PETER HAS DONE IT!! WHAT A TROOPER. MAGNIFICENT RUN, PETER. WELL DONE, INDEED.
**Arrived Final Stop Chamonix – Arrivee (km 98) and crossed the FINISH LINE at 07.32 am in place 351!!
Peter has splendidly accomplished a daunting quest- to run his very first 98 kilometers Ultra Trail Race which he did in flying colours - 20 hours 31 minutes and 52 seconds with a rank of 351 out of 2000 ultra runners. The latest time estimated for CCC runners to complete the course was 25 to 26 hours (around 12 noon Saturday). Peter has performed superbly, certainly well above average. To be ranked in the mid 300s considering this is the first time he has ever done a lengthy Ultra Trail competition is a brilliant achievement.
No doubt about it, Peter has conquered the Courmayeur – Champex – Chamonix Mont Blanc Ultra Trail. He has done it not only for himself but also for the precious Malaysian children born with cleft lip and palate that he had promised to help. We are so very proud of you!
Cheers for Peter and his amazing support team during the race! Congratulations to all the participants and organizers of the 2008 Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc!
The Peter Runs For Charity Project will definitely get more support as Peter has inspired people with his dedication and tireless efforts. His perseverance to obtain a donation payment gateway has also paid off. In less than a week, there have been 164 people who have donated online.
Well, I hope my dear readers you have enjoyed this coverage of Peter’s CCC Ultra Trail Race as much as I have been truly delighted to post the nearly up to the minute accounts for you. Thanks to the very efficient Ultra Trail Mont Blanc SMS service.
Until the next race…Adieu! Happy Trailing!
Rainbow
HOW PETER RAN HIS RACE…
**Arrival La Flégère / Next Checkpoint 13 – FINAL STOP: CHAMONIX!
06.09 am Peter arrived at La Flégère (km 91) in place 323. (Ultra Trail Mont Blanc SMS Service)
ETA at Chamonix 07.31 am
As the beautiful sunrise greets Chamonix (6.51 am according to their local forecast), the village locals shall see Peter returning to Chamonix to finish the last stretch triumphantly in such a marvelous time and ranking. He has been running this course for 19 hours 8 minutes and 39 seconds.
Peter will once again have his fabulous support team consisting of his gorgeous daughter Renee, dear friends – the Alyanak family (Maria, Cemil and children Rebecca and Ilhan), Brett, Levina, Kalevi, Jose, Ibrahima, Jo, Kerry and Carol waiting for him. They will all be encouraging and motivating him… giving him that much needed second or third wind to get through those final kilometers to cross that FINISH line.
The end is definitely in sight! Seven kilometers…watch out Chamonix, here comes Peter!
“Pain is temporary, victory is forever” (According to Peter)
Last leg of the CCC race – Chamonix - http://www.utmb.livetrail.net/point.php?idpt=29&course=ccc
**Arrival La Tete au vent / Next Check Point 12: La Flégère
05.25 am Peter arrived at La Tête au vent (km 88) in place 322!! (Ultra Trail Mont Blanc SMS Service)
ETA at La Flégère is 05.57 am (and the sun has not even come up yet in Chamonix)
How sensational is that time and he has moved up the ranking again! Nearly there Peter…You have completed 90% of the race in an amazing time of 18 hours, 24 minutes and 35 seconds.
10.40 kilometers to go…then the race shall be over. Get ready to party!!!
Go Peter go…onward to La Flégère http://www.utmb.livetrail.net/point.php?idpt=28&course=ccc
To enjoy more of the festivities and see the highlights of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, click on this link http://www.chamonix.com/page.php?page=126&r=north_face_ultra_trail_2008&ling=en to watch mini-videos of the beautiful village of Chamonix, the runners from 51 countries and the lovely hosts of this spectacular event.
The first arrival for the CCC Trail Race was a French man Guillaume Le Normand who completed the course in 12 hours 26 minutes and 4 seconds. He crossed the finish line at Chamonix at 11.27 pm last night. His dossier shows that he is a very experienced Ultra athlete with quite a number of ultra races under his belt.
Meanwhile the top ranking female ultra athlete in this race is also from France- Maud Giraud who finished 9th overall with a time of 14 hours 12 minutes and 26 seconds. She arrived at Chamonix 44 minutes past midnight.
For more results on other runners: http://live.ultratrailmb.com/index.php
**Arrival Vallorcine / Next Check Point 11: La Tête au vent
03.11 am Peter arrived at Vallorcine (km 81) in place 356. (Ultra Trail Mont Blanc SMS Service)
Peter has improved his ranking and continues to run extraordinarily well completing 81 kilometers in 16 hours 10 minutes and 15 seconds! Keep up your awesome running, Peter! ETA at La Tête au vent is around 5.41 am.
