getting ready here mentally for the The North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® 100 mile. 4 years ago I came to the Alps for the first time and ran the CCC 98km version of UTMB. looking at elevation profiles etc it didnt look that bad. I will tell you that race took me from heaven to hell and back multiple times. glaciers, mountain views, 3 different countries, tons of amazing people. I got so hypothermic I almost died. It rained the entire time and and hailed a bit. I cried on every step of the last down hill my quads were so shredded. It took me some 17+ hours to do it. I finished in the middle of the night to hugs of from my mom and dad. They were there supporting me. I then did the TDS 119km version the following year which was even harder but I came 42nd out of 1500 or so people with only a couple of hiccups. I then DNFd the TDS the next year after not getting in the lottery for the race. You see to get into UTMB you ahve to have 7 points. You get points by the crazier races you do. The more vertical gain and more distance then the more points. I have had the points for years now though that was never the goal to run it. The race is 103 miles with 66,000 ft of elevation change. from sea level to the summit of everest n back n then some... I signed up as I am the ANTI 100 mile runner. I get it and I love why people do it but I have always said that it just isnt for me. I have run the entire course over the last couple of summers visiting. I love the area like a crack addict loves his pipe. I am blessed to be in the Alps running and training. I can safely say that to run utmb it has cost me a ton of money, pain and effort. All of it is worth it. To test ones self and to push hard in the most beautiful race in the world. 2300 other runners will start along side of me and I just hope to run smart, safe and have fun. my strategy is to start dead last and SLOWLY work into a grove. keep my own pace and pass people the whole race. I have 2 optional sleep breaks one at Courmayeur at 77km in and the other at Champex, Switzerland some 122 km in. I know I will need a nap. My pace at these races usually puts me into Chamonix around the dead of night to finish with 3-6 people clapping. I love this race and I love that my parents have come once again to support me.... The race starts Friday at 5:30pm local time in Chamonix, France. My goal between now and then is to bank a bunch of sleep, hike some epic mtns and eat a ton of food!!! I love everyone who has run any miles with me, encouraged me, followed me, sent me messages, been there for me and just helped me define who I am... LOVE YOU ALL!!!! I am not trying to win just going to finish and have the best stories. Ill try and take my phone with me from Courmayeur to the finish and get some videos/photos. DO EPIC SH*T! - RUN BUM from Zermatt, Switzerland If you want to follow me then go here.... Runner #1327 utmb.livetrail.net/coureur.php
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 21:48:09 +0000
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