Racing Courmayeur Champex Chamonix

Kim Collison (Team Mountain Hardwear) / 04.09.2013

Kim Collison is a British mountain runner and adventure racer (Team Mountain Hardwear) and this is his experience of stepping up to race at the UTMB week with the international stars of mountain running. He took part in the CCC race, which covers 101km with 6100m of ascent and finished in 11th place 13 hours 41 minutes

What an experience the whole Ultra tour du Mont Blanc week was, with an atmosphere which is inspiring and will stick in the back of my mind for a long time. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves running a long way in the mountains.

I came to the CCC determined to enjoy the event and finish after dropping out of the Lakeland 100, I decided to take Stuart Mills advice and work on turning everything in to a positive. For example it was a good thing dropping at 30 mile in the 100 as I was now fresh and determined to perform. I was going to keep relaxed at the start and not put any pressure on myself which I feel I managed to control.  The adrenaline rising as the build-up took place with music, national anthems, press, cameras, etc. can be a bit much. I placed myself on the second row so not to sprint off, but not to get bottle necked on the mountainside. The countdown began and I’m sure it was the pause between 2 and 1 which the line moved!! We were off, yeah! Cheers, claps, fantastic.

The race had begun; I was running comfortably up the road in the main pack as it snaked its way up the hillside and onto the trails. I was setting the pace for a group of about 5 up the first climb not worrying about the two brothers ahead. At the top I felt good, I could feel the altitude but it was not affecting me yet. Wow, look around and big smile, look at those views and the descent to Bertone was a wonderful flowing trail.

I ran down with two Frenchmen into the checkpoint, drank and left first of the group setting the pace all the way to Bonnatti. It was only coming into Arunva that all of a sudden I was not feeling great and tried to drink and eat and leave with the group. It was this point Jordi Bes the eventual winner came past and looked strong going up the Col du Ferret, I on the other hand was struggling and falling backwards, but I was moving forward.

A positive was that one of the Camus brothers was having a harder time than me after his fast start. I made it to the summit or the Col du Ferret, I imagine this descent can be fantastic but I was having a low, finding it difficult to get enough oxygen in and starting to feel a blister coming on my heel. About 5 minutes before La Fouly two more came past, I stopped at this little café took my shoe off and stuck a blister plaster on and made up some electrolytes. These couple of minutes worked wonders I felt great I could move and breathe again. My resolve strengthened and I got to La Fouly and the support was brilliant, I took time to get some food and coke into me. 

At this point a Norwegian runner caught me and this was good as I was able to tap into his rhythm to the bottom of the long descent, I could not quite keep in contact on the way up to Champex but we caught a guy who had taken me on the descent to la Fouly. Good news I was going ok. I was now struggling for food, my gels had run out and I was struggling to eat bars of anything. The feed stations were well organised and the bananas, oranges and cola were a life-line but I was finding it hard to find anything I could take away with me which I could stomach at the time. Next time support is crucial.

However I left Champex just before the Norwegian and this was good as I could tap into his rhythm again. We were going great and we almost caught 9th place but Bovine had started and my wheels came off. I was floundering struggling with the air and on my own again. Even after the summit I wanted to go faster but a stitch and not being able to breathe properly was holding me back, but I didn’t give up, I was determined to finish this. In Trient I was buggered but managed to leave before the next guy came in, good news. Change of plan, I was going to walk all the way to the top of this climb even the gentler bits in order I hoped to be in a better condition for the descent to Vallocine. No such luck as I still struggled to get enough air in on the descent, I had to stop a couple of times in order to breathe properly and then go again. 

I made it to Vallocine, still in 11th maybe I could do this, seeing Ant and Cat was a great lift as was the cooling air as the sun set. When Ant said I looked tired he was being nice I looked awful! This was it, I felt I could do this and just kept moving. Halfway up the final climb I stopped to get my torch out and all of a sudden I was caught, I was in shock Ant had told me at the last checkpoint they were 12 mins behind. Well, at least I felt good - I could hold him off for a change. Then we got to some technical terrain and I was leaving him behind, thanks Petzl for a great light in the Nao allowing me to bound across the rocks.  I managed to get a gap again but I could feel the lights breathing down my neck coming into Flegere. 

The final descent was great as you could smell Chamonix, but hard as it was 800m below and I was on weary legs being chased down. I was constantly looking behind waiting for the torch light you dread will soon overtake you. It came, but it was OK I was almost on the streets of Chamonix and I was going to finish this off well. I ran in hard alongside the river, through the town, hearing the cheers, claps, the lights, the cameras. I had done it. I had finished. I remember saying it was not like a 3 hour fell race!

Would I go back? A resounding yes, next time better acclimatisation and a support crew would help bucket loads. What kept me going? Keeping positive and enjoying one beautiful course and the massive amount of support along the way.

Next year? UTMB or another attempt at CCC – only better?

[First published on the Team Mountain Hardwear Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/teammountainhardwear?fref=ts]

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