What struck me most about your TDS video, is even when you looked knackered, you were still narrating the video. I was also surprised by some of the gaps in aid stations you pointed out. I will likely never have the opportunity to run any of the UTMB races, so I do appreciate you taking us along.
Good afternoon Run4adventure and all the runners. Helpful video. Don't worry, Loyd, the next TDS race you will do it better. Here is my like. A nice week for everyone. ⛰🏃♂️☀️
Hey Loyd, great TDS video and great reflection video as well. I think it is super important to go back and think about the race so you can work out what to do next time. I had a nightmare at the UTMB Val D’Aran in the Pyrenees this summer where I ran out of water and it was incredibly hot. I was lucky at CCC as it was cooler for us then you guys doing the TDS but it had made me think that if the weather is really hot for my next race I might consider running with two bottles but also an empty bladder in the back and then utilise it when I know there is going to be a long stint between checkpoints…I think it could also come in handy at the beginning of the race were you could potentially miss the fist aid station and all the crowds as you are already carrying enough water. I really utilised my Garmin for the CCC and had all my aid stations logged so I was getting a km countdown to the next one…and I also utilities a 50min ‘check in’ reminder that basically was a reminder to make sure you have had your gels, had your salt tablet ect.. TDS looked sooo hard compared to CCC you smashed it. Great job! Keep you the great videos! One more thought off the back of this video…I have now done a few UTMB races and whilst I absolutely loved them I could not help but think maybe there were just too many runners 😬 I understand that they are obviously making a fair amount of money off the back of these but just like music festivals if the organisers get too greedy it can sometimes kill the vibe of the event.
Thanks Wesley, really glad you enjoyed the video 👍 I'm definitely going to utilise my watch better at my next big mountain race. I'll make sure I input all the data so it's there easy to access on my wrist 👍 The races can definitely get a bit crowded with all the runners taking part but I actually like the fact they are busy races with lots of runners. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏😊
Great recap video. I ran CCC this year and made the same nutrition mistakes as you. Got into a spiral of self-pity and stopped eating. Kept moving forward and finished it, but 4-5 hours longer than it should have taken me. First CCC aid station was only two tables as well, but it was raining at the time so ran straight through.
Amazing experience and videos Loyd, thanks for taking us with you. Quality content. Huge congrats on the finish, it looks absolutely brutal as well as beautiful.👌🏼
agree on everything you mentioned in the video , water on the top of Forte was the final straw for me .... lol never again :) well maybe next year . I used the Saucony Exodos Utlra which was amazing apart from descending i felt slower for some reason . good vid mate
Regarding fueling I find it really nice that my Polar (grit x) watch has fuel & drink reminders that push you to take in energy. And I also always carry many different kind of gels/energy/bars as well as tailwind so that I have something that hopefully goes down. It was really nice to watch your race video as well as this recap. Kudos for finishing.
Well done on TDS, and it’s always good to learn from these things. As an aside whilst you were in chamonix I visited Cornwall and persuaded my friends we needed to visit the towens. It is just as beautiful as it looks on camera! Keep up the good work.
Thanks Ellie 👍 I definitely learnt a lot from the race, that's for sure. Really glad you enjoyed your time on the Hayle Towans, it's a beautiful place! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏😊
Great review of lessons learned and tips. And thank you for also reaffirming with the crowds, queues and CP chaos why I am happy to watch UTMB from home 🙂
Cheers Paul, glad you enjoyed the video. It was a pretty hectic race early on but it soon spread out and then it was ok 👍 The UTMB races are big events with lots of runners but they are still very special! Hope you are fit and well and thanks for watching 🙏
@@Run4Adventure the scenery you shared is incredible & certainly inspiring to visit. It was great to follow your journey & your Guide to Chamonix was a terrific bonus.
I absolutely love watching your channel. You keep me motivated to get out and run. I was an active runner and stopped running after my divorce. Thank you for your excitement. Am back staying active. Maria from Texas
Great insights Loyd, really glad you toughed it out. As a person with a lot of IronMan experience, I've been saying for a couple of years that I could see UTMB heading in completely the same direction, especially with their 'Stones'. Now that UTMB have partnered with IM, the lines will be even more blurred and it's very telling that Messick was at UTMB all week, no doubt advising them in how to monetise every aspect of the race. I got into trail running because I wanted the challenge after IM and I specifically wanted to qualify for CCC but after getting my points and seeing the way things are headed, I'm actually glad I was not drawn in the two lotteries. We, as a family, really want to experience Chamonix' trails but just not interested in UTMB week anymore, at least in person!
Thanks Ian 🙏 It is a really shame about IM now being involved in the race, I'm not sure it was the best idea! I still think you should experience UTMB at some point, it really is a spectacular place to be if you love the trails 😊 Thanks for watching mate 🙏
Well done for battling through it Loyd, it sounded like a tough day (or two) out! Always good to reflect and think about key lessons to take from it, what an achievement 👍
Thanks very much! It sure was a tough doy out but I'm so glad I dug in and made it back 😊 Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏
Great review and commentary Loyd - looks like quite the beast of a mission so kudos to you and Steve for crossing that finish line, and to Liga for her awesome support! Still can't believe you bumped into Courtney Dewaulter on the trail lol! Again, awesome review Loyd, and looking forward to many more adventure reviews 🙂
Great recap Loyd! I'm trying to qualify and get lottery selected for 2024 UTMB as my 60th birthday present to myself. I train now to self-supporting with enough liquid for at least 20 kms. Plain water is a waste of an opportunity to get electrolytes and calories in so I only drink NUUN tablets now in every bottle. I eat half a CLIF bar every 3 miles and a gel 10 minutes before big climbs. I use a NAKED belt to just carry my own nutrition and fluids which allows easy access and allows me to carry a smaller vest for mandatory gear. Aid station food or Gatorade is not for me...unless it's freshly fried bacon 😋 Awesome series, Cheers from Canada! 🇨🇦🙏🏃♂️🏃♀️
Thanks Ian, glad you enjoyed it 👍 You can also over do electrolytes as well Ian, which can cause issues as well so I'd be careful having them in both bottles. Also when you're running long races like UTMB you'll be out there for a long time sometimes it gets to a point where you can only stomack water and you don't want any electrolytes in there. Best of luck getting into UTMB, I've got my fingers crossed for you 🤞🤞🤞
Another great video, very impressive ! And those looks of complete exhaustion sums up the race pretty nicely, maybe even more than the "nice" pictures here and there. And you are tougher than the TDS, massive respect...Cheers, Ingo
Thanks Alan that's really appreciated! Really glad you enjoyed the UTMB videos, they're tough races for sure but it's an incredible experience 🏃♂️⛰️ Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏
That was a great insight on a very tough race. I felt when watching your race video, even when you struggled you keep pushing. Certainly with the hot weather conditions, there should have been an extra point of water or make sure the runners had plenty in previous checkpoint. In the end is also about each runner´s own management but also providing help from the organizers.
