• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Run
    • Point Mariah Trail Marathon
    • Racing Gnome Snowshoe Race
    • Castle Peak 100k
    • Group Runs
    • Snowshoe Loans
    • Code of Conduct
  • Join
    • Membership Cost & Benefits
    • Race Discounts
    • Join Us
  • Volunteer
    • Be a DPMR Volunt(HERO)!
    • Aid Station Volunteers Needed!
    • Trail Stewardship
  • About
    • About Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
  • Calendar
  • Store
    • Shopping Cart
  • Donate

Donner Party Mountain Runners

Inform Inspire Connect

  • Member Highlights
  • Race Reports
  • Newsletter
  • Webinar Videos

DPMR at UTMB – Recap by Steve Woo

September 29, 2022 by Steve Woo 1 Comment

On August 25th and 26th, ten DPMR members took part in the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) races capping off months of hard training and preparation, overcoming adversity, COVID, the challenges of traveling eight time zones, and acclimating to and navigating foreign countries where they would find their respective start lines.

For those unfamiliar, UTMB, often referred to as the “Super Bowl” or “World Summit” of trailrunning, and the de facto World Championship, is a week long festival of events with 9 different races of varying distances drawing in elites and amateur athletes alike from all around the world. Our participating members got there on the merits of previous races along with the luck of a lottery draw to gain entry.

Mike Kreaden (@mikekreaden) and I (@travelwoo) were the first to arrive in Chamonix, a good month ahead of our races. Krissi Polentz (@therunetarian) joined us a week later and we all enjoyed the benefit of time to preview our race courses and getting used to the steep terrain of the Alps, and dialing in the gear and nutrition we would use. Both Mike and I were fighting off injuries – a nagging achilles for Mike and a sprained ankle for me. To compound things, we also had to recover from COVID which we both got in Chamonix. The lead up wouldn’t be ideal but we knew the extra weeks in Chamonix would pay off and we were perhaps luckily to have gotten COVID with enough time ahead of our race that we wouldn’t have to worry about getting it. The others, arriving a week or so before their races wouldn’t have the luxury of time, and we would warn them to stay vigilante with it seemingly spreading all over town. With so much to see and do in Chamonix and the town getting busier, it was hard to avoid crowds and crowded areas. Staying healthy was definitely a concern. Fortunately, the rest were able to avoid exposure and we all entered the race week healthy. Phew!

Enter race week. While the first races got started on Monday, the first of the contingent to start her race was Krissi Polentz on Thursday morning in the Orsières-Champex Lac-Chamonix (OCC). The 55K race with over 3500m (11,500′) of elevation gain starts in Swiss town in Orsières before following the other UTMB courses in parts to the same finish line Chamonix. After some of hottest days Chamonix had seen, it eventually cooled off but only to heat up again for the OCC! Despite the heat and when asked on course at around 35K how she was doing she reportedly said she was “over it already”, Krissi was able to keep her cool and run a strong race! She came flying into Chamonix and looked great, giving high fives to the kids on her way to finishing in Top 3rd of all competitors with a sub 10 hour time! She would set the tone for the rest of us! (You can read Krissi’s race report HERE.)

Krissi and the joy of finishing in Chamonix!

Meanwhile, the nine of us remaining were in race prep mode, going through race bib pickup, gear check, and bag drop for the Courmayeur-Champex Lac-Chamonix (CCC) and UTMB races (100K with 6100m, and 170K with 10,000m respectively). The weather forecast was changing daily but it seemed very likely both CCC and UTMB would see some colder temps, rain, and potentially snow. We were all prepared for inclement weather with Mike and I doing some last minute shopping for additional gear for backup. As it turned out, the weather would fair well for CCC.

Mike at bib number pickup. He would be randomly selected to verify required gear!

On Friday morning, six members toed the start line of the CCC in Courmayeur, Italy. Up and coming neo-elite Helen Mino Faukner (@helenredcloud), supposedly fueled by Peach O’s (among other things), would be the first of the group to Chamonix, posting an impressive time of 13:08:11, good enough for 13th Female. She would later reveal she did this without poles (and rumor has it, she’s got a pair and learning to use them. Watch out!). DPMR Board Member Steve Rowbury continued his great season and was next in finishing in 17:13:17, scaring an AG podium with a 4th place, and the first of the “Four Amigos.” (We’re not sure if he took a whiskey shot in this one or made it to bars in time after his finish…) The other three: Jeff Reifers, Sean Flanagan, and Alex Humenetskyj would work as a team throughout the entire race, looking out after each other. Sean would break one of his poles but his amigos would stick with him and the three would finish together side by side completing the three country adventure in just over a day, and a glorious day for the amigos and their families! A great effort by Stephanie Jacobs coming off of an injury and making it to La Fouly before having to call it day. We have a feeling she’ll be back!

