Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc - Orsieres Champex Chamonix (OCC).
The Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc is arguably the premier trail ultra in the world. In conjunction with the 160km navigation around Mont Blanc, there are a series of other events. 300km PTL, 120km TDS, 100km CCC and 53km OCC.
BUFF® are one of the official partners for the event, and were able to sort me an entry to OCC. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity.
BUFF® are one of the official partners for the event, and were able to sort me an entry to OCC. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity.
The course is effectively four tough climbs and four rocky downhills over 53km. The forecast was for 30+ degrees, which was never going to be much fun on the exposed parts of the climbs. My pre race plan was to build into the event, starting conservatively over the first two climbs and then seeing what was left. The second half was familiar to me having raced on it in 2014.
I borrowed some poles for the event, much to the disgust of the Catalans that I am staying with. I planned to hold off using them until the third and fourth climbs. That went out the window on the first climbs when sections of >20% gradient presented themselves. I was so glad that I took them, they were worth their weight in gold. More on that in the coming days.
I took it conservatively, and over the top of the second climb (La Giète) I was sitting in 27th. From there I set about my task of picking runners off one by one. I managed to pick off a bunch of runners between Vallorcine and Col des Montets after the third descent.
I had opted to use and refill a 500ml soft flask bottle. It was stiflingly hot, and most of the water was going over my head rather than in my mouth. I was having to ration the use of the water between aid stations. Every now and then I would be saved by a mountain stream or a drinking fountain (found scattered through the Alps). It was a long time between drinks (1:40) from Vallorcine to La Flegere. I suffered on the exposed climb, though knew psychologically that I just had to get to Flegere.
Once at Flegere, now sitting 16th, and faced with 7km of fast downhill running, I reset my watch and ran the final section as a time trial. Firstly to see if I could catch anyone in front, and secondly to try and get the section done in under 35min.
I ended up 16th in 6:06:20. I am very pleased with the result, it represents a massive step in the right direction for me.
CCC tomorrow morning (Friday night NZ time), I will be chasing Ruth Croft around the course.
UTMB tomorrow night (Saturday morning NZ time).
You can follow live here
I would highly recommend any of the UTMB events. The event is a spectacle worth checking out, the likes I have not seen elsewhere.
I borrowed some poles for the event, much to the disgust of the Catalans that I am staying with. I planned to hold off using them until the third and fourth climbs. That went out the window on the first climbs when sections of >20% gradient presented themselves. I was so glad that I took them, they were worth their weight in gold. More on that in the coming days.
I took it conservatively, and over the top of the second climb (La Giète) I was sitting in 27th. From there I set about my task of picking runners off one by one. I managed to pick off a bunch of runners between Vallorcine and Col des Montets after the third descent.
I had opted to use and refill a 500ml soft flask bottle. It was stiflingly hot, and most of the water was going over my head rather than in my mouth. I was having to ration the use of the water between aid stations. Every now and then I would be saved by a mountain stream or a drinking fountain (found scattered through the Alps). It was a long time between drinks (1:40) from Vallorcine to La Flegere. I suffered on the exposed climb, though knew psychologically that I just had to get to Flegere.
Once at Flegere, now sitting 16th, and faced with 7km of fast downhill running, I reset my watch and ran the final section as a time trial. Firstly to see if I could catch anyone in front, and secondly to try and get the section done in under 35min.
I ended up 16th in 6:06:20. I am very pleased with the result, it represents a massive step in the right direction for me.
CCC tomorrow morning (Friday night NZ time), I will be chasing Ruth Croft around the course.
UTMB tomorrow night (Saturday morning NZ time).
You can follow live here
I would highly recommend any of the UTMB events. The event is a spectacle worth checking out, the likes I have not seen elsewhere.
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