Glad you enjoyed it Javier 😊 I totally agree with what you've said, it is up to the runners to manage their own race but you're right, it woukd of been a good idea to warn runner as they left the check point 👍 Thanks for watching 😊
Amazing achievement Loyd, you showed great mental strength & perseverance in some dark times loved your film on the race & recap. Keep an eye on that knee could it be meniscus tear? I have this but with management & strength work I’m able to keep on running. Congratulations again and your missus for keeping you going!!
Great video as always. I didn't know there was such a long period on the course without water. You should have mentioned that Loyd. Only teasing. :). Just shows you that you should always plan to the nth degree with races like this. The lady selling the drinks obviously did :) 😀
I finished in 42.5 hours. They put in a water stop at the top of the climb after bourg st Mauritz. Bit late for you. It was a very hot climb. One thing that I found helpful was the sign at each aid station telling you the distance, elevation and descent to the next station. The descent into beauford was a beast. This is the only race I feared dying in it. I saw a guy fall off a cliff but grabbed a tree to stop him falling. Mad stuff.
Well done Karl, good job on getting to the finish 👏👏 It sure was a tough race and I totally agree, that descent was crazy! The mountains are a challenging place to race and when things go wrong they go wrong big time. I've had a similar experience to you at a UTMB race, the only time I've ever feared for my life while racing. I'm glad you were ok and I hope you're recovering well, thanks for watching 🙏😊
Good video. I could relate to some of that. I had stomach issues (was violently sick in fact) on the first night of utmb leading to about 6 hours where I barely eat though later on I was able to keep drinking my energy drink and taking gels, on the second night Hannah and jenna were forcing quiche down me which went down well and a shout has to go to whoever made the cous cous at maison Vielle cp! I also really fell down on course knowledge. So many times thinking I was about to descend only to find another climb or not knowing how much further I had to the next cp was hard mentally. This was compounded by my garmin adding some bonus miles a few times so I was just going on time till the next cut off! If it wasn't for the difficulty of getting another place in future I'd love another crack at it with full course knowledge, but that ain't gonna happen. Ultimately just pleased to get round when I really had no business being there at the level of fitness I had
Cheers Andrew, glad you enjoyed the video. You did so well mate! To go out to UTMB for the first time, under trained and make it to the finish line, is awesome! 🏃♂️⛰️ Hope you enjoyed you time in Chamonix and the body is recovering well 😊
Brilliant - at Maison Vieille (6.5 km) i used the taps at the back of toilets in washing area:) i did lots of runs in that area previously as I was staying in Val Veny (Camping Aguille Noire). That lady at Fort de La Platte must have made a fortune. I got a can of coke and a water for 10€ and headed up the hill, downed the two cans, then realised i needed to dump the cans but no space in my vest:( so I went back down the hill to find the bin:) - the heat was crazy at that point and people were puking in the shade as i passed. Apparently water did arrive there much later on!!!! Also my pet peeve - no warm food for early morning finishers (28:30 hours for me).
Amazing achievement Loyd, you showed great mental strength & perseverance in some dark times loved your film on the race & recap. Keep an eye on that knee could it be meniscus tear? I have this but with management & strength work I’m able to keep on running. Congratulations again and your missus for keeping you going!!
100% agree about the first aid station. Nightmare. I just ran on as I couldn’t get near a table. The climb from BSM was sooooo hard. When you and the pirate past me I couldn’t even talk. No water was crazy. The organization should have provided support with the weather on the day. Unfortunately as I had no support I pulled out with right knee issues coming into Roseland. The descent was too painful. Head had gone. But I will be back before my 60th.
Sorry to hear that Ian! 😔 It was definitely a tough race with some very challenging section. I hope you do get back and finish it off Ian, thanks for watching 🙏
Thank you for the race review! I don't hear many people talking about getting in front of the crowds before the start of the race; how long before the start do people generally starting packing into the chute? I'm taking the 7pm shuttle to Courmayeur (TDS 2024) and I'm wondering if that's enough time to get to the front 100 or so runners? Can you possibly elaborate on that? Thanks again for the enthusiastic and informative content!
That should definitely give you time to get to the front at the start. Just make sure you head round to the back of the building where you’re dropped off by the bus. Unfortunately that will mean sitting around on the start line for a long time! Hope this helps and thanks for watching 👍
Great insight into the race and the challenges of the course. Quick question: in your prep how much, if any, cross training did you do? I saw you did a fair bit on the bike - did you do anything more?
