UTMB (Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc)
On the course - UTMB 2013
Race Website*
Runner and Crew Information available in the Mobility Guide*
About aid station access:
The Mobility Guide has a helpful chart about which aid stations are accessible by different means of transportation. Unless you are based locally or very familiar with the roads, markings, course and access points, it is impractical to even consider driving your own vehicle between aid stations. The aid stations are in some tiny towns, with very little parking, and it's night time, and it's a foreign country (for many), and, and, and.
But, there is a comprehensive Shuttle Bus system set up that takes you around. Buy your ticket at the race packet pickup/check in (30 Euros for 2017), if not before. The Shuttle Buses add a different dynamic for crew access: you have to factor in a big variable of not knowing how long you'll be waiting with many, many other people doing the same thing. The Ultra Crew's experience was that it all went pretty smoothly, provided you give yourself enough time to get where you need to be. (Plenty of time for browsing for cheese and macarons after the race, crew!) The aid stations where you can provide crew support are spaced fairly far apart, so this shouldn't be too much of an issue. As a point of reference, in the Mobility Guide, the distance between Les Contamines and Courmayeur is about 49km and, for the fast runners, about 4 hours of running time.
About cell phone coverage:
Don't count on it. Like, at all. Even if you bought the "international" plan with your U.S. based carrier. Even if it seems like it is working fine the day you roll into Chamonix. Print stuff out instead. Just in case!
About running a race internationally:
If it's not already clear, The Ultra Crew is based in the U.S. In 2013, we combined this race with a trip to see friends in Lausanne, so we approached it less as a tactical challenge and more as a vacation. This was the first race we realized that things can go wrong - quickly, comprehensively, unexpectedly wrong. Happily, nothing major happened for us - but it drove home the importance of preparation. Not that you have to spend all your time catastrophizing, but this would definitely be a good race to make sure the Crew is in the know about the Important Stuff: Also, don't assume that you'll be able to find whatever you forget while you're there. This is true for gear, food, etc. and applies for all races - but especially ones where the surroundings are unfamiliar.
who are the emergency contacts?
does your runner have medical conditions, drug or food allergies that you might need to alert emergency or medical personnel to?
what's your runner's health insurance?
where are you meeting up if the race doesn't go according to plan and your cell phones don't work and it's the middle of the night?
Adaptability is a great trait for crew and runners alike, no question. But it's way easier to be adaptable when you know your options ahead of time.
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