http://www.ultratrailmb.com TDS (In the Footsteps of the Dukes of Savoy)
111km - 7000m D + - 32h00 Departure Max
Friday, August 27 at midnight Courmayeur (It)
111km - 7000m D + - 32h00 Departure Max
Friday, August 27 at midnight Courmayeur (It)
Everything is in the best conditions when we arrived in Chamonix on Thursday after a road trip without mishap: 32 ° C, perfect blue sky. 
Withdrawal of numbers, formatting provided under the arch of arrival, stroll through the village "trail". 
What was my surprise to come face to face, by chance, with Carol, our Swiss adventure Morocco last February, which comes to the information after its entry in the Marathon des Sables! I then found great pleasure with Laura, met on the CCC 2 years ago, with whom I share this TDS.
We join the rest of the team for the souvenir photo under the arch for the association "Hymn for Children" for which we run. Common meal on the terrace, a large table of Belgians in the "capital of trail running!
Friday, August 27, chronology of events.
- 08h the morning, breakfast. Surprise: it's raining and the sky hangs low to high! While the weather of previous days announced nothing of the sort, at least not on this scale.
- 10h : we have a thought for the brave who take the first left CCC in Courmayeur in the rain.
Then the weather improved, mostly cloudy, a few occurrences of sunshine, mild temperatures and pleasant afternoon is relatively good.
- 15h . Getting what it takes and take the bus to Chamonix (Les Houches I live). Hey, weird, my bag is all wet in the background. I then found that my bag is leaking water! Quick, get me a new one, I also took the opportunity to buy news is good practice.
- 18:30 . With Laura and Bertrand, we witnessing the start of the UTMB, in a veiled sun, the atmosphere is excellent, I take this opportunity to encourage our representatives Thierry, Alain, David, Didier, Isabelle, and I see doing Gratianne great signs ... We have a twinge of sadness because we were entered in this race and not included in the draw ...
We still have time to fill before taking the bus to Courmayeur to 21h. We choose a small restaurant for pasta-feed us well before our race. Sylvain joined us. No sooner have we settled as rain and resurfaced with force. The UTMB has been gone for only 15 min ...
- 20h. We will prepare, recent audits our equipment. It's pouring!
- 21h . We are preparing to take the shuttle that will take us to Courmayeur. Hey, why no one has yet embarked, while all coaches are present? Immediately, a rumor circulates on the neutralization of the UTMB in St-Gervais (collapse of land along the route problem débalisage weather ...). We are informed that the departure of the shuttle is delayed pending further information. The rumor is confirmed: neutralization of the provisional result of the UTMB weather deteriorating rapidly.
Everybody (1200 ... riders) took refuge in the shelter in the gymnasium of Chamonix. We sat on cots.
- 10:20 p.m. . SMS of the organization: " TDS: departure delayed by at least 3 hours " or a departure at 3:00 am. The UTMB is finally adopted in St. Gervais, the race is canceled. The riders will be returning to Chamonix by bus and train exceptionnellemnt restarted. We replions the camp beds for more space and accommodate all the "refugees". At this point, we still hope to make a departure, although we still hear the rain pounding the big windows.
- to 23h. Briefing of the organization: announcement of a possible start at 5am. Latest news promised later than 2am, as it takes 3 hours to ensure the transfer to Courmayeur and organize the start.
We hardly dare to think, but the motivation is always present. We are trying to distract us to spend time and relax a little. The atmosphere is good and friendly, very relaxed and even at times. Sylvain took advantage to slip a cop .... nenbourg (no ads, hm, hm ...), I decided not to drink, because we still hope to run. Then, playing with, it made "pchittt" and I heard little voices, "he cracked , there " It's clever, huh ... And my reputation, then? 
- 0:30 to the grave decision: cancellation of the TDS. Laura can not restrain himself and burst into tears. It's hard to accept, but safety, our security is at stake. For some, even most of the competitors waiting is the dream of the year ... As flies CCC, it is still running, even if the conditions are difficult.
Our desire to run is present, we were dressed to spend a sleepless night, we decide, Laura, Bertrand, Sylvain, Jesus (a returnee from the English disappointed UTMB) and I to file our business in cars and go to Flégère to meet the runners CCC.