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I was doing at least one mountain bike ride a week and some strength and conditioning as well. If I'm honest I could have squeezed in another session of strength work, I think it would have helped. Thanks for watching 🙏😊
Great update Loyd. I recall Steve Redgrave, post race, saying "If you ever see me near a rowing boat again.......", there he was, next tournament ! Definite concerns over UTMB "organisation". 10 mile climb, in that heat, with no water laid on, but a "convenient" pop-up station selling cans etc at inflated prices ! Alarm bells rang in your build-up week, when you said they check through all your kit and have the power to confiscate what they deem unsuitable ! What happens then ? Are you informed of a ideal store, down Chamonix Central ? That climb, in those circumstances, sounds more like a "Special Forces" beasting ! Fortunate you were as prepped, physically, ( - the knee issue "chewing" at the back of your mind ) as you were ! Could easily have been a whole different scenario ! Seems crazy that UTMB competitors are somewhat left to their own grasp of the situation, inadequate refuelling, surely need one or two extra marshal's, at key points, to relay a bit of information, as regards warnings of what's "around the corner !" We're not all Killian Jornet ! Well done yourself though.
To be fair John, all the other races over UTMB seem to be really well organised and the runners are well looked after. I do think that the organisers have kind of forgotten a bit about the TDS! 🤔 As far as the kit check goes, it a good thing that they are very thorough. You really have to have kit that's up to the job when you're racing in the mountains, so I totally agree with that 👍 Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏
My Ultra achilles is my stomach and being brought to a stop / (dry) wretch / walk rpt scenario and not being able to drink or eat anything :-( tried all sorts of strategies and fuels over the years but not yet found a solution - it's definitely linked to time / intensity / heat as it comes on sooner in shorter faster and warmer races... no problems in shorter than marathon distances.
Thanks for the update. Was the knee issue a kind of outer knee tension / pain? Was it ITBS or perhaps some LCL issue? Just curious as I manage my training plan fine but on the day of on Ultra, with many miles of downhill which is difficult to simulate in training, my knee sometimes plays up.
No problem, thanks for watching! It was definitely a bit of ITBS, it wasn't stopping me from running and it just needing managing. I've had it many times before so I knew what it was and I wasn't to concerned at the time 😊 Living in Britain it's hard to get the body conditioned for those long mountain descents, Infact it's impossible! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏😊
@@Run4Adventure yeah it's the same here in Ireland where I live. I need to take more trips to the mountains to condition my knees. I've also been experimenting with KT tape and it certainly hasn't done any harm! Check out functional patterns too, those instructors can really give you very specific help for this stuff
We had similar issues oat Snowdonia Trail Marathon, but water was low as so many people were in demand, and now filling cups but willing Hydration Packs (instead greedy) and as we reached the top of snowdon we were told there is now more water left - The old railway station was closed since covid so water being brought up was at a limit and only via ambulances near the end and they were v.busy... dehydrated athletes But hey we made it, got the t'shirt and medal and now on the next one !!!
That's a shame to hear Stephen! I don't races should ever run out of water, it's a basic requirement 🤔 Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏
Hi Daniel I'd say say the sizing is spot on. I'm a medium in most of my running kit and the medium in the SAYSKY floral kit fits perfectly 👌 Hope this helps and thanks for watching the channel 🙏
Shoes for 100 miles is very personal because a lot of it comes down to fit on your foot shape and comfort. I’d recommend going to a running store and trying on as many different pairs as possible. However I think the Saucony Xodus Ultra and the Merrell Agility Peak 5 work well for that kind of distance and terrain. Hope this helps you and thanks for watching 🙏🙂
I enjoyed the TDS a couple of weeks ago. About the minor points: 1. First aid-station was after only 6,5k. Why stop there? Just go on to the next aid-station at 15k. You’re only a the start of the race. 2. No water in the steep part between 49k and 66k in the hot sun. This is what the TDS makes so challenging. I realy hope they never change something. It is not supposed to be easy!
I totally agree that it's not meant to be easy but it also needs to be safe for everyone. If the organisation is going to go to the trouble to put a check point at 6.5km it should be able to handle the number of runners surely 🤔 I've run a lot of mountain races around the world and I've never gone so long without a water stop in a race! 17k doesn't sound far but when you're moving slowly in the mountains it takes a long time and I that heat its not very safe. I'm glad you had a good race and enjoyed the experience. I'm sure UTMB won't make any changes so don't worry Andi 👍 Thanks for watching 😊
Really appreciate this type of feedback “lessons learned” from your races. As a mid packer I often look for any advantage in gear or training strategy that can give you that etc bit of confidence. Thanks again for your content….
That climb up the passeur is well known as be a critical part of the TDS race. It was timed even worse before the last years with more runners dropping in the heat. And the problem with the water is also know. I don't know why they don't manage to put a rescue spot up there. Maybe this is all private land and they are not allowed to? A friend told me years ago there was some "free" water where they now sell cans of sodas. Because of this heat problem they had the idea to move around the starttime so that the climbing will be during the night. Unfortunately we all know that this decission didn't work out to be a good one with the descend in the dark... Hence why this year they moved it so that the first elite runners will be up there at sunrise. For the ones more behind that meant back to problem #1 unfortunately...
I think you're right, it must be private land? 🤔 There's no other reason for it really, if they can get all those cans of drink up there, surely they could get some water? Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏
Great videos, but seriously - the first CP came after 7km (~1.10h), the second after 15km (~2.30h), in the middle of the night with decent temperatures - how can you run out of water/food so quickly that you need to stop at the first CP, particularly when you know that you will arrive there with 1000 other runners and some delay is inevitable?
Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching. I totally agree, it's bound to be busy at the first few check points and this is my point. The organiser should know this and make the check points big enough to deal with it. I don't think runners had run out of water, they were trying to make sure they topped up their bottles so they didn't run out of water! Are you saying everyone should run by the first two check points and not get any water, I'm not sure that would be the best idea in a 145km race where midday temperatures got up to mid 30's. Also with the way the weather was it was actually quite warm at night especially for us Brits! 🥵 Hydration is so personal and some people need to take on more water than others so I really think those early check points should be better prepared. That was the view of most of the runners I spoke to after the race 👍
@@Run4Adventure Agreed, I just wonder how people handle training runs if ~1L of water is not enough to carry them through 2.30h at 10-15°C ;) . At least runners further up tend to skip the first aid station if it's fairly close to the start, even though they tend to be way less crowded if you're in let's say the top 20%. And absolutely agree that a couple more water stations would have helped after Bourg St. Maurice. Ultimately, I'm not in a good position to judge race strategies anyway, I dropped out after reaching Beaufort in 17h mainly because I couldn't handle the thought of being awake two full nights nights in a row, so props to the people who can race for 40h+, regardless of how many water stops they need.
