{"id":2779,"date":"2017-11-04T17:12:30","date_gmt":"2017-11-04T06:12:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/run.dj\/?p=2779"},"modified":"2017-11-04T17:12:30","modified_gmt":"2017-11-04T06:12:30","slug":"utmb-ultra-trail-de-mont-blanc-2017-emma-brown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/run.dj\/?p=2779","title":{"rendered":"UTMB Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc 2017 Emma Brown"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not since primary school have I sprinted my way to a podium finish (and that red ribbon is still a prized possession and yes OK it may have actually been the sack race). I\u2019m not fast, never have been. But anyone who knows me will tell you, I\u2019m stubborn, I\u2019m persistent and I\u2019m a survivor. Despite my incessant chat, I don\u2019t actually like people that much. Team sports are not for me. I like to pick my company and I like to test my limits. So running an endurance event has a certain appeal for me. If all else fails I can out stubborn runners who are much fitter than me.<\/p>\n

Anyway, back in 2014 my good friend Tanya ran this mythical beast of a race called Ultra Trail Mont Blanc. The race is 100 miles, 10,000 meters of elevation through 3 countries all whilst circumnavigating Mont Blanc. Tanya’s nuts, inspirational, but as I decided at the time a) she was certifiable and b) I was never, repeat never running 100 miles.<\/p>\n

Entry to UTMB requires a minimum of 15 points from a maximum of 3 approved races in the previous 2years. For me this was would equate to 3 100km race. Race entry is capped at 2300. You must also be lucky enough to get through the draw.<\/p>\n

For the ladies who\u2019ve given birth more than once, you will understand the special type of amnesia that takes hold. You forget the pain and the hurt and the hours of agonising labour almost as soon as the baby is born. You fall pregnant again, you\u2019re excited, a little nauseous maybe, but you start planning and preparing for the happy arrival of your new born.\u00a0 But then there\u2019s the moment that you go into labour for the second time and you find yourself remembering and wondering why the hell you decided to do this again.<\/p>\n

Ultras are like that, you plan you train you get nervous, the race hurts but then you have the medal it\u2019s shiny and pretty and the pain is forgotten, (cleverly the medal\/ buckle or gilet doesn\u2019t cost you a tank load of money- unlike the children).<\/p>\n

Following a disastrous Ultra trail Australia(UTA) 100km 2016, during which I rolled my ankle and hobbled to the finish, my strange logic dictated that I should find something harder to do. I fancied Alpine challenge 100km. So, I talked my friend Dominic into it and we trekked off to Victoria for the weekend to enjoy all the Victorian Alps could throw at us.<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

At around this time I began to hear murmurings of a group of runners from the Northside Running group (NRG) entering UTMB. Tanya had mentioned plans for a repeat visit. I was becoming more interested.<\/p>\n

I knew going into Alpine challenge that the race was a qualifier for UTMB. I was curious to see if I could earn the necessary points for UTMB entry, not expecting to, and only half thinking I\u2019d enter even if I could get through the draw.\u00a0 There was also the small issue of persuading the family who I hadn\u2019t really mentioned it to yet. Would they want this to be how they would spend their 2017 holiday?<\/p>\n

During Alpine challenge, I started to think that I really do love the mountains. I really enjoyed the race and by the time we left our new friend George (a participant in the 100-mile race) at the turn off for the Miler, I secretly wished I was taking the Miler turn off too. \u00a0Add to that Rocco talking about UTMB only 5mins after finishing Alpine Miler and I\u2019d decided I was going to enter the lottery. (No one gets in the first year they apply apparently).<\/p>\n

Seems my entry was successful! Some sweet talking with the husband and the payment later I was in.<\/p>\n

My fantastic coach Scotty Hawker tried not to choke on his green smoothie when I told him, (I have no idea what he drinks but I\u2019m sure its ridiculously healthy) and he very politely agreed that it wasn\u2019t impossible for me to complete. I knew I was going to have to train my arse off.<\/p>\n

I signed up with Matty Abel at DBA runners for strength work and found myself a great physio. Pete and Elliot at the body mechanic kept this old girl going even when bits of my body started to complain about the training load. Thank you fellas.<\/p>\n

Fast forward through a lot of training, hills, more hills and even more hill repeats later and I was as ready as I was going to be. Special thanks to Tanya, who is an amazing runner and friend and I really wouldn\u2019t have done half the training without her (I really can\u2019t thank you enough). Brook, Nikki, David, Byron, Russ and everyone else who put up with my endless chit chat and the odd trail tantrum \u2013 thank you.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

