The morning of the 11th July, my stomach was in bits. The butterflies were back and I had a nervous energy I haven’t felt for a 50km race since 2019.
Can I finish?
How long will it take?
Am I fit enough?
These were the questions going round my head.
The reason being… I voluntarily DNF the Grossglockner 110km July 2025 due to lack of mountain fitness post Northern Traverse. Then just as I was about to ramp up for Spine challenger South, I broke my left ankle walking to the station to go for a run. This knocked me, my confidence in my legs to move over technical terrain. The doctors said it would heal well and I had belief I would be back running in 2026, but in what guise, I would have to see.
Pre the injury, I already had my eye on a shorter summer mountain race as I really wanted to do a shorter summer race in 2027, I had heard great things about Grand Trail Courmayeur. I put it top of the shortlist! The ankle rehab was going really well, belief came. I bit the bullet and entered, knowing it was 9 months away.
Fast forward to Jan 2026, after shed ton of rehab, a DNS for Spine CS, I started couch to 5km expresso edition. Things progressed well. I even took myself off to the lakes for a few days to hike/run in March. Massively lacking fitness and confidence, this was a great grounding moment to just clear my head in the fells.
Full training kicked back in, group runs were had, the gym was still my friend and I built my fitness back up.
The first test was UTS25 in May. I wanted to race this one and see how much I had in the tank. The course got changed last minute due to some weather. It was now 22km and didn’t go up snowdon but it had a fell climb and descent. I redlined this race, so much so I almost ran out of running before the finish! I was please though with my fitness, although the recovery took longer than expected.
Next up was Swiss Canyon Trail 32km. Again not really a high alpine race but I took it easier and cruised around, enjoying the climbs and descents. Comfortably running in to finish around 4.5hrs. Jules and I even went out the next day and did 750m climbing and descending over 17km.
This double did cause a bit of aggro to my right hip flexor, which meant training had to be adapted for a week but then was back on it. Treadmill hills, some Box Hill fun, solo runs etc. When I got to taper, I actually felt ok. The ankle had given me no issues either, which was amazing, still the doubts crept in. Would I be able to climb for 2 hours again? Will I actually be able to descend?
I put all the race details into Ultra pacer, to start planning for race day. The course was changed day before race but was about the same elevation +/-, 53km with 3700+/- was on the cards. I set my stretch goal at 11hrs but fully expected it to take 12! My Jon reasoning was that in 2019 I did Eiger 51km in 10hrs33mins. I must have been fitter then and this course was harder than Eiger (3000m).
Jules, Ale, Arlene (all doing the 30km) and I travelled out on the Thursday to Geneva, where we hired a car to travel into France, through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Italy. We rented a small apartment close to the town centre (10mins walk), which was on the lower ground floor, lovely and cool with temps outside 30+. After some shopping in the many sports stores in town we all registered for the race. Med certs had been uploaded, we just needed to show id and that was it. No kit check, in fact the mandatory list was very small. They had an extensive “recommended” list, to give those who might not quite get it an idea. I like it but I did see some people out with very little on the race day, which I’ll come back to later. For the 100km and 55km runners we got a very nice La Sportiva warm zip top, the 30km got a tee. I think they were jealous! Back home to cook some dinner and get to bed early.
4.45 wake up for a 7am race start. Trying to settle the nerves, I arrived early and sat quietly in the steps taking it all in as the staff arrived and started turning on all the kit. We were ushered into the start corral. The MC started getting everyone gee’d up. I ran into Megan and Bernardas from Wild TR. We had a lovely catch up. Their aim was to finish before head torches were required, I like things like that. I remember that being my aim back when I did Race to the stones. An arbitrary moment in time. I said I wanted to be done by 7 pm if possible. They ushered me forward and as we started that was the last I saw of them until the next day. They finished well before sunset!
Off we set on our little adventure, back running through the streets of Courmayeur brought back memories of CCC both have big climbs at the start but this one had a few KMs of flat/down to get to the actual climb. Running chilled 6min KMs, I stopped for a wee before the climb. I knew it was coming. Poles were out. I was fuelling on a PH&F flow gel 300g bottle as it was expected to take just over 3 hours to do 16km with 1500+. Reminder that these targets were for a stretch goal of 11 hours and 6pm finish. The climb started in the woods, we then popped out at gorge walkway, where we ran around for the photographer.
