When ultra runner Harry Jones signed up for his first 100-mile race in 2019, he went with the UTMB, which he admits now might have been an ambitious one to start. The famous course takes thousands of hopefuls on a circuit around Mont Blanc, passing through three different countries with a total elevation gain of 32,940 feet. To put things bluntly, it’s a lot tougher than runners like Jim Walmsley, Kilian Jornet and Courtney Dauwalter make it look.
Coming into the final aid station in Vallorcine, Jones remembers feeling really rough and disappointed with how the race was going. After a quick pep talk from his partner Louise, however, he managed to turn things around and even start running the last climb instead of hiking it. After 24 hours on his feet, he came in 15th out of over 1,400 finishers.
