The Forum of Benfleet Running Club

debbie g · #6 Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 707

UPDATE

The Echo piece won't be going in till next week probably Monday and is likely to be printed pretty much in full.

Mike Mason · #7 Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 1055 Location: Hockley

Many thanks Debbie and to everyone in this great 'caring Cub - my Arse! I will be there tonight to show off my jacket (most expensive one in the world) and to pass out free biscuits (each one being individually licked and gobbed on by me) - well it's the thought that counts.

Once again thanks to you all for the abuse and motivationan ..in particular Ernie's £500 worth of Sports Psychology (JFDI) and Graham's Mantra ('Smash it Mike')!

:bootyshake:
_________________
'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.

Mike Mason · #7 Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 1055 Location: Hockley

stunning photos and music from Ritchie Cunningham a West Highland Way Runner and Finisher:

http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/o...nstructions_directurl_makeyourown
_________________
'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.

mikemoreton · Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 6:04 pm Post subject:

Thought he was Fonzies buddy

Mike Mason · #7 Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 1055 Location: Hockley

MM2 - get yr eating gnashers in..I am bringing biscuits tonight............
_________________
'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.

debbie g · #6 Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 707

Think he'd prefer stellas....

Mike Mason · #7 Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 1055 Location: Hockley

______________________________________________
http://door5.com/2008/09/01/utmb-2008-cest-bon/

US runners blog of the race
_________________
'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.

mikemoreton · Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 2:01 pm Post subject:

biscuits were fabulous. Washed the crumbs down with 2 stellas after.

Stu · #1 Joined: 01 Mar 2007 Posts: 40

http://oakley.com/sports/fmx/athletes/162

MM revealed

Mike Mason · #7 Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 1055 Location: Hockley

Stu..you git!

_________________
'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.

Ernie · #2 Joined: 26 May 2006 Posts: 240 Location: Hockley GORC

Big Article in Fridays Echo on Mike Mason's Mont Blanc attempt.

but the the best reading is to be found on ECHO's "My Say" forum

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/sport/3668201./

debbie g · #6 Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 707

Mike I know a good lawyer....

Mike Mason · #7 Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 1055 Location: Hockley

thanks Debbie...I may call you. The posts are from West Highland Way race mates....the gits!
_________________
'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.

Mike Mason · #7 Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 1055 Location: Hockley

UTMB Report 2008 – Mike Mason

'Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever' (Lance Armstrong)

'What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.' (Friedrich Nietzsche)

'Pass me another plate of fried Marmots' (Borkur Arnason)

Well it seems like only last year that I was on the bus to Chamonix after the wheels came off another attempt to try and get around the Mont Blanc massif – 101 miles and 29,000 feet of cumulative ascent and 46 hours to complete. Because it bloody well is….I am back on the bus. Last year I managed to get to Courmayeur with my legs relatively intact running down the descent. But my lack of mental toughness meant that I aborted the next climb after the nice rest at the checkpoint and returned to the bus. This year I missed the Courmayeur cut-off by 18 minutes and limped down the steep descent into the centre…...

And so began the start of last years race report, which was in fact very similar to that of the 2006 one. 2 DNF’s and the risk that 2008 could well see another. So what to do? Another deep analysis and critique of the previous race lessons learned, re-watch all the race DVD’s going back to the first race, call up advice from my friends - in particular Jez Bragg (2005 / 2006 Finisher and UK 100km champ), Andy Dubois (2007 Finisher), Ernie Jewson (2x GUCR Finisher) and Murdo McEwan (2006/7 Finisher and more West Highland Way races under his kilt then you could throw a stick at). Well in ultra running terms I don’t think anyone could find a better group of real experts to motivate, cajole and mentally kick. In addition, I had to try and stay injury free and get out and train more instead of analysing the crap out of my poor performance and whining.

Pre-Race

Weight – although not massively overweight if I was to improve my power/weight ratio the easiest way would be to lose weight. So in February 2008, after return from a nice Caribbean cruise (where I did treadmill 15% inclines every day amidst the Margaritas) I took the decision to cut out meat and booze from the diet. Well if Marco Olmo and Scott Jurek could do so well as Vegans, I thought I would try something similar. I did eat fish however. I did not find the change in diet any hardship. Even with Dave Waterman (Subversive Runner Blog) now referring to me as a converted Buddhist! So I reduced from 12 ½ stone to 11 ½ stone. People at work commented that I looked as if I was in desperate need of a good meat pie.

Apart from Body weight I needed to ensure that I did not make last years mistake of taking a larger backpack than 2006 and stocking it with more electrolyte powder than humanly possible. So this year back to the 20L KIMM sack. 2.0L Bladder but only filled with 1,5L fluid. Pack mandatory gear only. Wool hat thrown out – Buff instead. Montane windshirt thrown out also. Could have ditched the waterproof gloves as well with hindsight, but they were needed last year.

