Written by Andrew Kay - http://slightlyathletic.blog.co.uk/

We flew out to Chamonix for the TDS and I was not even sure if I was going to take part. I'd been having problems with my right knee for a couple of weeks and had only ran once in that time and that was only four miles. On Monday morning I went for a short run up toward the Mer de Glace and the knee seemed ok, slightly achy but ok so I decided I would start and just see how far I could get. With that attitude I was fairly relaxed and had a good nights sleep before getting up at 4.15 to get the 5.15 coach to Courmayer.
Due to my usual meticulous race preparations I had overlooked having breakfast so started the 119k race on empty.
After a little run around Courmayer the real hard work started with the climb up to the Arete du Monte-Favre. It was more of a brisk walk than a run up to the Arete, the trail was narrow with little opportunity to pass others but the views were spectacular,as they would go on to be throughout the race.
After the Arete it was a nice downhill section through a lovely valley to Lac Combal and the first checkpoint with food. I choose a couple of slices of orange and a couple of tuc biscuits for my first meal of the day, refilled my bottles and was off to tackle the steep zig zag climb up to the Col Chavannes, at 2603m the highest point of the race though not the biggest climb, that was still to come.
Once again from the Col the views were spectacular and from there it was a nice 9k steady downhill run to Alpetta.
I didn't realise it at the time but this section between Lac Combal and the Col du Petit St Bernard at 21ks was the longest between checkpoints and before we were 2/3rds of the way there I was almost out of water so I found myself drinking from a mountain stream for the first time in my life and I cant remember water ever tasting so good.
Just before the sharp climb up to the Col du Petit St.Bernard the run goes around the edge of Lac Verney and that is a magnificent sight with the backdrop of the mountains mirrored on its surface.
Despite the utter beauty of this race negative thoughts had started to creep into my head. I was almost wishing my knee would give out just to give me an excuse to drop out. It was the thought of the coming night that did not appeal to me, the thought of trudging up endless hills in the dark was losing its fascination for me.
I decided Cormet de Roselend which was just over halfway was were I would quit.
From St Bernard down to Bourg St Maurice was another nice runnable section. At the checkpoint I once again indulged in orange slices and tuc biscuits and also had a couple of chocolate chip cookies for dessert too.
Bourg St Maurice is a busy little town and the TDS takes you up through the narrow main shopping street so you have to dodge the shoppers and tourists, those who know the TDS is taking place stop and cheer you on which is really nice.
So, onwards and upwards and upwards etc, this felt like a climb without end, it was a long climb up to Fort de la Truc and that wasn't even halfway,a quick bottle refill here and onwards and upwards again. But all good things must end and the Passeur de Pralognan was reached and the views here were to die for, which to be fair I nearly did. Runners were lying around on the small summit in various states of exhaustion. I didn't stop, only because I didn't like the look of the downhill section here and it was starting to get dark, so it was over the edge and down the steep rocky escarpment. You know its steep when ropes are attached to the rock face to aid descent, this was the point when many runners realised why it's called the wild alternative. After the descent it was a fairly straightforward run to Cormet de Roselend. This was where I was going to quit but couldn't quite push myself into the quitters tent, promising myself I would now pull out at Col du Joly, Liar!
Minutes after leaving the checkpoint at Roselend I started to feel the cold so stopped and put on a warm mid layer and my waterproof jacket and began the climb to Col de la Sauce, I was back down to shirt and base layer before summiting. This night section of the race was for me psychologically the hardest part, with nothing to look at but the lights of runners far above me. There were a couple of memorable moments though, one was switching off my light to see the most amazing starlit sky framed by a dark jagged silhouette of mountains all around me, the other was running down what I believe was the Gorge de la Gittaz with the rocks overhanging above my head and the roar of the river below, oh and almost running into a cow in the dark was fun too.
Knowing it was now all downhill to Les Contamines and then just one more big hill after that, thoughts of quitting had gone by the time I reached Col du Joly.
There is that wonderful moment of realising that you can see the way ahead without artificial light that gives you a moment of euphoria knowing that you'd made it through the night, that moment came for me between Notre Dame de la Gorge and Les Contamines. Also knowing you have only 24ks to the finish gives one a spring in the step, mentally if not actually physically. So a bowl of soup,cola, yet more Tuc biscuits and cookies for breakfast and I was off to tackle the last major barrier, the Col de Tricot. Chatting to one of the volunteers at Les Contamines, he told me the first part up to Chalets du Truc was easy but then it was difficult up to the Col de Tricot, those words were echoing around my head as I struggled up the first hill. On reaching Chalets de Truc you can see the Col de Tricot standing between you and Les Houches. It's very easy to imagine falling to your knees at this point and banging your fists into the ground and crying WHY! WHY! WHY! But then you think of the options available and the only viable one is to get over it, quite literally, kicking, screaming on your hands and knees if necessary but get over the bloody thing.
Once again the views from the top were spectacular and made all the sweeter knowing you had summited the last big hill of the TDS.
Down to Les Houches via Bellevue was an enjoyable part with an interesting bouncy bridge crossing at Passerelle, a quick cola at Les Houches and then the flattish run into Chamonix.
It's really hard to describe the feeling of running into Chamonix and really hard to keep your emotions in check. Passers by and people sat in the cafes clap and cheer as you pass, children want to high five you and then you round the corner and that big UTMB arch is there waiting for you.
If you've done any of the UTMB races you don't need me to tell you the feeling of passing beneath that arch. Elation, exhaustion, relief are mixed with a sadness that the ordeal is over for you.

Physically the TDS is a hard race, there is a lot of technical ground to cover, the guys that do this race in 14 hours have my total admiration.
The TDS may not be the glamour race of the UTMB series or be the first choice of many including myself, like many I decided to do it as a consolation for not getting a UTMB place, but it is an incredible race, it is a race of raw and savage beauty and is an experience that is truly unforgettable. Its a race I was privileged to be able to take part in.

I had estimated my finishing time to be around 24hrs having finished the 95 mile WHW race last year in under 24hrs but I was way out finishing in 30hrs 10mins,despite being way out I was happy just to finish