Soon we get wet but still motivated, fervently encouraging competitors we meet and who buckle their last miles.
- 2:14 . SMS of the organization: "TDS UTMB common starting Saturday 28-10am Course Courmayeur - Champex - Chamonix Bus from 6:30 Chamonix sports center." A replacement race for the disillusioned Volunteers ... We're turning around, motivated. Return to center to dry somewhat, and sleep before 2am this new beginning. The incessant rain in some demotivating: Sylvain drops. Bertrand is undecided, Laura seems determined, as for me I am motivated to the max!
Back in Chamonix, we settle on the floor, no more cot is available. I can not close my eyes, so the excitement is present. Laura manages to locate and recover a bit ...
- 5h. Organization's message: "Cause UTMB TDS return & cancellation CCC riders, bus departure Courmayeur limited to 1000.
CCC - also! - is neutralized and Vallorcine Trient (80 e km). The conditions to head to the Wind, the final pass to cross, are appalling: the wind at 110km / h, torrential rain, the road is a stream, the temperature is dropping.
This announcement will be our second warning shot. A commitment to an already abused by 1,800 runners, having been wink of the night to see what states come the survivors of this race and to hear their story (Dante conditions, fight against wind, rain, cold, feet in 10 inches of water .. .) encourages us to make a wise decision but difficult not to take the start of this replacement race limited to 80km. We have seen 4 or 5 riders at most leave room for this race at this moment ...
This will be our end point. Branch shower, breakfast (which we will propose another departure by bus at 9am ..), and finally the "goodbye" a little sad and back to the hotel. The weather has improved somewhat, but the "ceiling" remained very low.
I will not even want to close the eye. On the road again the same day, 2 days earlier than expected.
Disappointed, frustrated, sure, but can not blame anyone. Only the weather is in question and the organizers have been forced to make difficult decisions they have performed perfectly. And as support, information and repatriation of thousands of riders have been competently mastered. Only those registered for the SMS service, pending the passage of messages to different parts of the race, have received no news .... But we had time to reassure them.
Many questions remained unanswered: what will become our priorities UTMB? Will we lose our hard-earned points before?
The coming weeks will certainly shed more light ....
A remake so ... until next year.
Withdrawal of numbers, formatting provided under the arch of arrival, stroll through the village "trail". 
What was my surprise to come face to face, by chance, with Carol, our Swiss adventure Morocco last February, which comes to the information after its entry in the Marathon des Sables! I then found great pleasure with Laura, met on the CCC 2 years ago, with whom I share this TDS. We join the rest of the team for the souvenir photo under the arch for the association "Hymn for Children" for which we run. Common meal on the terrace, a large table of Belgians in the "capital of trail running!
Friday, August 27, chronology of events.
- 08h the morning, breakfast. Surprise: it's raining and the sky hangs low to high! While the weather of previous days announced nothing of the sort, at least not on this scale.
- 10h : we have a thought for the brave who take the first left CCC in Courmayeur in the rain.
Then the weather improved, mostly cloudy, a few occurrences of sunshine, mild temperatures and pleasant afternoon is relatively good.
- 15h . Getting what it takes and take the bus to Chamonix (Les Houches I live). Hey, weird, my bag is all wet in the background. I then found that my bag is leaking water! Quick, get me a new one, I also took the opportunity to buy news is good practice.
- 18:30 . With Laura and Bertrand, we witnessing the start of the UTMB, in a veiled sun, the atmosphere is excellent, I take this opportunity to encourage our representatives Thierry, Alain, David, Didier, Isabelle, and I see doing Gratianne great signs ... We have a twinge of sadness because we were entered in this race and not included in the draw ...
We still have time to fill before taking the bus to Courmayeur to 21h. We choose a small restaurant for pasta-feed us well before our race. Sylvain joined us. No sooner have we settled as rain and resurfaced with force. The UTMB has been gone for only 15 min ...
All for one and TDS for all!
Sylvain - Bertrand - Laura - I
Sylvain - Bertrand - Laura - I
- 20h. We will prepare, recent audits our equipment. It's pouring!
