Comments for Mont Blanc Trails http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog Life at the foot of Mont Blanc Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:55:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 Comment on The North Face Ultra Trail CCC 2007 by TeleSimian http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/09/04/the-north-face-ultra-trail-ccc-2007/#comment-17659 TeleSimian Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:36:16 +0000 http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/09/04/the-north-face-ultra-trail-ccc-2007/#comment-17659 Hi Jim, Was really good to meet you at the Ref Bonatti. I was a bit "Space Cadet" all day so sorry if I was a bit vacant ! The chesty cold finally caught up with me on the accent to Col Ferret, and I had to just struggle through from then on - but am really glad a slogged it out to the finish despite the time ! Hopefully I'll do a write up when I have a few minutes! Congratulation on your time. With a bad knee that seems like a pretty good result. You should be well happy with that. And next year..... who knows ! The course was definitely a lot tougher than last year, but I though it was much improved (The finish, although I was cursing the last ascent at the time was much better than the descent via Argentierre, and the descent to La fouly also was better). See you next year ?? Simon. Hi Jim,
Was really good to meet you at the Ref Bonatti. I was a bit “Space Cadet” all day so sorry if I was a bit vacant ! The chesty cold finally caught up with me on the accent to Col Ferret, and I had to just struggle through from then on - but am really glad a slogged it out to the finish despite the time ! Hopefully I’ll do a write up when I have a few minutes!

Congratulation on your time. With a bad knee that seems like a pretty good result. You should be well happy with that. And next year….. who knows !

The course was definitely a lot tougher than last year, but I though it was much improved (The finish, although I was cursing the last ascent at the time was much better than the descent via Argentierre, and the descent to La fouly also was better).

See you next year ??
Simon.

]]> Comment on The North Face Ultra Trail CCC 2007 by Jim http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/09/04/the-north-face-ultra-trail-ccc-2007/#comment-17642 Jim Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:16:06 +0000 http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/09/04/the-north-face-ultra-trail-ccc-2007/#comment-17642 Hi I am not sure how oftain you check your blog but i said hi to you on this years CCC at refuge Bonatti. Sorry i didnt have more time to chat but was with a mate and he was not hanging about! I came 605th. I had major knee probs on the Bovine and Catogne desents which reduced me to a snails pace. I remember you told me you were suffering from a cold, it looks as though this had an effect on your time compared to your result last year! well done for seeing it out though. Jim Hi I am not sure how oftain you check your blog but i said hi to you on this years CCC at refuge Bonatti. Sorry i didnt have more time to chat but was with a mate and he was not hanging about! I came 605th. I had major knee probs on the Bovine and Catogne desents which reduced me to a snails pace. I remember you told me you were suffering from a cold, it looks as though this had an effect on your time compared to your result last year! well done for seeing it out though.

Jim

]]> Comment on Ultra Trail CCC Write Up by Paul Allman http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/09/16/ultra-trail-ccc-write-up/#comment-17478 Paul Allman Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:00:55 +0000 http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/09/16/ultra-trail-ccc-write-up/#comment-17478 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). :-) 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).

:-)

]]> Comment on Ultra Trail CCC Write Up by TeleSimian http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/09/16/ultra-trail-ccc-write-up/#comment-17233 TeleSimian Fri, 23 May 2008 16:50:12 +0000 http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/09/16/ultra-trail-ccc-write-up/#comment-17233 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. 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.

]]> Comment on Ultra Trail CCC Write Up by Pat Manzi http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/09/16/ultra-trail-ccc-write-up/#comment-17229 Pat Manzi Thu, 22 May 2008 13:31:12 +0000 http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/09/16/ultra-trail-ccc-write-up/#comment-17229 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 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

]]> Comment on The North Face Ultra Trail CCC 2007 by Mont Blanc Trails » Blog Archive » Ultra Trail CCC Write Up http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/09/04/the-north-face-ultra-trail-ccc-2007/#comment-15035 Mont Blanc Trails » Blog Archive » Ultra Trail CCC Write Up Sun, 16 Sep 2007 19:02:42 +0000 http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/09/04/the-north-face-ultra-trail-ccc-2007/#comment-15035 [...] Mont Blanc Trails Life at the foot of Mont Blanc « The North Face Ultra Trail CCC 2007 [...] [...] Mont Blanc Trails Life at the foot of Mont Blanc « The North Face Ultra Trail CCC 2007 [...]

]]> Comment on The North Face Ultra Trail CCC 2007 by Mont Blanc Trails » Blog Archive » Ultra Trail CCC Write Up http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/09/04/the-north-face-ultra-trail-ccc-2007/#comment-15034 Mont Blanc Trails » Blog Archive » Ultra Trail CCC Write Up Sun, 16 Sep 2007 19:02:42 +0000 http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/09/04/the-north-face-ultra-trail-ccc-2007/#comment-15034 [...] Mont Blanc Trails Life at the foot of Mont Blanc « The North Face Ultra Trail CCC 2007 [...] [...] Mont Blanc Trails Life at the foot of Mont Blanc « The North Face Ultra Trail CCC 2007 [...]

]]> Comment on The North Face Ultra Trail CCC 2007 by Family Booth in St Gervais » Ultra Trail Courmayeur - Chamonix http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/09/04/the-north-face-ultra-trail-ccc-2007/#comment-14985 Family Booth in St Gervais » Ultra Trail Courmayeur - Chamonix Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:12:21 +0000 http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/09/04/the-north-face-ultra-trail-ccc-2007/#comment-14985 [...] There is a full writup on mountainnomad. In the meantime here are some pictures. [...] [...] There is a full writup on mountainnomad. In the meantime here are some pictures. [...]

]]> Comment on Mont Blanc Marathon 2007 by Rob + Jo http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/07/02/mont-blanc-marathon-2007/#comment-14435 Rob + Jo Tue, 03 Jul 2007 19:12:39 +0000 http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/07/02/mont-blanc-marathon-2007/#comment-14435 Well Done, I'm sure it would have been easier to have driven Rob & Jo Well Done, I’m sure it would have been easier to have driven

Rob & Jo

]]> Comment on Mont Blanc Marathon 2007 by Pete http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/07/02/mont-blanc-marathon-2007/#comment-14433 Pete Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:52:37 +0000 http://mountainnomad.co.uk/blog/2007/07/02/mont-blanc-marathon-2007/#comment-14433 Well done Simon...it sounds knackering juts reading about! See you soon. P, H and T Well done Simon…it sounds knackering juts reading about!

See you soon.

P, H and T

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