Showing posts with label The North Face. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The North Face. Show all posts
Sunday, 29 September 2013
Monday, 9 September 2013
Courmayeur - Champex - Chamonix
So with the fatigue fading from my legs and new skin growing on my feet its time to have a look back at my experiences at The North Face sponsored CCC. I arrived late in Chamonix with only an hour of registration left so I stuffed some kit in my race bag and headed off. The queue facing me stretched out the door and a time of two hours was being quoted! A sneaky short cut for CCC runners was opened up and the rest of the process was fairly painless.
However one problem with my late registration was there was only space left on the early Cormayeur buses and so without any breakfast and still with 3.5 hours till the start I was to be found wandering around Chamonix in the half light. Courmayeur was just waking up as we came out of the tunnel into the light of a stunning morning. I quickly forced down two continental breakfasts at the ice rink, taped up my feet which still contained a couple of holes from the Lakeland 100 and wandered off to enjoy the building atmosphere
The start was spectacular and emotional with the national anthems of France, Switzeland and Italy been sung loudly by hundreds of runners before the volume swelled for the iconic Vangelis Conquest of Paradise, unarguably the best start to a race I've been involved in
After nearly being taken out by a stray kerb in the town centre I settled into a good climbing rhythm for a 1300m effort towards the Tete de la Tronche.Within an hour I found myself stuck in a long crocodile of runners snaking my way along single track where oppurtunities to overtake were few and far between. This did stop many of us from going out too fast but I only made an average of 4kmh to the first check point. The short downhills were the worst where I wasted a lot of energy hanging back and braking behind slower moving runners. For me this is the worst part of huge events such as the UTMB but this was a small niggle on a stunning day to be out running in the mountains
We'd seen the camera helicopter chasing the leaders along the ridge and once on the descent to the Refuge Bertone we were able to revel in some amazing ridge top running. the temperature was rising as we turned back east towards Switzerland and the second big climb of the day. I picked a good steady pace up the Grand Col Ferret and began to make up some positions. Once on the other side I let myself go and had a blast on the awesome long and flowing descent to La Fouly. I was beginning to see a pattern with my running. I was faster than the majority of runners around me on the climbs and steeper more technical downhills but felt like I ground to a halt on flat or gently downhill sections. The perils of living and training in the Lake District?
Mentally the long leg down the valley was always going to challenge me so I stocked up on cheese and salami sandwiches and some form of fudge that was like rocket fuel. I managed to keep a comfortable pace and only made one wrong turn - too busy tweeting! The short hill up to Champex (which is always longer than than it should be!) went well and I tucked into a big bowl of pasta chased down with plenty of flat coke happy that I'd clawed back to a sub twenty hour schedule for the first time.
I'd opted not to use a dropbag and use only what I could carry or pick up from the checkpoints so after some more rocket fuel fudge I was soon on my way into the gathering gloom. My blistered heels from my last hundred now came back to haunt me despite being well taped and padded. Concentrating on running with a forefoot strike helped with pain management but is pretty tricky in a pair of cushioned Raptors!
In the darkness I began to overtake plenty of runners in duvet jackets, wooly hats and gloves. In contrast I was still sweating in just a t-shirt but these occurrences happened so regularly I began to question my own sensations believing I was feverish or hypothermic!
The second half of the CCC really just consists of three big climbs and descents. I'd last passed this way in 1993 while walking the TMB with a huge rucksack and my memories were somewhat hazy. The first climb over Bovine was a struggle with bouts of nausea slowing my pace. However in typical ultra fashion it all came good for the second climb to Catogne at 2027m which I felt like I cruised over. In even more typical ultra fashion the wheels came off very soon after and my energy levels bottomed out just before Vallorcine. Looking back I'd become fixated on my watch and neglected my food intake telling myself I'd recover quickly with some proper food at the marquee below. I almost blew it here and despite stuffing my face I was running on empty and suffering desperately from nausea on the easy climb up to Col de Montets. Above me a line of stars were moving in a long line, zig zagging their way up at an impossible angle - the infamous climb to the Tete Aux Vents. I'd managed every other climb without stopping but half way up this wee monster a bout of nausea and dizziness put me on the ground. I forced a Powerbar down my neck and amazingly within 15 minutes was buzzing again climbing well and making up a few of the places I'd lost.