Back into the woods and up! It was super steep at times, switch backs, an annoying lad who didn’t know how to use his poles (trying to stab my face on multiple occasions), waiting in line for slower people but keeping my HR sensible. I was making a conscious effort not to blow up on this section. We popped out above 2000m, onto a wider track. The views started to appear, this is why I suffer the climbs, for those moments. Fuelling was going well, I was feeling good. Then a 700m descent to the first aid station. It was warm. I had drunk 1l of fluid. The aid station was busy, I refilled my bottles and was thinking I should take a 3rd for the next section, but for some reason I thought I had lost it! I drank some extra before leaving Youlaz. I arrived well ahead of schedule (30mins ish) which surprised me, when I looked at my watch.
On to the next section, 9.5km with another 1200m of hilly fun. We started on a douch grade climb on a wider track track up a valley. I noticed the sweep runners for the 100km race. I guess this was where they joined up then. They had started the previous evening, I just accepted I would be catching up with the tail of this race for the remainder of the day. I mentioned before that I picked this race as I wanted to see some different parts of the Italian side of the alps, this next section didn’t disappoint! The climb started to sweep up the valley and we returned to single track. The sun was beating down, I was passing a few 100km runners who were coming back down knowing they wouldn’t make it and some who were determined to keep going. As we climbed higher the altitude started to hit me, I had to slow a bit more, I was conscious of how much I was drinking too. I had to ration, which was annoying. Dam I wish I had that 3rd bottle!
As we got up close to 3000m the views were stunning. An amazing little ridge section and some runnable paths. We reached the highest point of the race. Around this time I noticed the clouds coming in. It happened pretty quickly. Then the rain started, I wondered for a second, jacket on or just let it cool me? Then it got heavy I stopped and everyone else around me stopped. Packs off and jackets on. I even got my WP mitts out ready. I noticed around this time at least one runner who appeared to not have any extra kit with them, empty pack apart from fuel! I am sorry but that just dangerous!
It wasn’t too much further to the aid station, Mont Fortin. They have to helicopter everything in for this one. Again it was super busy, the rain had turned to large hail too. It took me a while to find the man with the scanner as he was sheltering. Again I arrived about 30mins ahead of my predicted. Although I didn’t know this as I wasn’t getting my phone out in this weather. The next section should have been glorious as it was beautiful traverse across and up and down the valley on the opposite side to the pyramids. Instead the mitts were on, at times the paths became streams. The thunder and lightening was present. My poles were firmly away and I was moving really well considering. I only had one little slip, the Prodigio Pros were doing their job well. The mitts less so with the amount of precipitation Running down my jacket, they kept filling up, user error! We even crossed about 4 or 5 small snow fields, they were super compacted though and presented no issues. The boulder field was less inviting but hey I kinda feel like its standard now right? Before long we traversed across to Col de la Segne, this is where we joined the TMB path.
