First off, Bob Willcox of Colorado Springs wins a pair of La Sportiva Crosslites. (iRF Crosslite review) Bob, go hit the trails before the snow flies… or, with the Crosslites, even after it does!

… and the grand prize winner of three pairs of La Sportiva trail running shoes, a free entry into one 2011 La Sportiva Mountain Cup race, and a bunch of La Sportiva swag is Patrick of Denver, Colorado! Patrick, may you enjoy the rest of your trail time in 2010 and on into 2011 decked out in La Sportiva.

That’s it for iRunFar’s 2010 La Sportiva Mountain Cup coverage. We hope you enjoyed it!

La Sportiva Mountain Cup Schedule

Related posts:

1. La Sportiva Mountain Cup Grand Prize
2. 2010 La Sportiva Mountain Cup Preview!
3. La Sportiva Mountain Cup and La Sportiva Shoe Giveaway!

*awkward pause*

I took the Terra Nova Laser 20L pack with me to the 2010 Marathon des Sables and I don’t regret it one bit.

*ducks, swerves, looks away*

If you’re still here, I hope you’ll stick around long enough to hear me out. First and foremost, I haven’t retired my beloved Inov-8 pack. In fact, since its inaugural voyage to the Sahara Desert, it has spent time fastpacking in Canyonlands National Park, on a winter hut-to-hut-to-hut Yosemite National Park snowshoe trip, and it just went with me on a fastpack along the crest of the Sierra Nevada. My Inov-8 Race Pro 22, proudly hanging front and center in my gear closet, was simply repurposed.

Second, I learned at my maiden MdS voyage that I brought with me too much crap. To be competitive at a race in which you carry all of your stuff on your back for 150 miles means you have to bring with you as little as possible. When I did the math on what was coming with me in 2010, I reasoned that I needed something smaller than a 22-liter pack, and that I needed something in the uber-ultralight category.

That was when a press release for the Terra Nova 20L pack landed in iRunFar’s email inbox and, shortly thereafter, into my hands. Lust at first sight, I felt. I wanted it. I had to take it with me to the Sahara Desert this year. Luckily, Terra Nova obliged a pack sample with which I could fall in fast love.

Pack Description and Specifications
The Laser 20L has one main storage compartment with a built-in back panel sleeve for perhaps a skinny sleeping pad or hydration bladder. One accesses the main compartment via a sturdy (for this pack) front zipper, which eliminates the extra weight of the material of an open top as well as a top flap and its clasps. On the outside of the main compartment are two mesh stow pockets with great stretching range and a small pocket with the most minute of zippers. Two small compression cords on the front allow you to regulate the main compartment’s size and further support the goods of the mesh stow pockets.

The back panel, shoulder straps, and waist belt have an added layer of mesh for a bit of padding and moisture transfer. On each side of the waist belt lies one of two mesh bottle pockets controlled at their tops with mini-compression cords. Two zippered storage pockets make their home on the front of the waist belt. The pack possesses a lightly stretchy, adjustable sternum strap with an included emergency whistle. All of this, according to the manufacturer, weighs in at 328 grams (11.6 ounces)!

Training and Racing with the Pack
I was scared to death of this pack’s small size when it came out of the box, so my first training runs with it were ensconced in trepidation, not head-over-heels love nor even one-run lust. Slowly, surely, after a number of training runs, I grew more comfortable with the pack, appreciating its short torso and widely adjustable waist belt for my body’s little frame. The weight rode well, right where it’s supposed to in the smallest part of my waist, with very little bounce.

The author training with the Terra Nova Laser 20L.

I began to modify the heck out of the Terra Nova Laser 20L pack to make it most applicable to me. Under modification, it not only survived but also thrived, and this is what sealed the love deal. My first modification was to add shoulder strap bottle holders. I had success last year with Inov-8’s bottle holders, and they, too, fit well on the shoulder straps of this pack. In the 10 days or so before leaving for MdS, the Laser 20L experienced heavy modification for the purpose of making the pack even lighter. (If you’re interested in these gritty details, check out my “Appendix for the Backpack Geeks” below.).