- 21h . We are preparing to take the shuttle that will take us to Courmayeur. Hey, why no one has yet embarked, while all coaches are present? Immediately, a rumor circulates on the neutralization of the UTMB in St-Gervais (collapse of land along the route problem débalisage weather ...). We are informed that the departure of the shuttle is delayed pending further information. The rumor is confirmed: neutralization of the provisional result of the UTMB weather deteriorating rapidly.
Everybody (1200 ... riders) took refuge in the shelter in the gymnasium of Chamonix. We sat on cots.
- 10:20 p.m. . SMS of the organization: " TDS: departure delayed by at least 3 hours " or a departure at 3:00 am. The UTMB is finally adopted in St. Gervais, the race is canceled. The riders will be returning to Chamonix by bus and train exceptionnellemnt restarted. We replions the camp beds for more space and accommodate all the "refugees". At this point, we still hope to make a departure, although we still hear the rain pounding the big windows.
- to 23h. Briefing of the organization: announcement of a possible start at 5am. Latest news promised later than 2am, as it takes 3 hours to ensure the transfer to Courmayeur and organize the start.
We hardly dare to think, but the motivation is always present. We are trying to distract us to spend time and relax a little. The atmosphere is good and friendly, very relaxed and even at times. Sylvain took advantage to slip a cop .... nenbourg (no ads, hm, hm ...), I decided not to drink, because we still hope to run. Then, playing with, it made "pchittt" and I heard little voices, "he cracked , there " It's clever, huh ... And my reputation, then? 
- 0:30 to the grave decision: cancellation of the TDS. Laura can not restrain himself and burst into tears. It's hard to accept, but safety, our security is at stake. For some, even most of the competitors waiting is the dream of the year ... As flies CCC, it is still running, even if the conditions are difficult.
Our desire to run is present, we were dressed to spend a sleepless night, we decide, Laura, Bertrand, Sylvain, Jesus (a returnee from the English disappointed UTMB) and I to file our business in cars and go to Flégère to meet the runners CCC.
Soon we get wet but still motivated, fervently encouraging competitors we meet and who buckle their last miles. - 2:14 . SMS of the organization: "TDS UTMB common starting Saturday 28-10am Course Courmayeur - Champex - Chamonix Bus from 6:30 Chamonix sports center." A replacement race for the disillusioned Volunteers ... We're turning around, motivated. Return to center to dry somewhat, and sleep before 2am this new beginning. The incessant rain in some demotivating: Sylvain drops. Bertrand is undecided, Laura seems determined, as for me I am motivated to the max!
Back in Chamonix, we settle on the floor, no more cot is available. I can not close my eyes, so the excitement is present. Laura manages to locate and recover a bit ...
- 5h. Organization's message: "Cause UTMB TDS return & cancellation CCC riders, bus departure Courmayeur limited to 1000.
CCC - also! - is neutralized and Vallorcine Trient (80 e km). The conditions to head to the Wind, the final pass to cross, are appalling: the wind at 110km / h, torrential rain, the road is a stream, the temperature is dropping.
This announcement will be our second warning shot. A commitment to an already abused by 1,800 runners, having been wink of the night to see what states come the survivors of this race and to hear their story (Dante conditions, fight against wind, rain, cold, feet in 10 inches of water .. .) encourages us to make a wise decision but difficult not to take the start of this replacement race limited to 80km. We have seen 4 or 5 riders at most leave room for this race at this moment ...
This will be our end point. Branch shower, breakfast (which we will propose another departure by bus at 9am ..), and finally the "goodbye" a little sad and back to the hotel. The weather has improved somewhat, but the "ceiling" remained very low.
I will not even want to close the eye. On the road again the same day, 2 days earlier than expected.
Disappointed, frustrated, sure, but can not blame anyone. Only the weather is in question and the organizers have been forced to make difficult decisions they have performed perfectly. And as support, information and repatriation of thousands of riders have been competently mastered. Only those registered for the SMS service, pending the passage of messages to different parts of the race, have received no news .... But we had time to reassure them.
Many questions remained unanswered: what will become our priorities UTMB? Will we lose our hard-earned points before?
The coming weeks will certainly shed more light ....
A remake so ... until next year.
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