Ultra Trail CCC Write Up

Published
by
TeleSimian
on 16 September 2007
in Trail Running
.

I have just uploaded a print version of the write up of my experience on the Ultra Trail CCC.

You can download it here as a pdf file. Read it on your computer or print it out.

Hope you enjoy.

Ultra Trail Write Up

3 Responses to “Ultra Trail CCC Write Up”

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  1. 1 Pat Manzi
    22 May 2008 at 2:31 pm

    Hi Simon,

    I’m not sure if you still update this site or get mail from it - it seems like it hasn’t been updated in a few months.

    Anyway, I found the blog via google (of course) and read your entry about the Mont Blanc Marathon. Great reading! A few of us are going to run it next month, and I was wondering if you could answer a few questions we had about it:
    1. Was there anythign training-wise that you would have liked to have done differently before the race?
    2. The days before the race - how did you prepare and was there anything you really thought helped or didn’t help.
    3. Anything that you would have like to have with you during the race that you didn’t have?
    4. Food wise - did they have enough food along the course, or did you need to supply a lot of your own?
    5. Clothes - wise, how much stuff did you bring with you?

    OK, I guess that’s enough questions. Thanks again for a great blog entry and hopefully answers to the questions. And who knows! Maybe we’ll meet up in Chamonix in a few weeks.

    Sincerely,

    /Pat

  2. 2 TeleSimian
    23 May 2008 at 5:50 pm

    Hi Pat,

    The updates are very sparse on the blog at the moment due to lack of time !

    The Mt Blanc Marathon is a really superb mountain marathon, you’re going to love it ! I will also be running it again - My number is 149 I believe, say hi if you see me on the trail !

    In answer to your questions:
    1/ This year I’m putting in more ’speed’ runs. But then last year it was my first running event and I would have been happy just to finish ! I would advice doing LOTS of hills. That will pay off more than anything else I would say, and don’t be worried about fast walking the hills even in training.

    2/ The day before I went over to Chamonix to register and watch some of the events that day, ate lots of carbs, and got an early night in readiness for the 5am start the next day. I couldn’t say that there was anything that I did that I thought didn’t help.
    To build up the Glycogen stores I had been eating at least one bowl of “Oversimms Sprdej” per day for the previous week, which I think was a big help. Everyone is different but I run low on energy easily !

    3/ Possibly! I carried a lightweight rucksack with a water bladder, which I couldn’t have done without. All I had in the rucksack was an ultra-lightweight pertex windstopper (Which i didn’t use), some energy gels and bars. The weather was clear blue skies though so nothing else was needed - had the forecast been different I may have carried some extra gear. The one thing I didn’t take which I may do this year are Poles. They are fantastic for the uphills - I used them on the ultra-trail and was really glad I took them. For this event my only reservation is the narrow trail and number of people. Having said that I think I will take them this year - You do need to practice using them though, as when goong fast getting the rhythm right is difficult !

    4/ There are loads of refreshment stops on the route (not all have food) which have a variety of drinks, orange segments, sugar lumps and bits of energy bars / cake, banana etc. I carried energy gels and bars and water. I will do the same again this year just to fill in the gaps, for emergency energy and just because I know what I’ve got then!

    5/ I ran in shorts, a T-shirt, and a hat (I don’t like the sun on my head), and carried a lightweight pertex windstopper. perfectly adequate for the weather that day, but it can get nasty in the mountains so keep a good eye on the weather forecasts (http://www.chamonix.com/page.php?page=11&r=meteo_chamonix&ling=en) and posted outside the Guides office, opposite the church just behind the start line.

    Hope this helps. If you have any more questions feel free to ask. Maybe see you in Chamonix at the end of June ?

    Good luck with the training and hope you enjoy the event!

    Cheers
    Simon.

  3. 3 Paul Allman
    29 July 2008 at 10:00 pm

    Hi Simon,
    Just back from Chamonix and saw info in the race - looks cool - wish I had known about it earlier! Anyway this is just a short note to say great blog….and look forward to reading your report on this year’s race.

    Good Luck (and also Good Luck to Pat if she sees this).
    :-)

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