It was an entire week-end of running here in Chamonix, and I'm proud to say we all took part (in our own little way...) The town was absolutely packed with runners - but I also think we're seeing the start of the crazy summer season.
Our events weren't until Saturday, but the week-end kicked off on Friday afternoon with the 'Kilometre Vertical' - a 3.5km race that starts in the town's centre square and then basically goes straight up Brevant to Plan Praz for a kilometre of height gain. The grade is more than 25%! The winner, Kilian, did it in 36 minutes. In blistering heat as well. Incredible. It took place beside the girls' school, so after we picked them up we walked up to the Brevant bubble car and took it up the mountain so we could see all the poor runners toiling away on the mountain beneath us.
Our events began on Saturday morning, and it was another hot, sunny day. Toby did the 'Cross du Mont Blanc' (23km with 1454m dénivelé posit if and 474m down), I did the 10km du Mont Blanc (a mere 325m de dénivelé +/-), and Anna and Indie did the Mini-Cross (800m for their age groups).
Sadly, Toby started before us in a different place so we didn't see him start, and he finished up Brevant, so we didn't see him finish either! It was extremely hot on Saturday - over 30C - so he was pleased with his 3-hour finish which put him 170th out of 1500 runners!
(me and Toby before the race)
I had a great race! I had never run a 10km race before, and to say I undertrained is an understatement, and I'm also NO runner, but clearly my TMB training of the week before stood me in good stead, and I felt strong. The course included a very steep climb for about a km in the middle, but even that didn't feel too bad (after the TMB pace with a pack on my back...). The girls were there to cheer me on at the finish. It was a great experience, and as Toby's mantra this spring has been to 'feel the love' again for his various sports, I think I did feel a little itty bit of love for running during the race. I'm really glad I took it on as a goal. I came about halfway in the field - not too bad for someone who just wanted to finish.
Anna and Indie were great little runners in the Mini-Cross - and Indie was first girl in her age group, and Anna was the second girl in her race. Indie's certainly got the competitive spirit. In the morning she was complaining about having to run, and I don't know if she was feeling the pressure to do well (after her winning her race in the fall), but I did think she might not do it (a little fear of failure going on??). But by the time it came to the race, she clearly had made up her mind to go for it. I can't show you the video of Indie at the start, sadly, but I've tried to get some screenshots to give an idea of her at the start - there's Indie, front and centre, counting down, and as soon as they shout 'Départ!' Indie's arms come sweeping out from her sides, basically pushing herself off the kids beside her, and then she's completely sprinting away in front. We had to try not to laugh too much about it in front of her. Anna did very well too - keeping up with the front group. It was a great morning in the sunshine.
Then Sunday was the Marathon du Mont Blanc - 42km with 2500m + and 1500m dénivelé negative. Unbelievable, these athletes. We had two friends competing so we went back up Brevant in the bubble car to cheer them on at the finish. They both finished in under 6 hours, an amazing achievement. Some people were out there running for almost 10.
That's the great thing about Chamonix, it definitely keeps you humble. My paltry little 10km didn't feel like very much compared to these other events. And some people come and do all 3! The KM Vertical, the Cross and then finish with the Marathon. Insane. But inspiring.
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