Up hill climb to La Tete au vent http://www.utmb.livetrail.net/point.php?idpt=27&course=ccc
** Arrival Catogne / Next Check Point 10: Vallorcine (Downhill running and 4 more stops to go!)
02.19 am Peter arrived at Catogne (km 75) in place 379. (Ultra Trail Mont Blanc SMS Service)
For a really long time now , as half of the world had slept and awakened to a new sunrise whilst the other half still slumbers, we have at various stages witnessed in awe and perhaps a little agony Peter push himself to the utmost limit and beyond. He has run this absolutely excruciating race with such grace, immense will power, formidable spirit, indefatigable fortitude and steely determination. What a captivating and glorious performance!
Peter has completed more than three-quarters of the race in 15 hours 18 minutes and 15 seconds. He is ranked 379. Bravo, Peter! ETA in Vallorcine is in 35 minutes (2.54 am) which is 5.50 kilometers from Catogne.
And the count down for the home stretch begins: THREE more Check points starting with a steep descent to Vallorcine 1260 meters altitude then a steep climb of 5.60 kilometers from Le Buet to La Tête au vent 2130 meters positive altitude followed by more downwhill running of 3.40 kilometers to La Flégère (1877 meters altitude) and from this point it is a 7 kilometer run to the FINAL stop which is none other than the Finish Line Chamonix (1035 meters altitude)!!
Descending to Vallorcine http://www.utmb.livetrail.net/point.php?idpt=25&course=ccc
**AUGUST 30, 2008 A NEW DAY HAS BEGUN
Arrival Trient / Next Check Point 9: Catogne
00.40 (12.40 am) Peter arrived at Trient (km 70) in place 412. (Ultra Trail Mont Blanc SMS Service)
01.01 am Peter left Trient (km 70) for Catogne. (Ultra Trail Mont Blanc SMS Service)
Catogne http://www.utmb.livetrail.net/point.php?idpt=24&course=ccc
Peter arrived at Trient by 12.40 am - 3 hours and 20 minutes ahead of the ETA assigned for runners to arrive at this point which was 4 am. That is wonderful news! I only hope that he is not injured as he stayed at Trient for twenty minutes before resuming his race heading for Catogne at 1.01 am.
By now, Peter has run 70.10 kilometers in 13 hours 39 minutes and 36 seconds. He has descended to 1300 meters altitude from atop Bovine which was 1987 meters. He will have to do another uphill climb to Catogne which is 4.90 kilometers from Trient at 2011 meters altitude. Peter’s ETA at Catogne is set at 3.35 am. Let’s all rally behind him and hope his ankle holds up, he keeps hydrated, strengthens his resolve, mentally fights through whatever difficulties he has been experiencing and keeps pushing on. You are doing it Peter!!
**Arrival Bovine / Next Check Point 8: Trient
23.28 (11.28 pm) Peter arrived at Bovine (km 64) in place 456. (UT Mont Blanc SMS Service)
Peter has completed 64 kilometers in 12 hours 27 minutes and 23 seconds. He has been slowing down yet has produced a great performance well beyond his personal expectations. Peter you have been truly inspirational!
Trient http://www.utmb.livetrail.net/point.php?idpt=23&course=ccc
**Arrival Champex-Lac / Next Check Point 7: Bovine – Welcome to Switzerland!
20.23 (8.23 pm) Peter arrived at Champex-Lac (km 55) in place 335. (Ultra Trail Mont Blanc SMS Service)
Yes! Peter has arrived at Champex-Lac. It looks like this leg was a bit difficult and slowed him down by about 25 minutes. It is still a very good time and hopefully the slowing down is due to fatigue and hopefully nothing serious. The good thing about the Champex-Lac stop point is that there is a longer break (20 minutes) for the runners to give them more time to recover. This point also offers medical services, food and drinks. Most importantly, Peter’s support team will be there.
Just received an SMS message that Peter has left Champex-Lac as of 20.41 (8.41 pm).
The next stop is Bovine which would mean Peter by then would already have run a distance of 64 kilometers. Currently, he has been running for 9 hours 22 minutes and 41 seconds. Based on the race calculations, he is expected to reach Bovine at 1.02 am. Take care, Peter.
Visualization at Bovine http://www.utmb.livetrail.net/point.php?idpt=22&course=ccc
**Arrival La Fouly / Next Check Point 6: Champex-Lac
17.56 (5.56 pm) Peter arrived at La Fouly (km 40) in place 245. (Ultra Trail Mont Blanc SMS Service)
Peter has completed 40.10 kilometers of the race. Apparently, he did not take a 5 minute break and has pushed on straight away after passing the check point. The man is on fire! Yet he probably would be feeling a bit exhausted especially if it is a hot day. Looking at his times, they do not indicate a slowing down in his pace. He is under the expected time estimate of 20.30 for this particular leg – 2.5 hours faster. It is obvious that he is running a good race. He is doing well indeed. Hopefully, this is his steady pace – not too fast, not too slow.
