Valmorel Mad'Trail Mountain Trail 19k Race
So it's been two weeks since my Cotswolds Way Challenge ultra and I should very much still be in recovery mode. I am now on holiday in Valmorel, in the French Alps, with my family, and I reached our destination last Friday with a firm intention to relax and only include a bit of hiking and gentle running on the nearby trails.
Unfortunately for my well-intended recovery plan, this weekend happened to coincide with the annual local trail event, Mad'Trail, organised by Valmorel's ski club. I came across a poster advertising it when walking to town on the afternoon of my arrival. When I realised what it was, my mind was set: I had to do it! I just had to decide between a 62k race, a marathon, a 19k race or a 2.8k race with a vertical kilometre to climb. I tried to be sensible and settled on the 19k, with its 1250m+ ascent, which seemed to be the best option for me then.
I proceeded to signing up, knowing very well that I didn't had the right gear with me, i.e. I had left my Camelbak at home and only had my 20L OMM running backpack with me, which is ideal for commuting but not so much for the very frequent hydration required in a hilly trail race. Never mind, this was not going to stop me. However, the organisers came back to me late on Friday night saying that in order to sign up I either had to have a license from the French Federation of Athletics or equivalent requiring a medical certificate, or be in possession of a recent medical certificate indicating I was fit enough to run such an event. Eeek, so the first one was no good as although I am a member and coach with UK Athletics, membership doesn't require a medical certificate. Unfortunately for me, next day was Saturday and Bastille Day so the chances of finding a doctor willing to provide a medical certificate for me were slim. I still went to town on Saturday morning in the hope I would somehow find one. Thankfully the only town surgery was open, and after being relieved of a 'mere' 50EUR (including a surcharge due to Bastille Day), I had what I needed to sign up. I also had to buy a reusable cup and survival blanket as that was part of the compulsory equipment to take part in the race so after spending some more Euros I was sorted.
On Saturday night, the night before the event, my sleep was disrupted. I woke up worrying I had bitten more than I could chew as I had never taken part in a mountain trail race. Also I had intentionally not looked up the route as I didn't want to know what the elevation profile looked like, but I started to worry that I would just not be able to get to the top. The cut off was 4.5hr, which seems plenty of time for a 19k race. But being competitive I also wanted to do myself justice and I was suddenly doubting whether I had it in me. What if I just could not complete the race? What about the reduced oxygen at this altitude, having just arrived in 1400m high Valmorel the day before? I suddenly remembered my stay in Cuzco in Peru over 10 years ago, to adapt to the altitude before tackling the Inca Trail - is that something I needed to worry about with a peak race altitude of 2340m? All these thoughts were unfounded but raced through my mind around 2am that night and I just laid awake for hours after that, trying to calm myself down.
A very tired me woke up on Saturday morning with the usual race nerves, only bigger than I have ever experienced. Not full panic, but not far off. My husband reassured me that I could just take it very easy, and I agreed although I knew I wanted to do the best that I was capable of. He walked with me to the starting line and I realised it was quite a different gig from the Cotswolds Way Challenge. For a start, because of the 4.5hr cut off time, all participants were runners, no walkers as it would not be possible to walk the entire 19k route within that time given the elevation profile. Most of the guys and gals at the starting line looked pretty fit, like they had done this stuff before on a number of occasions, casually sporting their hydration vests or packs and a pair of walking poles. I felt a little bit out of place, but then I thought at least I am giving it a go. I just wished I had some gels with me as I only had a fruit pouch and a little granola bar, alongside two pieces of toast for fuel and a 1L bottle of water.
The race finally started and off we went through the main pedestrian street of Valmorel and straight into the woods. It very quickly became too hilly to run and I was very relieved to see that everybody started walking and that I was not just surrounded by superhumans. We soon encountered a cow, a nice and unexpected reminder that we were right in the middle of the mountains. As we kept on climbing, it quickly became clear than there would not be any downhill before we reached the peak at 2342m altitude. Eek. In addition, whilst I had approached the CWW challenge more casually, happy to stop every now and then for a picture, I realised this was not that sort of race and everybody was more concerned about getting around as quickly as possible rather than stopping to admire the scenery. I still wanted to take pictures, but tried to stop as little as possible as I would be passed by a couple of runners for every picture I took. I tried to make the most out of the view whilst walking up the steep uphill.
We eventually reached the fuel stop just after 6k. We had started to go downhill and I naively thought the race wasn't quite going up to the peak of the mountain. I downed some Coke and grabbed some raisins and nuts and quickly moved on as I was being passed. As I said, everybody was in a bit of a rush. That's when I looked up and realised the steep part was still ahead of me. The first 6k uphill had just been a little warm up. Gulps. I was thankful for my head cap as I moved up as the visor hid the path ahead from me and how much further up I had to go. The last few sections were a bit hairy and I was grateful to have be wearing my Hokas and not some road shoes, as they gave me a better grip and prevented me from slipping and a potential long fall down... I tried not to look down too much!
Once we reached the peak, I was temporarily relieved that most of the remaining 12k would be downhill. Until I started running down and remembered that it was tough indeed. Whilst I had not missed walking poles too much on the way up, I realised the real value of them on the way down. All the runners I had overtaken on the way up were now flying past me, and their poles seem to give them a real advantage by providing additional balance. I am not experienced yet at running downhill and was definitely making my legs work way too hard. This was a take-away for me, and something I will be working on in the future so I get down more efficiently and not lose the advantage I manage to gain on the uphill bits.
The last 5k were excruciating, expecially as it involved another uphill section. I had nothing left in my legs, was out of water (you would think after my CWW experience I would have learnt my lesson), and was feeling very weak. I stopped to grab my emergency pieces of toast as I knew my condition was fuel related. I had made a serious mistake by not taking gels with me. The toasts were not great but gave me enough energy to finish the race at slow pace. Some other fit guys ahead of me were suffering so that reassured me a bit that I was not just being weak and it had indeed been a tough one. I was glad to have had some support from random strangers all around the route though, every cheer gave me a little much needed boost.
My husband surprised me near the finish and I was pleased to see him and also knowing I was approaching the end. I ran through Valmorel towards the finish line feeling exhilarated and absolutely shattered.
Route Profile
Would I do it again? Absolutely! Not only was the race well organised, but the views were breathtaking. Yes, it was hard work, but the feeling of achievement in reaching the finish line was second to none. I was happy to find out I finished 10th in my category. And I also earned myself a qualifying point towards the UTMB.
Whilst I love trail runs in general, I am now specifically hooked on mountain trail races. Off to look up more UTMB qualifying races!...