The Laser 20L served me real well in the desert, and I came home feeling as in love with it as I was over the Inov-8 Race Pro 22 last year. As with any piece of gear that gets used long and/or hard, however, I discovered small difficulties in the use of this pack. First and foremost, the shoulder straps could use some reinforcement to make them a bit stiffer, as they currently buckle into narrower straps. (In corresponding with Terra Nova, they’ve not previously heard of this issue. They further noted, “we have tried to get the best fit and comfort for the lowest weight which is a bit of a balance and may not be right for all.”) Second, I experienced partial failure at the location where the sternum strap connects with the shoulder straps, so this also needs some reinforcement. (Terra Nova reports that they’ve corrected this problem.) The hip pockets are made of nylon with no stretch, and I’d love to see them made of mesh for easier zipping and greater carrying capacity.

What I’m trying to say here is that I’ve come to dearly love this pack in the time I’ve so far had with it. Though wonderful, it isn’t perfect, but, then again, none of us are and someone still manages to love each of us. If you plan to be a fast Marathon des Sables runner, or you’d like a heckuva day or overnight pack, this is the real deal. Uber-ultralight and well-constructed, I’m proud to call it this year’s new running pack mistress.

Call for Questions and Comments
As always, we’d love to hear feedback from others who have used this or similar packs. Also, feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions about the pack.

Appendix for the Backpack Geeks

Manufacturer’s published weights:
Terra Nova Laser 20L, 328 grams
.
Inov-8 shoulder strap water bottle holder, no specified weight from Inov-8.

My pre-modification weights:
Terra Nova Laser 20L, 330 grams
.
Inov-8 shoulder strap water bottle holder, 42 grams.

My post-modification weights:
Terra Nova Laser 20L, 279 grams
.
Inov-8 shoulder strap water bottle holder, 36 grams.

Weight-saving modifications I made to the Laser 20L:

1. I cut all straps to my size, including 2 shoulder straps, 1 waist strap, and 1 sternum strap.
2. I cut off 1 reflective strip on the pack’s front.
3. I removed 1 of the mesh stow pockets and the small zipper pocket on the pack’s front.
4. I removed the sleeping pad/hydration bladder sleeve inside the main compartment.
5. I removed 1 of the hip belt’s mesh water bottle pockets.

Weight-saving modifications I made to each bottle holder:

1. I trimmed unused Velcro.
2. I cut off a tag inside the holder.
3. I cut off the compression strap and 2 small loops that held it.
4. I cut off pulls for adding/removing bottles.

Related posts:

1. Inov-8 Race Pro 22 (and Inov-8 Shoulder Strap Bottle Holders) Review
2. MdS Gear: Pack and Sleep System
3. Mountain Hardwear Fluid 10 Pack Review

Mike Wolfe also talks about what his experience as an American at the Ultra-Trail du Mont Mont Blanc. He touches on the special mountain culture of the area, how he’d like the American ultrarunning scene to grow, and how every American ultrarunner should run UTMB at least once. He also talks about using trekking poles in the race, the differences between American and UTMB aid stations, the ease of being an English-speaker racing in non-English speaking countries.

Related posts:

1. Lizzie Hawker, 2010 UTMB Champion, Video Interview
2. Jez Bragg, 2010 UTMB Champion, Interviewed
3. Scott Jurek Pre-2010 UTMB Interview

Assuming that the GORE-TEX 50 Mile championship fills in the next few days or sooner than later, there will still be five slots available for entry into the race. The top man and woman at both the September 18th 50-mile race in Madison, Wisconsin and the October 16th 50-mile race in Atlanta, Georgia will each earn $1,000 and a spot in December’s race. In addition, iRunFar.com will be giving away one entry into the San Francisco championship race, as well as a sweet gear prize pack, in the near future. Stay tuned!

If you don’t get into the 50 mile championship race, but still want to challenge yourself on Marin Headlands trails near San Francisco that weekend, there’s now a full weekend’s worth of exciting trail racing. On Saturday, December 4, The North Face will also host a 50k, a marathon, a marathon relay, and a kid’s run. For those hoping to wrap up their season with a shorter race, there will be a half marathon, a 10k, a 5k and another kid’s run on Sunday, December 5. After covering the 50 mile race on Saturday, iRunFar’s Bryon Powell will be running one of Sunday’s shorter races.

Call for Comments
Will you be running any of the upcoming The North Face Endurance Challenge races in Madison, Wisconsin; Atlanta, Georgia; or San Francisco, California?

Related posts:

1. The North Face Endurance Challenge 2009
2. This Week In Running (Week of 12/5 & 12/6)
3. This Week In Running (5/8-9) & TNF Bear Mt Preview

Related posts:

1. Jez Bragg, 2010 UTMB Champion, Interviewed
2. Michael Wardian Video Interview: 2010 Comrades Marathon
3. Scott Jurek Pre-2010 UTMB Interview

Related posts:

1. Jez Bragg Pre-2010 UTMB Interview
2. Lizzie Hawker, 2010 UTMB Champion, Video Interview
3. UTMB 2010 Results and Report: Bragg and Hawker win!

