Quebec Ultimate XC

Well you'd think we would have heeded the warnings on the race web site, "If you thought Jay was tough, you are in for a surprise". After doing Jay last year and knowing how tough it was, it was a case of "oh yeah, how tough can it be?" Well it completely kicked my ass and a few others. Four climbs up 2 mountains, albeit the last one started at the top of another mountain. The event was very well organized as usual, in a great setting (Mont Tremblant). Much better than Jay, where there were no facilities or things to do for family members.
Tremblant has lots. Great start to the event straight up hill throught the Intrawest village and back down and then into the woods. The humidity in the woods was a little surprising as it was a cool morning. Once in the woods the climbing started, significant climbs compared to what we were used to, but nothing compared to what was to come. At this point Brendan left me behind. We had already lost Oliver and Terry. 5k in and Brendan was no where to be seen. I was intent on just maintaining a slow steady pace as I knew it would tough later. Runners passed me, but I knew if I took it easy now I would pass them later. After the first aid station we headed into the water,
a pleaseant surprise that it was much easier than Jay, the brook running was not bad. A few k into the brook and i caught up to Brendan, talk about a fish out of water.
He was having some difficulty in the rocky water. From this moment on we ran to gether. At the next aid Station/drop bag stop, we stopped and Oliver caught up to us. They changed socks and off we went on the first climb. 2000' up it was slow with little oportunity to run.
Gradually Oliver slipped back, we kept on to the top where the black flies awaited our arrival.
It was cool and overcast at the top and you couldn't hang around long or the bugs would carry you off, so down the mountain we went. This was not easy rocky terrain, almost twisted ankles, almost doing face plants. Soon we were back at the Bag drop aid station to head back into the bush to be followed by another higher climb 3,000'. This climb was insane, straight up hard to even think about running, single track mud, rock, boulders, trees, routes etc. at the top the black flies again were swarming, the sun had come out and this made them worse. At this point we had a coice we could go on or take the so called short cut (44k) route. We were feeling Ok so off we went, about 1k back down, I twisted my ankle for about the 6th time, but this one was bad. I went down in a heap and thought that was it I was done. After laying for a minute, I decided to get up as the flies were having a feast. Brendan helped me and I decided it was best to head back to the top and take the short cut, but after a 100 yards I felt not bad. Brendan said he was going to go on and I thought it was still at least 12k back form the top so I turned around and we continued on.
The next 12k, there were no aid stations, this would be the toughest part for me. Not long after we got going again, Oliver caught us and blew by us like we were standing still, actually we were. I had a hard time running as I was afraid of doing more damage to my ankle, although I tried where the trail was flat, not very often. After the 12k stretch, which seemd to last for ever, we started to climb back up the 3,000 ft mountain again. This was mentally draining. We had gone from thinking we could finish in about 8 hours to estimating maybe 8.5 if we were lucky to now looking at, at least 9 hours. Form the top of the course we went up and down a ridge across to the top of Mont Tremblant again. Now the flies were at there worst. 6.5k to go downhill or so we thought, again it was down and then up, and the same again. althought we were going more down than up, it seemed that we were doing too much up hills. We had again re-estimated our finish time, now at 10:00 hours at least. Finally the village was in site and we ran through to cheers from vacationers enjoying the area down to the finish, 10:31. Intot he lake to relieve the tired feet. Brendan had stayed with me whem I went down and I wwa thankfull for that and returned the favour when he was hurting later in the race as I wasn't going to finish with out him. Oliver finished in 10:07 and Terry who opted for the short cut (44k), 8:26. Sandra Lalonde was the only one of us to say she had a blast, she loved it and finished the half (30+k) in 5:58. Congratulations to all and thatnks to the support crew, Joan, Marie and Sophie.

The elevation Profile.