Chamonix<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

After a long trip with 3 exhausted grumpy children and an only slightly less grumpy hubby, I found myself in Chamonix.\u00a0 I love my children but jetlagged kids are not fun and I will confess to briefly considering moving out of our Airbnb into whatever hotel had spare rooms. Sensing that this would be bad for family relations I toughed it out and placated the kids with macaroons, cheese and Orangina. Beer and cheese kept Steve happy too.<\/p>\n

The lead up to the race was fabulous, the credit card got a bashing at the expo on more than one occasion and I don\u2019t think I managed to go into Chamonix once without bumping into at least 2 or 3 of the Aussie posse.\u00a0 I really should have rested more but there was too much to see and do, plus I had to balance rest with making sure the kids had a good holiday.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

The Race.<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m a bit slack and one of the last of our group to write their report. So rather than repeat everything they\u2019ve already said I pulled together the table on the next few pages.<\/p>\n

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Kit<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The weather was utterly miserable at different stages of the race. It poured with rain, it snowed, the fog was intense and the mud was worse. \u00a0I\u2019ve struggled with the cold in recent years but I knew my thermals were good and I purchased a spare one for the drop bag.\u00a0\u00a0 I was bought up to believe there is \u2018\u2019No bad weather only bad kit\u201d.\u00a0 After UTMB 2017 I\u2019m not sure I still agree. The mandatory kit was extremely important and not something I would scrimp on, I used every last thing I carried.<\/p>\n

Items I literally wouldn\u2019t have survived without;<\/p>\n

Black diamond poles<\/p>\n

Salomon Bonatti rain pants. (I love them)<\/p>\n

Salomon rain jacket<\/p>\n

Ronhill windproof mid-layer<\/p>\n

Ice breaker thermals<\/p>\n

Hanz waterproof Gloves (although the addititon of thin merino liners would have been better)<\/p>\n

Salomon 12L pack<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The People<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

To be able to share this experience with the great group of guys and girls from Australia and particularly the NRG group made the whole trip really special.\u00a0 I\u2019m not a member of NRG but I was welcomed to the group with open arms, these guys rock!<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

My family were amazing. Steve managed to negotiate the official buses, with all 3 children in tow, to meet me at Courmayeur, Arnouvaz and Vallorcine. After missing me at the finish of this year\u2019s UTA he managed to, not only get to the finish, but to position himself and the children such that they could run across the finish line with me.\u00a0 I was crying before I saw them but if you look at my finisher\u2019s pictures I\u2019m balling. It was an amazing feeling. I hope that they are as proud of me as I am of them.<\/p>\n

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The people made this race for me.\u00a0 I like to chat with other runners most of the time. If I go quiet I\u2019m either struggling or focussed on getting to the top of a climb.<\/p>\n

Tanya and I had agreed to run to Les Contamines together and we did see each other a fair bit at the beginning. Tanya is insanely fast downhill and I prefer the up hills. I would push on up the hill, knowing that she would catch me on the downs. This worked pretty well, but at some point, during the first 30km we became separated.<\/p>\n

Given that not everyone speaks English, I was a bit apprehensive about how I was going to while the hours away with no one to chat to, but a ski season in Quebec and some high school French enabled me to speak to a few of the locals. I also met a great English girl called Emily who I stayed with until Courmayeur. She went on to beat me by 4 hours, so maybe I did go off a bit fast.<\/p>\n

Russell was one of the group from Australia and someone I had trained with before we left. Russell and I saw each other at almost every checkpoint.\u00a0 A few times he said \u201cWhat are you doing up here? No seriously Emma, what are you doing up with me?\u201d I wasn\u2019t sure how to take this.\u00a0 In training Russ had been a stronger runner and he\u2019s definitely faster than me over 100km. I was worried this meant I was going to blow-up soon. I decided to just keep running as I was because I felt pretty comfortable.<\/p>\n

Obviously, the blow up was in the post though, because the next time I saw Russ I was dying on my arse. It was the one and only time I fleetingly thought I couldn\u2019t make it. I felt so sick, shaky and utterly broken. Russ said that there was nothing he could do for me and that I needed to get through it on my own. Tough love, even if he did head out of the checkpoint with me for a little while. Of course, he was right, it\u2019s all about mental toughness at this point and I had to get my shit together by myself. I took some ginger and shuffled out of the checkpoint, thinking that would be the last time I saw him.<\/p>\n