What follows is primarily an account of the Saturday’s revised UTMB. First, there’s a bit about the original UTMB race the was canceled Friday night, which is followed by an account of what transpired between the two versions of the race. Finally, we’ll let you know how the actual 2010 UTMB played out on the course. We’ve also included a collection of race reports, which we’ll update, at the end of the article. Grab an espresso… we downed more than one Nescafe espresso while writing this lengthy report.

One last thing before jumping in, be sure to stop back in the coming days for post-race video interviews with top UTMB finishers Lizzie Hawker, Jez Bragg, and Mike Wolfe!

The Back Story
In brief, this year’s UTMB started at 6:30 on Friday night in Chamonix, France, but this time under cloudy skies. Runners headed 5 miles south to Les Houches by which time it was pouring on the leaders. This wasn’t totally unexpected as there had been heavy rain in Chamonix earlier on Friday, but it was nonetheless disappointing as the skies had cleared in the afternoon.

Mont Blanc towering over Chamonix on Friday afternoon.

The rain had mostly tapered off by the time the front runners made it to Saint-Gervais, a town 13 miles (21 km) into the race that greeted runners with a rocking street party. As had been the case at Les Houches, Salomon’s Kilian Jornet (iRF pre-race interview) led the men’s field along with Hoka OneOne runner Pascal Giguet, while Lizzie Hawker led the women. She entered the town with Scott Jurek (iRF pre-race interview) and Karl Meltzer  in tow and only seven minutes behind Jornet. Geoff Roes of Montrail (iRF pre-race interview) and Mike Wolfe were the top Americans through Saint-Gervais. They were running together four and a half minutes behind the leaders.

And then is started raining again… or at least it started to rain on me again as I traveled to Les Contamines, 19 miles (31 km) into the course. It was then that I tweeted “Raining again in Les Contamines. It’s gonna be a long, cold, wet night!” With what soon transpired, I’m sure many runners (and myself) would have greatly preferred their Friday night to have been long and cold.

As it was, Kilian blasted in and out of Les Contamines alone in first. Miguel Heras and Pascal Giguet ran through a half minute behind in second and third. Then things got weird. Roes and Wolfe were the next ones out of the aid station. As I ran alongside them briefly, they reported that aid station workers had told them that the race was canceled and that they must stay in the aid station. However, as they knew the top three runners had left only minutes before, they pressed on.

Three hours into the race, the Americans were the last runners to leave Les Contamines. The race was indeed canceled, but no one in Les Contamines was certain of that for a good while. Instead, we stood there amidst puddles and rumors. Rumors of a temporary halt and restart, a resumption of the race at some later time, and a permanent cancellation. In fact, it was a good while before I was sure that the race was even temporarily halted. It took me seeing barriers placed at the aid station exit to confirm this.

Soon thereafter, I received a text message from Nick Yardley, the President of Julbo North America who was running the race, saying the race was canceled due to a mudslide. In the end, the threat of mudslides and falling rock was likely far outweighed by the risk of exposure to weather as runners in the CCC, a 98 km UTMB sister race started earlier on Friday, such as American Kami Semick noted that weather on the higher passes was quite dangerous. Although this is mere speculation, it would be hard to believe that the decision was not made with consideration for the exposure-related deaths of three adventure racers in the French Maritime Alps last year. I can understand both local and race officials would be unwilling to risk the lives of the 2,300 UTMB runners, the 1,200 runners of the TDS (the Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie, a 111 km UTMB sister race) who did not start as planned at midnight, or the portion of the 1,800 CCC runners who were pulled from later portions of the course.

Back in Les Contamines, the mood couldn’t have been more somber at the aid station. All the runners had spent many months training for this event. Many had traveled long distances and encountered great expense to be there. For some, it might be their only chance at glory. For others, it might be their only chance to attend the event. I hesitate to bring focus on one runner’s misfortune, but Tsuyoshi Kaburaki’s, a Japanese runner who placed second at the 2009 Western States 100, prolonged outpouring of emotion showed just how important this race is to the competitors. Likewise, the compassion expressed to him by his North Face teammate Sebastian Chaigneau showed the mutual respect, camaraderie, and understanding within the trail running community.

