Marathon du Mont Blanc. Start went very well. We got good spots in the start block right behind the elite runners and could start running fast and relaxed early on. First 3k in about 4:30 average pace. Ran together with Amy more or less the whole race up to 32k where I started to have problems with cramping quads and was forced to slow down. We ran side by side the first stretch to Vallorcine at 18k enjoying every bit of the course until the long climb. Amy pushed hard the whole climb but I stayed right behind her almost the whole way. Just before the top I stopped at the aid station when Amy continued and suddenly I was half a minute behind her. Caught her again in the long technical descent and was about a minute ahead of her in the aid station in Le Tour at 28k. But it took ages to fill my bottles and suddenly Amy caught me up again. Ran together with her to Le Tre Champs at 32k but had killed my quads in the long descent down to Le Tour and when we approached the next steep climb my quads started to cramp immediately. I could barely run anymore after that and had enormous problems to take myself to the finish. It was absolutely horrible to fight against my cramping quads but still kind of proud to reach the finish line. Obviously disappointed to lose so much at the end but still happy to do a sub 6h time. I did 5:57 and Amy 5:47. So I lost about 10min on the last 10k. Amy was 20th and I was 23rd. Not too shabby in such strong start field! We even managed to leave some elite girls behind us! I also failed in my nutrition plan and forgot to take my third gel at the top of Possettes. I only had a piece of banana which clearly wasn't enough. Also I should have started with salts much earlier since it was such a hot day.
Official splits:
Argentiere 9k 50:38
Tre Le Champ 13,3k 1:17
Vallorcine 17,7k 1:39
Col des Possettes 22,3k 2:29
Le Tour 28k 3:22
Le Tre Champ 31,3k 3:37
Flegere 37,5k 5:02
Planpraz 43,5k 5:57
Results:
https://mbm.livetrail.net/classement.php?course=42...Splits:
https://mbm.livetrail.net/coureur.php?rech=422