I was now on familiar territory. Plenty of hikers out too, they actually brought so much joy the rest of time we were on the TMB. Cheering, chatting, stepping aside. It brought back all the memories of my trip in 2024. We dropped down from the col to a little bonus timing point. I think the organisers put this in to make sure everyone got down safely from the high section. The hut Casermetta was reached at 13.39, about 25 mins ahead of schedule but I still had no idea…it was still raining. Actually at one point, I was almost going to take the jacket off and then the rain came down again, of course. The next and penultimate aid station was Combal. It had been easy running to this point but now I was starting to feel a bit hungry. I had been fuelling well on mostly gels and one packet of chews but I was missing real food. I also think I was a little dehydrated. At the aid station I drank some extra water, ate some banana and water melon but I wanted something that wasn’t meat or cheese. That’s the thing about these races in the alps. You don’t get a good British sandwich, I jest as I know this and should have brought something with me! There was a bit of dry heaving as well, perhaps from the dehydration, so I decided to just cut back on the gels a little and make sure I drank more. As I was walking out sipping on some Pepsi, being annoyed it wasn’t coke, I went to to look at my phone and check my timing against plan, but found that I was locked out for 1hour because of too many login attempts, stupid pockets in the rain! I didn’t stress I just hustled along to the final climb (it turns out I was 30mins ahead of schedule). This one starts just down the lane from the our favourite refugio we stayed at on our TMB. I remembered the climb as well. It’s fairly punchy at times but also has some relief as you push up thought the tree line again. It’s about 400m, so much less than the earlier efforts, I felt like I could push the pace a bit more on the 2nd half. Overtaking many hikers, plus some 55 and 100km runners. Once up and over, I knew it was pretty much all down hill to the finish with one more aid station, 1000m over 14km. It was bitterly cold to start, with light rain still in the face from the wind. Mentally I was the most present I have been on a downhill for a while, moving so well. Running all the time, even the douche grade climbs along the way. I took a selfie and sent it to the group chat. As I had access to my phone, I had a quick look at the timings, I was super pumped as I knew, barring an accident I was on for a time which had a 10 in it! I set myself a new mini goal of getting as close to 10hrs as I could.
Final aid station at Rifugio Maison Vielle, topped up one bottle, ate some fruit, sent another selfie saying final aid and headed out. The route now took us off the TMB and a change to the original route. I think there was some trail work going on, to me this was fine as it meant a new bit of forest to explore. It was steep, rooty and fun, the good vibes continued. The rain was stopping, the sun was trying to come out. I over took some more people and even managed to get my rain jacket off and in the pack without stopping, yes a little walk but still movement. As I popped out of the woods and onto the fire roads, there was a little more dry heaving. I was looking forward to some real food, drank some water then I was back on my way.
The last section was about 3km of mostly flat running along the valley side into Courmayeur. I overtook 3 or 4 people here. Still running, not fast but not a shuffle. This made me super happy, to have this energy. Before I knew it I was into the the town, making one small error, missing the turn to finish run in, oops. Then I was over the finish line, medal given and out into the race village. Looking for my friends who were going to bring a bag of dry clothes and my preteen shake.
What was supposed to happen, is someone from the race, was to show me into a tent to have a finisher photo and sign the board. What actually happened is I collapsed into a deck chair at the Tor stand. I texted my friends, it turned out I had finished too quickly, they were getting warmed up at the apartment post race. I was cold and still a bit wet and legs covered in mud. I decided to just get up and wonder back via a shop for some crisps and a can of red ambulance. A little bit anti climatic but we all had a great chat about our races before going out for pizza.
Official finish time was: 10:10:19
I was super happy with this, I was quicker than Eiger & 7 years older!
As I like to do,I went back and looked over my stats, part of me was a little sad that the finish time didn’t start with a 9! I know this is totally arbitrary. I know I could have saved over 10mins by being a touch more efficient in each aid station, but also putting in a bit more effort on the 2nd climb and following descent. As always the main goal is to have fun, I certainly did. I just think I still could have put more “race” into it, if that makes sense?
Kit wise I was super happy with my choices. I Made a last minute swap from the TNF votive Enduris 4 to there La Sportive Prodigio Pro because of the wet weather prediction. It was also a great test of my Arc’teyx WP jacket. Held up so well to the hail and rain. I also took WP trousers, a spare long sleeve and a pair of warm gloves, even though there were not mandatory. This is what I feel is minimum for mountain safety, along with first aid, emergency bag etc.
As for the race. The route was awesome, organisers pretty good if not very chilled. I am used to seeing more race comms and stricter rules for these types of races but I am ok with the vibe as more experienced mountain runner than in 2019. If this is going to be your first mountain race, then I would speak to your peers and get some thoughts on what to carry. We even got free photos, which is rare in these times!
On the Sunday, we went back and I took my finisher photo and we all got some group pics as well. Then on Sunday 3 of us when up to the Skyway Monte Bianco on the cable car and looked in awe at the amazing alpinists, heading off for adventures above 3000m. I got my summer mountain fix and the heart left full and the body a little tired but hungry for more.
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