Alex, Jeff, and Sean finishing the CCC together. Photo: Steve Rowbury

While the CCC’ers were on course, at 6pm, Mike Kreaden, Todd Vogel, and myself started our journey in the UTMB from Chamonix for a full circumnavigation of Mont Blanc. A light rain would come down at the start, but instead of being cold, we would face warm and humid conditions, but otherwise good conditions throughout. Todd and I would be on similar paces crossing paths just once in an aid station but without ever seeing each other. (We were probably both delirious!) The three of us would endure two nights of racing. I would need 3 naps and an hour in 3 aid stations to make it under the 36 hour mark, with Todd not too far behind. Mike was reported to be smiling the whole way, making it a 42hr adventure with most of the DPMR crew as witnesses, beers in hand cheering him in on the finishing stretch. With 1/3 of runners DNF’ing, we were proud to finish and much cause for celebration. The celebration continued as soon as Mike got his finishers gilet (vest), he joined in on the beer drinking and in cheering in finishers.

The author elated to finish after nearly 36 hours. Photo by Scott Witthoff

What an amazing race and what an incredible time we had in Chamonix. In the moments, days, and weeks following, we’ve been swapping and telling out stories. There’s so much to share we couldn’t possibly put it in one post/article. If you see Krissi, Helen, Steve R, Sean, Jeff, Alex, Stephanie, Mike, Todd, or me, ask us about UTMB and our experiences. It’s a race like no other and unforgettable. The memories will last a lifetime.

Filed Under: General, Race Reports, Races, Trip Reports Tagged With: UTMB

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Krissi says

    October 1, 2022 at 8:45 am

    Thanks for not including my pre-race mishap of creating an injury! 😂

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Become a Member Today »

Subscribe to our email newsletter & announcements!

2023 Pt. Mariah Trail Marathon

trail race logo
Join us on Aug 5, 2023!
See race details

Connect in Person

Mar
28
Tue
5:30 pm DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout... @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout... @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
Mar 28 @ 5:30 pm – 6:45 pm
DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout @ Alibi Public House, Truckee @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
Keep an eye on Facebook for updates and cancellation due to weather.  Photo credit: Steve Woo These runs will depart from the Trout Creek Pocket Park, northwest corner of Bridge and Jiboom St (at the[...]
Apr
4
Tue
6:00 pm NOW AT 6PM! DPMR Weekly Social R... @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
NOW AT 6PM! DPMR Weekly Social R... @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
Apr 4 @ 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm
NOW AT 6PM! DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout @ Alibi Public House, Truckee @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
Keep an eye on Facebook for updates and cancellation due to weather.  Photo credit: Steve Woo These runs will depart from the Trout Creek Pocket Park, northwest corner of Bridge and Jiboom St (at the[...]
Apr
11
Tue
6:00 pm NOW AT 6PM! DPMR Weekly Social R... @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
NOW AT 6PM! DPMR Weekly Social R... @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
Apr 11 @ 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm
NOW AT 6PM! DPMR Weekly Social Run & Hangout @ Alibi Public House, Truckee @ Trout Creek Pocket Park
Keep an eye on Facebook for updates and cancellation due to weather.  Photo credit: Steve Woo These runs will depart from the Trout Creek Pocket Park, northwest corner of Bridge and Jiboom St (at the[...]
Apr
18
Tue
5:15 pm DPMR Newbies Run Club Co-hosted ... @ TBD
DPMR Newbies Run Club Co-hosted ... @ TBD
Apr 18 @ 5:15 pm – 7:15 pm
DPMR Newbies Run Club Co-hosted by Tahoe Mountain Sports @ TBD
Details here: https://donnerpartymountainrunners.com/2023/02/dpmr-newbies-run-club-3/   Photo by Andrea
Apr
25
Tue
5:15 pm DPMR Newbies Run Club Co-hosted ... @ TBD
DPMR Newbies Run Club Co-hosted ... @ TBD
Apr 25 @ 5:15 pm – 7:15 pm
DPMR Newbies Run Club Co-hosted by Tahoe Mountain Sports @ TBD
Details here: https://donnerpartymountainrunners.com/2023/02/dpmr-newbies-run-club-3/   Photo by Andrea
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML

Connect Online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

See us on Instagram

dpmrunners

Want to race free for a whole year? The top 10 DPM Want to race free for a whole year? The top 10 DPMR volunteers with the most hours logged in 2023 will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win free race entries for a year, up to $1000. Don't miss out! Become a volunt(hero) today! Link in bio for more info. 
#drpmr #VOLUNT(HERO) #gratisracing
Want to race free for a whole year? The top 10 DP Want to race free for a whole year?  The top 10 DPMR volunteers with the most hours logged in 2023 will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win free race entries for a year, up to $1000. Don't miss out! Become a volunt(hero) today! Link in bio for more info. 
#drpmr #VOLUNT(HERO) #gratisracing
Join us for an epic Trail Running Film Festival on Join us for an epic Trail Running Film Festival on April 13th at Alibi Ale Works! DPMR and Tahoe Mountain Sports have come together to showcase the best films of the year that capture the essence of trail running and the beauty of nature. Free for DPMR members or $20 for non-members. Get inspired and energized for your next adventure on the trails!  In addition, we will be accepting donations for DPMRs trail stewardship fund and you will also have a chance to win some amazing prizes.