Training

Perhaps the most important part of the pre-race build-up and for this race the specificity of training cannot be overstated. Once you have an aerobic base and endurance forget the flat trail running. You have to get into the Mountains or onto the incline. You cannot replicate the Mont Blanc race with traditional training. Andy had me doing treadmill sessions at 15% incline – 6kph – just power hiking for hours. I had strange looks from the David Lloyd centre guardians ..’how long have you been doing that mate?’ ‘Only 4 hours’ as the sweat covered the floor surrounding the machine and other people I noted were avoiding the machines each side of me. I also did more interval training than I had ever done previously. I wouldn't say I got to enjoy it but I got to notice the benefits.

In addition, perhaps the best thing I was advised to do was to actually get into the mountains. Not many in Essex. So I booked all the weekends in July and one in August in Llanberis with the sole intention to power hike up and run down Snowdon. Starting with one summit on the Friday after arriving; working up to 5 on the Saturday and 3 Sunday, with one on Monday morning before setting off on the long drive home. Mark Williams, from my Running Club (Benfleet) returned to his roots with me for one of the weekends - the lucky git. Without doubt these weekends were instrumental in my training. I broke my fear of climbing and got the time and ascent into my legs. It was very boring going up the Tourist track and then up and down the Pyg track. But after Mr Dubois led me on the infamous Welsh 3000ers the previous year, this was an ideal way for me alone to a) not get lost and b) keep away from any scrambling and not to get terrified on Grib Goch again or turn into the ‘spread eagled Spiderman with Tourettes’ on Pen - yr Ole Wen.

Hydration and Fuelling

On previous races I have used a Perpeteum electrolyte in my camelback and GU gels as well as SUCCEED lactate buffers. For this years race I toyed with Andy’s use of a Perp/Hammer gel concentrate and even bought an Amphipod small of back mounted flask. I have noticed though that after a while I get sick of the sweet taste of the Perp. I also failed to train with the new mix in Snowdon and not wanting to go into the race with something untried. I decided to stay with water only in the camelback and take a GU gel and buffer every hour. Also, supplementing with some energy bars and solid food at the Checkpoints. Saying that, I still set off with Perp in the camelback and the concentrate seemed to last all the way to Courmayeur, where I got my wife Gill to dump it out and I refilled with plain water. I also Carbo/Phosphate loaded using Pre-Load from Allsports, as I do for all long ultras. This is a powder mixed with water taken 4 x day in the 3 days leading up to the event. It saves me, my bowels and the environment from the hazards of pasta bloating……I can only remember beginning to bonk on 2 of the climbs and within 5 -10 minutes of ingesting a GU gel I was back to my tortoise like ascent pace. For this year, the race organisers issued everyone with a large plastic cup to protect the environment. Cups would not be provided from Lac Combal onwards. Tomo found a smaller collapsible rubber Raidlight mug in the shops and we replace our cups. It needed about 4 or more fills to be the equivalent of the race cup. But at least I could fit it in my pocket. On this race I developed a taste for Coke. I have never used this in previous events. But in the heat this was a very easy and tasty liquid to consume. Not sure to what extent the simple sugars in it played with the complex sugars in my gels but who cares. I craved it, I could drink it, I liked it.

Poles

Needed to replace my Leki Makalu ultralites after the Snowdon weekends but well worth it. Yes the race can be done without poles but 90+% of people using cannot be wrong in my book. They are almost a mandatory part of your kit..

Footcare

I replaced my Montrail Hardrocks with…………………….another pair of Montrail Hardrocks. Probably should have broken them in more. The 2008 version of new ones I used on one Snowdon weekend were wrecked, so I went for the old 2007 level. Socks – I replaced my trusty Thorlos with Drymax socks from the US..excellent. I used US purchased Hydropel cream on my feet and dusted shoes with talc. I used Montrail Endurosoles (mould in oven) and stuck the shiny Engo patches on 3 areas of potential wear. Result no feet blisters but the little toe on left foot and one near it experienced the worst blood blisters I have ever had. They appeared below the surface of nail and seem to cover the whole nail. I felt the little toe some hours into the race but blotted it out. Although I had spare shoes and socks in drop bags I decided not to play about with them. I also wore my trusted US Joe Dana trail gaiters, and in view of the very dusty conditions I believe these also helped my feet. But the battering of 43 hours worth of 'hooving' certainly made my toes look like bunches of bananas, and my feet were too swollen to get work shoes on for a week.

Pacing

As usual I spent too long on pace planning. I used the split times from the guys who did the race last year. I worked out where someone had gone quicker on one leg than another and created an ideal scenario based on cherry-picked actual times. Then I binned this. Instead I used the TMB site software to calculate my CP times based on a 42 hour target time. This gave me 4 hours flex. I plasticized some small copies. But Tomo Thompson (bless him) gave me a nice colour one which I attached on a piece of elastic to my back pack. Brilliant, I would be able to keep an eye on progress with a small tug. Well, best laid plans….by the time I had run out of the Chamonix crowd at race start it had disappeared. Luckily I knew the first half well and the key times for me were Les Chapieux and Courmayeur which I had memorised. Gill gave me one of my small copies at Courmayeur, but unfortunately one of the drawbacks of my racing contact lenses is that I can’t see a damn thing. Close up is useless, and distance is not that good either. But better than sweat and rain on glasses. The secret in this race is to get the balance between ‘starting slowly and then tapering’ with having to build a buffer to prevent chasing tight checkpoint times (even tighter this year as they had been shaved by at least 30 minutes). You need to get out of Chamonix as quickly as possible and not hang about at Check points.