@@kvErsatz I think a 2.30hr training run is slightly different to a 145km race. I could do a 2.30hr training run with no water and have no issues at all but that because I haven't got to run another 30hrs+ after it. Sorry to hear you pulled out at Beaufort, I came very close to doing the same! Running into the 2nd night is a tough thing to handle mentally, did you not think of sleeping for 20mins? If you got to Beaufort in 17hrs, surely you wouldn't of had to run through another full night? 🤔 That's pretty speedy!
@@Run4Adventure I'll try napping next time for sure, although aid stations seem to be neither too quiet nor too comfortable =). I actually wasn't very tired in Beaufort, and I had gone on for longer (22h at the TGC) after a 11pm start before, but I was looking at about another 12h on the trail mostly in the dark and lost the mental battle against the easy option of being back in Chamonix with a 1.5h bus ride and in my bed at 9pm. This goes to show that the mental preparation can be more important than the physical one.
We were away on holiday walking the coast path in Wales when the race was on , had a good few hills, while walking up with my old (little ) dog on my shoulder often thought of you and the other runners , this ain’t much of a hill compared.. really enjoyed the race video congratulations
I not sure I was underprepared Radu but I definitely made a few mistakes along the way. I'd been training in the mountains for about a month before the race. I'd tested out all my kit thoroughly in race conditions, so I'm not sure that's being underprepared? 🤔 We'd been very busy in the week building up to the race and I think that's why mistakes where made 👍
@@Run4Adventure I was talking about the race itself (having the course on the watch, knowing where the hydration points were). I know that physically you were ok, but logistics...hmmm
@@radugulie4179 Like I said, I over stretched myself before the race and didn't have that all prepared. Schoolboy mistake I know but I've learnt my lesson 👍
I would be having a go at the organisers for the absence of aid stations on that climb. The woman exploiting the runners clearly knew about it, else she wouldn't have opened a stall and price gouged. That's ridiculous, the whole thing around the events are expensive enough, they absolutely owe you a good, well organised experience.
That lady has been there every time (4) that I have run the TDS. I would call it the law of supply and demand rather than exploitation as no-one was being forced to buy her merchandise. Whilst I agree a fresh water supply at the Fort would have been helpful these races are intended to be run in semi-autonomy and as all runners who made it to Cormet de Roseland will know there was a cattle trough on the way to Col de Forclaz, followed by Lac Esola and then a small stream on the descent from the lake prior to the climb to Passeur de Pralognan . I appreciate it probably wasn't as pure as the organisers would have provided but having spent two months prior to the race drinking from similar sources in the Alps without any gastric mishaps I personally feel the "no water" issue between Bourg and Roseland (which I have seen repeated across a number of social media platforms) to be a bit of an exaggeration. Still every day is a school day and you can reflect on matters from the happy position of having finished the race.
I am glad that you call out the organizing gaps of the race. As you say, they probably know about it. Let’s hope they take note🎪
What struck me most about your TDS video, is even when you looked knackered, you were still narrating the video. I was also surprised by some of the gaps in aid stations you pointed out. I will likely never have the opportunity to run any of the UTMB races, so I do appreciate you taking us along.
I'm glad you enjoyed coming along and thanks for watching, it's really appreciated 🙏😊
Good afternoon Run4adventure and all the runners. Helpful video. Don't worry, Loyd, the next TDS race you will do it better. Here is my like. A nice week for everyone. ⛰🏃♂️☀️
Good afternoon Manual, thanks for watching and supporting the channel mate 👍😊
Proud of you for sticking it out, but certainly dont blame you for not ever wanting to do it again! Well done and great breakdown, thanks!
Thanks Greg, that's really appreciated 👍
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏😊
Belo depoimento e excelente vídeo. Me ajudou muito sua experiência. Parabéns. Estou indo esse ano de 2024 pra UTMB TDS. Falo do Recife no Brasil.
Hey Loyd, great TDS video and great reflection video as well. I think it is super important to go back and think about the race so you can work out what to do next time. I had a nightmare at the UTMB Val D’Aran in the Pyrenees this summer where I ran out of water and it was incredibly hot. I was lucky at CCC as it was cooler for us then you guys doing the TDS but it had made me think that if the weather is really hot for my next race I might consider running with two bottles but also an empty bladder in the back and then utilise it when I know there is going to be a long stint between checkpoints…I think it could also come in handy at the beginning of the race were you could potentially miss the fist aid station and all the crowds as you are already carrying enough water.
I really utilised my Garmin for the CCC and had all my aid stations logged so I was getting a km countdown to the next one…and I also utilities a 50min ‘check in’ reminder that basically was a reminder to make sure you have had your gels, had your salt tablet ect..
TDS looked sooo hard compared to CCC you smashed it. Great job! Keep you the great videos!
One more thought off the back of this video…I have now done a few UTMB races and whilst I absolutely loved them I could not help but think maybe there were just too many runners 😬 I understand that they are obviously making a fair amount of money off the back of these but just like music festivals if the organisers get too greedy it can sometimes kill the vibe of the event.
Thanks Wesley, really glad you enjoyed the video 👍
I'm definitely going to utilise my watch better at my next big mountain race. I'll make sure I input all the data so it's there easy to access on my wrist 👍
The races can definitely get a bit crowded with all the runners taking part but I actually like the fact they are busy races with lots of runners. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏😊
Great recap video. I ran CCC this year and made the same nutrition mistakes as you. Got into a spiral of self-pity and stopped eating. Kept moving forward and finished it, but 4-5 hours longer than it should have taken me. First CCC aid station was only two tables as well, but it was raining at the time so ran straight through.