The traverse to La Flegere was unrelenting and the checkpoint came just in time. Hot sweet tea gave me a boost for the 800m descent to Chamonix. My heels really made themselves heard on this and my slow hobble was passed by a few runners but the legs were still strong and as the sun hit the summit of Mont Blanc I managed a good sprint finish to the iconic UTMB arch.
My time of 21:50:21 was slower than I'd hoped for but the vast majority of runners I spoke to said the same thing. The heat of the first day had sapped folks strength and made the night a struggle in keeping going. My recovery has been pretty swift with my legs hardly suffering in the following days. Not usually being a fan of the heat I was very pleased with my performance on the first day. However nausea has been a feature of my previous few races and some more work is needed to come up with a better strategy. Finally my feet were my biggest weakness. A long standing problem with blisters and callousness on the outside of my heels severely restricted my descending pace later in the race. This issue can be traced right back to Ten Tors as a 13 year old! In this event it was the pressure of the edge of the callous pressing into already damaged tissue that was causing the pain. New shoes and some TLC for my feet would seem to be the order of the day.
Sunday, 8 September 2013
Enduro Plus Hydration Pack Review
It's a very short and squat design that sits low on my back and does look a bit strange when fully laden. However it is incredibly comfortable and I've had no issues with chafage or the pack bouncing. My back bears permanent scars from racing with packs with a longer back length but in 165 miles of racing in extremes of heat and 'dampness' I've not had a single problem.
Finishing a soggy Lakeland 100 with the low sitting Enduro Plus under my waterproof
For me the Boa anti slosh tightening system to secure and compress the water bladder worked as it should but solves a problem that doesn't really exist. Certainly the water bouncing and sloshing about is not something I've ever worried about in any other pack as expelling the air before sealing the reservoir also does a pretty good job. The wire and dial system adds weight and complexity and I had a few issues on the Lakeland 100 when with cold and wet hands kit was snagging on the exposed wires.
I used the mesh pocket on the back for a water bottle on the Lakeland 100 and for my windproof on the CCC and it worked very well being easy to locate with a bit of practice. I find the side pockets on some race packs, which are placed up towards your arm pits, rub against my arms when I'm running but are awkwardly placed when trying to grab a drink or replace your bottle. Placing this feature on the back of the pack makes far more sense ergonomically. On this pack some form of closure would be useful for when carrying gloves, arm warmers etc and a second staggered holder would also be an interesting development.
The included water bladder was very good with a two litre capacity and a large opening. The valve was about average in terms of water flow but it didn't feel like hard work to suck even when working hard and the nifty little magnetic holder for the tube is a great innovation and worked incredibly well. If it's a faff to drink while racing then you won't so little design features like this work incredibly well in the real world. I'm not usually a fan of racing in the heat but coped surprisingly well on the first day of the CCC remaining well hydrated throughout which I can probably attribute to this pack.
The website mentions stash pockets on the chest harness but I think they meant on the waist belt which features two spacious pockets. The lightweight floating harness did get twisted when putting the bag on but once everything was secured then the pockets were perfectly positioned and a pretty good size. An internal loop in th epockets for clipping compasses / GPS would be a welcome development.
The fashion is currently very much for race vests but if you are looking to carry a bit more equipment and like a more traditional pack with some very modern features then the Enduro Plus is certainly worth a look.
Friday, 6 September 2013
Sunday, 1 September 2013
Running for two nights!
24 hours after the elite UTMB runners came home hundreds of runners were still streaming across the finish line in Chamonix, many of whom had been running for two nights. Every competitor has a story to tell and a large and noisy crowd gave them all a heroes welcome.
