GTLC is a well known 100 miles race in the Ardennes in Belgium.
I usually avoid bigger races. But another ultrarunner told me about GTLC and how they have this really beautiful course. I decided to give it a try. And here we are.
With this blog post I want to do somethings different. In stead of giving a chronological, more classic, race report, I will tell you about moments and situations that made a lasting impression. I want to talk about those moments that will become (fond) memories.
Fri 15/05 - 22:45
In the car, next to Mieke who is driving me to the start location in Vielsalm.
I am a bit nervous.
Which is normal, I think: in 1h15min I’ll start on a 100 mile journey.
To calm my nerves, I go over the next hour in my head: walk to the start, hand over my drop bags, get my tracker, wait and look around if I can find Fred or Gio, wait some more, check my kit, wait some more and then at 00:00 start running.
Check my kit.
Wait a minute, my poles!
I forgot my poles in the tent.
Which is a 25min drive back.
I realize I don’t have time to turn back and get them, and be back in time.
6000m of Elevation Gain (EG) without poles, that will be hard at a certain point.
Stupid!
Sat 16/05 - 00:00
Start running!
Sat 16/05 - 05:03
I arrive at Bra Checkpoint, the first point with a drop bag.
I am moving fast, too fast.
I have known it for some time.
But all is going well and I keep following the rhythm of the runners around me.
I am now over 2hrs faster than the pacing schedule I made.
When I start running again, I urge myself to slow down a notch.
My spirits are high: I am ahead of schedule, and dawn is coming closer.
Sat 16/05 - 06:26
The sun is out for some time now, but I haven’t seen him yet.
And then, on a single track next to a stream: sunshine on my face.
Bliss!
Sat 16/05 - 07:31
Mieke repeats her offer to meet me somewhere and bring me my poles.
We set a meeting at 09:15 in the checkpoint at Cheneux.
Because I am still moving faster than anticipated, I arrive 20min in advance, and have to wait.
But I am glad to have my poles to tackle the next sections where I know there will be some long and steep ascents.
Sat 16/05 - 10:08
I am near Coo, half way up the ascent between the lower and higher basins.
The ascent is steep and relentless.
I have been able to keep up a good climbing rhythm until now.
But now I feel drained.
I stop climbing and look around, taking in the environment.
In admiration I think about the story my coach Erik told me, how he did an everesting challenge on this slope, accumulating over 10000m of EG in 24hrs.
Then I hear another runner coming up behind me.
This gives me this very needed boost of extra energy.
With renewed strength I continue to climb.
Egoceleration, I guess…
At the summit I sit down on a tree stump and wait for the other runner to arrive.
We start the descent together, but he is clearly faster than me, so I let him go and continue alone to the bottom near the lower basin.
Sat 16/05 - 11:44
When I am running towards the foot of the Coo waterfalls to start the next big ascent, another runner approaches me and asks if this is a race.
We start talking, first about GTLC, and then about trailrunning and ultrarunning.
He is training here for his next race.
We take the ascent towards the paragliding starting points together.
It is nice to have a companion, even if only for this short part of the course.
I have been running alone for most of the time. Even if there are others around me, I never found someone with the same pace and rhythm.
Sat 16/05 - 16:02
I feel sleepy.
Even if I took a long (51min) break at Stavelot checkpoint.
I tried to sleep a bit there, sitting on a bench with my head on a table.
But there was too much noise and too much going on around me.
I am in a forest, near the summit of yet another ascent.
To the right there are pine trees with a mossy floor between them.
The sun shines between the trees and makes the lush green of the forest stand out.
The moss looks soft and inviting.
I decide to take a dirt nap.
I walk into the forest for 10m, lay down, curl up and instantly fall asleep.
About 10min later, I wake to the sound of poles clicking on the path.
After a few confused seconds, I know where I am and what I am doing here.
I feel refreshed with renewed energy.
Let’s continue!
Sat 16/05 - 18:28
The course of the race passes through a quarry: la Carrière de la Warchenne.
Sat 16/05 - 18:45
I have been moving well.
The dirt nap really did a lot of good.
From time to time I catch up with another runner.
We exchange some comments on how it’s going.
But I don’t linger: I am in a good flow and want to keep to my rhythm.
A light rain starts when I arrive at Thirimont checkpoint.
Just hard enough to put on my jacket.
Sat 16/05 - 19:33
I am in the beautiful valley of the Warche.
Up and down, through the forest, the river never far away.
A nice view of Burcht Reinhardstein in the evening sun is a highlight.
Sat 16/05 - 20:14
A river crossing through the Warche!
I had been able to keep almost dry feet up until now.
The rest of the race will be with wet feet, I guess.
After the river crossing, the course takes a long and steep ascent on a single track between gorse bushes.
So beautiful with all those yellow flowers around me.
Sat 16/05 - 21:10
I had seen before, when I studied the course, that I would pass through the camping where we are staying.
In a bend in the path nearing the camping, I spot Siegert, my youngest son.
A jolt of happiness goes through my body.
We continue down together and are quickly joined by Pjotr, with Cody, Hilke, and their cousin Arion.
On the camping grounds, Mieke and her sister Veerle are waiting for me, cheering me on.
Mieke made me a cup of coffee, so good!
This moment gives me a whole lot of energy. 💚
Sat 16/05 - 22:09
At the Malmedy checkpoint, I am alone except for the volunteers manning the checkpoint.
One of them, Renée, tells me she is going to act as my crew for this checkpoint.
I just have to sit on a bench, and she does all what is needed: fetch food and drinks, fill my flasks, throw away my trash.
Meanwhile she chats about a whole lot of things.
And she packs me a couple of sandwiches for the road.
Thanks Renée!
Sun 17/05 - 00:16
I am cold.
I have stopped twice to add extra layers, and am now wearing all the layers I have with me.
It must be freezing here on the Fagne Tîrifaye.
Maybe I shouldn’t have left my long pants in my drop bag in Stavelot?
Sun 17/05 - 00:53
The path is difficult: it follows the Bayehon stream, and sometimes there is not much difference between the stream and the path.
There is mud, there are rocks and many exposed roots.
It seems like I am not progressing.
I feel tired and want to sit down.
Then there is a kind of shelter with a few benches.
I sit down and close my eyes.
But it’s too cold to sit, so I have to get moving again.
Onward to the finish line!
Sun 17/05 - 01:52
At the foot of the Ovifat ski slope, I can see the lights of the finish.
Just this one ascent.
And then it’s the finish line.
I did it! 💪
I ran a good race. I am happy with the result and with my performance. The first 50km were fast, maybe too fast. But certainly the fatigue and muscle soreness would have come anyway, even if I had run slower. I only had 2 or 3 mentally difficult moments, which I could overcome on my own using my motivation to finish the race and some of the exercises from my mental toolbox. I appreciated the support both on course by my family and online by you on Ferrett and Mastodon. 💚 The course was demanding. The surroundings were beautiful, and I enjoyed them as much as possible.
The race organization was top notch. Course markings were clear and reflective and plenty on most crossings. The many volunteers, as is often the case, were friendly and helpful. The checkpoint buffets were well stocked. I especially appreciated the soup and ham-and-cheese sandwiches.
It was fun to do.
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