Watch

I used my Suunto T6 again to measure the ascent/descent and log the whole adventure. It is very reassuring to know that the top of the climb is fast approaching when your eyes are covered in sweat and your forehead is dragging on the ground. I also attached my Nike to the same arm so I could have stopwatch function on. I tried to hide the second watch under my WHW Pirates buff, as in wearing 2 watches on one arm I looked a total twit!. On my right hand, together with the race tag, I wore my Garmin 101. This kept great pace time until the batteries ran out at Lac Combal and I put it on the ground to replace batteries later…yep…probably now strapped to some French runners arm!

MP3

Had bought a couple of 2 meg ones with specially selected music on. First one stopped after 6 hours. I couldn’t be bothered to use the other one. I found that connecting with nature was ok, and that I was able to sing loudly and off key without actually listening to anything. I certainly did not miss Jon Steele 'singing' (hah) Beatle songs – a direct contribution to my DNF in 2007 methinks.

Head Torches

You must have 2 torches with spare batteries as mandatory gear. I used my Petzl Myo XP again with great success. Except for the use of Lithium batteries that Jim Drummond had suggested to me. Yes they were lighter, but for some reason they did not seem to last as long as normal ones. After using for 9 hours on the first night the torch began flashing a discharge state an hour into the second. Another competitor I met up with – Steph (more later) – experienced the same problem. I had my Black Diamond 4 LED as backup.

Sun protection

I used 50 factor sunblock and needed it. I bought a pair of sunglasses - Jublo’s in 2006 and had never wore them. In fact I had never worn them until this race. But at Courmayeur, on went my Raidlight hat complete with flap and the glasses and shorts. I dipped my hat in every freezing cold stream I found from then on. Unfortunately the hat does look a bit strange. I had e-mail comments from 2 guys at work, one in the US and the other in Sweden…. – ‘Mike well done…..but you look a Dick in that hat.’ To which the other wag replied…..’It’s not the hat!’ Cheers guys.

Painkillers

I had discussed a strategy for using these with Gill before the race. I could go without until I felt I needed some or I could try a new proactive strategy – which I did. Essentially from 22.00hrs I alternated 2 Paracetemol or 2 Ibprufen every 4 hours. It seemed to work and I would adopt this strategy again.

Logistics

As ever the anal type, I had booked the BA flight and the Hotel L’Arve a few days after race registration in January. No problems with either and the Alpybus pick up and collect from Geneva to Chamonix was fine as well. Make sure you book a nice quiet hotel unlike Tomo Thompson who had major building works going on outside his.

Physical conditioning

I had spent about 6 months at our local Sports chiropractor – BodyActive with Bjorn. My pelvic imbalance had been rectified. My Glute and Piriformis issues had been moderated with acupuncture, stretching and foam roller and tennis ball rolling. In addition, in the Taper period I had 2 significant sports massages at Benfleet Physio, where Gemma made me nearly cry again…..Whereas last year a dog bite had induced knee bursitis and ITB issues. This year Gemma reported that I was injury free.

Races

Again advice from my 'specialist team' had been to seriously consider not running the West Highland Way race in June this year. But I love it I protested. Yes but you will get injured, it’s too near the TMB, you will screw your training whilst recovering etc. It really was a no brainer, if I was to get through the TMB I needed to focus solely on it. So I did not race this year. Instead I went up and supported Jon Steele in getting his Finishers Goblet for which I was really pleased.

Taper

Again, all the ultra running literature focuses on a good taper. I went for a 2 week taper reducing workload significantly in the first week and doing no training in the second. And I mean no training. No running, no single leg squats, using the lift at work instead of stairs. Only more stretching and foam rollering. Both Murdo and Andy had reviewed my training plan for the last 2 months and made comments/changes – reducing my training load. They were consistent in the not overdoing the taper bit.

Mental Outlook

It’s been said that with this race in particular that if you do not believe you will succeed you will not. How true. I re-read the lessons learned that Joe Mitchell (a US runner who finished in 2006) had written for me. And this was his number one point. Running long distances for a long time is as more mental than physical, probably 80/20 – 80% mental! Without the mindset fixed on finishing and channelling the pain you will not finish. I considered going to a hypnotist and bottled out. But then paid for the services of an Englishman who spent his formative years in Australia – Ernie Jewson (paid in tea and fruit cake). Ernie’s advice last year had been ‘ Mike if you are going to DNF this time make sure it’s a good one I want to see you in hospital.’ That was obviously not good enough advice. So this year it was distilled into:

1.There is no excuse not to complete
2. JFDI
3. there is no 3 unless you are hit by Space debris…..

