tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318674573303332537.post4860291970067514220..comments2023-10-31T07:00:00.372-07:00Comments on An Ultra Runners Blog: Ultra Trail Mont Blanc - 2012 Race Report and CommentaryWill Cooperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12711766757619416742noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318674573303332537.post-23356902975412824992012-09-07T06:23:57.723-07:002012-09-07T06:23:57.723-07:00Anon: for gear I opted for a minimalist approach f...Anon: for gear I opted for a minimalist approach from my pack to the gear I wore. Because of this I'm guessing I ran 50% lighter than most. I used a soloman slab 5 set for my pack (the smaller of the two) which only held the mandatory extra gear and not a full change of clothes. for the rest I used Liki carbon lite poles, two lights (head lamp and another on my belt which worked very well), full length running tights with short tights over those, three layers on the top including under armor tank, long sleeve Hind tight top, and a Marmot water/wind proof jacket that is very light weight. Ended up with regular cotton gloves with Raid Lite water proof mitten shells over those which seemed to work well. The biggest lesson I learned is that in these conditions, it is important to always have something more you can tack on or zip up to gain more warmth without having to stop to do it. because once you stop your core begins to fall immediately. hope this helps. Will Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12711766757619416742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318674573303332537.post-62229202695281835782012-09-07T04:44:58.603-07:002012-09-07T04:44:58.603-07:00Nice work on a strong finish, Will. I agreed with ...Nice work on a strong finish, Will. I agreed with a lot of your sentiments about UTMB. I do think there are parts of it that get "lost in translation" for a lot of North American trail runners who are largely used to more low-key events. <br /><br />Last year, I crewed for Beat during the Tor des Geants. That race also had no kind of accommodations for crew. We were made to stand out in the rain, too, despite the huge (and late in the race, mostly empty) gymnasiums that were being used as Life Bases. I got the sense that crews were allowed but not necessarily welcome in "semi-autonomous races." I just accepted it as one of the quirks of European racing that's different fron North American racing. No one here uses pacers either.Jill Homerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02983065990450931943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318674573303332537.post-72782806569013464422012-09-07T02:39:49.005-07:002012-09-07T02:39:49.005-07:00How about a gear rundown. Can you share what you ...How about a gear rundown. Can you share what you used and what you may have done differentlyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318674573303332537.post-11551005109757724312012-09-05T12:19:16.936-07:002012-09-05T12:19:16.936-07:00It was so nice of you to stop by and say hi on my ...It was so nice of you to stop by and say hi on my blog. Yes, I have been silently blog stalking yours for awhile. I am very intrigued with ultra runners and what they can accomplish and have dabbled just a little bit in the ultra distance myself. This report of yours just seems to crazy for my brain to comprehend the cold, mud, distance and guck. Very very impressive. I'll be back again. Keep up the good miles:)susettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16091922437671047257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318674573303332537.post-83755204990196006842012-09-05T11:21:33.900-07:002012-09-05T11:21:33.900-07:00April thank you. For being honest, and for taking ...April thank you. For being honest, and for taking the time to write your emotions here regarding this event. I think it is going to take a lot of your kind of honest feedback to race officials before they will change anything. My hope is that, eventually, the money over mountain culture of this event will be overcome by the feedback you have shared here. We shall see. Thanks again. Will Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12711766757619416742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318674573303332537.post-14478452466229201122012-09-05T10:04:01.944-07:002012-09-05T10:04:01.944-07:00My Husband and I are from Oregon and ran UTMB for ...My Husband and I are from Oregon and ran UTMB for our Honeymoon in 2011. You were so poignant in your report. You said it better than I ever could. I usually write race reports but after a paragraph or two was unable to get past my disappointment to actually write that one. I am still trying to get the bitter taste of this race out of my head so I can remember the good parts, even a year later. Like the family outside of Cormayer whose enthusiasm for me was so honest I teared up, it didn’t matter I couldn’t understand them. Or standing around the fire eating cheese just before finishing the Croix du Bonhonne. Taking a nap with my feet up in the most breathtaking scenery. The women at Refuge Bertone who despite not speaking English or French (the two languages my husband and I speak) was able to recognize me and take me to my husband when I couldn't find him. He was sleeping with blankets and a mattress in a loft! The negative things were so overpowering a year later I would never go back: changing the start time to 11PM (do to rain) despite allowing the 100K runners to leave on time, forcing the 100 milers to run over 2 nights. Changing the aid station cut offs without informing the runners or even the aid station before (that was after they had already shaved 15 to 150 minutes off of each due to the changed start time). Refusing to let my husband take the only hot meal along the course out of the building (Mile 50) but letting me take mine out. Changing the course after the race started. Like you said the general lack of respect for the mountains when 2300 runner’s choose their own way up and down. The obvious emphasis on money and not on the runner. I don't need a helicopter filming me I need aid stations that will actually fit the mob of runners approaching it so you don't have to wait in line for 10 minutes just to get inside and fight over the food. There are people every year who must absolutely love this type of Ultra. But for me that type of a race is not why I run. thanks for letting me get a little more venting done.Aprilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318674573303332537.post-6187340762043522982012-09-05T09:34:56.049-07:002012-09-05T09:34:56.049-07:00IAAP - going back is a decision that I'm going...IAAP - going back is a decision that I'm going to wait a while to make. I'm still recovering from jet lag right now. Maybe after sitting down with some french cheese and wine I'll be in a better frame of mind. I'll look into RATS. Thanks for the tip. <br /><br />EricG - congrats again on BW. Hokas are great, just be careful with them in the mud.Will Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12711766757619416742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318674573303332537.post-64046579538809421082012-09-05T08:53:02.592-07:002012-09-05T08:53:02.592-07:00Hey Will, Bummer about the change but sounded like...Hey Will, Bummer about the change but sounded like it may have been the right move. Congrats on copleting what sounds incredibly challenging regardless. The cold can be brutal. Just ordered a pair of Hokas myself yesterday. Cant wait to try them. Hope we can catch up soo. Peace and Have A Great Day! EEricGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16469292560223907695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318674573303332537.post-65470078982874362412012-09-05T06:46:21.646-07:002012-09-05T06:46:21.646-07:00wow... just so much wow.
will you go back?
I th...wow... just so much wow.<br /><br />will you go back?<br /><br />I think you should try RATS....it's all about pacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01050255876900385166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318674573303332537.post-74254904952264169942012-09-05T03:30:03.984-07:002012-09-05T03:30:03.984-07:00Thanks Trail Plodder. Congrats to you too on you g...Thanks Trail Plodder. Congrats to you too on you great performance at CCC. Thanks again for the beer at the end of the race....that was the best tasting beer I think I've ever had! Look forward to seeing you at another fun filled ultra event, possibly Chomanix in 2013! Will Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12711766757619416742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318674573303332537.post-85551637892100886422012-09-05T02:46:57.713-07:002012-09-05T02:46:57.713-07:00Every good or bad situations faces by us help us t...Every good or bad situations faces by us help us to learn more thinks. I'm feeling very bad for some worst experience you got during this tour. By reading your experience I can say that you have enjoyed a lot. Even I love to join your team.Mont Blanc trekkinghttp://rawtravel.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3318674573303332537.post-3185040042650525442012-09-04T23:16:50.316-07:002012-09-04T23:16:50.316-07:00This was fun and interesting to read. Too bad it w...This was fun and interesting to read. Too bad it was such a horrible weather. I hope the race will be better in many ways next year. Congrats on your awesome performance. See you in Chamonix 2013! Jukka Kukkonenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07890980295620562884noreply@blogger.com