'target' this and ruin my day (year). Last year before UTMB, I figured I'd done Lakeland 100 in less than 40hrs in 2010 and now had a years more training so should be able to do the hillier, but similar distance UTMB within the 6 hours more. I didn't finish, so don't really know, all I can tell from timings is that 59m'ish to Dalemain in L100 took me 17.5hrs and when I canned UTMB at similar distance (Arnuva) I'd been out for 23.5hrs.

I just hope I don't get wrecked as early as the col de la Youlaz. Got the DVD of last years events and this ascent just looks mean! Never mind the 1700m climb to Passeur de Pralognan.... gotta stop dwelling on that profile diagram :w00t:

You can never dwell long enough over those profile diagrams!

The longest race I have done is the Mont Blanc Marathon (26 mile, 2500m climb) so I haven't got the luxury of comparing times from similar races.

However, this doesn't stop me speculating about my finishing time. I did the Marathon in 5h10m this year so if I slow down and run at 8hr Marathon speed I should finish in about 20hrs. Then the weather turns nasty and my equation goes out of the window!

The weather will be quite a deciding factor I think so lets hope for high or no clouds and no wind!