Race report - Andy Rankin
Trailing gently across the finishing line at Tyndrum in 4th place in the Highland Fling - the official selection race for the GB squad for the IAU World Trail Challenge - I really didn't expect to be asked to wear anything with a union flag on it anytime soon. To my surprise, I was wrong. Jez opted to run Western States instead, and the selectors were looking for a bit of Alpine experience - and seemed to think my position in the Tour du Mont Blanc last year must mean I was suited to legging it over high mountain passes chasing Sherpas and mountain guides.
So, I got a selection letter. I wasn't going to argue - though I was a bit worried that with Lizzy Hawker and Angela Mudge (former World Mountain Running Champion) making a phenomenally strong ladies team, I could easily stumble home the last of the Brits...
Not to worry - best to enjoy the experience anyway, and the race was awesome. Held as part of the annual Merrell Sky Race in Serre Chevalier, there were about 50 athletes in the international competition - and the best part of 1000 in the open race.
We set off at 5am in pitch darkness. A torch hadn't been on the kit list and we hadn't expected it to be quite so dark, so we stumbled along the track out the village, jostling for position as it narrowed to single file.
The course climbed steeply over three high passes, reaching nearly 3000m in places, and with a total height gain and loss of 3500m over the 68k route. I could feel the altitude as we climbed steadily up to the first col, heart thumping and breath labouring in the thinner air. The fast, loose, descent down the far side was a joy to run though, and I felt relaxed. Having tapered properly for once before the race, I think I had got the preparation right, and I still felt full of energy as we crossed the river and headed uphill towards the next pass.
Energy was wearing a bit thin by the time I had struggled to the top. By now the pack had thinned, and the fastest runners had vanished into the far horizon. There was a long high section here, with scree and snow patches to negotiate, and a rocky shute so steep they had placed ropes to help us down. I could feel myself slowing, and it was a relief to get some breath back on the next downhill, and enjoy the smell of meadow and woodland by the river in the valley bottom.
By the top of the last pass there were just three other runners in sight; two a hundred yards or so ahead, and one close behind. With weary legs I tried to force my legs to gallop the remaining miles. The Italian ahead I couldn't catch, and the Swiss runner behind me sprinted past as the gradient steepened. But... I was catching the German runner, and passed him with a few miles to run. And the Swiss chap was knackered; gradually I was catching him again too, and just a mile from the finish he stopped for a drink, and I was past again.
I had run the race without any clear idea of my position. There had been a fair gaggle of runners ahead of me on the run in to the first col, and I had gradually clawed up a few places - but I was delighted to find I had come in 7th among the international field. In the overall race I was 14th: there were some fast people - a UTMB winner among them - who hadn't been selected to run for their country!
The girls were, as expected, the stars of the British squad, finishing soon after me. Angela took the ladies silver medal and Lizzy the bronze, and Allen got a decent placing amongst the international runners too.
I spent the next couple of days relaxing... by running half the UTMB route again as a bit of training. These Alpine races seem to suit my running - and I love the mountains - so maybe next year I'll leave the Vasque series to others and see how I get on if I spend a season racing in the Alps!