As one competitor staggered across the finish line, bent almost double in fatigue and pain, his wife was heard to exclaim loudly "You're never doing anything like this again!"
Saturday, 31 August 2013
The main event - Action from the UTMB finish line
The North Face paragliding team!
Xavier Thevenard crosses the line to win the 2013 UTMB in 20:35:57
1st - Xavier Thevenard (FRA)
2nd - Miguel Angel Heras Hernandez (ESP)
3rd - Javier Dominguez (ESP)
The 2013 UTMB Podium (Miguel, Xavier & Javier)
4th - Timothy Olson (USA)
5th - Michael Foote (USA)
1st Lady & 7th overall - Rory Bosio (USA) - fastest lady ever and highest placing!
1st - Rory Bosio (USA)
10th - Jez Bragg (UK)
13th - Stephane Brogniart (FRA)
Friday, 30 August 2013
Thursday, 29 August 2013
Wednesday, 28 August 2013
Jez Bragg - back for his favorite race!
The North Face athlete Jez Bragg is no stranger to the UTMB. A win in 2010 put his name in the history books and he's back this year to continue his special relationship with the event. His running hit the news earlier in 2013 when he ran the length of New Zealand. The 3054km Te Araroa trail took him just 53 days. His latest blog entry details his recovery from this epic and the challenge of learning to run and race again. Jez kindly took time out of his final preparations in Chamonix to answer a few questions. Best of luck and blue skys to the whole Bragg team!
What's your history with the UTMB?
I
ran my first UTMB race back in 2005 and I've been hooked ever since. It has a
unique course, a unique atmosphere and a unique level of difficulty! The
UTMB course holds some my fondest trail racing memories - notably a win
on the shortened course in 2010 - and also some of my worst memories -
like having to withdraw from the race in 2011 after suffering a chest
infection. I
love it every I time I step foot on the course, whether it be in
training or during the race. Sunrise after a tough night running through
rain and snow in 2011 was very special.
What's your favorite section of the course?
The
section from Refuge Bertone to Refuge Bonatti is always amazing,
although it will be in the dark this year with the earlier start time.
The cruisy descent from the top of the Grand Col all the way down to
Praz du Fort is also pretty cool. The trick is being in a position to
really run those latter sections well to achieve a solid finish time.
What are your top 3 bits of advice for first timers?
(i) Run your own race - don't get carried away with the razzmatazz of the start and go off too quickly.
(ii)
Plan your nutrition carefully. The food on the aid stations is
different to what the Brits might be used to - so I plan to have my own
food available along the way.
(iii) Save yourself for the
second half. Many people drop at Cormayeur - there's plenty of fast
running to be enjoyed beyond there - so keep something back/ left in the
tank.
It's very sociable at the back of the field! Is there much talking among the elite competitors?
Not
really to be honest. Quite often there is a language barrier, but
everyone's usually working too hard, or too focused, to speak.
Do you have any mental strategy for digging
yourself out of the inevitable holes/lows?
Peaks
and troughs. You will go through spells of feeling rough, but if you
can get yourself through the other side, invariably there will be a high
to be enjoyed on the other side. Also think about why you may have
slumped? Low blood sugars, dehydrated, feeling sorry for yourself...?
Then correct it!
What's your key piece of TNF kit for this race?
Stormy Trail jacket and pants - super lightweight and packable, but incredibly protective in wet weather.
Are you a fan of technology - iPods, HR monitors, GPS watches etc?
Mmmm.
Yes and no. I will be taking an iPod shuffle with me this year to help
get me through the rough spells, and also a my Garmin Fenix to help with
speed, pacing and monitoring altitude. I try not to be too reliant on
technology but it has to be done in part.
What's your key nutrition for races like the UTMB?
A
mixture of gels, flapjacks, chocolate, rice pudding, and probably the
odd expedition type meal (dehydrated) if I can stomach it.
Will your New Zealand experiences help your racing?