Poor Russ, like a bad penny I kept reappearing.\u00a0 Eventually at La Fouly after the trauma of Grand Col Ferret and sleep deprived, I\u2019d worn him down. He agreed to us sticking together through the second night and that we\u2019d reassess our arrangement in the morning. For me this was great, it felt good to be in this together and I found thinking about how someone else was feeling and trying to keep our mood up to be a great distraction from my own discomfort.<\/p>\n

Other than my briefly snapping at someone outside Trient, who wouldn\u2019t pass me, despite breathing down my neck, I can honestly say that I felt positive for the rest of the race. My body didn\u2019t quite agree. My knees had been screaming at me since the descent of Grand Col Ferret.<\/p>\n

On the downhills, I was trying to preserve my quads, which by now was pretty pointless. They\u2019d deserted me long ago. I think the knee pain was undermining my confidence in my balance, which is not that great at the best of times. Downhills were painfully slow.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t want to slow Russ down (something that I thought about a fair bit) so I made sure I pushed hard on the uphills, calling back to check he was still behind me.\u00a0 On the downhills Russ would go ahead and this seemed to work well.\u00a0 When he fell asleep dreaming of storm troopers I woke him up and when I told him how little I\u2019d eaten he made sure we stopped to take gels. I think it was a fair partnership. We would probably have run certain sections quicker on our own, but equally we would have been slower on others.\u00a0 Mentally staying together definitely gave me an advantage and I hope Russ feels the same.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sleep<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Early on I was anxious about the prospect of hallucinations.\u00a0 I\u2019m a bit of a control freak, I hardly drink alcohol and I don\u2019t like the feeling of not being in control mentally. I decided that I would try and stay ahead of the sleep monsters. I tried to sleep at Arnouvaz. It was a complete waste of time.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t tired enough, it was daylight, I was wet from the rain storm and the checkpoint was really buzzing with activity. I just got cold and had to waste time getting warmed up.<\/p>\n

Later in the race, I was hallucinating.\u00a0 Not badly, but I was seeing shapes, mostly animals, in the shadows, the mud and the trees.\u00a0 It was like when you look up at the clouds and can make out familiar shapes. I kind of got used to it. I was seeing snakes in the mud, but I knew they weren\u2019t there so just ignored it.<\/p>\n

The only time the visuals got a little weird was when we went through a wooded area that really did<\/strong> have carved animals by the side of the track.\u00a0 (At least I asked Russ and other runners and they said they saw them too!). I was surprised at how well I could function on so little sleep. Perhaps I have the kids to thank for the sleep deprivation training?<\/p>\n

I eventually slept at Champex Lac, by which time I was desperate for sleep and had no trouble passing out on a wet stinky mattress for about 20mins. \u00a0Later I slept with my head rested on my pack on a table in Trient. I felt surprisingly good after 5\/10 mins. \u201cRefreshed\u201d would be a bit strong, but I felt human again.<\/p>\n

Fuel<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t eat enough, nowhere near. I struggled to eat on the climbs, partially because of the cold, I couldn\u2019t feel my fingers to open the zips on the pack, and partially because I didn\u2019t want to break my rhythm. I\u2019d taken tailwind (powdered carbohydrates) which was dissolves, but the cold temperatures meant that I wasn\u2019t as thirsty as normal, so I was getting fewer calories there too. Later I was in a calorie deficit hole so big that the thought of eating made me feel sick and I ate nothing for hours. \u00a0Each aid station had hot sugary tea and salty soup. I could stomach these and made sure I had both at each aid station after Grand Col Ferret.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nStart to Saint Gervais<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019I\u2019m really doing this!\u2019\u2019<\/td>\n

Saint Gervais to Bonhomme<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cWill this climb ever end?\u2019\u2019<\/td>\n

to\u00a0 Lac Combal<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cSpeaking French (badly) with the locals\u2019\u2019<\/td>\n

to Courmayeur<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019Loving life\u2019\u2019<\/td>\n

to Refuge Bertone<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019Kill me now\u2019\u2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Feeling<\/b><\/td>\nNervous, excited<\/td>\nNo climbs like this in Oz<\/td>\nCold, determined, strong<\/td>\nMostly feeling strong<\/td>\nImpending doom<\/p>\n

