RUN LIKE A GIRL – SUCCESS ON THE NORTH FACE ULTRA TRAIL TOUR DU MONT BLANC

Yep we did it! All three of us got round The North Face Ultra Trail (Tour du Mont Blanc). What an experience! I must say that we are not planning on repeating it as it was extremely hard work. Catherine and Alex got round in an amazing 41 hours and 33 minutes and I (Karen) managed it in 43 hours and 13 minutes. We are extremely proud of each other and ourselves.

The atmosphere out there was what got us round. So much support from the public lining the streets, they seemed to love 3 girls running together. We had our names shouted out continuously as they are printed on your race number (what a great little thought that was).

I had a bit of a stomach upset for the two weeks leading up tot the event and so had not eaten properly, consequently I even found the first 5 miles down the valley to Les Houches hard work, we all found the first hill hard work and by the time I’d caught the other two up at Saint Gervais my legs had started to trash. I knew then that this was going to be the toughest race of my life and told the other two to go on ahead and at least we could then get them round. They stuck with me for the next 3 hills (which was about 16 hours into the event), but there was a lot of other competitors around and they would be over taking all these runners whilst powering up the hills only to be passed by them all again whilst waiting for me on the tops. We decided that they should get going as the cut off times were a bit close at the speed we were going, so we all hugged on top of the hill before Courmayeur and off they went with such style still. I hobbled along afterwoods and was in tears by the time I reached the aid station and decided I could only continue if I had a leg massage. This was fantastic and again reduced me to tears as they encouraged me to get going again. The next 7 hours were a battle of mind over body as my legs were dead and blisters started to appear over most of my toes and one heel. I struggled on thinking that I would not make any of the cut offs, and maybe I should just give up in daylight and get back to Chamonix, for a shower, food and a big hug from Mark, then I would think, no that is defeatist I should carry on until I get timed out, which would probably be the next big hill so I would miss another nights sleep but at least I wouldn’t be running anymore. I then met some Brits who told me I was going at the right speed to get round, they gave me some sun tan cream to save me burning my very oiled up calves and on I went at a snails pace with emotions changing every 5 minutes from tears to sadness to just about alive! Then I met a French bloke at Arnuva and I was chatting with him about the fact that I probably won’t make it now, he told me to not be so stupid and of course I would make it. He showed me the cut off times and said I was moving quick enough to beat them and to get off my ass and get up the hill. What a boost that gave me, I shot up the next hill fuelled by watery noodle soup, as this is all I could eat/drink since Les Contamines. I smashed the cut off time by over an hour and a half so my mind was now in such a positive state I actually started over taking people and encouraging them too. What a difference. I knew I would then get round. I spent the next few hours of darkness getting to check points just in time, then with loads of time, then back to a tight squeeze again and then finally got to Champex where Mark had come to meet me on the track, another big boost. I gave my self a leaving time of an hour before the cut off as I thought the next one was so tight I may not make it. Mark helped me get some more soup down my neck and I even managed a pot of crème caramel (that was a mistake it repeated on me for the next 12 hours!). I powered up the Bovine hill in total darkness by sticking close behind a French couple, this makes it easier to route find without thinking as the climb itself is extremely hard work and technical. The next downhill took forever into Trient but I made the cut off by an hour and half so this boosted my confidence no end. The next (and last) big uphill was a breeze. I stuck like glue to a French man and his fantastic pace up the hill, then almost ran down the other side (bit too painful to actually run) and got into Valorcine at 10.28 (2 hours ahead of the cut off) so all I had to do now was crawl home over a small pass and mostly downhill and flat to the finish. I was on such a high now my feet and legs just had to be ignored and off I powered. I stormed passed loads of people and by the time I got to about 5 km to go I gave my feet a quick massage, as they were so bruised on the base I couldn’t put my feet down properly, then I started to jog a bit. This got addictive and I started to go a bit faster. I thought this feels so good I don’t need my stabilizers (trekking poles) anymore, so I strapped them onto my ruck-sack and started to run. I ran like I had never run before and about a mile and a half from the finish I found a mate (Spyke) taking a picture of me, this fired me up even more as he’d seen me running and said I looked good (no I run like a girl and it looks awful!!!).

I powered off even more here and as I came into Chamonix (having passed about 30 racers in the last mile) found another friend Kath waiting to lead me into the town.

The crowds were cheering me on and on and I just got faster and faster until I saw the last bend, the commentator and the girls waiting for me at the finish line. I burst into tears of joy and exhilaration and laughter and smiles all at once. I’d done it. I will never do it again as I now have the t-shirt! And I can run like a girl!