UTMB OCC 56K - Stephanie
It has been a week since finishing the UTMB OCC 56km. People wonder why go all the way ‘over there’ for their ‘small’ race, but, the OCC proved to be anything but “small”.
As I arrived in Chamonix I was blow away by the energy surrounding the town, participants from all corners of the world, brands I have never seen or heard. People taking it all in. But what was more impressive was the view…. OH MY! The view to Mont Blanc was just nothing short of spectacular. I remember staring at it thinking 1) I have never seen anything quite like this and 2) so happy I don’t have to climb it.
I was fortunate enough (or unfortunate – more on this in a bit) to be able to stay at my sister’s friend place at Les Carroz. The apartment was an easy 30 min drive into Chamonix. As I laid in bed at my sister’s place I googled mapped “Les Carroz to Orsiers”. To my surprise (because I have no other word to explain it) I learned the place I had chosen to sleep at was an hr and 45 mins from my start. I’ve done enough races in my life to know this is NOT IDEAL, but something in me (after freaking the fuck out (excuse my French) knew it would be ok. My start time was not until 8:15am so there was ample time. My friend and teammate Jen was with me and that gave me enough confidence and security that we would be OK.
As many of you know, my race mornings are just about the same every time. Wake up 10 mins before the alarm goes off, take a shower, make coffee, get breakfast and go. This time it was just exactly like that except… I had not slept a thing the night before. I kept tossing and turning, thinking about how on Earth I would climb +/- 11,000 ft, how fast I needed to move to make the cut-offs, would it rain, would it be cold, did I have enough food, etc., etc. As morning rolled in I was sleepy and tired (cold as well), but so eager to race I doubt Jen truly knew how I was feeling.
As I lined with everyone else I remember feeling happy, fortunate, nervous, excited, and just ready to go. For the last 18 months I have been pushed to what I thought were my limits – broken down and built up just to be broken down again. Training has been hard at times but more rewarding than ever.
During one of our drives to Chamonix I asked Jen to read me (only the good sections) a race report of the OCC. She had told me the 1st 3 miles were fast & runnable. I was ready for that. If that was true I knew I would be able to get the 1st 6 miles in the 1st hour so my goal of 8-ish hours was attainable. 1st mile was fast and then as we approached mile 2 everything began to change. We went from running to “#$$%^, this is only mile 2”. It was at that moment when I knew the day was all about putting one foot in front of the other. UTMB makes every participant carry a cell phone (that works internationally) and at one point as I climbed La Giete I got 2 text messages. 1st messaged from my friend Phil said, “looking good darling, you have La Giete to climb and then it will get better…” 2nd text message was from Coach A that said, “woke up at 2:30 am thinking of you”. I read both and promptly replied “I am on the road to hell”. Not long after Coach A replied “well, at least you have a preview to it”. Phil replied, “Oh I understand, went on a 45 min run and climbed the hill to the zoo, now off to bed again”. I LOLed and kept on trucking.
The next 30 miles where nothing short of brutal. I still can’t decide whether climbing (what it felt like 45% grades) is better than descending, but what I can say is that this is by far the hardest, most rewarding race I have ever done. Running, climbing, crawling, cursing (yet no crying) through the French and Swiss alps is an unbelievable experience, one I would hope to repeat.
To my sister, Joel, Gabriel & Santiago – merci pour tout!
To Jen (who was able to come last minute and chase me around the mountains to make sure I was ok) thank you! Eternally grateful. And to my Coach…. Thank you for believing in me more than I believe in myself. For pushing me to places I did not know existed. For asking just that much more from me.
#racerelentless