Soon after this photo, while in the arms of Sebastien Chaigneau, Tsuyoshi Kaburaki remarked, "I must come back."

A Night of Confusion
Understanding was one thing that was lacking throughout the overnight hours Friday night. This was not a lack of understanding in the sense of compassion, but in the sense that no one knew what the heck was going on. At first, there was lots of talk of alternate plans. Nicolas Mermoud (iRF pre-race interview), the President of Hoka OneOne, had thoughts of running the TDS that was starting in 90 minutes in Courmayeur, which was 45 minutes away. Soon thereafter, Kilian convinced numerous top runners to enter the Skyrunning Marathon World Championships on Sunday in Italy. For more on the alternate race plan adventure, check out iRunFar’s UTMB cancellation post.

Geoff Roes, Nicolas Mermoud, and Kilian Jornet coming up with alternate race plans.

While out drinking consolation beverages with Nick Yardey, a fellow runner noticed Nick’s UTMB armband and said, “You’d better make that your last beer, we’re leaving for the race at 6:30 in the morning. The other runner proceeded to show a text saying that buses would leave at 6:30 am to take UTMB racers to Courmayeur to run the CCC course. It was then well passed 2 in the morning. Moments later, I received a call from Nicolas Mermoud, who told me the same story. I quickly finished my beer and went off to text and email the Americans whose contact info I had – Geoff Roes, Scott Jurek, and Scott Mason. Mason had heard nothing, but soon texted that he and Cory Johnson were in. Roes called sometime after 3:30 a.m. By that time, I’d read on The North Face’s European Blog that the official decision regarding the race would be made at 9 am. As this message was not yet contradicted on the race website, The North Face blog, or the Ultrafondus.net website (an official race partner), we decided to call one another at 8:30 to have breakfast before receiving the official announcement. At 8:25, I received a call from the press office letting me know that the press bus was leaving for Courmayeur at 9 for the restart of a revised UTMB at 10 a.m.

To be honest, I nearly stayed in bed. Then I realized that covering the race, whatever its form, was my reason for being in Chamonix. Each and every UTMB runner who received notice of the revised UTMB start before the final buses left for Courmayeur at 9 a.m. had to face a similar, but even more difficult decision. All had run 13 miles, 19 miles, or, in the case of the top five men, even more miles the previous night. Most had slept between two and four hours, if at all. Some had headed out drinking after Friday night’s cancellation. Few had eaten a meal since midday Friday. None had an easy choice. Each runner had his or her own reasons for being in Chamonix for UTMB and when combined with all of the difficult factors just described, there would be no way to predict who would or would not be on the starting line in Courmayeur for the revised UTMB.

Ultimately, many runners didn’t have a decision to make. The race relied on sending text messages to participants to notify them of the option of a revised start. In particular, we’re not aware of a single American who successfully received this text from the race organization. After the fact, the race organization became aware of this issue and found it important enough to address it in Sunday’s special UTMB Edition of Endurance Trail magazine. They noted, “Unfortunately, if we controlled the sending of the [text message], we did not control the reception of the messages, which depends on each operator. Which explains how certain athletes had either not received or received this message late…” They went on to explain why they used only text messages to notify runners of the resumption of UTMB, “In [case of emergency], [text] is the best way to get in touch quickly with all the runners as the mobile phone is part of their obligatory equipment.”

Even those who were in the know sometimes changed their minds. For instance, when first notified of the race around 7 Saturday morning, eventual winner Jez Bragg wasn’t on board with running the revised race. As the minutes ticked by and he learned of others who would be racing, he changed his mind. However, he didn’t make up his mind quite quickly enough to make the final bus without undue rush. At the time of his decision, I was writing iRunFar’s UTMB Resumption article in the lobby of the Hotel Alpina where The North Face athletes were also staying and gladly volunteered to drive Jez to the start given that I would be driving there to cover it anyway.

Heading to the start, I knew of a couple top runners who would be there, including Helen Cospolich (iRF pre-race interview), Mike Wolfe, Lizzie Hawker, Jez Bragg, Sebastien Chaigneau, Karl Meltzer, Nicolas Mermoud, Julien Chorier, Samuel Bonaudo, Fernanda Maciel, and Néré Martinez-Urruzola. I also knew that both reigning Western States 100 champions, Geoff Roes and Tracy Garneau, would not be restarting. As for the rest, it was anybody’s guess!