Cheers Ernie. Interestingly enough the other advice I took on board was a text exchange between Dave Waterman (Subversive Runner) and Keith Hughes (Corned Beef) over Dave’s successful application for next years WHW race and his DNF in the 2008 West Highland Way race and was relayed in Dave’s blog:

CB: 'I'm in 4 nxt year-f**king madness! Shld be fun!
SR: 'Me too, mate. No more DNF!'
CB: 'Sorry you f**king softcock pommy blouse I can't even speak to any f**ker that knows the meaning of those letters. Remove them from the lexicon of your life or just f**k off and have a good cry in the bush. Love and kisses CB.x'

It certainly appears that Aussies have a very focussed approach to completing the task, not always successful when it comes to Cricket or Rugby, however, I digress.

Last year I had also had advice from Geri K a US ultra runner:

‘Believe you're a worthless piece of s*t and the only way to become a valid human being is to finish. Insecurity is a great motivator.’ This caused great furore at the time on the US Ultralist forum as people wrote in to describe how they approached the concept of Mental Toughness for ultra races. But this was a comment I could really identify with. And she tried to make me feel better by telling me that I had completed an Ultra just in getting to Courmayeur…but that did not help me.

For those of you fortunate not to have experienced a DNF, it is difficult to try and explain the actual feeling of worthlessness and disappointment this generates. To experience a second in the same race is devastating. You constantly try and rationalise the failure….but at the end it does not matter why the DNF, only that it happened and that it has to be expunged!

I read ‘The Monk who sold his Ferrari’ which has practical sports psychology application. It recommends the use of mantras for different situations. I used a remark that Graham Booty one of our Club runners and who had recently completed the Marathon de Sables had left for me on our Forum: ‘Smash it Mike!’ So every time I had to contend with a steep climb or descent I repeated this mantra through clenched teeth. Cheers Graham.

Chamonix

Arrived on the Thursday at about 14.00hrs. Met up with Tomo Thompson to register together. North Face had erected a huge marquee this year. We had a long wait to register and it was very hot. But it is a very slick process. First step show your passport. Next step check of Mandatory gear. Next step collect race packets. Next step have tag fitted to wrist. Then leave and have a look around the numerous endurance running stands – like kids in a sweet shop.

Friday morning I arranged to meet some of the other Brits and honorary Brits over for the race. Andy Cole and his wife Jan, Jim Drummond, Jez Bragg, Tomo Thompson and Borkur and his brother Birkur from Iceland. Everyone had a look of apprehension on their faces and I noticed that even Borkur did not look his normal happy, smiling and large self. After our Cokes we departed to try and get some sleep and eat and hydrate before the race.

The 2 drop bags you are given for Courmayeur and Champex-Lac were duly filled. And Gill took these to the drop off point whilst I lay in bed. Didn't manage to get any sleep this year but at least was rested. Stuffed my face with a lovely Goats cheese flan and a pizza slice at 14.00hrs. Hydrated on water.

A few of us had arranged to meet again at 17.30hrs at the ‘pointy finger man’ statue before getting into the crowd. Well Tomo and I were late. Jim said he would be late…and he was, but he arrived with us. Poor old Andy waited 20 minutes and went his own way.

Actual Race report (honestly…..)

Ok if you have got this far I apologise for being verbose. But it took me 3 years to complete this race and if you think I am going to write up a 1-pager forget it! But we have now reached race start. It is about 18.00hrs and we have joined the back of the crowd. This is where we said we did not want to join as we did not want to lose time getting out of Chamonix. But the crowd was huge, and even though Jim used his SAS tactics to elbow in, we were still not mid pack as intended. It was very very hot. The speeches in French went on and on. Topher Gaylord spoke in English, it sounded like last years speech. The helicopter flew over head filming us. Every time something was said in French…..thousands of poles were raised into the air and shaken. I suspect it was ‘please raise your poles in the air and shake them!’ Tomo is still trying to assemble one of his lovely new Leki Instructor poles to no avail. There are 2 German guys in front of us. I ask one of them if they know anything about poles. He grabs it from Tomo – pulls the top bit apart, reassembles it and locks its. The other German guy says ‘see if we all had those skills we would have won the war!’ brilliant a German with a good sense of humour. Bottom line, pole is fixed. It's very hot waiting for the start. Jim has sat down generating a muttering of invective from those behind him. The speeches drone on. Cheers every so often and more pole waving. Just after 18.30 we are off to loud Vangelis music. We start at a slow walk, almost tripping over empty plastic water bottles. Then we begin to run…then we stop…then we walk…this goes on for about 5 minutes.

Les Houches

Then we begin the run through the cheering crowds and off to Les Houches. Spot Gill and she takes a photo. The good news is that unlike Jon Steele last year, Tomo’s headtorch doesn’t fall from his backpack and force me to stop to pick it up with runners bouncing off me. This is a lovely bit of the TMB race, perhaps the only lovely bit. A gentle, undulating route to the first town. I have lost Jim and Tomo by this time, as well as my plasticised split times. We cross the river and I grab a cup of water. Well that's the easy bit over. Now it's time to use the poles.

