How do you heard about Echappée Belle ?
10 years ago I lived in Saint Martin d Uriage and got to ski toruing and do many ski mountaineering races in the area. A friend from the DSA ski mountaineering told me about Échappée Belle. Once I seen it traversed the Belledonne and the course profile I knew that this would be a race for me!
Why you would like to run Echappée Belle ?
It looks really amazing- the profile, the trails and the course. It seems to have all the things I really like in a ultra- big climbs, lots of single track, wild terrain. It seems like it will be a “big race” by New Zealand standards (the number of runners and the organisation) but not a really big race by European standards. Échappée Belle seems to still have a real “grass roots” and family feel about it from what I have seen – this seems like a nice balance. Also, returning to the Belledonne after 10 years, this time on foot rather than skis – it will be really nice to see these amazing mountains in summer.
What are you looking for with ultra trail running in general ?
I think a lot of what I said above. Really I think the Échappée Belle is what I am looking for! A big course, in the mountains over wild terrain, with a good ambiance. Personally, I really enjoy the journey. The transition from day to night and then back to daylight again are the favorite parts of a big ultra for me- I think there will be a very beautiful sunset and sunrise in the Belledonne! The people you meet and things you see along the way and all the things you only get to experience when your legs are dead and you have not slept for a day! Its magic.