Revised Race Resumed
Seventeen hundred words into this article and its time to start talking about the actual UTMB. Given the adventure of this year’s race, the lengthy path to the start is entirely appropriate.

In turns out that Friday night’s UTMB runners would not be alone on their journey. The start of the TDS race, which was to have begun at midnight Saturday, was delayed overnight and its runners would join the original UTMB runners. Despite those who started UTMB Friday night having run up to 22 miles, both the UTMB and TDS entrants were now competing to be this year’s UTMB champion.

To see who would win UTMB, the racers would run a slightly modified CCC course, which normally measures 98 kilometers. I have not yet sorted out the details of the modification. The official race press release notes that the revised UTMB race distance was 88 kilometers, but relying on what I’ve been told by a runner quite familiar with both courses, I’ve calculated distance splits below based on approximately 4 kilometers (2 1/4 miles) being removed near the start at Courmayeur. Regardless of the changes, for 1,238 runners (650 UTMB/588 TDS), UTMB was on!

Sebastien Chaigneau, Jez Bragg, and Lizzie Harker at the second start of the 2010 UTMB.

Amidst the spectacular scenery of Arnuva, Nepali Dawa Sherpa and Greek Alexis Gounko held a lead 14 miles (23 km) into the race. Julien Chorier (iRF pre-race interview) sat in third five and a half minutes back ahead of a cascade of runners. A minute behind Chorier, Mike Wolfe was the top American through Arnuva in sixth, while Karl Meltzer sat around 15th. In addition to Geoff Roes, it became apparent that neither Scott Jurek nor Joe Grant restarted the race. Lizzie Hawker ran among the top 20 men as she came into Arnuva. She was 16 minutes ahead of the next woman, Néré Martinez-Urruzola, and more than half an hour ahead of Agnes Herve in third.

Dawa Sherpa leading just before the Arnuva aid station.

Three miles later, Gounko briefly took a small lead over Dawa Sherpa at the Col de Ferret. Dawa had caught back up to the Greek by La Fouly at mile 23 (37 km). Three Frenchmen, Julien Chorier, Cyril Cointre and Jérome Challier, were the next runners giving chase. Gounko would later drop from the race. Lizzie remained far in front of the other ladies.

Mike Wolfe in Forclaz just before Trient.

By Bovine at mile 38 (62 km), Jez Bragg and Mike Wolfe had paired up and were charging hard in third position. Dawa Sherpa had retaken the lead en route to the aid station with Chorier just two minutes back. Dawa, however, had spent himself. In the next four miles heading to Trient, he gave up the lead, four positions, and eight minutes on the new leaders, Chorier and Bragg. Wolfe and Thomas Saint-Girons came through four minutes off the lead. Hawker continued to dominate the women’s field.

Jez Bragg took over the lead to Vallorcine, 48 miles (77 km) in to this year’s UTMB. There, ahead of the last major climb of 2,500 feet, he had a four minute lead on Wolfe, his teammate and partner earlier in the race. Chorier had quickly fallen 7 minutes behind Bragg.

Wolfe did not have any oomph in his legs on the four mile climb to la Tête aux Vents during which time Bragg doubled his lead. Spaniard Zigor Iturrieta passed Chorier to move into third.

The order did not change on the swift 3,600 foot descent into Chamonix. Jez Bragg won in 10:30, Mike Wolfe was second in 10:37, and Zigor Iturrieta finished third in 10:49. Julien Chorier hung on for fourth in 10:53. After two starts and 75 miles (125 km) of racing, Patrick Bohard, Antoine Guillon, Jérôme Challier, Cyril Cointre, and Thomas Saint-Girons crossed the line arm-in-arm for a five way tie for fifth in 10:56. Pascal Blanc rounded out the top 10 in 11:09. Local favorite Dawa Sherpa and the first Japanese runner, Kenichi Yamamoto, tied for 11th in 11:14. Karl Meltzer was the second American across the line in 11:40, which earned him 17th place.

Full open (“Scratch”) results, including women, can found here. You can also separate search for women’s rankings (“Femmes”) on the same page.

The 2010 UTMB champions, Lizzie Hawker and Jez Bragg of the UK.

I apologize for not giving more play-by-play commentary to Lizzie Hawker’s tremendous victory. She was smoking the women’s field on Friday evening and again dominated on Saturday. In four UTMB starts (or five counting this year’s double start), she has three victories (’05, ’08, ’10) and one second (’09). No one has dominated the race like she has, although with Friday night’s performance it seems like Kilian Jornet is not far from being in her company. It’s clear that only a few women in the world, such as last year’s UTMB champ Krissy Moehl, can even compete with Hawker on the UTMB course.