Amazing experience and videos Loyd, thanks for taking us with you. Quality content. Huge congrats on the finish, it looks absolutely brutal as well as beautiful.👌🏼
agree on everything you mentioned in the video , water on the top of Forte was the final straw for me .... lol never again :) well maybe next year . I used the Saucony Exodos Utlra which was amazing apart from descending i felt slower for some reason . good vid mate
I hope you go back and finish it off next year Igs 👍
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏
Regarding fueling I find it really nice that my Polar (grit x) watch has fuel & drink reminders that push you to take in energy.
And I also always carry many different kind of gels/energy/bars as well as tailwind so that I have something that hopefully goes down.
It was really nice to watch your race video as well as this recap. Kudos for finishing.
Well done on TDS, and it’s always good to learn from these things. As an aside whilst you were in chamonix I visited Cornwall and persuaded my friends we needed to visit the towens. It is just as beautiful as it looks on camera! Keep up the good work.
Thanks Ellie 👍
I definitely learnt a lot from the race, that's for sure. Really glad you enjoyed your time on the Hayle Towans, it's a beautiful place! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏😊
Amazing Lloyd, excellent content again and, as per usual, a lot more 'human' than some of the other RUclipsrs...
Great review of lessons learned and tips. And thank you for also reaffirming with the crowds, queues and CP chaos why I am happy to watch UTMB from home 🙂
Cheers Paul, glad you enjoyed the video. It was a pretty hectic race early on but it soon spread out and then it was ok 👍
The UTMB races are big events with lots of runners but they are still very special! Hope you are fit and well and thanks for watching 🙏
@@Run4Adventure the scenery you shared is incredible & certainly inspiring to visit. It was great to follow your journey & your Guide to Chamonix was a terrific bonus.
@@DartmoorPaul Thanks mate, that's really appreciated 🙏😊
I absolutely love watching your channel. You keep me motivated to get out and run. I was an active runner and stopped running after my divorce. Thank you for your excitement. Am back staying active. Maria from Texas
That's awesome to hear Maria, I'm really glad the channel has helped! Great that you're back running, keep it going and thanks for watching 🙏😊
Great insights Loyd, really glad you toughed it out. As a person with a lot of IronMan experience, I've been saying for a couple of years that I could see UTMB heading in completely the same direction, especially with their 'Stones'.
Now that UTMB have partnered with IM, the lines will be even more blurred and it's very telling that Messick was at UTMB all week, no doubt advising them in how to monetise every aspect of the race.
I got into trail running because I wanted the challenge after IM and I specifically wanted to qualify for CCC but after getting my points and seeing the way things are headed, I'm actually glad I was not drawn in the two lotteries.
We, as a family, really want to experience Chamonix' trails but just not interested in UTMB week anymore, at least in person!
Thanks Ian 🙏
It is a really shame about IM now being involved in the race, I'm not sure it was the best idea! I still think you should experience UTMB at some point, it really is a spectacular place to be if you love the trails 😊
Thanks for watching mate 🙏
Well done for battling through it Loyd, it sounded like a tough day (or two) out! Always good to reflect and think about key lessons to take from it, what an achievement 👍
Thanks very much! It sure was a tough doy out but I'm so glad I dug in and made it back 😊
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏
Congrats... You are a Winner, a worrior!!!!
Thanks Alexandre 🙏😊
love the energy you have, so inspiring
Thanks that’s really appreciated 🙏
Great review and commentary Loyd - looks like quite the beast of a mission so kudos to you and Steve for crossing that finish line, and to Liga for her awesome support! Still can't believe you bumped into Courtney Dewaulter on the trail lol! Again, awesome review Loyd, and looking forward to many more adventure reviews 🙂
Thanks Rach, that's really appreciated 🙏😊
Awsome mate, great honest insight into your experience.
Cheers Rob, glad you enjoyed the video! Hope you're fit and well 🙏😊
Thanks Loyd for another great video and your reflection on the event
Thanks Rob, I'm glad you thought so and thanks for watching the channel 🙏😊
Great recap Loyd! I'm trying to qualify and get lottery selected for 2024 UTMB as my 60th birthday present to myself. I train now to self-supporting with enough liquid for at least 20 kms. Plain water is a waste of an opportunity to get electrolytes and calories in so I only drink NUUN tablets now in every bottle. I eat half a CLIF bar every 3 miles and a gel 10 minutes before big climbs. I use a NAKED belt to just carry my own nutrition and fluids which allows easy access and allows me to carry a smaller vest for mandatory gear. Aid station food or Gatorade is not for me...unless it's freshly fried bacon 😋 Awesome series, Cheers from Canada! 🇨🇦🙏🏃♂️🏃♀️
Thanks Ian, glad you enjoyed it 👍
You can also over do electrolytes as well Ian, which can cause issues as well so I'd be careful having them in both bottles. Also when you're running long races like UTMB you'll be out there for a long time sometimes it gets to a point where you can only stomack water and you don't want any electrolytes in there. Best of luck getting into UTMB, I've got my fingers crossed for you 🤞🤞🤞
@@Run4Adventure thanks! Good advice. I do alternate with water if I'm eating real food like my favourite...little peanut butter and jam sandwiches 🥪 😋
Another great video, very impressive ! And those looks of complete exhaustion sums up the race pretty nicely, maybe even more than the "nice" pictures here and there. And you are tougher than the TDS, massive respect...Cheers, Ingo
Thanks Ingo, that's really appreciated 🙏😊
Well done, delighted for you to finish
Thanks, Colm that's really appreciated! I was pretty delighted to finish to 😁
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏
Well done sir 💪 Interesting point about ‘not’ eating making you nauseous then being unable to eat as a result. Hadn’t considered that!
Thanks Andrew, glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching 🙏😊
excellent videos loyd loved the journey start to finish well done to you and steve awesome
Thanks Steven, really glad you enjoyed the Content 😊
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏
Great vid, keep up the good and honest work...loved the whole Chamonix thing, made me feel like i was there!