La Charme (814m ascent)

The next part of the course is an 800m climb. The poles are tick tacking on the trail. I feel so much better than last year. But it is hot and I am perspiring heavily (I will save the sweating like a horse for later)! Last year I ran with Jon Steele and we met up with Jim Drummond on this climb. But this year there is no sign of Jim or Tomo. A short stop to put my Diad jacket on (I assumed it would get cooler the higher I went – wrong) and to put on my headtorch. The climb follows the ski lifts. At the top is a ridiculously steep trail descent. I ran this with Jon last year and paid dividends later. So this year I took the descent at a more moderate pace using my poles as brakes. Eventually you pop out on to a winding road. Below you can see the lights of St Gervais in the distance, and it looks a long way away. On the descent I pass a guy projectile vomiting…..must have counted at least 5 chunders. I consider stopping to give him a ginger chew but then begin to feel a bit queasy myself thanks to his retching so continue on.

St Gervais (993m descent)

The village is rocking…cow bells, loud shouts of 'Allez Allez' and small children holding their hands out for high fives which I duly give. Checkpoint strategy is to refill camelback with water. A lot of food on offer, cheese, salami, bread, fruit, soup. I grab a small piece of Banana and some raisins and leave. This I manage in about 5 minutes and I am off again. A bridge is assembled for the race to cross the street. Once over I am again running well.

Les Contamines (516m ascent)

This next climb goes through woods and you need to look out for tree roots and rocks. Again compared to last year I feel great. I am in a train of other runners now and the paths are too narrow to pass easily so I don't want to give cause for concern to anyone behind. So I stay well with the pack. Eventually, we enter the village. Quick refuel and off again.

La Balme (496m ascent)

This stage goes quickly ascending again. I know from La Balme, the next climb is the nasty one to Croix du Bonhomme. I grab a soup here and drink it walking to the CP exit. The guy there jabbers something in French and points at a bin. He wants the cup deposited before I move on. He holds the bin open while I slowly sip the cup empty and then I am off again.

Croix du Bonhomme (773m ascent)

This next climb for the last 2 years has been truly horrible. Jon Steele left me last year to slowly make my way up one step at a time, having difficulty locating the trail markers. Not this year! Took it like a bounding Gazelle....well ok a Tortoise on Speed! Again I managed to latch into a train of power hikers. The advice I had been given before the race, and that I had read about as well was …..whatever you do don't stop on a climb. Just increase the cadence to smaller steps and dig in. This was my major lesson learned from previous years. I was able to ascend all the climbs on the race without stopping, ok I slowed to allow others to pass or (and this was unheard of previously) actually pass others. But never did I stop on my poles or sit. On this climb I met a US runner - Jeffrey Rogers. I think he heard me swear in English and he said hello. He had run some of the big US ultras and was enjoying this one. I kept my eyes firmly fixed on his ankles in front of me. He was carrying 2 hand held water bottles and no poles – I was impressed. He stopped for a leak and I went on.

Les Chapieux (884m descent)

My Suunto watch crested me out at 2400m. As I knew from previously, the killer ascent soon becomes the killer descent. A technical descent in the dark. Luckily not as wet as previous years. But I still saw and heard people falling around me. Soon the lights of the town can be seen below and eventually I enter les Chapieux. In 2006 there was a rock and roll band playing, in 2007 they were close to closing the place. But I arrived now to a tent full of people eating and drinking. I grabbed some food to eat on the go and as I exited the tent heard a guy hurling…wonder if it was the same guy? I remembered a famous quote from 2 runners who DNF'd the Barkley. One gave up because he was vomiting. The other gave up because he saw his mate vomiting - classic.

Col de La Seigne (1001m ascent)

This next part spends a few miles ascending a tarmac road. I met Jeffrey again for a short while and he stopped for a leak and I left him. He either had a weak bladder or didn't like my company….yes dear reader I know what you are thinking…..last year I had found this part a struggle whereas in 2006 I had power hiked the road with a vengeance. This year I was back to 2006 fitness. Crossed the river and then the zig zag climb. Last year I had seen the dawn breaking and the sight of the Glacier is stunning. This year it remained dark with just the dust in my headtorch beam. At the summit the volunteers have a small tent set up – no food or water. I don't stop whilst many others do, and I begin to jog the downhill track.

Lac Combal (546m descent)

Last year I remember a steep descent into a refuge that was used for a checkpoint. This year a large tent is set up on the plain. I am feeling good. Spend a penny in the portaloo (yes only a penny) and take off jacket and put away headtorch. In the meantime manage to lose my Garmin 101 by leaving it on the ground. Quick refuel and off jogging along to the next climb. Pass a group of 3 hikers with humungous packs on….want to say have you heard about fast packing but the language skills not there…I suppose I could shout it louder….

Arete Mont Favre (465m ascent)

Last year I died here…died. I had stopped here to take off my jacket, the sun was hot as hell. Every step up was a pain. I even thought I was going to be overtaken by 2 guys bringing their mountain bikes up behind me. But not this year. The switch backs were fine, no problems. I should have put on my Raidlight floppy hat here but didn't, luckily the sun was not yet at its highest.

