It's now May 2011 and I havent updated on anything since before UTMB.
It's history now but the weather caused the race to be shortened.
We all got to St Gervais to be told there had been a landslide futher into the route and that it was too dangerous to carry on.
In shock and disbelief we queued for ages for a train back to Chamonix and then Jon, (who we had bumped into in St Gervais), Helen, Kirsty. Sarah and myself all decided to go for a beer!
Mistake number one was when I ordered a large beer for Jon and myself.
Jon was teetotal and also coeliac so shouldnt have drunk at all.
Still - we had a lovely hour or so and then, staggering back to the hotel, rather the worse for wear - got a text to say the run would be resumed and to be at the bus stop at 6 am to get to Courmayeur.
So after 2 hours' sleep - I heaved myself out of bed and queued up for the bus.
It was all I could do to stop myself from throwing up on the bus abut forced some breakfast down and then Kirsty, Helen and I waited for the second start of the race.
It took me to the top of the zigzag path to the top of the mountain to clear my hangover. From there it was lovely - lots of fabulous views and good cameraderie along the route.
After Champex I told the others to go on and leave me because I was struggling with my knees. I plodded along sort of enjoying myself but not going very fast. The mud was awful and I ended up with a ligament strain which hurt a lot. However, a swearing English man cheered me up and some texts through the night from friends in England spurred me on.
The highlighgt has to be reaching Tete aix vents abd watching the sun come up over Mont Blanc. I stood there fore a while taking photos and then ran into Chamoni with Helen Johnson who gave me the impetus to keep going whilst in sever pain.
Into Chamonix and Mike Mason ran with us both into the finish, where the music caused me to cry incessantly!
21 hours and fabulous memories but not sure I want to do it again.
However, jumping forward many months - Jon and I are now an item and we are going out to Chamonix again this August to do the TDS. Shorter but higher.
Other races this year have been good - some new pbs at the Hardmoors 55, the Fling etc and some fantastic weekends running with Jon.
More to come!