Thanks Michael, really glad you enjoyed all the content from Chamonix. Thanks for watching and supporting the channel 🙏😊
A really good race reflection there, Loyd 👍
Thanks Kate I'm glad you thought so. Hope training is going well and you're looking forward to the Arc 50 next year 👍😊
Loved the whole series of UTMB videos. These are some tough races.
Thanks Alan that's really appreciated! Really glad you enjoyed the UTMB videos, they're tough races for sure but it's an incredible experience 🏃♂️⛰️
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏
That was a great insight on a very tough race. I felt when watching your race video, even when you struggled you keep pushing. Certainly with the hot weather conditions, there should have been an extra point of water or make sure the runners had plenty in previous checkpoint. In the end is also about each runner´s own management but also providing help from the organizers.
Glad you enjoyed it Javier 😊
I totally agree with what you've said, it is up to the runners to manage their own race but you're right, it woukd of been a good idea to warn runner as they left the check point 👍
Thanks for watching 😊
Great job! Thanks for the race review!
No problem, thanks for watching and supporting the channel 🙏😊
Amazing achievement Loyd, you showed great mental strength & perseverance in some dark times loved your film on the race & recap.
Keep an eye on that knee could it be meniscus tear? I have this but with management & strength work I’m able to keep on running. Congratulations again and your missus for keeping you going!!
Great video as always. I didn't know there was such a long period on the course without water. You should have mentioned that Loyd. Only teasing. :). Just shows you that you should always plan to the nth degree with races like this. The lady selling the drinks obviously did :) 😀
Thanks Simon, really glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching 🙏😊
Another great video, and really helpful too - thank you! 😁
Thanks Melanie, really glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏😊
I finished in 42.5 hours. They put in a water stop at the top of the climb after bourg st Mauritz. Bit late for you. It was a very hot climb.
One thing that I found helpful was the sign at each aid station telling you the distance, elevation and descent to the next station.
The descent into beauford was a beast. This is the only race I feared dying in it. I saw a guy fall off a cliff but grabbed a tree to stop him falling. Mad stuff.
Well done Karl, good job on getting to the finish 👏👏
It sure was a tough race and I totally agree, that descent was crazy! The mountains are a challenging place to race and when things go wrong they go wrong big time. I've had a similar experience to you at a UTMB race, the only time I've ever feared for my life while racing. I'm glad you were ok and I hope you're recovering well, thanks for watching 🙏😊
Good video. I could relate to some of that. I had stomach issues (was violently sick in fact) on the first night of utmb leading to about 6 hours where I barely eat though later on I was able to keep drinking my energy drink and taking gels, on the second night Hannah and jenna were forcing quiche down me which went down well and a shout has to go to whoever made the cous cous at maison Vielle cp! I also really fell down on course knowledge. So many times thinking I was about to descend only to find another climb or not knowing how much further I had to the next cp was hard mentally. This was compounded by my garmin adding some bonus miles a few times so I was just going on time till the next cut off! If it wasn't for the difficulty of getting another place in future I'd love another crack at it with full course knowledge, but that ain't gonna happen. Ultimately just pleased to get round when I really had no business being there at the level of fitness I had
Cheers Andrew, glad you enjoyed the video. You did so well mate! To go out to UTMB for the first time, under trained and make it to the finish line, is awesome! 🏃♂️⛰️
Hope you enjoyed you time in Chamonix and the body is recovering well 😊
Brilliant - at Maison Vieille (6.5 km) i used the taps at the back of toilets in washing area:) i did lots of runs in that area previously as I was staying in Val Veny (Camping Aguille Noire).
That lady at Fort de La Platte must have made a fortune. I got a can of coke and a water for 10€ and headed up the hill, downed the two cans, then realised i needed to dump the cans but no space in my vest:( so I went back down the hill to find the bin:) - the heat was crazy at that point and people were puking in the shade as i passed. Apparently water did arrive there much later on!!!! Also my pet peeve - no warm food for early morning finishers (28:30 hours for me).
Loving your video and your passion. Thanks for your work Loyd!
Amazing achievement Loyd, you showed great mental strength & perseverance in some dark times loved your film on the race & recap.
Keep an eye on that knee could it be meniscus tear? I have this but with management & strength work I’m able to keep on running. Congratulations again and your missus for keeping you going!!
Thanks Luca, that's really kind! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏😊
Cheers Stuart, that's really appreciated 🙏😊
Fair play to you Loyd
Thanks Nick and thanks for watching the channel, its really appreciated 🙏😊
You should be proud!
100% agree about the first aid station. Nightmare. I just ran on as I couldn’t get near a table. The climb from BSM was sooooo hard. When you and the pirate past me I couldn’t even talk. No water was crazy. The organization should have provided support with the weather on the day. Unfortunately as I had no support I pulled out with right knee issues coming into Roseland. The descent was too painful. Head had gone. But I will be back before my 60th.
Sorry to hear that Ian! 😔
It was definitely a tough race with some very challenging section. I hope you do get back and finish it off Ian, thanks for watching 🙏
Great video dude 👍
Thanks Dan, glad you enjoyed the video 🙏😊
Epic video Loyd 👍
Thanks Andre, glad you thought so and thanks for watching 🙏😊
Best line from Steve....cold beer. Cold Beer!
The cold beer did taste pretty good at the end Brian! 🍻
Thanks for watching and supporting the channel its really appreciated 🙏😊
Thank you for the race review! I don't hear many people talking about getting in front of the crowds before the start of the race; how long before the start do people generally starting packing into the chute? I'm taking the 7pm shuttle to Courmayeur (TDS 2024) and I'm wondering if that's enough time to get to the front 100 or so runners? Can you possibly elaborate on that? Thanks again for the enthusiastic and informative content!
