When ultra-trail running nurtures your leadership and who you are

A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of running the TDS? (sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie) by UTMB? - a run in the mountains around Mont-Blanc. This run took me from Courmayeur (Italy) to Chamonix (France), travelling though the wildest areas of the Tarentaise valley and Beaufortin. I spent 33 hours running to complete this 145 km journey (+9,000 meters elevation gain).

?You probably wonder what I was looking for by taking part in such a race? Well, it’s a long story but to cut it short, ultra-trail running is a great way to be in the wilderness, clear my mind and discover myself by pushing my physical and mental boundaries… Yes, there is an actual leadership dimension in this that I am keen to explore.

?First, finishing such a race is for sure not “easy”, but it is not a feat in itself: while I pushed myself at every moment during the race, close to 300 runners out of 1,600 on the departure line ran faster than me: I am far from being an elite runner, they run nearly twice as fast as me. My profile is indeed different from the usual long-distance runners, who dedicate much more time to training than I can afford to. What I am looking for is to reach the tight balance between intense and committed work life, the joy of spending time with my family - together with the excitement of exploring new territories by climbing or running for hours into the wild.

?Ultra-distance running is a journey in itself and a truly humbling experience.

I like the adventure, the preparation upfront, then the thrill on the departure line and the questions that keep coming – can I really do this? What will I find on my way? It is about putting myself in a situation where my thinking matures. In our active professional lives, we don’t always have time to step back and reflect and single out what really matters. We don’t leave much room either for embedding feelings and emotions into what we do daily. Endurance effort – be it running, biking, or even just walking- is, I believe, a good solution to reach a different mindset and become a better person.?

Now, back to the race itself: during the first 12 hours, I was feeling strong, running at a good pace, while my mind was exhausted with superficial thoughts, mostly linked to work or daily life issues. Crossing the technical part of the race, le Passeur de Pralognan at 2,500 meters in elevation, was pure joy: the view was fantastic with Mont Blanc just “next door”. The next few hours went well, until I had to go through Km 95 at Beaufort where I entered the critical third part of the race. It’s the part where the race becomes an ultra-race: my body said “no more”, many runners dropped out (overall, ~40% of participants did unfortunately not finish) but there was still 50 km to go and 3000+ meters elevation gain to run, an adventure in itself.

?By then, my thoughts had started to be more profound, as I had cleared my mind of any casual ideas. The sun was setting, and the second sleepless night outdoors was about to start. I was still running and now facing my inner self, forced to tackle existential questions. Definitely the richest part of the race, where mental strength takes over the body, leading me to a state close to meditation: ?rich with emotion, maybe due to physiological reactions (endorphins probably?) and full of uncertainty of what happens next, the pain the bodies encounters.

?All this helped me uncover the most empathetic side of myself: I found myself thinking of the people I love, seeing peace in the conflicts I face and adopting an emotional angle to the way I see the world. Don’t get me wrong, all this happened during a race while I needed to constantly problem solve (i.e. find the right path in the night, manage energy, keep drinking / eating whenever my body needed it, keep accelerating whenever possible, calculate where I’ll be and when).

?When I finally reached col du Joly at km 120 at 1 am, I started to experience hallucinations (I was seeing cows in lieu of small bushes, red rockets instead of pine trees!), so I connected with a small group of runners to engage in a discussion and decided to adopt their pace for a while. After a quick power nap, I was ready to engage full speed in the descent towards les Contamines, it almost felt like a renewal. It was a race again the clock, and I had planned not to sleep, but adapting to the situation and taking a quick break was the best choice to make.

The beauty of plans is they can be changed!

?The last few hours were no piece of cake, but seeing the sun rise over Mont-Blanc at les Houches and discovering l’aiguille de Bionassay in early morning lights really made me a happy man. Then, I just had to reach Chamonix on an easier slope.?

?During such a run, you face lots of up and downs. Pain gradually moves along your body, your legs, your feet, your back, each part suffers one after the other, if not all together – but experience shows that better times always come. You swallow the pain, then the sky clears in the middle of the night, or you cross a river, or you encounter a group of chamois.

I’m always amazed by how highs and lows can alternate during a run – you just never give up: resilience is the solution.

?The richest part this year was the support I got from my uncle: Philippe was present on key aid stations during the race, even in the middle of the night, always finding the words to energize me and sharing the occasional joke that changes a state of mind … for the best! I have run 150 km before, but always on my own, with no support – I must say this time felt very different. Ultra-trail running truly is a team effort, and while it is an intense experience of introversion, it all plays out only because of the trailers’ community, the volunteers on the race, the tremendous support provided by people you don’t even know, kids and families cheering you along the way… You may be alone in the mountains, but really, you’re not. It’s not about the runner, it’s about the collective energy, solidarity and sharing. I had the chance to run with a charity bib to support the NGO “A chacun son Everest” which made this race very special.

?I experienced similar feelings in high-altitude mountaineering, during a decade. I loved the adventure, the team effort, the unknown and managing the risks … Cho Oyu, Gasherbrum I & II, Manaslu are superb mountains in the Himalyas & Karakorum: leading teams above 8,000 meters with self-guided expeditions (no oxygen, no altitude sherpas) have been defining moments for me.

?Now, moving on in life, I am keen on taking less risks, and still keep the thrill of pushing the limits. Ultra-running provides an interesting balance, and while I don’t know where it will lead me, I am glad I still have so much to discover. Of course, there’s no way I will ever stop rock climbing or mountaineering, it’s too great a part of me – however, I am glad I found a way to keep exploring, growing and challenging myself to ultimately become a better person.

?A big thanks to all who supported me in this endeavor, starting with my closest family. Back to you now - will I see you soon on the trails?