By the time Hawker reentered Chamonix, she had more than an hour’s lead as she won in 11:47. Néré Martinez-Urruzola was the second woman to finish in 12:49. Martinez-Urruzola again had more than an hour’s lead on the next woman, Agnès Hervé, who ran 14:11. Fernanda Maciel took fourth in 14:33 not too far fifth place Catherine Dubois, who finished in 14:40. Isabelle Ciferman earned sixth with a time of 14:52. Helen Cospolich was the top American woman. She finish seventh in 14:54. Chigaya Mase, the top Japanese woman, took eighth in 15:03. Rounding out the top ten were Claudine Trecourt (15:07) and Hiroko Suzuki (15:16).

By the time the 27 hour time limit was reached, 1,128 finishers had finished this year’s Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc. For sure, it was an unforgettable two days for all of the finishers, all of the runners who never made the line, as well as everyone in attendance. While this lengthy article has covered the competitive aspect of the event and the realities (and rumors) forced upon all by the inclement weather, I intend to later share more on the feel and experience at this unbelievable event. To be sure, it’s unlikely that there’s anything like it in the United States… or quite possibly anywhere else in the world.

Racer Reports

• Geoff Roes offers four relevant posts: Almost, But Not Quite…, And Then Almost Again, and UTMB Final Thoughts
• Karl Meltzer’s UTMB report
• Kilian Jornet’s thoughts on UTMB’s annulment (in French) (Google translated into English)

1. UTMB Replacement/Resumption in Place
2. Lizzie Hawker, 2010 UTMB Champion, Video Interview
3. Jez Bragg, 2010 UTMB Champion, Interviewed

From the elite field, we know that Geoff Roes and Tracy Garneau will not be restarting. For the Americans following, I know that at the least Helen Cospolich, Mike Wolfe, Scott Mason, Cory Johnson, and Erich Peitzsch are running. UK fans, Lizzie Hawker and Jez Bragg are in. From France, Sebastien Chaigneau will be representing. We’re pretty darn sure that Karl Meltzer and Nicholas Mermoud will be there. More runners we’ve learned of: Julien Chorier, Samuel Bonaudo, Fernanda Maciel & Néré Martinez Urruzola.

We’ll try to update folks on who else is there via Twitter.

Related posts:

1. Exciting UTMB Cancelled… or Not?
2. UTMB 2010 Results and Report: Bragg and Hawker win!
3. Jez Bragg, 2010 UTMB Champion, Interviewed

The Race…
Ok, back to the beginning of the story. The race start was as emotional as they get. The UTMB folks really know how to set a mood. Such attempts are uncommon in American trail races. Those races we’ve seen attempt it around the world have fallen short of UTMB’s standard. Sure, that might not be everyone’s thing, but it’s something to experience at least once.

After the runners hit the course, the rains started. The top runners arrival at the first aid station, Les Houches (4.9 miles/7.9 km), coincided with heavens opening up. Fortunately, it wasn’t all that cold. As might be expected, Kilian Jornet was out in the lead, but the top ten men were all still within a few minutes. Lizzie Hawker was the only woman we saw come through.

The town of Saint Gervais hosts UTMB’s third aid station at mile 13.2/km 21.3. It was rocking! We saw a brass band working the crowd, which entered into song whenever the band stopped playing. All the runners we’ve talked to love about it, love running through the town for what felt like a mile, as the course runs an out and back to the aid station at the heart of town.

The lead runners hit Saint Gervais during a break in the rain. Again, Kilian was in the lead, this time in the company of Pascal Giguet. Miguel Heras and Nicolas Mermoud were but a minute back. Mike Wolfe and Geoff Roes were the top Americans through the aid station five minutes back in sixth and seventh.

Lizzie Hawker was smoking. She came into the town with Scott Jurek and Karl Meltzer in toe. The next woman, Néré Martinez-Urruzola didn’t come in for another for another 12 minutes. Tracy Garneau, another minute back, was the only other woman within 20 minutes of Lizzie.

Ah, and then there was Les Contamines at mile 19.3/km 31.1. Kilian yet again ran through the aid station in first, though Miguel and Pascal were hanging tight. The pair were 30 and 40 seconds back, respectively. Five minutes back, Geoff Roes and Mike Wolfe came out of the aid station together in fourth and fifth. This were things get odd.

