Anna and I passed another important milestone in our training journey for the GHT. Five months ago we were looking for new ways to train and change our routine. Something different from the 30-60 km Trail that we do regularly and the 250km multi-day races.

We do not like non-stop races mainly because that implies running many hours in the dark without being able to enjoy the scenery that we are looking for. We also miss the friendly atmosphere that we have on the bivouac of multi-day races. That also means deep fatigue and long recovery which are an issue when we try to stay in top shape in multi-sports all year round. Five months ago I decided to participate to two non-stop races anyway, both among the toughest in their kind to get out of my comfort zone and to test myself.

The first one was the Spine Challenger, a 174km winter race in UK that I won and the second one was the Ultra Trail Mt Fuji (UTMF), even less my type of race but I finished anyway in a descent time. Anna had the same approach in participating to the STY (non-stop 84.7km) and finished 7th women out of 90.

In all these races we have ups and downs, and the Spine and UTMF were no exceptions. I had some stomach problem at the UTMF, I could not drink and eat as much as I should have and almost retire half way as I felt so weak that I could barely walk. I realized at this point that we took a risk in doing these “out of comfort races”, especially mentally because failing would have put serious doubts in our minds in our ability to succeed the GHT. In these challenges, mental is everything, so if we fail 160km, how could we do 10 times more? Yes, that’s the funny things about the UTMF, that’s exactly 10% of the GHT both in term of distance and elevation gain.

Fortunately we both succeeded. Now we have a few weeks to recover and then we will resume the intense training for another 8 weeks and rest before leaving for the Ultimate Trail. In the meantime we have tons of things to do on the logistics.

These 2 races gave us another opportunity to test the new kit and once again we have been very pleased with the results.

Philippe.

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Looking back, seeing the video, I realized afterwards that I was more or less a zombie all through but I did finish and got very emotional about the whole thing. Overcoming an imagined barrier and come out on the other side – proud and hungry for more.

Hungry for more = I have registered for STY: an 85km non-stop race in Japan with 4700 meters elevation gain. “What was I thinking?!” Ok. Cope with it. Start training. The last months I tried to find time to run up stairs, hills, back and forth, trying to increase the muscles mass in my legs to bear the tough elevation gain in the race. Unfortunately I had very much work so it was not easy getting the schedule together… I also keep on climbing indoors to not loose my arm muscles completely so finally I end up having only 1 or at most 2 real rest days per week.

Last weekend was the Big Test to see if I had trained enough and I succeeded in beating my old elevation gain record with 1000m! A trail running of total 51km and 3650m positive/negative elevation gain. The training payed off.

Now – the race in Japan is only training for… more than 400km amongst the highest mountains in the world this autumn… “What was I thinking?!”

Kensho

(The vision of oneself)

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You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

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I stayed there for ten days and I immediately felt I have to go back. Only ten days! I could climb new routes every day here for years.

During the trip I focused on doing new routes, on-sighting multiple routes every day. To get into the style of the steep and physical routes of Kalymnos, I started out easy for the first two climbing days. On the third climbing day we went up to the huge cave called Grande Grotta – my main interest for this trip. I got a tip from a friend to try Priapos, a 7c that is 38m long with huge tufas, a few hard parts, but with multiple no-hands-rests. That suited me well since my training for this trip was mostly in the bouldering gym.

After almost an hour of climbing I finished the long route, on-sight, placing 20 quick draws, fighting like a mad woman for the last three metres due to the rope being stuck behind a tufa. Couldn’t pull that rope! I clinched to a small tufa with my calfs since my arms just couldn’t take it anymore. I was sure I would fall, just there, with the anchor only three metres above me… The whole cave could hear me screaming “I am screwed, so screwed!”

All climbers on the ground starting screaming and cheering  me on and they were all involved in my fight. You could just feel the positive energy from all of them! I felt like I pulled a truck up the cliff with the rope drag, but managed in some way to finish off. Personal best! So happy

During the trip I had a great feeling on the cliff, climbing better than I have in a very long time. Look what some pure motivation can do!

