"We had hail and snow, it was chaos": these Côte d'Azur residents took part in the Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc and they recount this totally crazy experience

Beyond being from the Côte d'Azur, these three had one thing in common: they didn't know the water temperature when they jumped in at the deep end. Last Friday, they probably didn't cross paths given the crowd, but they were indeed on the starting line of their first UTMB. The acronym for a benchmark race: the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, its 175km and 10,000m of elevation gain. A strange undertaking.

"I arrived 1h30 before the start on the line and it was already full" , says Vincent Fabre, a trail runner based (and licensed) in Tourrette-Levens. As every year, the center of Chamonix was packed and the 2,500 registered were ready to tackle the myth. Considered one of the four monuments of trail running (along with the Diagonale des Fous, the Western States and the Hardrock 100), the UTMB does not open its arms to just anyone. While some see it as an expensive mass race, others dream of participating and do not regret it once the challenge is accomplished.

Rain, hail and snow

"It's difficult to sum it up in just one word, but it's unforgettable," says Catherine Tomasoni (44), also a member of the Dynamic Trail in Tourrette-Levens. "It's an adventure, a real high mountain trail!"

Which holds surprises and traps that are not always easy to avoid. "When you've already climbed 7,000 or 8,000 meters, what's left is complicated," admits Nicolas Allemeersch, a thirty-something from Cannes. "The descent after Vallorcine was really difficult (around 160 km). There were big rocks and roots, you couldn't run at all. And when you've already had more than 20 hours of running under your belt, you're no longer very clear-headed."

"The most striking thing was the weather conditions during the night," says Vincent Fabre (28). "It rained until the 50th km. We also had hail and snow. The temperature felt like -6 degrees." Enough to tickle the mind. "It was chaos at one of the aid stations! You can see the faces of people already marked after 30km, everyone is cold, shivering, there are no smiles... The commissaires forced us to put on warm clothes. That section really got you in shape. As if to say: 'That's it, that's what the UTMB is all about!'"

Trumpets and disguises

For safety reasons, the organizers decided to plan down part of the course. Many elite runners even dropped out. "The trails were full of mud," describes Nicolas Allemeersch. The fans, however, were unfazed: the "neighborhood race," as some call it, attracts thousands of fans. Trumpets, flags, and costumes enlivened the route. "It was incredible," Fabre explains. " Even in the rain at altitude, some were making fondue! You're never alone; it's like being at the Tour de France (smiles). Sometimes, there wasn't even a path: people were in the middle of the trails and moved aside when you arrived. You feel like it's the biggest race in the world, the capital of trail running!"

"You are received like a king."

Wedged further back in the peloton, Catherine Tomasoni received almost identical support. And she enjoyed the mingling with the other brave souls. "Whether you're an elite or an unknown bib, it's the same thing. In the refuges, you're received like a king. And then it's a global race, you see the difference: there are Chinese, Japanese, Ethiopians..."

Everyone was on an equal footing, or almost. Ranked among the best, amateur Vincent Fabre had the honor of running for a few minutes with Courtney Dauwalter, a legend in the discipline. "She's the one who comes to talk to you, not the other way around. She's very open! It was crazy, you'd think she was happy. She wasn't moving forward, but she was happy (smile)." Like all those who crossed the finish line, aware of having been rocked by the adventure of a lifetime.

Their RESULT: Nicolas Allemeersch finished 32nd out of 1664 finishers (24h08'08''), Vincent Fabre 48th (24h56'33'') and Catherine Tomasoni 1545th (46h17'53'').