I have to begin by saying this is my new favourite race. (and not just because this is the only trail race I didn’t earn a new scar from!) This is an extremely well organized event at an absolutely amazing venue. Likely unknown or unheard of to most of us..since when you think Mont Tremblant you likely think only of snow and skiing. This three days of adventure….kayaking on Friday, Running on Saturday and Mountain Biking on Sunday over the weekend of June 26, 2010 this year. So, for the adventurous (or crazy!), you can compete in all three events as a solo participant or as a team. Alternatively, you can compete only in the running or mountain bike races, both of which have varying distances to choose from. (30 or 60 miles mountain biking, 13km, 21km, 35km or 56km trail running) I completed in the 21km trail run.
Race day, the weather was perfect. A little cool in the morning, but bright, blue, clear skies. The race starts in the centre of the village, Place des Voyageurs. A very, short walk from any of the hotels available to stay at Mont Tremblant. So, for anyone who like me wants every last minute of sleep or pre-race preparation, the convenience of the start location in comparison to the available lodgings can’t be beat. The pre-race briefing started in French (naturally it would since we were in Quebec!), so at first I was a little worried that the French version was all we would get and since my French language skills are a little rusty all I got out of it was that there were different coloured streamers marking each course, but didn’t figure out which were the ones I should follow. Oh oh. However, the race director, Dan Des Rosiers did not disappoint us Anglophones. He did an excellent job recounting all the race details in English too. For next year, one of my goals is to brush up on my French skills so I can understand the both race briefings. I don’t want to miss anything!
So, the race begins in the square with a short climb through the village and out into the mountains. Yes, I said mountains. If you want to check out the elevation gains and losses, check out the course maps or descriptions posted on http://www.ultimatexc.com/ In the 21K race, it’s uphill, uphill and then uphill some more. The crest of the mountain and aid station #3 is at 16kms. So, if you do the math…how much uphill versus downhill in a 21km race if the point when you peak is 16kms? A challenging, but exhilarating climb. The race is a great mixture of trail running through scenic forestry, then emerging out of the woods to amazing vistas. I’m sure my race time suffered since I stopped to enjoy the truly amazing scenery from the mountain tops. (Ok, so that’s my story about my race time anyway and I am sticking to it!) So, after peaking the mountain, the course crisscrosses down the skill hills towards the village. How amazing was it to come out of the woods and see the village with all the cheering spectators waiting to inspire and motivate me. The final stretch of the race is through the village which was great. No matter how tired you are, you just can’t walk with hundreds of spectators cheering you on. Another bonus, at the finish is the lake…very handy for a cool, soothing place to dip your tired, aching feet.
The organization, the venue, the whole experience. No wonder this is my new favourite race. I discovered that the Dan, race coordinator also has other racing series in Quebec. So, check out these websites for information. http://www.raquettequebec.com or http://www.coursesenforet.com/ I understand from Dan that for next year the Ultimate XC plans to offer other racing options such as relay teams. Now, even more I can’t wait for next year and all the exciting details.