My on-sight tick list:
Priapos 7c
Lucky Luka 7b
Sevasti 7b
Zorba le Gros 7b
Numerous 7a/7a+

Kit list:
BIOFLEX® pack 50+10
Mount Asgard Hybrid II jacket
Smoulder half-zip pullover
Pitzal Pant
Prognosis approach shoe

Visit Berghaus Online Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, men’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.

You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Choose from a range of cutting edge waterproof jackets, fleeces, trousers & more from Berghaus.

Ingela and I started to plan this marathon a year ago. We have already experienced so much together: first boyfriends, gymnastics, volleyball, party period, “get-out-from-our-little-town-and-study-in big-town” period, moving to Stockholm, swapping a lazy lifestyle for a sporty one, quit smoking, becoming an adult. You name it. But we’ve never really done any sports together since I’ve became a climber and she a cyclist.

A few years we both started to appreciate running in nature, me at the French Riviera and she in Sweden, we therefore thought our friendship was hopefully mature enough to be able to suffer a mountain marathon together?

Off we went to Åre with three other women traveling by train for seven hours north-west of Stockholm, just by the border to Norway.

The morning started out great with around 10°C and cloudy sky. We had been warned that the trail was very wet and muddy. Can’t be worse than my rain forest experience in Guadeloupe I thought. It was. Much worse. Ingela ran easily in the mud while I danced around like if I was on ice. “I forgot you are not used to this terrain” she said with a smile…

8km after the start we ran downhill and traversed multiple puddles of mud when I suddenly sank down to the thigh folding the other leg to get support and smacked it into a sharp stone. I felt a hot flash through the whole leg and I felt dizzy. The pain was really strong. Ingela was in front running great and fast and didn’t realise I was nowhere behind her. I succeeded in taking some steps and after a while I could start limping down the hill where Ingela was waiting for me. I was bad…

We decided to go to the first food and water station where I could have a doctor take a look at my knee. Well – the doctor was busy and I thought we should go ahead instead of wasting time. I asked Ingela if she was ready to walk a big part of the lasting 30 km or if she – since she was in great shape – preferred to try to get a good time. “If we need to walk the whole resting part I prefer to finish it side by side with you”, she said. True friend.

After 7 hours of  pain and swearing, Ingela telling me to shut up and accept the fact that I was injured and keep on going, my mood changing to actually appreciate the scenery and company despite the pain, gazing at the vast nature, we ran the last 3km ending hand in hand over finishing line. 43 km and 1800 m elevation gain.

Done that, got the t-shirt and loved doing it with a good friend.

Berghaus Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, women’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.
You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

After 44 km ran during the week, Anna and I made a Trail/Trekking this weekend aroundSaint Etienne-de-Tinée. We wanted to go at a higher altitude than usual, even though in the Mercantour that means running on tons of rocks. We chose the Mont Tenibre (3031 m) which is one of the few 3000 meters peaks of the Alpes Maritimes. It is also a good training because the Trail started of by a straight 2000 meters of elevation gain in just 11 km.

Climbing toward Tenibre, Rabuons lake behind (© Philippe Gatta)

After the Mont Tenibre, we made a loop to the Breche Borgonio (2904 m) and continued to the Lake of Vens, then we climbed the Crete des Babarottes before coming back to Saint Etienne-de-Tinée.

Anna in the first forest toward Rabuons lake (© Philippe Gatta)

Overall this Trail is technical, very rocky and because of the altitude and numerous scree is more a trekking than a trail running, so be prepared. It is very scenic though as it crosses 15 lakes, including Rabuons and Vens which are some of the nicest lakes in the Mercantour.

Philippe on the Chemin de l’Energie (© Anna Gatta)

Distance: 28 km, ascent: 2600 m / descent: 2600 m.