I
hope so - certainly mentally! This is my first competitive long race
since the expedition and I'm excited to see how my recovery and training
has gone. I'm feeling very positive after a great summer of training,
but in reality I won't know until I'm half way round. I definitely
learned a lot about myself in NZ, both mentally and physically, and I
will always be able to draw strength from those experiences.
Reflections on the 2012 UTMB
Race founder Catherine Poletti addressing the crowds
UTMB 2012 winner Francois d'Haene
2012 UTMB Champion & 5 time winner Lizzie Hawker
The UTMB 2012 podium
The North Face athletes were having an interesting day at the office. Seb Chaigneau was always going to have a challenging event. Just 6 weeks ago he suffered a badly cut knee in a fall which required 25 stiches. Early on last night he fell again and cut the other knee. By argientiere his vision had deteriated to such an extent that he was packed off to hospital to get checked out. The good news is he's all fine
Zigor Iturrieta was running well when again a fall at Contamine in the tricky conditions robbed him of the chance of being competitive. In the spirit of the event he opted to walk the rest of the course finishing well down the order but having had an adventure as the organisers had promised.
Lizzie Hawker at the awards ceromony
There are three others events in the UTMB festival of ultra running. The longest is the PTL or La Petite Trotte a Leon. This multi day experience for teams packs in 290km and 22,000m of climbing. They'd been blessed with good conditions earlier in the week but this weekends weather system had laid down 40cm of snow at the Col de la Seine. Thinking outside the box a herd of cows were driven over the pass to create a track for a few of the teams!
Dawa Sherpa facing the press
Tofol Bernat (in white) leading the CCC field through Courmayeur
The CCC (Courmayeur - Champex - Chamonix) race featured many of the North Face UK Sales and PR team putting minds, bodies and kit to the test. The climb over the Col Grand Ferret in deep snow in very cold but windless conditions was certainly a memorable challenge. The course had been slightly shortened missing out the first and last climbs but this doesn't detract from the herculean effort of Tofol Bernat who raced back to Chamonix in under nine hours. His reward - the amazing experience of rounding the final corner and coming face to face with the whole UTMB field cheering him home, something that even twenty four hours later left him visibly moved.
A amazing event to be part of and it may have planted a small seed in my
mind! Huge thanks to the team at North Face for the invitation to
follow Jez Bragg and for a very memorable night out in the rain watching
thousands of runners go through the experience of the UTMB. I hope the
ladies at Geneva airport who were having a little competition counting
the blue gillets, which were awarded to all finishers, realise what they
really mean to thousands of runners.
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
UTMB Kit
As is usual in ultra running the organisers of the UTMB specify a minimal kit list. In fact the last three events have been seriously affected my poor weather with snow featuring regularly so it pays to be prepared. The list below is the mandatory list with my notes in italics
- Mobile phone
- Personal cup or tumbler 15cl minimum
- Stock of water minimum 1 litre - carried in a 2 litre bladder
- Two torches in good working condition with replacement batteries - Silva Runner with a Petzl Tikka 2 as back up
- Survival blanket 1.40m x 2m minimum - For extra protection I carry a Sol Emergency Bivi
- Whistle - Built into one of my rucksack buckles
- Adhesive elastic band enable making a bandage or a strapping (mini 100cm x 6 cm) - Support bandage, zinc oxide tape and Compeed usually sees me through
- Food reserve - A block of marzipan which lives in the bottom of my bag!
- Jacket with hood and made with a waterproof and breathable membrane which will withstand the bad weather in the mountains - I'm carrying a slightly heavier Alpine Project shell from The North Face which offers a huge amount of protection for its weight.
- Long running trousers or leggings or a combination of leggings and long socks which cover the legs completely - A combination of compression socks and Capri tights
- Additional warm midlayer top: One single midlayer long sleeve top for warmth (cotton excluded) with a minimum weight of 180g (Men, size M) OR a two piece clothing combination of a long sleeve baselayer/midlayer for warmth (cotton excluded) with a minimum weight of 110g (Men, size M) and a windproof jacket* with DWR (Durable Water Repellent) protection - I've gone for the flexible option of a The North Face Alpine Project Wind Jacket (discontinued) and a merino thermal base layer
- Cap or bandana - TNF cap plus a buff.