Vomitty & Pathetic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Loved<\/b><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • The crowds,<\/li>\n
  • Conquest of Paradise (off to war music)<\/li>\n
  • Running with the Aussie Posse<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • The stars aka head torches for miles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • The Sun coming up<\/li>\n
  • Meeting another Chatty English chic<\/li>\n
  • Lac Combal \u2013 Stunning<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • View from Mont Favre<\/li>\n
  • Seeing the family at the checkpoint<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
Absolutely Nothing<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Low Point<\/b><\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • The last few km of the climb.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • Head torch battery change.<\/li>\n
  • Impending frost bite \u2026 numb and then burning fingers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • Frustratingly crap downhill technique to Courmayeur.<\/li>\n
  • Quads hate me<\/li>\n
  • Finding the loo at the checkpoint<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
All of it<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nutrition<\/b><\/td>\n\u2026erm \u2026whoops<\/td>\n2x SIS gels, tailwind, a bit of banana and sugary tea<\/td>\n2x SIS gels, tailwind, a bit of banana and sugary tea<\/td>\n1x SIS gel, tailwind, coke, banana, date bar<\/td>\nGinger<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Terrain<\/b><\/td>\nShortish but bitey hill \u2013 setting the tone<\/td>\nThe longest climb known to man.<\/td>\nSingle track up<\/td>\nSteep switchbacks down to Courmayeur<\/td>\nSteep Switchbacks up forever<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weather\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nTemperate<\/td>\nDark and Baltic<\/td>\nWarming up<\/td>\nSunny and warm<\/td>\nWarm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nTo Arnouvaz<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019I didn\u2019t die, I\u2019m going to finish\u2019\u2019<\/td>\n

Hell<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cNope, I\u2019m going to die\u2019\u2019<\/td>\n

to Champex \u2013 Lac<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen can I lie down?\u2019\u2019<\/td>\n

to Trient<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019Wake up Russ!\u2019\u2019<\/td>\n

to La Flegere<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019The sun! We\u2019re going to make it\u2019\u2019<\/td>\n

to Finish<\/b><\/p>\n

\u2018\u2019F@uk yeah!\u2019\u2019<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Feeling<\/b><\/td>\nSick of mud<\/td>\nTerrified and cold<\/td>\nHallucinations<\/td>\nHallucinations<\/td>\nDetermined and positive<\/td>\nTears of Joy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Loved<\/b><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Catching up with Russ before the checkpoint.<\/li>\n
  • Seeing the Family supporting me despite the rain.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • Surviving<\/li>\n
  • Seeing Russ again at La Fouly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • Road (should have run more here though)<\/li>\n
  • 20min sleep at Champex- Lac<\/li>\n
  • Seeing Bruce<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • Short sleep in Trient<\/li>\n
  • The views when the sun came up<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • Seeing the family at Vallorcine<\/li>\n
  • Russ distracting the competition with cheesy chat up lines<\/li>\n
  • Seeing Brook and her Mum at La Flegere<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • Being cheered on by the elites who were out for a stroll.<\/li>\n
  • Atmosphere in Chamonix<\/li>\n
  • Finishing with my Kiddos<\/li>\n
  • Celebrating with Russ<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Low Point<\/b><\/td>\n\n
    \n
  • Feeling sick walking the only (relatively) flat section<\/li>\n
  • trying to sleep but too cold<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • Grand Col Ferret tried to kill me<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • Anything downhill<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • Anything downhill<\/li>\n
  • Mud<\/li>\n
  • Fall on stairs into Trient<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • Course changes \u2013 two hills and a very technical downhill.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • My knees were stuffed but I wanted sub 43 hours so pushed hard. It hurt<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nutrition<\/b><\/td>\ntailwind<\/td>\nNothing<\/td>\nSoup, tea, rice,2x\u00a0 gel, tailwind<\/td>\nSoup, tea, 1x gel tailwind,<\/td>\nDate and banana bar, tailwind<\/td>\nCoke, 1xgel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Terrain<\/b><\/td>\nRolling single track then extremely muddy descent to Arnouvaz<\/td>\nSteep, very muddy<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nSteep, mostly groomed and road<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weather\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nTorrential Rain<\/td>\nSleet, snow, fog, Blizzard<\/td>\nRain<\/td>\nRain<\/td>\nWarmer \u2013 fog at the top<\/td>\nWarm and sunny<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

*Bonus points- here is Emma getting a podium at Primary School<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Not since primary school have I sprinted my way to a podium finish (and that red ribbon is still a prized possession and yes OK it may have actually been the sack race). I\u2019m not fast, never have been. But … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guest-post"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/run.dj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/run.dj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/run.dj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/run.dj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/run.dj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2779"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/run.dj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2779\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2800,"href":"https:\/\/run.dj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2779\/revisions\/2800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/run.dj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/run.dj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/run.dj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}