UTMB Nice Training: Bloc-choc

This weekend, an ‘Intensive Block’ session with even more distance.

On the programme:
– Day 1: 4 hours 35 minutes and 1,200 metres of elevation gain
– Day 2: 6 hours 35 minutes and 1,600 metres of elevation gain

Mont-Dore with a partner

For this first session, I was joined by a friend. We’ve already done a few trail runs together. She’s a very strong runner, so she’ll push me a bit.

At 7 am, we’re at the foot of Mont-Dore, on the Passage de Plum side, as I usually do. I like to start with a gentle slope – 10.6 per cent – to warm up.
Right from the start, the pace was faster than usual. I adapted, and quite quickly we realised it was a bit too much. Naturally, we slowed down. That said, it was still faster than I’m used to, and this was confirmed when we reached the summit: under an hour, whereas I usually take 1 hour 10 minutes.

It’s not very warm. We begin the descent on the Corniche side. On this slope, there are lots of steps and technical sections. So our pace slows down, especially as we’re not very comfortable descending on this red earth.

A quick break at the car park, and off we go again! As it went so well last week, I set off at a good pace… I think I got a bit carried away. On this section, the gradient is over 18 per cent. The succession of steps brings me back down to earth. Despite everything, I push on with my legs. Three-quarters of the way down, I’m getting tired. She overtakes me; I settle into her pace, and she carries me along. It’s so enjoyable to push yourself, even if you can’t wait to get there!

A quick break at the summit, but it’s short-lived as we’re in the clouds. Visibility is zero and it’s cold. The first part of the descent is technical again, but it’s fine. I suppose we’re getting used to it. The second part is fast-paced, and here we’re going down much faster than I’m used to. That’s a very good thing. It’s then that I really realise that, under normal circumstances, I just let myself go without pushing too hard.

Total time: 3 hours 35 minutes. I’m an hour short of my target, but I’m absolutely knackered. I decide not to push any further: firstly because otherwise I’ll end up falling… And tomorrow, I’ll do it all again for a longer session.

Loop: Pic aux Chèvres – Plum – Mont-Dore

I set off on a loop that includes a section I’m not familiar with. I quite like not knowing my route in advance, even though it makes it harder to assess how effective the session has been.

As someone who likes to start on a relatively gentle slope to give myself time to warm up, I’m in for a treat… The first two kilometres are on a slope of nearly 25 per cent, which is about 450 metres of elevation gain. It’s not far off rock climbing – I love this section!

After that, the slopes are much gentler, but we’re still on this red earth, worn smooth by the passage of countless walkers. This makes the ground particularly slippery, and I’m not very confident on this sort of terrain. It doesn’t matter: I carry on at my own pace and make the most of the views unfolding before me.

As I pass by, I admire Mont-Dore, its summit shrouded in clouds – where I’ll be a little later on.

After crossing the ridges, past the wind turbines, I head down towards the town of Plum. I’ve made a mistake on the route: I end up on the outskirts of the town. This means I’ll have a slightly longer stretch on flat ground.

Then I follow the coast until I reach the start of the Mont-Dore trail, on the cliff-top side. I allow myself a break, as I know what lies ahead. The day before, I set off too quickly, so there’s no question of making the same mistake again.

Right, here goes. I’m starting to feel tired, so I’m trying to find the right pace. I’m more at an active walking pace, but it’s working. As I climb, I can see the wind turbines in the distance. It makes me realise how far I’ve come and gives me a boost.

As I reach the edge of the summit, the air is more humid and cooler: it’s very pleasant. This time, I don’t go all the way to the summit antennas; I turn off before that.

I get through the first technical section, then the rest, which is more runnable. On this stretch, where yesterday the pace was brisk, I’m now in active hiking mode. I’m not really running anymore. I carry on like this right to the finish.