- Warm hat - Woolly and logo'd from a well known outdoor brand!
- Warm and waterproof gloves - A combination of thermal and waterproof work gloves
- Waterproof over-trousers - The North Face AK Stormy Trail Pants
- Rucksack - My current bag is The North Face Enduro Plus but I will be trialing one of their new race vests designed with the help of Jez Bragg
- Trail shoes - La Sportiva Raptors, a very rugged and comfortable pair of trail shoes which fit my feet well. However they have slightly too much raise for my developing natural running style and I'm prone to injury when using them. Time to look for a new ultra shoe after this race.
- Trekking poles - Being one of the heavier runners in the field I tend to use my full weight Black Diamond expedition poles which I also use for ski mountaineering! They are obviously significantly heavier than pure running poles but it does mean I can be pretty aggressive with them and they have a huge benefit on my performance.
- Map and compass - You can't take the mountaineer out of the runner!
Monday, 18 March 2013
The North Face Hyper-Track Guide Running Shoe
Jez Bragg recently completed a wee run wearing a pair of these shoes. His awe inspiring Te Araroa trail run covered 3054km along the length of New Zealand in 53 days. A pretty impressive resume for this new trail shoe from The North Face.
I’ve had a pair for around 8 months and have been very impressed with the fit and comfort provided by what is a very lightweight shoe. I’ve moved through a number of brands as my feet have changed over the years. From Salamon to La Sportiva and now to The North Face. More running and less rock climbing in the last few years have meant my feet have spread and are now pretty broad across the forefoot. Many trail and fell shoes are designed on a narrow last and I always split or damage fell shoes where the upper joins the sole by my big toe joint. The H-T Guides fit my very British mountaineers foot incredibly well and I’ve never had any issues with blisters or pressure points. The forefoot is very wide but the upper controls the foot very well and it doesn’t roll off the sole unit even during traverses.
My running style is also moving towards a natural or barefoot style as a way of protecting my knees. Figured it was easier to change my biomechanics than lose weight! The H-T Guide has a small 8mm heel raise and a low profile sole so makes an ideal half way shoe. The low ankle cuff initially felt insecure but has now moulded to a perfect fit.
The shoes only failing is the grip. For dry trails and rock it works perfectly but for UK conditions any depth of mud will create a good Bambi impression. I’ve experimented with it on the fells but took a couple of heavy falls on wet grass. Interestingly Jez used this shoe in the bad weather and snow of the 2012 UTMB and didn’t report any issues.
Because of the grip issue I haven’t taken them anywhere too demanding but with around 400 miles run, mainly off road, they’re bearing up very well for a lightweight shoe. They’re no sign of any damage to the uppers and the sole are wearing well. The North Face suggest these shoes are suitable for road running as well and I’ve seen nothing that would contradict this. However the question has to be asked - why would you want to run on the road?!
For trails and footpaths in dry conditions the Hyper-Track Guide is almost unbeatable giving a very responsive and highly agile ride. A bit more care is needed in typical UK conditions but it still has its place and is currently my favoured shoe for training and racing.
Sunday, 23 December 2012
Tour de Helvellyn
Enjoying the very soggy conditions at CP3. Knee deep snow here last year!
(Photo from Stu Smith of Adventures in Mind & Nav 4 Adventure)
Just in the process of drying out after an epic Tour de Helvellyn. Last year this 38 mile classic trail run featured knee deep snow over Sticks Pass, this year it was almost knee deep in water! Entries had more than doubled and there was a long crocodile of runners making their way up on to the fells from Askham in the early hours of the morning. This is probably the trickiest bit of the route in terms of navigation and it looks like plenty of folk had decided to extend their day to 40 miles plus. I managed to keep on track this year and was ticking along nicely until an old injury flared up while traversing above Thirlmere. A tight hip flexor and IT band meant that I was reduced to a hobble downhill but was fine on the flat and uphill. However I'd done enough early on and I managed to get back round to Askham in 8:41, over an hour quicker than last year. Big congratulations to Eden Runners Kim Collison who beat the 6 hour barrier by 7 seconds, lowering the course record in the process and to Joe, Stu and the rest of the Nav 4 team for another great day out.
