I’m here in Chamonix covering the and took advantage of the small window in my schedule today to hit the trail and test out some new . Similar to last year, the conditions are seriously warm and sweaty. Since I wasn’t racing and was enjoying the views, I could take it slow, but without my , I was feeling the effects of the sultry weather after an hour and my hair and clothes were soaked through.
UTMB runners know they need to be prepared for any weather, with the race taking place at the end of summer taking them up to just over 8,300 feet, but this year it’s looking like heat will be their primary foe. Fortunately, the 106-mile loop around Mont Blanc starts at 6 p.m.
tonight so they’ll enjoy cooler conditions for the first chunk of the race. Still, current predictions are that the front runners will be back in Chamonix just before 2 p.m.
tomorrow, meaning they’ll be racing through the heat of the day and with rain in the forecast, increasing humidity. So, no one’s favorite running conditions. Naturally, they’ll have thought through their kit meticulously and be prepared with the most breathable and made from and , but let’s hope they’re all over these three tools for running in the heat: Elite athletes are accustomed to using their to train within specific these days, but let’s hope they’ve also got their hands on a and learned how to train in their heat training zone, too.
As I’ve previously written, is becoming more common among elite athletes and h.