From La Fouly to Champex-Lac, there would be more distance to cover but this would also mean a longer and much needed respite of 20 minutes at Champex-Lac where Peter’s support team will be waiting for him ready to give him more encouragement and hand him much needed refreshments, energy gels and drinks. After the break, Peter will resume the race with 7 more checkpoints to pass. Reaching Champex-Lac would mean having made it half way through the trail (distance of 55 kilometers at 1477 meters altitude). Go go go Peter!
http://www.utmb.livetrail.net/point.php?idpt=21&course=ccc
**Arrival Grand Col Ferret / Next Check Point 5: La Fouly
16.49 (4.49 pm) Peter arrived at Grand Col Ferret (km 31) in place 338. (Ultra Trail Mont Blanc SMS Service)
Peter’s next check and stop point is La Fouly where he will have another 5 to 10 minute break. By then, Peter would have covered 40.10 kilometers (nearly a full marathon) and at that point he would have descended to 1593 meters positive altitude.
Visualization of this part of the trail: http://www.utmb.livetrail.net/point.php?idpt=18&course=ccc
**Arrival Arnuva (first STOP Point)/ Next Check Point 4: Grand Col Ferret
15.25 (3.25 pm)Peter arrived at Arnuva (km 26) in place 294. As delivered via Ultra Trail Mont Blanc SMS service.
Peter has been running for 4 hours and 25 minutes now. Based on his own estimates, he is doing very well and I hope he is pacing himself and not running too fast. His next check point is Grand Col Ferret which is 4.50 kilometers from Arnuva, 2537 meters positive altitude and by this point, Peter would have completed 30.70 kilometers by the time he reaches Grand Col Ferret.
The UTMB organizers have conservatively estimated runners to arrive at Arnuva by 17.15 (5.15pm). At this first stop point, runners have 5 to 10 minutes to take refreshments, check their equipment, refill their camel back with water. Peter’s time of 15.25 (3.25pm) is well under the conservative estimated time of arrival at this particular leg of the race. Well done, Peter!
http://www.utmb.livetrail.net/point.php?idpt=17&course=ccc
**Arrival Refuge Bonatti / Next Check Point 3: Arnuva
14.30 (2.30 pm) Peter arrived at Refuge Bonatti (km 22) in place 271. As delivered via Ultra Trail Mont Blanc SMS service
The Arnuva check point will have seen runners completing 26.20 kilometers in 1769 meters altitude. Visualization at this point: http://www.utmb.livetrail.net/point.php?idpt=16&course=ccc
**Arrival Refuge Bertone / Next Check Point 2: Refuge Bonatti
12.48 noon Number 7003 Peter Koopmans arrived at Refuge Bertone (km 82) in place 376. As delivered via Ultra Trail Mont Blanc SMS service
Woohoo!! How exciting! Go Peter! Wonderful news indeed! Doing it in incredibly good time.
August 29, 2008 11.53 am Hello Italy!
** START! Courmayeur- Dolonne (1190 meters altitude) to Refuge Bertone (Checkpoint 1)
And they are off….for nearly an hour now, the CCC runners have departed from Courmayeur and are going to go through 13 passage points, the final being Chamonix. The runners will be approaching their first check point Refuge Bertone about 12.30 kilometers and 1989 meters positive altitude in approximately 3 to 4 hours.
To get to this point, Peter will run through villages dotting the Italian Alps from Courmayeur to Dolonne heading in the direction of Val Ferret (La Saxe, Entrèvres, Planpincieux). The first 7 kilometres will take place for the most part on little roads enabling the platoon to stretch out.
Visualization of course
Courmayeur to Dolonne http://www.utmb.livetrail.net/point.php?idpt=0&course=ccc
To Refuge Bertone http://www.utmb.livetrail.net/point.php?idpt=13&course=ccc
To Refuge Bonatti http://www.utmb.livetrail.net/point.php?idpt=15&course=ccc
************************************************************************************************
Finally, August 29th has dawned upon us…Chamonix time at this very second of my writing this log is 7.38 am and Peter with his daughter Renee are probably onboard the bus that is just about to transport them and other runners from Chamonix to Courmayeur the starting point of the Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc 2008.
Peter has posted his very last update informing us about his race number 7003 and that it is possible for those keenly interested to follow his progress to do so via the SMS service provided by the Ultra Trail Organizers via this link http://www.ultratrailmb.com/sms.php?page=sms
Just follow the instructions and add Peter’s race number on the appropriate box. The SMS service costs 8 Euros and you will receive updates on Peter throughout the race until he finishes the trail. I have just registered for the service and received a very prompt confirmation so let’s see how it goes.
I shall keep you posted on my Blog.
The use of technology is fantastic and for me so mind boggling. On the Ultra Trail website, there is a LIVE link that makes use of Google Earth and gives us a fair view of all three races. So you can pick whichever one you are interested in. It shows check/stop points, refreshment points and generally allows us to follow the full length of the trail course. Check it out.
Estimated time of arrival in Courmayeur is around 8.30 am. A briefing of the 2000 participants will occur around 10.30 am. Then as the clock strikes 11am, Peter is off!
Keep tuning in for updates…
P.S. Online donation update, at press time 140 donors have kindly used this mechanism. This is such a fabulous response and you have all given Peter that extra boost! Keep those donations coming. Thanks a million!