The Cancellation
We briefly followed Geoff and Mike as they exited the aid station. They first noted that some runners seemed to have gotten lost…. no big deal that happens. Then they dropped the curious bombshell, some person or persons in the aid station told them that the race was temporarily canceled and that they needed to stay in the aid station. Not seeing Kilian, Miguel, or Pascal still in the aid station, they decided to keep going unless someone blocked their way. No one did and they kept on running. They were the final runners to leave the aid station.

No one left the aid station for a bit and that got us poking around. The first rumors were of a temporary cancellation. As more elite runners came in without any exiting, the rumors turned to total cancellation or possibly a resumption of the race further down the course past the mudslide at Col de la Seigne.

Some runners changed into dry clothes or ate up while others walked around in disbelief. More than a few became emotional. They’d spent six months or a year training all leading up to this day… and a decision that was not theirs ended it. That is not at all to imply that anyone was upset with the race organizers for doing so. We did not here a single runner say so much. All respected that safety is paramount and that no race directors wish to unnecessarily cancel a race. Those directors likely work longer and harder on the event than the runners.

Sebastien Chaigneau consoling Tsuyoshi Kaburaki after the cancellation of the 2010 UTMB.

Eventually, the 50-100 runners that reached Les Contamines found rides back to Chamonix or otherwise wandered off more or less as they pleased. There was enough space for all. On the other hand, there were 2,200 or so runners that never made it past Saint Gervais. The final result was runners packing like sardines into trains that run from Saint Gervais to Chamonix.

The Night of Many Contingency Plans
While in Les Contamines, Hoka OneOne president Nicolas Mermoud quickly came up with driving to the TDS (Traces des Ducs de Savoie), a UTMB sister race, that started in 90 minutes at Courmayeur, which is 45 minutes away through the Mont Blanc tunnel. He had a few convinced a few to follow along with his plan… until Kilian started recruiting folks to run the Sky Running Marathon World Championships in Italy on Sunday. Kilian quickly convinced Nicholas and Geoff to run in Italy, as well.

Not long thereafter, we found ourselves at Nicolas’s house, as he lives in Les Contamines, in the company of Kilian Jornet, Geoff Roes, Karl Meltzer, some friends, including some of the Salomon coverage crew. It wasn’t long until Geoff had convinced Karl to run the marathon. Meanwhile, Kilian had convinced World Trail Running champion Thomas Lorblanchet to come, as well. After a quick phone call by Kilian, the runners were into the Sky Race!

(l-r) Karl Meltzer, Geoff Roes, Kilian Jornet, & Nicolas Mermoud after the 2010 UTMB.

After some pasta and good times, the group dispersed a bit after midnight. Once back in Chamonix it was time for a beer. Out at the bar, a runner received a text from the race organization… a replacement CCC (98 km UTMB sister race) was being held the next morning, just be on the bus at 6:30 am! We received a completely independent phone call from a reliable source telling us the same news. We believed it. In addition, it turns out that unbeknown to us, there’d also been a UTMB press conference saying that the organization was looking into start an event at Courmayeur, CCC’s starting point, and that an official announcement would be made in an hour or two.

That hour or two passed and a decision was made: No decision would be announced until 9 am local time. Per The North Face, at that time the race organizers “will inform runners if there is a chance to continue the race.”

The Conclusion?
We know that many UTMB runners never got the first text message regarding the CCC replacement race. We also suspect that most were asleep when the announcement of the 9 am final announcement was made. We don’t know what the final decision will be, how many runners will learn about it (many will welcome a long night’s sleep), and how many will choose to take part in a replacement option.

Anyway, stay tuned. If there’s a replacement race, we’ll certainly mention it on Twitter, but might not have time to update the website.

Call for Comments
How would you feel about such a cancellation? What would you want to be the solution? Might you take part in a replacement race?

Related posts:

1. UTMB 2010 Results and Report: Bragg and Hawker win!
2. UTMB Replacement/Resumption in Place
3. Geoff Roes Pre-2010 UTMB Interview

The last day of TransRockies wrapped up with no change for the leaders of the pack. Krissy Moehl and Bryan Dayton took the mixed open division by 12:01. Max King and Andy Martin continued to dominate the men’s open, ending up with an impressive final lead of 40:20.

Krissy Moehl

Melody Fairchild and Ellen Parker remained on top of the women’s open division. The Quebec ladies, Amelie Fournier and Danielle de Guire, won the sixth stage by less than a minute, but it wasn’t enough to make up the gap Fairchild and Parker had already opened up on the prior days.