Col Checrouit (507m descent)

On the descent to Courmayeur I passed a UK runner who asked if I had any water. He had filled his camelback with electrolyte and could no longer stomach it. I have him a few drags on mine and went on. Last year I accused Jon Steele of hallucinating when he told me he had seen a snake here. That was until watching the race DVD which showed a belly dancer and the large snake. This year the place was far more subdued. I grabbed a coke. Courmayeur was not far now so I didn't need to refuel the camelback. The descent to Courmayeur from now is terrible. Really steep and dusty trails. I met a woman last year walking backwards down the trail. I knew how she felt. I had decided not to run the descent, but there are sections where it is almost impossible not to. So the secret is to try and flow and not let the quads act as brakes too much.

Courmayeur (763m descent)

My nemesis. Never having been past this place previously, my strategy was not to get sucked into it. I had allowed 20 minutes in my plan…but I stayed 50 minutes. Apart from the McDonalds Milk shakes I start thinking about after a few hours of running, I entered Courmayeur wanting orange juice. I had phoned Gill earlier whilst she was on the bus to try and get me some. She did – 2 small glass bottles of nectar. She then went and got another 3 bottles to fill a small container I would now carry on the side of my Kimm sack. I changed top, and into shorts and had some soup before exiting and dropping off the drop bag. Gill walked with me across the road into the Town whilst I ate a banana. We then said our goodbyes and I followed behind another 3 guys. It was now beginning to get very hot. I stopped to soak my hat in a water trough.

Refuge Bertone (814m ascent)

I had been told by others about this climb up to the refuge, but I was still unprepared as to just how horrible it was. Now I was sweating like a horse up its switchbacks. Jim Drummond had told me – don't worry it will always get cooler as you get to the top. It didn't. The sweat was dropping all around me. But again I did not stop. Eventually I could see the refuge above me – thank God. I sat down on a bench. Refilled my camelback and drunk yet more coke. I had been popping a SUCCEED capsule and taking a Gel as regularly to the hour as I could given having to have 2 hands on poles and not wanting to stop. I was now well into unknown territory and without my pace time/checkpoint time calculations. From now I was having to try and converse with people at checkpoints – 'what is the next checkpoint? Up or down? how long?……' But it worked….luckily.

Arnuva (480m ascent/701m descent)

I can remember the up and down to Arnuva as a succession of stopping as we crossed small streams to soak my hat. And the icy expletives as the water hit my neck. Whilst I had put sunscreen on at Courmayeur and sunglasses I could feel and see my lovely white skin beginning to scorch. But the scenery was stunning and I ran as lead of a pack of runners into the applause of the Arnuva tent. Sat down again here. Refilled camelback. Had a few pieces of banana and chocolate squares and left.

Grand Col Ferret (768m ascent)

What a horrible climb this was. Not many people in front or behind me but just plodding up a large and long climb. Some cool breezes towards the top. I was trying to pop a couple of Paracetamol out of their foil when an English woman started to pass me. It was Steph Greenwood. For most of the race from now on Steph would be a constant companion. She would power off up the climbs and I would meet her again on the descents. It transpired that my wife and I had met Steph and her friend last year on the way back to Geneva in the Alpybus. She had done the shorter CCC race which basically covers the course we were now on from Courmayeur to Champex and on to Chamonix. She had given my wife the e-mail for Manchester YMCA harriers so that our daughter who is at Manchester Uni could join. What a small world.

La Fouly (974m descent)

En route to La Fouly I use a proper sit down toilet at La Peule – a very apt name as I warn Steph to vacate the area immediately. We have some water here supplied by a lady and young lad with a glass jug and large bucket. But it is surprisingly refreshing. I can hear Marmots squeaking loudly around the valley. Murdo had sent me an e-mail before the race saying that he was going to arrange a surprise for Jez and I in Switzerland. The vision of woad painted bare buttock waving Scotsmen passed before my eyes…and quickly went on passing. To be fair I had forgotten all about the promise as the race had dragged on. As we came into La Fouly a young boy (Jamie) ran up to me. I thought he was a local. He looked at my race name and said 'Michael Mason…Michael Mason..' in an increasingly loud and agitated manner. 'Do you know Murdo?' Bloody hell I thought, is Murdo known to everyone in the civilized world? He said in English with a French accent…'we are friends of Murdo and have been asked to look out for you.' At that he ran back to a restaurant and moments later his mother Bev emerged riding Jamie's bike. She told me that Murdo had asked her to look out for me and she guided me to the CP. Fantastic….cheered me up no end. At this CP, Steph and I sat for a while. Steph was still not eating but I managed a soup.

Praz de Fort (509m descent)

I can remember looping around this village. Steph thought we were lost and had been the same way before. I can remember some gardens with assorted gnomes. I can’t remember much else before the start of the next climb.

Champex-Lac (461m ascent)

The route after this followed the river before ascending again through a forest trail. We stopped to put our head torches on and at this stage my Lithium batteries (thanks Jim) seemed to be pegging out as the Myo XP was beginning to flash. I planned to change at Champex. The next climb through forest was interesting. On the right hand side of the narrow trail we were on there appeared to be a ravine. Jon Steele had mentioned this to me before as he had been very sleepy at this stage last year and Jim Drummond had helped him round this section. Not a good place to fall asleep on one’s feet that's for sure.

