The 4am start gun sent 664 competitors charging through the streets of Chamonix, France on a journey that would eventually lead them over 150 km of trail, 7500 meters of elevation gain, through three different countries and two languages, to finally complete a circle around Mt. Blanc, the tallest mountain in Europe.

Based on the sheer distance and elevation gain, The North Face Ultra-Trail had already been labeled the hardest European trail run in existence, but nobody had predicted that Mother Nature would unleash such a beating over those 24 hours. In fact, rain, hail, strong winds and freezing temperatures lashed at the runners as they ran through France, Italy, and into Switzerland, and forced a few hypothermic competitors to seek refuge in their emergency blankets and wait to be flown to safety by rescue helicopters.

Click on photo to view gallery Photo by Lucas Kane Courtesy of The North Face Archives, UTMB, 2003

Just out of Chamonix, the runners slowly ascended through small French villages and arrived at the foot of the enormous ascent up to the Col des Fours (2665m.) As the competitors reached these high altitudes, they were greeted with a cold slap in the face. With the snow line hovering just a few thousand feet above, staying warm became a serious struggle.

A few competitors found themselves hypothermic on the Col des Fours and were attended to by medical personnel. However, those that had paced themselves properly were able to complete the first high-altitude section of the course, maintaining their body heat and escaping unharmed.

"The weather was extremely unpredictable and at times it became a real threat. This definitely made the competition difficult for all those involved," said Karla Lamagnere, Marketing Coordinator of The North Face. "Ensuring that there were enough checkpoints and safety personnel to handle every situation possible over such a long course was an enormous task."

However, as the runners left the cold behind and descended into Courmayeur, Italy, the first major checkpoint of the race, they were greeted with 'Ciao!" and some true Italian hospitality, complete with pasta and an elaborate spread of cheese, wine and unlimited snacks.

Prior to starting, some of the athletes had chosen to only run this first 67-km leg of the race, and as they gorged themselves in the food tent, those that were continuing, changed clothes, ate, and jumped straight back into the zone. By this time, a select few had started to pull into the lead - two of these runners being Topher Gaylord (USA) and Brandon Sybrowsky (USA).

Not far out of Courmayeur, Gaylord and Sybrowsky found themselves running along side one another. "We were both going at the same pace, so as time went on, staying together felt like the right thing to do. We fed off of each others positive energy and running with Brandon definitely helped mute some of the pain," said Gaylord.

	"At this point, night was coming again and the rain was really starting to cycle in. The climb out of Champex-Lac was a nightmare..."

"About 10 minutes out of Courmayeur, Brandon (Sybrowsky) had taken his camera out and I found him taking photos of the cobblestone streets that we were running on," continued Gaylord. "He was actually on his honeymoon at the time. Him and his new wife Kristen had come over to France to celebrate their marriage and compete in the Ultra-Trail."

Now in Italy, their second country of the race, the runners continued up the Grand Col Ferret and crossed into their third country of the day, Switzerland, which hosted the second major checkpoint in Champex-Lac. This marked the 110 km point in the race.

Hosted inside a Swiss military bunker, the red steel doors, nearly a foot thick, swung open and allowed the weary soldiers to enter, where they could eat, shower, and have a session with a physical therapist if needed. As the runners entered their safe haven, they were immediately asked, "Are you continuing?"

While some responded with a firm, "Yes." others would shake their heads and mumble, "I haven't decided." At this point, their faces were truly showing the agony of the race.

Those who had injured themselves or were simply too exhausted to continue were taken back to Chamonix by bus, however, those who did decide to continue found the final 40 kilometers of the course to be as difficult as any.

"At this point, night was coming again and the rain was really starting to cycle in. The climb out of Champex-Lac was a nightmare," said Gaylord. "It didn't have a rhythm; there were rocks and boulders covering the trail and we kept losing our footing. That's where I had my lowest low."

"It was windy and raining hard," he continued. "The clouds were coming in so thick that even with your flashlight down by your waist, it was still hard to see the trail. I couldn't see much, but I could hear cowbells from the nearby pastures. It was so surreal!"

After completing two more serious ascents, the runners re-entered France, where Dachhiri Sherpa (SWI) had taken the lead by almost two hours. Being the final stretch of the race, the run back to Chamonix amplified everyone's emotions. The clock was nearing midnight when spectators gathered in Vallorcine, France, hovering under umbrellas and ponchos to cheer on the runners with cowbells and shouts of 'Allez! Allez!'

Sherpa continued down the valley, finishing the race back in Chamonix in 20 hours and five minutes. Two hours later, Gaylord and Sybrowsky crossed the finish line at the exact same time to tie for second place. "At no point did we discuss racing or going for a podium finish," said Gaylord. "After experiencing the adventure together, it felt natural to finish at the same time."

Giselher Schneider of Germany took third in the men's category.

This being his honeymoon, Sybrowsky waited at the finish line for his new wife Kristen Sybrowsky-Moehl (USA), who was leading the women's race, several hours back. She finished the race in 29 hours and 40 minutes to take first in the women's division. Anne-Marie Bais-le-Roux (FRA) followed a couple of hours afterwards to take second place.

That afternoon, the awards ceremony began where the top finishers of the grueling 150 km race were awarded cowbells for completing the grueling trail run around Mont Blanc Massif. At this point, only two females had finished and as the pair of women mounted the podium, the third-place position remained empty. Then suddenly, as if she'd perfectly timed her finish, Monique Gauthier (FRA) came running into the center of town, jogged right through the finish line, ran up the steps of the stage and climbed onto the third tier of the podium, just in time to claim her cowbell. Although she had been running for over 33 hours, Gauthier managed to smile and wave as she received her award. The crowd went into a foot-stamping, cowbell-ringing hysteria!

Post race, Gaylord commented on the Ultra-Trail. "There's no question it's the most difficult trail run in Europe. In fact, I'd argue it was the hardest in the world this year, just because of the conditions. Everyone that participated suffered immensley. You know it's brutal when only 10 percent of the pack finishes."

RESULTS:
(Time are in hours and minutes.)

150 km - Men's Results

1. Dachhiri Sherpa, SWI - 20:05
2. Topher Gaylord, ITA - 22:15
3. Brandon Sybrowsky, USA - 22:15
4. Giselher Schneider, GER - 23:37
5. Werner Schweizer, SWI - 24:17

150 km - Women's Results

1. Kristen Sybrowsky-Moehl, USA - 29:40
2. Anne-Marie Bais-le-Roux, FRA - 32:17
3. Monique Gauthier, FRA - 33:01
4. Marie-Laure Cabellos, FRA - 33:43
5. Martina Juda, ITA - 34:23

—--Courtesy of North Face Ultra Trail

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