If you toed the start line at the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) in Chamonix, France this year, chances are you’re in the 65% that finished. But for every 2 people strutting around in their finishers vest upon arrival back in Chamonix, there is another that failed to make it back. As ultra runners, we understand that DNFs (Did Not Finish) are part of competing in these types of events (particularly ones of this difficulty and length) but it still hurts when it happens to us. 

In this article we look at what you should do now if you failed to finish the UTMB.

What went Wrong?

There are a number of different reasons why people are unable to finish the UTMB. Getting injured, failing to carry the appropriate gear or most likely failing to make the cutoffs are the likely reasons for failing to make it. 

The first step to moving on from ending the UTMB early is to work out what went wrong. 

Get a notepad and pen out and write down at the top of the page where and when you dnfd.

1. Failed to make cutoff at coymeyeur 

Rarely is there ever one singular reason for DNFing (similar to getting injured). Next, list all the reasons that contributed to the DNF as well as other factors that could have contributed to those reasons. This could look like the following:

1. No energy – hadn’t been eating – only had gels and couldn’t eat them, no food at the aid stations that I ate, stomach issues likely due to altitude – arrived into Chamonix the day before the race and not acclimatised, general fatigue – jet lag from flying, poor sleep in the lead up etc. 
2. Experienced dizziness and heat stroke – hadn’t been drinking enough water, came from cooler climate and not used to heat.
3. Cramping – hadn’t been drinking enough, not enough electrolytes or magnesium/salt intake, not enough training/conditioning for elevation gains and drops.

Then write down anything else that could have contributed to you not finishing. 

Now that you’ve identified all the potential reasons that could have contributed to your DNF, you’ll be asking what next? Well, If you’re anything like me, you’ll now want to return and conquer the UTMB! 

Before you return you’ll need to work out what you’ll need to do to run the UTMB, requalify (I’ve already worked out the easy way to do so), train and prepare. Decide on which event(s) you’ll need to do to qualify then book them in. 

Perhaps the most important preparation is to address all the reasons that you DNFd the UTMB that you wrote down. Turn these into goals and work out the best way to achieve them. 

Use the SMART goals to generate a new training plan or find one that suits so you can focus on what’s the most important for next time around Mont Blanc.

But what if I don’t want to run the UTMB again? 

No worries. You don’t have to! Pick a different event, have some time off, book in a road marathon, try a triathlon ha just kidding or book in a different type of cross training event. Do something new and fun to challenge you – you might come back to the idea of running the UTMB again but if not, that’s fine too. 

You do you. Just to get to the UTMB in the first place is an achievement. We can learn a lot from failure and it can make us stronger and a better person. Use it!