Mont-Blanc Epic

Following on from our last post - here is Paul Jones's report on his epic Trail Du Mont Blanc experience.

The time had come and our wait was over, we headed out to France on the 25th August to race around Mont-Blanc.

We arrive in the beautiful alpine town of Chamonix where our race would end sometime on Saturday 30th August. The town was buzzing with people, they really get behind this race. There were banners up everywhere and speakers all through the town playing interviews with the race favourites which were taking place in the expo. We collected our race packs soaked up the atmosphere and tried to relax before the race.

Race day had arrived, we caught the 8.00am bus to the start line in Courmayeur, yet another beautiful alpine town. We were being blessed with racing through some of the most beautiful mountains in Europe.

10.00am came and the gun went, 98km to go, we started with a very gentle jog up through the town, weaving through the narrow streets up towards the first big climb which would see us climb over 1100m in just 10 miles. The first 5 miles were steady and gradual, it wasn’t until we went off road did the incline turn vertical, we thought we had reached the top when we saw tents offering drinks but that was only the start of it.

We continued around the tent to and were confronted with the most savage up climb I’d ever seen, you could see the top in the distance and people sat at the side of the trails trying to catch there breath and rest their legs. We made it to the top in 4 hrs, 10 miles in 4 hrs really hit home as to how hard this race was going to be. Oh I forgot to mention the heat, it was 28-30 degrees, I have the dodgy tan lines to prove it. Any way we got to the top feeling tired but ok and decided not to stop but to power on so we followed a group of 5 others down the mountain in a cloud of dust as we ran down the narrow single track into the valley.

What an awesome experience, running down into the valley, weaving around rocks, running through mountain streams with the mountain disappearing into the background behind us. We make to the bottom were the track begins to flatten out and we continue onto the next check point without to much effort, stop for a quick drink and off we went.

The next section started off fairly lightly on some nice trails, and then in the distance we see runners heading up hill, hands on knees or with poles out. We knew we were in for a tough climb. Our run turned into a trudge as we started to ascend to the top of the next peak. 2 hours later we reach the summit and start another quick, technical decent, only this time the decent took it’s toll on my right hip as I started to get a sharp pain every time I put my foot down. We walked the next couple of miles hoping the pain would ease which it did and I was able to jog again.

The 3 climbs were long and tiresome, we was stopping longer at the feed stations both very tired and in pain, but the food station at Champex looked more like a scene from a war movie, there were bodies everywhere. I sat and tried to block out everything around me but I had one man shaking uncontrollably on one side of me and two more throwing up into buckets behind me, we quickly stood up put on my head light and thermal top and continued on.

The next section was to be our toughest test yet, we managed to get into a group of 10 runners which was good as it was pitch black and we were about to start our ascent to the top of Bovine. This ascent wasn’t just a walk but a climb which in parts would go on forever, well it seemed as though it did. We pass a spectator who said we were 1 mile from the next check point, not the news we wanted as we thought that we had cracked this climb. We make to Bovine and I am in need of painkillers as my hip has brought me to a hobble, but the doctor said I would have to make it to the next check point 3 miles away, this did not please me. Simon was also struggling at this point with some very bad chaffing, our injuries had brought us to a walk.

We set off in the dark to our next check point, only 3 miles I kept telling myself, 3 miles is nothing. Well those simple little 3 miles of down hill took us 2 hrs as every time I put weight through my right leg I would get a very sharp pain in my hip and this time it didn’t go away. We finally reach the check point and see the doctor, it’s not good news, my hip is very swollen and with only one more check point left which were two mountains away the doctor said it in my best interest to stop.

Simon also sought medical advice for his very bad chaffing. When he pulled down his shorts and showed the doctor, his face was a picture. I won’t go into detail here as it would make some people sick, but all I will say is that Simon couldn’t sit down properly or wipe his bottom for a few days after.

To say that we were both gutted would be an understatement, we had both prepared all year for this event, we couldn’t have been fitter but unfortunately my hip and Simon’s bottom stopped us this time. We have both said that we’ll be going back next year to conquer the CCC and the UTMB in 2011.

We would both like to thank Skinfit for the support they have given us, I would highly recommend the Skinfit range to any active person.

Here’s to 2010 and more adventures.