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
Ultra Marathons
Descending off Green Gable on leg 4
I've been putting the miles in on the hills since returning from Nepal with the though of a winter Bob Graham attempt keeping me focused. Unfortunately a wee tumble while out on an all night training run has left me a bit battered and bruised. Long grass, ice and waterproof bottoms don't mix and I took a slide over a small outcrop performing a couple of backward somersaults before landing on my head. Somehow I walked away but have had to put my attempt on hold until after Christmas.
However with the shortest day of the year approaching it's also time for the now classic Tour de Helvellyn, a 38 mile off road ultra in the Lake District. The last couple of years have seen plenty of snow on the route but things are looking like they're going to be a lot more wild and woolly this year. There are more than 200 runners entered for what's a great day out in the hills. Here's a small video I put together from last years event.
Tour de Helvellyn - 17th Dec 2011 from Mountain Zac on Vimeo.
For January 2013 there's also a new event in northern England with the inaugural Marmot Dark Mountains, an overnight mountain marathon. I recently spent a night out in full on conditions route checking and it's looking like being a very challenging competition which will really test runners mountaincraft. This is a great original idea so if you're looking for something a bit different next year then I'd encourage you to go for this especially as the organisers have promised a full moon and great conditions!
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Reflections on the 2012 UTMB
Race founder Catherine Poletti addressing the crowds
UTMB 2012 winner Francois d'Haene
2012 UTMB Champion & 5 time winner Lizzie Hawker
The UTMB 2012 podium
The North Face athletes were having an interesting day at the office. Seb Chaigneau was always going to have a challenging event. Just 6 weeks ago he suffered a badly cut knee in a fall which required 25 stiches. Early on last night he fell again and cut the other knee. By argientiere his vision had deteriated to such an extent that he was packed off to hospital to get checked out. The good news is he's all fine
Zigor Iturrieta was running well when again a fall at Contamine in the tricky conditions robbed him of the chance of being competitive. In the spirit of the event he opted to walk the rest of the course finishing well down the order but having had an adventure as the organisers had promised.
Lizzie Hawker at the awards ceromony
There are three others events in the UTMB festival of ultra running. The longest is the PTL or La Petite Trotte a Leon. This multi day experience for teams packs in 290km and 22,000m of climbing. They'd been blessed with good conditions earlier in the week but this weekends weather system had laid down 40cm of snow at the Col de la Seine. Thinking outside the box a herd of cows were driven over the pass to create a track for a few of the teams!
Dawa Sherpa facing the press
Tofol Bernat (in white) leading the CCC field through Courmayeur
The CCC (Courmayeur - Champex - Chamonix) race featured many of the North Face UK Sales and PR team putting minds, bodies and kit to the test. The climb over the Col Grand Ferret in deep snow in very cold but windless conditions was certainly a memorable challenge. The course had been slightly shortened missing out the first and last climbs but this doesn't detract from the herculean effort of Tofol Bernat who raced back to Chamonix in under nine hours. His reward - the amazing experience of rounding the final corner and coming face to face with the whole UTMB field cheering him home, something that even twenty four hours later left him visibly moved.
A amazing event to be part of and it may have planted a small seed in my
mind! Huge thanks to the team at North Face for the invitation to
follow Jez Bragg and for a very memorable night out in the rain watching
thousands of runners go through the experience of the UTMB. I hope the
ladies at Geneva airport who were having a little competition counting
the blue gillets, which were awarded to all finishers, realise what they
really mean to thousands of runners.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)