That should definitely give you time to get to the front at the start. Just make sure you head round to the back of the building where you’re dropped off by the bus. Unfortunately that will mean sitting around on the start line for a long time! Hope this helps and thanks for watching 👍
@@Run4Adventure Thanks mate!!! Good to know.
Great insight into the race and the challenges of the course. Quick question: in your prep how much, if any, cross training did you do? I saw you did a fair bit on the bike - did you do anything more?
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I was doing at least one mountain bike ride a week and some strength and conditioning as well. If I'm honest I could have squeezed in another session of strength work, I think it would have helped. Thanks for watching 🙏😊
@@Run4Adventure thanks for the reply. I guess that’s the thing, there is always room for a bit more strength training! It’s just I prefer running!!
@@RCMTR5 I totally agree! 😉
Great update Loyd. I recall Steve Redgrave, post race, saying "If you ever see me near a rowing boat again.......", there he was, next tournament !
Definite concerns over UTMB "organisation". 10 mile climb, in that heat, with no water laid on, but a "convenient" pop-up station selling cans etc at inflated prices !
Alarm bells rang in your build-up week, when you said they check through all your kit and have the power to confiscate what they deem unsuitable !
What happens then ?
Are you informed of a ideal store, down Chamonix Central ?
That climb, in those circumstances, sounds more like a "Special Forces" beasting !
Fortunate you were as prepped, physically, ( - the knee issue "chewing" at the back of your mind ) as you were !
Could easily have been a whole different scenario !
Seems crazy that UTMB competitors are somewhat left to their own grasp of the situation, inadequate refuelling, surely need one or two extra marshal's, at key points, to relay a bit of information, as regards warnings of what's "around the corner !"
We're not all Killian Jornet !
Well done yourself though.
To be fair John, all the other races over UTMB seem to be really well organised and the runners are well looked after. I do think that the organisers have kind of forgotten a bit about the TDS! 🤔
As far as the kit check goes, it a good thing that they are very thorough. You really have to have kit that's up to the job when you're racing in the mountains, so I totally agree with that 👍
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏
Such a likeable fella.
Cheers Zachary that's very kind! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's really appreciated 🙏😊
My Ultra achilles is my stomach and being brought to a stop / (dry) wretch / walk rpt scenario and not being able to drink or eat anything :-( tried all sorts of strategies and fuels over the years but not yet found a solution - it's definitely linked to time / intensity / heat as it comes on sooner in shorter faster and warmer races... no problems in shorter than marathon distances.
Thanks for the update. Was the knee issue a kind of outer knee tension / pain? Was it ITBS or perhaps some LCL issue?
Just curious as I manage my training plan fine but on the day of on Ultra, with many miles of downhill which is difficult to simulate in training, my knee sometimes plays up.
No problem, thanks for watching! It was definitely a bit of ITBS, it wasn't stopping me from running and it just needing managing. I've had it many times before so I knew what it was and I wasn't to concerned at the time 😊
Living in Britain it's hard to get the body conditioned for those long mountain descents, Infact it's impossible! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏😊
@@Run4Adventure yeah it's the same here in Ireland where I live. I need to take more trips to the mountains to condition my knees. I've also been experimenting with KT tape and it certainly hasn't done any harm!
Check out functional patterns too, those instructors can really give you very specific help for this stuff
@@c.callanan4008
Yeap KT tape can really help with lots of issues, I've probably been using it for the last 10 years on and off 👍
Honest review of the race. Accepting mistakes is difficult.
Do you ship gear to the United States?
Thanks Brian 😊
Yes we do ship to America 👍
love it Loyd. Can you promise to always use that outro music,
I'll do my best Bo 👍
Thanks for watching 🙏
We had similar issues oat Snowdonia Trail Marathon, but water was low as so many people were in demand, and now filling cups but willing Hydration Packs (instead greedy) and as we reached the top of snowdon we were told there is now more water left - The old railway station was closed since covid so water being brought up was at a limit and only via ambulances near the end and they were v.busy... dehydrated athletes
But hey we made it, got the t'shirt and medal and now on the next one !!!
That's a shame to hear Stephen! I don't races should ever run out of water, it's a basic requirement 🤔
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏
Another brillant video. What is next.?
Cheers Scott, glad you enjoyed it! We've git a few ideas in the pipeline for next year 🤔
Thanks for watching 🙏
I payed 6 chf for a bottle of Citron at the hut above Trient in the OCC and it was worth it.😁
Hello whats the sizing like on the saysky floral shorts and vest are they on the big side or small? Cheers 👍
Hi Daniel
I'd say say the sizing is spot on. I'm a medium in most of my running kit and the medium in the SAYSKY floral kit fits perfectly 👌
Hope this helps and thanks for watching the channel 🙏
what's the best trail shoes you recommend across mountains and 100 miles?
Shoes for 100 miles is very personal because a lot of it comes down to fit on your foot shape and comfort. I’d recommend going to a running store and trying on as many different pairs as possible. However I think the Saucony Xodus Ultra and the Merrell Agility Peak 5 work well for that kind of distance and terrain. Hope this helps you and thanks for watching 🙏🙂
Thanks for that!! 🙏👊
I enjoyed the TDS a couple of weeks ago. About the minor points:
1. First aid-station was after only 6,5k. Why stop there? Just go on to the next aid-station at 15k. You’re only a the start of the race.
2. No water in the steep part between 49k and 66k in the hot sun. This is what the TDS makes so challenging.
I realy hope they never change something. It is not supposed to be easy!
I totally agree that it's not meant to be easy but it also needs to be safe for everyone. If the organisation is going to go to the trouble to put a check point at 6.5km it should be able to handle the number of runners surely 🤔
I've run a lot of mountain races around the world and I've never gone so long without a water stop in a race! 17k doesn't sound far but when you're moving slowly in the mountains it takes a long time and I that heat its not very safe. I'm glad you had a good race and enjoyed the experience. I'm sure UTMB won't make any changes so don't worry Andi 👍
Thanks for watching 😊
❤️
Thanks very much 🙏😊
Really appreciate this type of feedback “lessons learned” from your races. As a mid packer I often look for any advantage in gear or training strategy that can give you that etc bit of confidence. Thanks again for your content….
