UTMB - the Race, and being there -
In the marathon world, this isn’t a large race in terms of competitors. However in the ultra scene, Ultra-trail Mont Blanc (UTMB) is the Wimbledon, the Melbourne Cup, the Kentucky Derby of trail running.UTMB is actually a week long festival – with 5 separate races in the Mont Blanc massif area –finishing in Chamonix, but crossing France, Italy and Switzerland. The festival sprung out of the single race – UTMB, the iconic race of circumnavigating the Mont-Blanc mountains. The atmosphere is suffocating, with a massive ultra running expo, exhibiting all the major races from around the world, and the latest products from all ultra-sport companies. It’s all good – but frankly, it does nothing to settle pre-race nerves, and the over-sensitive state one gets into, prior to a race like this.
UTMB is a qualified race – meaning, everyone must qualify and show evidence of completing several ultra-distance races around the world - so everyone who comes, is experienced and proven. For me, it was three 100km races completed in the last 18months, to get into the ‘draw’ - then I was fortunate to be selected from the 2016 UTMB draw.For me, the goal was simple – to start and finish, and secondly to experience the scenic trails of the Mont Blanc massif.
Little did I know, I was gain something more valuable.
