The North Face Ultra Trail
In a couple of hours, the 5th edition of the North Face Ultra Trail will set off from the centre of Chamonix. This year, around 2200 runners are taking part in the 163km race that takes in nearly 9000m of altitude change, 3 countries, 7 valleys, 71 glaciers and 400 summits, following the route of the Tour de Mont Blanc. This intensely gruelling race is the equivalent of doing 4 marathons back to back and has a maximum time limit of 45 hours. A popular route with hikers in the summer, the Tour de Mont Blanc takes your average person 9-10 days to complete so it doesn't take much imagination to work out the speed the winner goes to complete the circuit in just over 21 hours!
Competitors set off from outside the Tourist Office in Chamonix at 6.30pm this evening and head in the direction of Les Houches. You can catch sight of the runners at various points along the trail as they pass through Les Comtamines (9pm), Les Chapieux (11.30pm), Courmayeur (3am), Champex (10am), Vallorcine (2.30pm) and Argentiere (3pm) before the leaders descend back to Chamonix at around 4pm tomorrow afternoon.
The race has proved to be so popular that the organisers have introduced a second race from Courmayeur to Chamonix that runs simultaneously to the main event. This “easier” version is 86km long and has 4500m of altitude change and a 24 hour maximum time limit. Around 1500 competitors are expected to enter this year and they will set off at 12 noon from Courmayeur, with the fore runners arriving in Chamonix later on that evening (from 10pm onwards).
There are medical teams posted around the course and sport masseurs on hand to rub all the aching, cramping legs that are inevitable. There are also various refreshment points en route where competitors have the opportunity to warm up and revitalise themselves with hot soup and snacks, a welcome sight to all even if the first 2 or 3 runners don't take the time to stop. The race is also televised on big screens so that spectators can follow the entire event live if they so desire.
If you're in the vicinity of any part of the route then stop and cheer the runners as they pass; in the latter stages they certainly need cheered along.
