Enjoy the spectacular view of the European Alps! HOUYHNHNM RUNNING CLUB's ♡'s UTMB entry.

The UTMB is a trail running race held every year at the end of August in the mountains surrounding Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the European Alps. It is one of the most popular and largest of the many races, and is a coveted event that trail runners from all over the world wish to compete in at least once.

In addition to the UTMB (170km), there are a variety of races, including the CCC (101km), TDS (121km), and OCC (55km), and runners can choose which race to enter according to their running ability and suitability. However, for some races, runners must participate in and complete a qualifying race and earn the specified number of "points" in order to enter. UTMB, for example, requires a minimum of 15 points. To put it roughly, this can be achieved by completing three 100 km trail races within the past two years. Furthermore, even if you are able to enter, there is a lottery waiting for you. Just to stand at the starting point requires a considerable level of ability and luck. That is what the UTMB is all about.

The main venue is Chamonix, France. Located at the foot of Mont Blanc, it is a mountain resort area crowded with skiers in winter.

During the week of the event, the city is crowded with trail runners from all over the world. Such a festive atmosphere is hard to find at a convention in Japan.

Here are the four members of Hui-Nam Running Club ♡ who participated in UTMB this time.

From right to left: Hiroshi Yamamoto, deputy leader (competed in CCC), Issei Enomoto, leader (competed in CCC), Ryuta Adachi, club member (competed in TDS), and Ai Hasegawa, club member (competed in UTMB); it was the first UTMB for all four and their first time in Chamonix.

Now, here is a recap of Enomoto and Yamamoto's CCC race.

The CCC is a 101-km course that starts in Courmayeur, Italy, passes through Lake Champex-Lac in Switzerland, and returns to Chamonix, France. The initials of each of these names stand for "CCC.

The start time is 9:00 AM. On the day of the race, take the shuttle bus from Chamonix a little after 6:00 AM and arrive at Courmayeur before 7:00 AM. After getting dressed and dropping off your luggage, you will head to the start point.

The numbers and sub-numbers worn by the runners are marked with the flag of their country of origin, so it is easy to tell which country they are from.

Looking around at the runners, you can see many different national flags. One of the features of this event is its international flavor.

The race then began in a solemn atmosphere with the theme song of the CCC, "Across the Mountains" by Vangelis! If you don't know this song, please search for it on YouTube. If you are a trail runner, just listening to this song will surely get you excited. Incidentally, the theme song for the UTMB is "Conquest of Paradise" by Vangelis. The choice of music is also very tasteful. It is a brilliant performance.

The time limit for the CCC is 26 hours and 30 minutes. Will Enomoto and Yamamoto make it to the finish line in Chamonix in time? The 101-km journey around Mont Blanc has thus begun.

After starting from Courmayeur, we followed a forested trail for a while, and as we crossed the forest limit, we were greeted with a spectacular view of the European Alps!

Majestic mountains soaring like walls and beautiful trails weaving in and out of them. I was overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the European Alps from start to finish during the race.

Both Enomoto and Yamamoto are in high spirits at the beginning of the race. Little did they know at the time that a trap was awaiting them later on.

The day's race was lightly overcast during the day, with occasional periods of sunshine. The temperature was not too cold, and short-sleeved shorts and shorts were fine for the middle of the race. On the ridge line near the summit, the weather was just right for a wind jacket.

However, the weather suddenly changed in the late afternoon, and after crossing the C3 Arnuova at the 27 km point, thick, dark clouds began to cover the sky.

When we reached the summit of the Grand Corferet, the border between Italy and Switzerland, the entire area was blanketed in fog.

Then it began to rain and the temperature plummeted. As time went on, the rain only got heavier and heavier. Of course, runners carry the requisite rainwear, but the level of rain and wind was too much for the runners to handle.

By the time we reached C4 Lafourche at the 41km mark, we were soaking wet. Wet clothes clung to our bodies, and our body heat was being taken away from us mercilessly. The sun began to set and the temperature continued to drop. We barely made it to the C5 Lake Champe at the 55 km point, but we still had two more big mountains to cross before we could reach the goal. After much consideration, both Enomoto and Yamamoto made the agonizing decision to retire from the race. Oh, how frustrating.

Incidentally, Enomoto and Yamamoto's equipment looked like this.

Not everything is in the photo, but that's pretty much what it looked like. I thought I had taken all possible precautions, including rainwear, a mid-layer for warmth, and waterproof gloves, but the rain and cold on race day were more severe than expected, and even these were not enough to keep me out of trouble. Both shoes were Columbia Montrail Trans-Alps F.K.T. II shoes. The rigid and cushioned sole was a good match for the hard surfaces of the UTMB course.

The director and deputy director unexpectedly retired, which was a disappointment, but the other members of the team are .......

Adachi, a member of the club, completed the TDS! He successfully completed the tremendous distance of 121km in 29 hours, 37 minutes and 19 seconds.

And the red-hot member of the club, Ms. Hasegawa, completed the UTMB! He completed a spectacular 100-mile journey that started in Chamonix, circled around Mont Blanc, and came back to Chamonix. The time was 42 hours, 27 minutes, and 42 seconds!

Those who were able to finish the race and those who could not, the results were mixed. Thus ended the first UTMB challenge for the handsome members of Hui-Nam Running Club.