This day was a pretty special day. Other than this day was the day I got a year older, but also was the last day of my 35 days of adventure and the last day of my RunForDylan charity. I just realize that I was blessed that I could do what I do; financially, physically and mentally. I had been doing ultra trail running for more than one year and a half. Despite running was good as an exercise and life challenge, but I found that running was also a pretty selfish activity, specially ultra trail running. I would say half of my life these couple of years was dedicated for myself, my running, and those stinky running shoes. But this day when I did my last run for RunForDylan charity, I felt a new meaning of running. I felt I could give back to community. In this case was for Dylan and any other kids who suffers The Glycogen Storage Disease Type Ib. On the top of it, running this charity gave me more courage and put more effort to finish my race or trek. So many times when I was in Mont Blanc, I thought I wanted to quit, I wanted to turn around and went back to my comfy zone, but I did not. RunForDylan reminded me that I could not give up on her. And my big hope that someday I could witness Dylan would run a marathon(s) or even ultra, who knows.
RunForDylan
RunForDylan Charity Run: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 11:15:00
- Activity: Running
- Distance: 12.51 mi
- Duration: 01:45:00
- Average Pace: 8:28 min/mi
- Calories Burned: 1,220
- Activity Link: http://runkeeper.com/user/cm134/activity/440009589
- Start Time: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 11:15:00
Running: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 08:20:00
- Activity: Running
- Distance: 6.72 mi
- Duration: 00:51:11
- Average Speed: 7.88 mph
- Average Pace: 07:36 min/mi
- Calories Burned: 640
- Activity Link: http://runkeeper.com/user/cm134/activity/439670985
- Start Time: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 08:20:00
BEAR MOUNTAIN LOVE AND HATE #9 : Sunday – September 07, 2014
After 2 weeks and a half in the Alps, I missed my backyard mountain, The Bear Mountain. So I drove up on Sunday morning to the Silver Mine Lake to do a small loop run and a few hill repeat.
When I arrived at the Silver Mine Lake, I just realize I only brought a set of big bottles. One for tailwind mix and the other for water, but I did not bring any hand-held bottle for the loop. Also since my phone was broken, so I had no tracking device, online map, no photos, etc. Somehow, I made it more interesting, accidentally, I also forgot to bring any maps.
TDS® (Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie)
“A race in open country along the ‘Grande Randonnée’ paths crossing though the Mont-Blanc, Beaufort, Tarentaise and Aosta valley countryside. A mountainous event, including numerous sections at altitude (>2,500m), in weather conditions which can be very difficult (night, wind, cold, rain or snow), requiring a very good level of fitness, the appropriate equipment and a real capacity for personal autonomy.
The two Savoie and the Aosta valleys are some of the provinces that once made up the Savoie State. Line up to discover these 3 regions which are united around Mont-Blanc, and borrow the paths where history and the mountains meet.“
– The North Face Ultra-Trail Du Mont-Blanc –
Race Blurp From The Organiser
First of all you will experience the very special ambiance of the start of the race from the centre of Courmayeur. Passing by “Maison Vieille” at the col Checrouit (1st refreshment point), you will go up along the UTMB® path to the refuge Elisabetta. Then you turn upwards towards the Col Chavannes (2603m) which is next to the col de la Seigne. Even if you are a regular runner of the UTMB®, this long ascent of the Valley Veny in the early morning light will certainly help you discover a new perspective of it, in all its magnificence. Open you eyes wide because it is a view of rare beauty! Then you will experience, throughout the long descent on gentle slopes, the splendid wilderness of the Vallon de Chavannes’ pastures before joining the Vallon de la Doire de Verney which you will go up to reach the Lac de Verney before reaching the Col du petit Saint-Bernard (2188m, refreshment post). You then leave the Aosta valley and will begin your trip in the Haute Tarentaise with a long descent along the Roman way which, since the year 2 AD, has linked Rome to Lyon by passing through the Alps. Profit from the party which will be awaiting you when you cross through Séez and then Bourg Saint-Maurice (refreshment point), because it is followed by a serious ascent of almost 2000m! You will pass the forts of Truc and la Patte which were built at the end of the XIX° century, when Franco/Italian relations were turning sour, to protect the valley from eventual attack by Italian troops. You then reach the wonderful area of the 5 lakes. Just after the Col de la Forclaz (2354m), you pass along the lac Esola, and then you climb up over the Passeur de Pralognan (2567m). A descent, very steep at first, then gentler, leads you to the volunteers from Beaufort at the Cormet de Roselend (refreshment post). You then have to go up to the Col de la Sauce, then by taking the amazing passage du Curéto the hamlet of la Gitte (have a quick look, just next to the security point, at the chapelle de Notre-Dame des Neiges, dating from 1639) then go up towards the Col de Gitte to 2322m from where one can see the extraordinary view of the Mont-Blanc, Aiguilles Rouges, Fiz and Aravis chains of mountains… before taking, a little known path, across the “Grande Pierrière” to the Col du Joly where you will experience the welcome from the team from Hauteluce (refreshment point). This wild walk along the most beautiful paths of the Tarentaise, Beaufort and Mont-Blanc country continues with a descent into Les Contamines (refreshment point), before going up to the col du Tricot passing the chalets du Truc and Miage. You cross the nose of the Bionnassay glacier by footbridge and go up to Bellevue before plunging down into Les Houches (refreshment point). All that remains is to reach the centre of Chamonix for a triumphal and well deserved finish!
Distance : around 119 km
Positive height gain : around 7,250m
Time limit : 33:00
Finish : 28:32:00
Rank : #550 (overall)
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