The original race I was supposed
to do was the Ice Trial but owing to the bad
forecast predicting rain, snow up high & strong
winds the organisers took the decision to cancel
this race and offer us the chance to do the
shorter version which was 32km with 2500m ascent.
It was disappointing but fair play to them.
I later heard some locals went home rather
than do the short version. With the new race
came a more respectable start time, so after
a bit of breakfast and last minute gear faff
we rolled out at 8:30. I managed to get to
the front on the start line as I figured I
might as well try and make the most of the
photo opportunity. The first few kms were on
a track and this allowed me to settle down
and get used to running again having not done
anything for over a couple of weeks. I tagged
onto a Lafuma sponsored runner and used her
to pace me out. The route then went seriously
up for the next few km and I decided I needed
to push on at my own pace so started to pick
my way past the runners in front - not always
easy on the single track - and the effort to
get round can be more than its worth. Before
I knew it we’d hit the first check point at
plan des gouilles (7Km) and understood how
some on the start line were only minimally
equipped, me carrying all my mandatory kit
from the other race rather than risk being
disqualified.
After here it was steeper climbing up to the
col des fond des four. I took a few photos
as I went along to the amazement of the other
runners and marshals. As the weather was
much better than predicted cool, dry with
low cloud. On reaching the col we had a nice
long descending traverse to meet the GR55
at Pont dela Niege (13Km) where Lisa & I
had walked up from Bonneval D’Arc a couple
of days previous. Arriving at the CP coincided
with a change in the weather. The route from
here was flagged and was supposed to follow
the trail; however everyone was hoofing it
up the road. So I followed suit, not really
in keeping with the idea of the race but
maybe I hadn’t got some info from the briefing.
By the time we reached the ski station and
the climb to the glacier pisaillas I’d donned
my waterproof as it was raining and getting
windier and with my hands already starting
to get cold.
I’d hope my hands would come round but they
never did and the weather only got worse so
after contouring to the Col Pers before the
climb to the Aguille De Pers I stopped and
donned all my spare kit in a hope of getting
warm and getting some blood circulating again.
The climb up wouldn’t have been so bad if it
hadn’t been for the fact that I had no feeling
in my hands (I’d already put my poles away
as my hands were now useless). I knew once
I got to the top at least I’d be able to run
down and should help warm me. It just seemed
to take an age before the CP arrived and I
could. The run down from the top to the Col
D’Iseran was good more fell running than trail
and I caught up the people that had been near
me when I stopped to get dressed.
I didn’t
take any pictures taken as it was dross weather!
Later on I heard they started to stop people
here from continuing due to the state they
were in.
By the time I arrived at
the Col D’Iseran (23Km) I had some life back
in my fingers (the burning sensation was worth
it) and the weather to my back. A short stop
for food & water and I was off traversing
up to the hidden tunnel. I’d been trying to
figure how the route got to the other side
and at the briefing they showed an access tunnel
hidden in the cliffs. The climb up was loose
and made worse as the rain loosened the binding
of the soil around the rocks making it more
like climbing an escalator. But before long
I was there and heading through to pop out
into what seemed another world. The weather
better on this side as the mountain ridge shielded
the ski bowl.
A couple of photos and a txt to Lisa to tell
her I was on my descent and off I went deciding
to push on a bit and see if I could catch a
few of the runners I could see below me. By
the top of the final drop to the finish I decide
to stop and take off some clothes so I could
enjoy the last bit without overheating. A nice
descent using the mountain bike trail, glad
of my studded grips as the path got a little
“gloopy” and trying to make sure I didn’t do
myself a mischief with another weeks trekking
still ahead.
So I came in with a finish (32Km) time of 4:51hrs
and 36th position quite happy with my run given
the weather, getting cold and not having run
for a bit. Definitely a course to suit UK style
fell running and just a shame I’d not had chance
to do the long course with its added interest
of the glacier / snow running. So maybe I’ll
have to come back with a view to racing the
long one and a couple of the other events that
are on weekends either side of this as the
Haute Savoie seems to offer some great potential
for quality outings.
 Here’s
the link to the website & more
photos from this years race.
http://www.icetrailtarentaise.fr/ |