Pinoy Ultra Runners at Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc

Last August 29, Pinoy Ultra Runners Dr. Peter Rivera, Joselyn Saw, and Simon Sandoval joined The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) – Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie (TDS).

– Can you spot the Philippine flag? –

– Doc Peter and Simon during the send-off – 

The website www.trailrunningsoul.com describes the UTMB-TDS this way:

Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie: approx. 105km and 6700m + altitude change. Start Saturday 29th august at 5:00am from the centre of Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France.

Cross-country race following the paths of the Grande Randonnée of Mont-Blanc country and Beaufortain. Mountain event, including many high altitude passages (>2500m), in climate conditions which could be very tough (night, wind, cold, rain or snow), necessitating some very good training, suitable equipment and a real capacity for personal autonomy.

– UTMB runners –

– Knife Ridge to Aiguille Croche –

– Dr. Peter Rivera –

The three brave ultra runners gave it their best, but it was Simon Sandoval that finished the race unscathed.  I heard without even a blister!  (I’ll try to get Simon for a TBR Interview just to confirm)

I’ll allow Doc Peter to share with you his own account of the race (as typing out the race name was already exhausting for me!)  Click here to read all about it.

More photos here.

Congratulations to the Doc Peter, Josaw, and Simon!  The view from up there was amazing!

* Photos courtesy of Dr. Peter Rivera.  Thanks to Neville Manaois for sharing.