Save the date, invite your friends, and get your tickets now to secure your spot at the festival. Link in bio. 

#TrailRunningFilmFestival #GetInspired #TrailRunning #DPMR #AdventureAwaits" #alibialeworks #tahoemountainsports
Attention all runners! If you're searching for a t Attention all runners! If you're searching for a trail marathon that caters to all levels of runners, look no further than the Pt. Mariah Marathon! This exceptional event will be held on August 5, 2023 and features a multi-loop course that leads you through five unique segments of the breathtaking Royal Gorge terrain. And the cherry on top? You can run it solo, as a 2-person partner relay, or as a 5-person team!  Register today! Link in bio.
🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Cold weather running ti 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ Cold weather running tip: Invest in a good beanie ❄️😂 Our beanies are not only functional but stylish too, so you can look good while staying warm on those chilly morning jogs. Check out our beanies and other groovy gear in our online store. Link in bio. 
#DPMR #unafraid #staywarm #winterrunning
Calling all volunt(hero)s! Join DPMR at the Canyon Calling all volunt(hero)s! Join DPMR at the Canyon Endurance Runs. The event takes place from April 28-29th, and we need volunteers to help with the aid station at Cal2. There are volunteer shifts on Friday through early Sunday morning. It's a fun way to get involved with the local trail running scene and support fellow runners. 

We need you! Link in bio!  #dpmr #unafraid #canyonsenduranceruns
Attention DPMR members! Save the date! We are exci Attention DPMR members! Save the date! We are excited to announce our exclusive member-only summer picnic coming up soon! This is a wonderful opportunity to socialize and connect with other DPMR members, while enjoying the beautiful summer weather. Not a DPMR member yet? It's not too late to join and take part in this fun event. Visit our website for more information on how to become a member today.
The Trail Running Film Festival is back on tour. The Trail Running Film Festival is back on tour.  In partnership with Tahoe Mountain Sports, we are excited to host you at Alibi Ale Works on April 13th for a night of adventure, inspiration, and fun! Doors open at 6:00 PM and the show will run from 7:00-9:00 PM. This event is free for DPMR members or $20 for non-members.  In addition, we will be accepting donations for DPMRs trail stewardship fund and you will also have a chance to win some amazing prizes.

Save the date, invite your friends, and get your tickets now to secure your spot at the festival. Link in bio.

#TrailRunningFilmFestival #GetInspired #TrailRunning #DPMR #adventureawaits
Calling all volunteers! Join DPMR at the Canyon En Calling all volunteers! Join DPMR at the Canyon Endurance Runs. The event takes place from April 28-29th, and we need volunteers to help with the aid station at Cal2. There are volunteer shifts on Friday through early Sunday morning. It's a fun way to get involved with the local trail running scene and support fellow runners. (* Please use password: DPMR when registering) 
#DPMR #dpmr #thecanyonsenduranceruns #volunteers
Did you know that as a paid member of the Donner P Did you know that as a paid member of the Donner Party Mountain Runners (DPMR), you get exclusive benefits like race discounts, member-only events, and bragging rights? If you haven't yet become a paid member, now is the perfect time to join! For as little as $20, you can enjoy all the benefits of being part of this amazing community. And with our upcoming races and events, you won't want to miss out on the discounts and exclusive access that come with being a member.
So why wait? Sign up now and become a part of the DPMR community today! Link in bio.
Calling all trail runners and outdoor enthusiasts! Calling all trail runners and outdoor enthusiasts! Get ready for an epic cinematic adventure that will take you to the wildest and most breathtaking trails around the world. In partnership with Tahoe Mountain Sports, we are excited to announce our upcoming Trail Running Film Festival, where we will showcase the best and most inspiring films of the year that capture the essence of trail running and the beauty of nature.

Join us at Alibi Ale Works on April 13th for a night of adventure, inspiration, and fun! Doors open at 6:00 PM and the show will run from 7:00-9:00 PM. This event is free for DPMR members or $20 for non-members. In addition, we will be accepting donations for DPMRs trail stewardship fund and you will also have a chance to win some amazing prizes.

From heart-pumping adventures to soul-stirring journeys, these films will leave you inspired, energized, and ready to hit the trails. Save the date, invite your friends, and get your tickets now to secure your spot at the festival. Link in bio.

#TrailRunningFilmFestival #GetInspired #TrailRunning #DPMR #AdventureAwaits
Loved seeing everyone at The Racing Gnome! Already Loved seeing everyone at The Racing Gnome! Already looking forward to next year! #dpmr
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Footer

Run with Us

  • Group Runs
  • Code of Conduct

Race with Us

  • Point Mariah Trail Marathon
  • Racing Gnome Snowshoe Race
  • Castle Peak 100k
  • Discount Codes

Join Us

  • Membership Cost & Benefits
  • Join Us
  • DPMR Gear
  • Donate

About Us

  • About Us
  • Volunteer
  • Board
  • Contact Us

© 2023 · Donner Party Mountain Runners · Truckee, California · Website by Tahoe Web Works