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Chamonix OCC Trail Running Review

A middle distance trail run, new to this year's UTMB event

featured in Activity reviews Author Katy Dartford, Chamonix Reporter Updated

2014 was the first year of the OCC, the new 53km North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® race which, unlike any of the other 4 routes in the series starts in Switzerland. The OCC runs through the Swiss Valais region, starting from Orsières, southwest of the canton in the Val d’Entremont.

The OCC, or Orsières – Champex – Chamonix is designed to offer something to those fairly new to Ultra running as its considered a middle distance race, (Trail Ultra Medium (M) between 42km and 69km) with 3,300m of ascent, so perfect for me after running the Mont Blanc marathon and the Petit Tour des Fiz last year (which I still consider harder- although shorter at 30km). The OCC also doesn’t require any qualification points to enter so it really is possible for relative newbies to have a crack at an ultra.

In the few days leading up to the OCC I felt a strange sense of anxiety, butterflies in the stomach and was pretty grumpy. The weather was also looking like it was going to be very bad for the race. ‘Why am I doing these things,’ I wondered- ‘what am I trying to prove??’ I certainly hadn’t stuck to the training plan I printed off the internet and was feeling fairly unfit- having been distracted by climbing, mountain biking and all the usual things Chamonix has to offer. However, I thought I’d probably get away with it. I had just spent a week training for, then finally ‘climbing’ Mont Blanc after all. Surely all that time on your feet and acclimatizing is more worthwhile than going for a few runs?

Fortunately two days before the race the weather forecast completely changed and sunshine was predicted all day – so I had no excuses.

The day before the race we had to collect our bibs down at Club des Sports. This I also found stressful - do I have all the required kit? Head torch, emergency blanket, whistle, etc etc…. of course I hadn’t… and I was sent off to buy spare batteries for my head torch.

The next stress was getting there. There was a free shuttle bus from Chamonix to Orsières but it only ran at 4.30am and I didn’t fancy hanging around for 2 hours, so I managed to grab a lift with a friend and got there just in time….7.30am for an 8am start. However, once there I could finally relax and just get on with it. The atmosphere in the town was great; music playing, lots of people cheering us on, and swinging cowbells and slapping our hands. Then at 8am we were off; a slow jog out of town to a trail that slowly wound up through trees onto the hillside high above the town. It was very stop-start for a while – but not unwelcome – with queues to get onto the steep single track paths. I followed the same lycra clad bottom for some time, before finally we arrived at a downhill, which I consider my forte and went flying past many people whom had over taken me uphill.

Eventually we arrived at Champex-Lac for a most welcome full sugar Pepsi before heading off around the lake, which was still and hazy in the morning light. From here on it all became a bit of a blur. I didn’t bother looking at my phone for the time as my aim was just to finish. Eventually the landmarks became more familiar - high above Martigny, the route followed the Eastern flanks of Mont Blanc along the Franco-Swiss frontier…. There were two very steep climbs through trees, followed by 2 amazing technical down hills back through trees, rocks and rivers which refreshed the feet. I eventually arrived in Trient for another very welcome refuelling stop. I used to think the French food stations with cheese and sausage on offer were very strange, but now I love it. Stuffing this down as quickly as I could, washed down with Pepsi, I headed off quickly, cheered on by the crowds and cowbells….

More muddy fields, more steep climbs – I must have been going for about 4 hours, so already longer than any training run I’d done this year. My legs were already beginning to feel heavy, but I wasn’t worried anymore that I couldn’t finish it. I knew I would, I estimated in about 9-10 hours. The paths now began to open out and across the valley I could see the Emosson Dam. I stopped to take some photos and attempt a facebook check-in just in case anyone was worried I was dying! I’ve driven through all these areas on the way to Martigny or Verbier before but had never had the perspective from the trails high above the valley. I then reached another long downhill to Vallorcine, this one different in style, a thin curved path which I pounded down but it’s where I could feel my knee begin to complain. Arriving at Vallorcine to more supportive crowds and refreshments, I could definitely feel my body wanting to slow down. The area I was in was now familiar and I knew pretty much exactly what was ahead…a long slow walk through the Col du Montets then up through the path which I’d walked not long ago to reach the Aiguillette d'Argentiere to go climbing, then a short downhill, a painfully steep and fairly technical uphill to Flegere where again it opened up into a moonlike landscape onto a wide open shale path to the lift station.

I was now really hoping it was going to be over soon - it had to be - it was just after 4pm and I could see the running track and the Richard Bozon sports centre….. oh and just round the corner Elevation bar! I’d promised myself a pint there if and when I made it in! This thought kept me going. My stomach was now feeling very squiffy and my knee in quite some pain. I’d been looking forward to the downhill from Flegere into town but my knee meant I couldn’t go for it like I had the others, so I hobbled back down, feet now tripping on tree roots and loose rock, then slapping on fire track and then pavement, ‘2 more km left’ someone shouted at me….’oh no’ I don’t think I can even run 2km now…. The time was creeping up to 6pm when I hit the centre of Chamonix, I had to run the last kilometre with the crowd cheering my name … it all felt a bit surreal coming through the famous North Face finish. ‘Is that really it? It can’t be over?’ I could barely talk apart from a bit of a mumble. Hooray I’d done it, not in style but it was over. And after many celebratory photos I hobbled over to Elevation for possibly the best demi panache I’ve ever had!

Location

Map of the surrounding area