The Champex CP was a large marquee which seemed to be filled to overflowing. We sat down at a table after picking up our drop bags. My mind was not focusing well at this stage and we both seemed not to want to do anything. Eventually I sorted through my drop bag. Actually dumping stuff from my pack into it – MP3 player and waterproof gloves. I replaced my gels and SUCCEED buffers. I had another soup, some coke and a coffee but couldn't eat anything solid. Steph looked and was very tired at this stage. I could see her eyes closing. But eventually we agreed to get on.

Bovine (657m ascent)

We passed the small lake that Champex is named after and turned from the road into a forest trail. There were a few people in front, but none behind and the trail was like an eerie tunnel lit up by our head torches. Steph was walking really slowly now and her eyes were closing. I was getting concerned. Should she go back to Champex? No she said I want to sit down and sleep for a while. We found a suitable rock and in the best spirit of Mason chivalry I left her in the middle of nowhere! I have to say I did feel bad about leaving Steph, but I knew she could get back to Champex if she needed and that the sleep might buck her up. I followed a group of 3 French guys through the forest which was by now beginning to climb steeply. And then out of the blue the path became a mass of large boulder slabs. I had heard about Bovine before, but was in my current state entirely unprepared for the horror that was to come.

There did not seem to be a discernible path through the rocks and roots. Thank God it wasn't raining. I tucked in behind a French guy who seemed to know the way and I could make out the trail markers hanging from branches in the distance. We crossed a small river and gradually topped. But the clambering, stretching and almost scrambling at times over large rocks here was very disconcerting. The next part of the climb was along an escarpment and almost 'pleasant.' At the CP -.fantastic ..less than a minute behind me – Steph. She had recovered. She said she had only closed her eyes for 10 minutes but had felt much better and powered away again. We set off again….'don't wait for me Steph' I said…'I won't' was the reply as she left me.

Trient (790m descent)

I didn't enjoy the descent to Trient. Not sure I had enjoyed anything so far apart from the run into Les Houches. This was a nasty technical descent made only marginally better by the fact that it was not wet and raining. I managed to almost slip off a small rock that rolled back into my shin – the cut and bruise still glistens and throbs as I type. I couldn't even laugh when I heard someone do the same thing a few minutes later. Nor could I string the mouthful of obscenities that would normally have emerged from my mouth. I just soldiered on, inwardly moaning. We eventually came up to a road and were told 1/2 km – yea right. This must have been the longest ½ kilometre known to man. At the Trient CP Steph had believed her husband and some other Manchester Harriers would meet her. And they did. It was 04.31 but they were all there. I had some more soup and coke and we hung around for about 25 minutes and pushed on again.

Catogne (778m ascent)

Have I mentioned horrible climbs? Well add another one to the list. I don't know if it was because I was tired or bonking or both but I really struggled here. 'Don't wait for me Steph…' ' I won't ..' and she was off. But I was finding this a really difficult step after step climb around a series of switchbacks. I felt like stopping but I didn't. I popped a Gu gel and within 5 minutes I felt better.

Vallorcine (810m descent)

The descent to Vallorcine was not too bad – it just seemed too long. At Vallorcine Steph's husband and friends were waiting for her again. As the next climb was reputed to be tough we rested here for probably longer than we wanted, but in hindsight as long as we needed. I managed to get some more solid food inside me.

The route out passed a fast flowing river. We were approached by a cameraman with the stuffed Marmot microphone attached. He asked Steph how she was feeling but she deferred to me. I mentioned that this was my third attempt and I wanted to finish. I could feel a 'Hamilton' moment coming on. This is an experience named after Mark Hamilton a competitor in the 2006 West Highland Way race who broke his leg in the early stages, but who gallantly soldiered on. He just happened to have a 50 man film crew with him to film and edit a DVD showing the ardours of his struggle. Yes I was beginning to smell the grease paint, taste the G&T's and start calling everyone luvvy. Until the realisation that I had a race to finish. So we took leave of the potential documentary and subsequent royalties and struggled on. Before the climb we were ushered across the road by someone who saw my Union Jack buff and started singing the American national anthem. Again I was too tired to put him straight. And then I saw the climb.

Col des Montets (700m ascent)

What sick and twisted minds had conspired to add this to last years route? In front of me I could see a huge chunk of mountain with what can only be described as rows of ants ascending in zig zags. Unbelievable! Well the secret here was to a) keep taking small steps and keep moving forward and b) don't look up – just keep eyes fixed on the next foot fall. I did both. It was now getting hotter and the sweat was pouring off me. But eventually I got to the top of the climb. Wrong! What sick and twisted mind now puts a crossing over rock slabs and the sight of another summit to come? The novelty was fast waning by now. I experienced a surreal moment as I passed a number of hikers photographing a Goat standing minding it's own business on a rock. Eventually I reached a checkpoint and my race number was wanded. I asked for some water and was given a small half cup to fill my water bottle. I had thought this was supposed to be a water stop and was now concerned that my camelback may be getting near empty.