Anna on the Chemin de l’Energie (© Philippe Gatta)

GPS Track recorded with Suunto Ambit: GPS Track

Philippe with Tenibre in the background (© Anna Gatta)

Description: start at Saint Etienne-de-Tinée and climb to the Refuge and Lake of Rabuons (100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105). Continue to the top of Mont tenibre (106, 107). Descend on Southwest face toward the Lake Des Varicles and at around 2500 m, turn right toward the Lake de Tenibre (very rocky, no clear trail). Climb up to the Breche Borgonio (scree) and then descend to the Lake and Refuge of Vens (25). Continue to the lowest lake (27, 26) and then climb up to the Crete des Babarottes. Descend on the other side, to Clai Haute (113, 114). Turn left and soon take a small trail in the forest to the Fournels (109). A steep descent leads back to Saint Etienne-de-Tinée (108, 100).

Anna running toward the Lacs de Vens (© Philippe Gatta)

Berghaus Store

For outdoor clothing from Berghaus including men’s waterproof jackets, women’s rucksacks and more then please visit our online store.
You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

We ran together and won the team category in 1h09m06s.

Anna and I have been training on the Cime de la Palu for many years.

The Race was fun and very well organized. This race is part of a larger effort to create a Trail running resort in Saint Martin-Vésubie and the National Park of Mercantour.

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You can find a wide range of gear for climbing, hill walking, mountain biking and other activities.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Philippe built some of the boulder problems and acted as photographer when I was climbing.

The competition was very popular and the rainy weekend meant a lot of people came. The kids and younger teenagers competed during the day and then the adults from 6pm with the finals ending almost at midnight. There was a DJ boosting the place and extra lights with a cool light show during the finals. Berghaus also sponsored a Raffle with a sleeping bag and t-shirt.

Even though I have just started to boulder train again I made it to finals, but due to my foot being a little nasty after Atacama, I gave away my spot and took over being photographer from Philippe.

Check out all our photos here!!

The Eastern has been full of sport and Philippe and I did a trail that we often do around the “Baou de St Jeannet”, only 20 minutes drive from home. Philippe, who is already training for the next desert race in Gobi, ran up to St Jeannet, made the 15 km trail with me, then ran back home – a total of 37 km with 1100m of elevation gain in 3 hours 45 minutes. I made my 15 km/715m elevation gain in 1 hour 55 minutes. It felt great to run again!

The ”Baou de St Jeannet” is a magnificent little mountain with an old stone built village lying at its base. We have three trail rounds: 9, 15 and 24km that goes up on the west side of the mountain and down  the east side. Then we have different options to make longer behind on the plateau.

In climbing we mostly train indoors now to get back in shape and get that skin back on the fingers! It is obvious that since November my arm muscles slipped down to the legs… Summer goal is to crank some 8a. Gotta train! Get out there!

We started by the sea in Théoule-Sur-Mer and made a loop around Pic d’Aurelle, Pic de l’Ours, lac de l’Ecureuil, Col du baladou, Les Suivières and Les Grosses Grues. As often in Esterel we got lost a few times, adding 4 km to the initial plan but enjoyed the trail anyway.

Distance: 38 km, ascent: 1550 m / descent: 1550 m.

Description: start Théoule-Sur-Mer, run along the beach toward the Pointe de l’Aiguille, climb on the Trail to the top (156m) and follow the trail going to Notre Dame d’Afrique, continue to the Col de Théoule, Col du Trayas, Col Notre Dame, Ravin de Cazal de Boeuf. Turn around Pic d’Aurelle, Col des Lenstiques, climb to Pic de l’Ours. Descend to Lake Ecureuil, then follow the GR 51 to Col du Baladou and follow the trail to Baisse de Mathieu, Col des Suvières, Baisse Violette, Baisse des Pourraques, Col des Trois Fermes, Col de la Cadière, Col du Trayas and back to Théoule.

GPS Route: download GPX route