That climb up the passeur is well known as be a critical part of the TDS race. It was timed even worse before the last years with more runners dropping in the heat. And the problem with the water is also know. I don't know why they don't manage to put a rescue spot up there. Maybe this is all private land and they are not allowed to? A friend told me years ago there was some "free" water where they now sell cans of sodas. Because of this heat problem they had the idea to move around the starttime so that the climbing will be during the night. Unfortunately we all know that this decission didn't work out to be a good one with the descend in the dark... Hence why this year they moved it so that the first elite runners will be up there at sunrise. For the ones more behind that meant back to problem #1 unfortunately...
I think you're right, it must be private land? 🤔
There's no other reason for it really, if they can get all those cans of drink up there, surely they could get some water? Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏
Great videos, but seriously - the first CP came after 7km (~1.10h), the second after 15km (~2.30h), in the middle of the night with decent temperatures - how can you run out of water/food so quickly that you need to stop at the first CP, particularly when you know that you will arrive there with 1000 other runners and some delay is inevitable?
Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching. I totally agree, it's bound to be busy at the first few check points and this is my point. The organiser should know this and make the check points big enough to deal with it. I don't think runners had run out of water, they were trying to make sure they topped up their bottles so they didn't run out of water! Are you saying everyone should run by the first two check points and not get any water, I'm not sure that would be the best idea in a 145km race where midday temperatures got up to mid 30's. Also with the way the weather was it was actually quite warm at night especially for us Brits! 🥵
Hydration is so personal and some people need to take on more water than others so I really think those early check points should be better prepared. That was the view of most of the runners I spoke to after the race 👍
@@Run4Adventure Agreed, I just wonder how people handle training runs if ~1L of water is not enough to carry them through 2.30h at 10-15°C ;) . At least runners further up tend to skip the first aid station if it's fairly close to the start, even though they tend to be way less crowded if you're in let's say the top 20%. And absolutely agree that a couple more water stations would have helped after Bourg St. Maurice.
Ultimately, I'm not in a good position to judge race strategies anyway, I dropped out after reaching Beaufort in 17h mainly because I couldn't handle the thought of being awake two full nights nights in a row, so props to the people who can race for 40h+, regardless of how many water stops they need.
@@kvErsatz I think a 2.30hr training run is slightly different to a 145km race. I could do a 2.30hr training run with no water and have no issues at all but that because I haven't got to run another 30hrs+ after it. Sorry to hear you pulled out at Beaufort, I came very close to doing the same! Running into the 2nd night is a tough thing to handle mentally, did you not think of sleeping for 20mins? If you got to Beaufort in 17hrs, surely you wouldn't of had to run through another full night? 🤔
That's pretty speedy!
@@Run4Adventure I'll try napping next time for sure, although aid stations seem to be neither too quiet nor too comfortable =). I actually wasn't very tired in Beaufort, and I had gone on for longer (22h at the TGC) after a 11pm start before, but I was looking at about another 12h on the trail mostly in the dark and lost the mental battle against the easy option of being back in Chamonix with a 1.5h bus ride and in my bed at 9pm. This goes to show that the mental preparation can be more important than the physical one.
We were away on holiday walking the coast path in Wales when the race was on , had a good few hills, while walking up with my old (little ) dog on my shoulder often thought of you and the other runners , this ain’t much of a hill compared.. really enjoyed the race video congratulations
Thanks Alan that's really appreciated! Hope you had a great time in Wales 🙏😊
The 2 main reasons for a DNF in an Ultra besides injury are the Stomach and your Feet (Blisters etc.)
They sure are Paul but I'd throw on metal weekness as well 👍
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment it's appreciated 🙏
What I didn't understand is how you went so underprepared in the biggest race of the year.
I not sure I was underprepared Radu but I definitely made a few mistakes along the way. I'd been training in the mountains for about a month before the race. I'd tested out all my kit thoroughly in race conditions, so I'm not sure that's being underprepared? 🤔
We'd been very busy in the week building up to the race and I think that's why mistakes where made 👍
@@Run4Adventure I was talking about the race itself (having the course on the watch, knowing where the hydration points were). I know that physically you were ok, but logistics...hmmm
@@radugulie4179 Like I said, I over stretched myself before the race and didn't have that all prepared. Schoolboy mistake I know but I've learnt my lesson 👍
@@Run4Adventure What was Steve's excuse then??😉
@@junewong5119 Steve doesn't prepare or train for anything! 😂
He was only running at my pace so he doesn't really have to June 😊
I would say if someone is selling cans of drink at 5 Euro each, I would say that it has happened many times before...
I'm sure it has happened many times before! 👍
Thanks for watching, I hope you enjoyed the video 🙏
I would be having a go at the organisers for the absence of aid stations on that climb. The woman exploiting the runners clearly knew about it, else she wouldn't have opened a stall and price gouged. That's ridiculous, the whole thing around the events are expensive enough, they absolutely owe you a good, well organised experience.
That lady has been there every time (4) that I have run the TDS. I would call it the law of supply and demand rather than exploitation as no-one was being forced to buy her merchandise. Whilst I agree a fresh water supply at the Fort would have been helpful these races are intended to be run in semi-autonomy and as all runners who made it to Cormet de Roseland will know there was a cattle trough on the way to Col de Forclaz, followed by Lac Esola and then a small stream on the descent from the lake prior to the climb to Passeur de Pralognan . I appreciate it probably wasn't as pure as the organisers would have provided but having spent two months prior to the race drinking from similar sources in the Alps without any gastric mishaps I personally feel the "no water" issue between Bourg and Roseland (which I have seen repeated across a number of social media platforms) to be a bit of an exaggeration. Still every day is a school day and you can reflect on matters from the happy position of having finished the race.