La Tete aux Vents (713m ascent)

And so I left mumbling to begin yet another climb to La Tete aux Vents. I had thought there was only one climb to go, but there were two. And without my pace chart had not been able to check. But in the distance I could see another higher summit to come. As I couldn't get my leggings over my shoes and I didn't want to take my shoes off I still had the leggings on. I was hot. It had been cool in the early morning and looked as if it might remain overcast and cool. But it had now warmed up a lot. An American using a wooden stick as a pole and limping said 'aren't you a tad warm in those pants?' I replied ‘a bit more than a tad mate….' He was concerned that he might not get down the climb in time with his bad leg. I left him quickly. At the summit Steph had arrived a minute before me and was sitting drinking. I joined her and had some more coke and filled my camelback. We now had the final descent into Chamonix to complete and about 4 hours to do it. We left and started the final descent.

La Flegere (317m descent) and Chamonix (842m descent)

It was a wicked descent on tired quads. Steph's feet were really hurting by now. For some reason I began to get a second wind. Probably because I wanted to try and claw back some time. I said to Steph that I was going to try and run some of this downhill. She said she would walk and we would see each other at the end or I would contact her through her Club, and we parted. I began to jog gently. I popped a couple of Ibprufen and began to run. Passed about 10 people walking slowly. In front I could see a guy jogging. He heard me coming and started running faster.

And so began the chase. For what seemed ages but was really only about 20 minutes we continued a fast descent. It reminded me of the Snowdon training descents, but without the rain and the mist and the sheep. I got to his side. He spoke English. I asked if he knew who had won. He said a young Spanish guy not carrying a pack and pointed to my backpack. We were still running fast overtaking people. I joked with him that I might rest a bit but if I did he should remember that just as he was about to cross the finish line I would run past him – he laughed…..and sped up. We ran down the road past the registration tent and turned right into the drag that would take us to the Finish. Two guys ahead sped up when they saw us and we passed them. As we came into the Finish filter lanes I could see Gill. She fumbled to get her camera out but I passed her as Tomo managed a snap though. And into the final stretch. The other runner (Mike Rey) had gone on. I could see 2 guys walking ahead of me as the camera man was about to take their photo. What could I do, yep I cut across in front of them whooping and finished. I could see the cameraman smiling. A race official came over and cut my tag off my hand and the transponder from the Race number. She gave me my 10 euros deposit back. Wasn't it 50 euros I quipped? She frowned and then realized…’Engleesh humour….

) I was directed to my Finishers jacket. A red Gilet in a plastic bag – the culmination of 3 years of training and ‘probably the most expensive Gilet in the world.’

Bev and Jamie were at the finish. They had come back from La Fouly at Murdo's command to make sure 'he actually finishes!' Also at the end were Borkur and his friends, family and half of Iceland. Andy and Jan Cole, Mark Barnes and Liz and Tomo and Gill. Lots of laughing and photos followed. We would all meet again later that evening with Jez at Borkur's bash. For now it was a stroll back with Gill to the hotel. I said hi to Steph as she walked back past the ‘Cheese shop’ and Gill bought me the celebration furry Chamonix Marmot that now adorns our mantelpiece and which my dog eyes menacingly.

Post Race Blues

Yes the blisters have receded and my feet are no longer swollen. But strangely the feeling of euphoria I had expected at race finish didn't happen then, and has not happened now. I spent yesterday - one week later…looking at my watch and trying to remember where I was at that time a week ago. I swore to myself during the race that I would never do this one again and my plans for some of the US 100's were mentally torn up. But as I drank my first beer for 6 months with Gill after the race I was already changing my mind. It's really amazing how fickle one can be.

I have expunged the DNF from my life. But I still remember how bad it/they feel. It is the taking part and finishing that is important. Time is secondary. But even now I am sadly working out in my mind where I could have shaved some time off - I am within 5 minutes of Jornet's (the Winners) finishing time at the moment!.

Ernie had sent me a text at end of last year essentially saying – 'please get over Mont Bonk (as he called it) and start living your life again.' Well I have begun that process.

Life did effectively end for me in August 2006. I feel happy to have finished now but there still exists a hollow to be filled, and I am not sure with what. I have promised Gill that I will not attempt the TMB again in 2009. There is always 2010 however. I also have 3 years of DIY to sort out around the house that I am reminded of.

Thanks must be extended to my 'expert team' for their advice and patience. Andy Dubois summed it up nicely:

I'm only helping you so you can finish this bloody thing and quit nagging me. I figure unless you finish I will have some mad Englishman emailing me for the rest of my days on advice on how to finish it next year, and next year and next year. ( Fast forward to 2020 - "Andy just need some more advice I think after 15 years I'm finally going to crack it") This is purely for my benefit and not for any altruistic intentions - I couldn't handle another 15 years of giving advice to a pom.

Kindest regards Andy

Well that sums it up - Thanks all…………………

Mike Mason
Le Gilet Rouge 2008

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'sometimes I am running so fast it appears that rocks and trees are standing still......' 'I may be slow, but you are ugly and I can train harder.' '90% is mental, the other half is physical'it's going to get a lot worse, before it gets worse'.