The final stage of TransRockies proved difficult for many runners, as tired legs must navigate two long, steep climbs, exposed sun baked ridges, and steep descents through technical, overgrown grassy fields. Most felt relieved to think that they wouldn’t have to stomach energy gels, bananas, early alarm clocks, and well worn running shoes for a seventh straight day.

I traveled to TransRockies this year as both a journalist and a runner. I teamed up with friend and running partner Caroline Ly, who I met on the trails around Seattle. We started running ultramarathons together several years ago when we both entered the White River 50 Miler, so we already knew we’d be compatible on the trail.

Neither of us felt we could have asked for a better partnership, given the challenges TransRockies presents as a team race. Even with our similar mind frame, a partner challenge isn’t easy. The first day, Caroline became ill due to heat and altitude, and walked the last four flat road miles. I worried that she’d feel sick the entire week.

Thankfully, being the robust athlete she is, she bounced back and ran strong every day after. We steadily moved up the rankings, nabbing fourth place in the open division by the end of the week. As the days went on, we discovered new ways to work together as a team and play on our own running strengths. I’d take off ahead of her on the climbs, and then she’d come barreling down the descents.

Caroline (third back) and I (front) running together on the first day.

I found the mental aspect of a partner race more challenging than the typical ultra, and at times it reminded me of pacing at Cascade Crest. I paid less attention to my own body and worried more about how she was feeling.

We both felt eternally grateful, however, that we enjoyed running with each other so thoroughly. We never argued, encouraged each other constantly, and reminded each other to appreciate the incredible Colorado mountain scenery. For us, summiting Hope Pass, splashing through creek beds, and running along single track mountain ridge trails proved some of the most amazing moments of the trip.

I first became interested in TransRockies after hearing rave reviews from friends Matt Hart and Sean Meissner, who formed a Montrail team a couple of years ago. Though I have yet to develop a strong interest in tackling a traditional 100-mile race (mainly because I love sleeping at night too much), the idea of a stage race seemed intriguing. Pushing oneself hard each day, recovering in the evening, and then doing it all again the next day seemed a unique challenge.

I wasn’t disappointed. Many TransRockies participants refer to the event as “summer camp for runners,” and the title fits. After a hard trail run each day, we spent the afternoons and evenings hanging out with fellow race participants. Unlike a typical marathon or ultra, where you run just once, TransRockies means you see the same people again and again on the trails. We looked forward to running with “The French guys,” “The Doctors,” and the other teams with similar speed to our own.

The event also proved impressive on an organizational front. When the race directors told us a shuttle would arrive at 7 a.m. or dinner would begin at 5 p.m., they meant it. Except for two nights at Camp Hale, The Gourmet Cowboy Catering Company prepared all meals, and the spread of food was amazing and delicious, with ample vegan, gluten free, and vegetarian options.

OK’s Cascade Company brought shower trailers and portable hand washing stations, enabling runners to clean up every afternoon at camp. The trailer’s chief staff member spent all afternoon and evening wiping up any grime or water, keeping the station immaculate.

TransRockies crew took down and set up tents for the runners each night. GORE-TEX handed out free goodies at dinner, including running gloves and blankets. Salomon provided beer and snack food each afternoon, a bonfire with S’mores at night, and gear giveaways. iCool Sport brought ice baths to ease aching legs, and a massage tent tended to runners every day.

Indeed, this was summer camp for runners, but it was a highly pampered summer camp.

For most of us, the scenery proved one of the biggest highlights. We ran through high desert, rock tunnels, meadows, and forests. We climbed above the tree line, giving us panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains. For Caroline and I, who have never been trail running in Colorado before, each day proved a new visual treat.

Caroline (out front) and I (second) descending from Hope Pass.

As expected in any endurance event, runners suffered as well. Some required medical treatment for altitude sickness or heat stroke. One runner broke a wrist, and another knocked out an already loose front tooth by biting into a tortilla. A bout of stomach flu swept through the tent city, knocking out more than one runner for a day or more. Some racers dropped out because of ever worsening injuries.

But nearly every TransRockies runner I talked to said they wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. The hardship of completing a stage race made summer camp that much more meaningful.

TransRockies runners on the fifth day

Related posts:

1. Fierce Fight in TransRockies Womens and Mixed Divisions
2. French Speakers Dominating TransRockies [& Back of Pack Report]
3. Martin’s Back at TransRockies, and He Wants Gold