We would like to share our appreciation for Tony Letts who recently completed the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) and raised funds for EnFold.. This is a fantastic achievement and we are extremely grateful that Tony chose to support us!

The Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc is a mountain ultramarathon race that follows the route of the Tour du Mont Blanc. It has been regarded as the most competitive trail ultramarathon in the world.

It certainly lived up to its reputation and my expectations. It was without doubt the hardest race I’ve ever done.

Friday 5.45pm saw me in the middle of Chamonix, lining up with 2,500 other ultra runners. The atmosphere was electric mixed with some trepidation, heightened by the ominous looking weather forecast!

With a few minutes to go, the music starts (Vangelis:Conquest of Paradise), we shuffled forward towards the startline, big cheers and then boom we were off.

Like most big races, it was start/stop to begin with, mixed with poles coming at you from all angles! After a few minutes we’re finally running, high fiving and milking in the atmosphere.

Then the heavens absolutely opened up and it was proper stair rods of rain coming down. Just like being in the UK! There was rolling terrain for 5 miles till we got to Les Houches and I got to see my Wife and Son(a nice boost). It was here where the first climb starts over Col de Voza to St Gervais. These were good tracks and plenty wide enough to spread the field out. The descent to St Gervais was steep and very slippy and already the headtorches were needed. It was a fantastic buzz coming into this lovely town and I got more support from two of our friends.

Fri 8.48pm. I thought I might miss them (as it was so busy and dark) so this was a massive lift going into the night!

From there a gradual climb to Les Contamines and then the proper mountain climbing started at the rock faces of Notre Dame de la Gorge around 22 miles.

Fri 11.30pm. However, the buzz was still incredible with genepi, beer, wine and open fires as the frenzied supporters lined the initial route up. It was like the Tour de France climbs. Finally after another mile or so we’re in natural park territory and we’re on our own, one very long procession of headtorches. This is the longest climb of the route Col du Bonhomme (2000+m) and the bitter wind picked up, rain turned to snow and things got very cold. Quite a lot were coming back down to withdraw (long way back) and I’ve never seen so many people running with ’emergency blankets’ on! I kept mine in my bag as psychological back up just in case.

Now for a long descent through very deep slippy mud and here the poles were really useful as people were sliding/falling all over the place.

Sat 3.10am. Finally we made it to La Chapieux and by now I was struggling with nausea and having to rely on soup and pasta for my energy. A hot milky coffee really picked me up though.

Sat 10.00am. The next climb up Col de la Seigne was another long one and would see us entering Italy. ‘Merci and bonsoir’ replaced by ‘ciao and grazie’ now as I thanked the brilliant support from marshalls and onlookers that we would continually get. No passports needed here but there’d be hundreds of different ones, in theory, with all the various nationalities taking part. This area is normally stunning, but it was too dark and snowy for views this time. Finally we dropped down quite a lot to Lac Combal and sunrise. I ran in this area during the night during last year’s TDS so it was lovely to see Mont Blanc and all the other peaks in all their glory here.

A short(ish) ascent then the long steep descent to Courmayeur (Sat 10am). This is a big aid station and the one you get access to your drop bag. A welcome change of clothes and chocolate milkshake that absolutely went down a treat! I caught up with Dave L, a friend of someone in our running club. He was in much better shape than me for sure! One of my toes was in a bad way but with new socks/trainers it would hold out ok. Luckily, my Wife and Son arrived at the same time and gave me a real boost!

  Sat 3.15pm. Once up and out of Courmayeur, a steep climb to the Bertonne refuge and then a beautiful long section traversing along the South side of Mont Blanc. It is absolutely spectacular and very runnable (if your legs allow it!). The next aid station was Arnouvaz and I was mightily relieved to see my Wife and Son again. (This’d be the last time I saw them before the finish) . Sun was out and I was feeling much better now. Just as well because a big big climb was waiting up to Grand Col Ferret and Switzerland! Once at the top(and it took a long while!) 10km of downhill was waiting! Don’t get to do that round Northampton so I was going to enjoy it!

We were now in the lush green valleys of Switzerland and heading for La Foully. A welcome shop was there and the chance to get some headtorch batteries which was a big bonus (I was already onto spares and they weren’t going to last another night). However, the main zip on my bag came off. I fortunately had 2 safety pins which would just manage to keep all my gear in. (Very lucky! Though time consuming getting things in/out). Worse still, on leaving the checkpoint I put my poles down for a second to adjust my headgear and before I knew it one went south straight down the river! I was physically/mentally struggling at this point and this was an absolute kick in the teeth! But I’ve had to use 1 pole before, one was better than none and lighter to carry, so suck it up and on I went.

The next night was long and times got longer and longer between checkpoints but it was dry at least! Got chatting to quite a few people which helped to keep going and ensuring not to get lost.

Sat 10.45pm. The promise of a bed at Champex Lac  was very inviting but alas they were all full. I would try a couple of times thru the night to get some sleep but just couldn’t so just kept going. A brilliant volunteer got me some spag bol with cheese…awesome! It’d be a long slow stint to Trient and then finally sunrise. Two more checkpoints to go and some good runnable sections now.

The final climb up to La Flegere looked smaller/shorter than the others. Surely it wouldn’t be long now? How wrong was I! It was getting warmer and the climbs/descents were very technical and tough going. We asked a couple of lads coming down how far to the top? 2km not the answer we expected! 20 minutes later 2 more lads. How far now? Quick check on their phone…2km ahhh! This was a slog but eventually we reached La Flegere and all that was left was 4 miles of downhill and then a mile thru the valley to the famous finish in Chamonix. The crowds got bigger the closer I got and the atmosphere was brilliant. I felt great going downhill and I wasn’t going to hang around, overtaking lots on the descent. Finally I reached the Chamonix valley. I was shattered and exhausted but my legs could still run and I will struggle to have a more memorable last mile than this. Smiles, cheers, hi fives…what an absolute buzz! Then with 400m to go, my Wife and one of our friends were there to join me! I was so pleased they could run in with me (though they weren’t allowed the last 100m!)

Sun 1.58pm. I loved high fiving with spectators leading up to the famous arch and then what an incredible feeling of relief and achievement. A dream come true!