Mont Ventoux experience.

I arrived at Sault at Saturday afternoon, partly because of the terrible weather conditions during my trip. At arrival, most of the members where already busy with their challenge, and based on the stories afterwards about the weather conditions, I understood it was a REAL challenge….
A number of German contesters, who finished the climb earlier, asked me if I was really trying to run the mountain, and I noticed they thought one had to be nuts to try a thing like that….( every one who wants to climb the Mont Ventoux has to be bit crazy..)
After a nice diner, where I met lots of people I only knew by name, I went to bed early.
After al the stories about the weather conditions on the top, I wanted to be as fit as possible.
In the morning, the weather conditions seamed ok, 17º and a mild wind. Jan told me that the temperature at the top was approx. 10º lower as on the “ground” level.
I started running at 09.45 in Bedoin, and the first 4km where quite warm to run (I love cold weather and rain during running).
But at the first sharp curve left, I entered the woods, and noticed that the way up became steeper, and the challenge just started…
At the first service point, Chris, Peter and Twan provided me with water and sports drinks.
The whole race they took real good care of me and without this support and help it would have been impossible for me to finish… So thanks again, sportsmen..
Due to the steepness in the woods, I could not keep up the running pace. I decided to change to an old Indian way to cross a desert, the wolf run: 1’ running, 1’ walking.
I kept on running like that until the curve at the hotel at 15km; at this point it was a bit less steeper. The rain that started at aprox. 6km increased (lucky me…) and I felt the temperature dropping.
I entered the clouds, and the visibility dropped with every km. I kept on running and noticed the Ton Simpson memorial, and realized that the finish was nearing…
The last 600 meters where one of the toughest I ever did, very hard cold wind, heavy rain almost no visibility (I never saw the tower…) and a last very steep finish, but I was determined to finish running.
Luckily, the supporting team was waiting for me on the top, because at that point I wasn’t far away from under cooling….
I have noticed this day in my logbook with capital letters, not only for the personal challenge, but also due to the experience to share such a challenge with a group of equal minded colleagues. When one says a sport unites, I can conform that….
I hope this challenge will become a yearly tradition, and at the last diner, when we received our certificates from Jan, I found out I wasn’t the only one who hoped that.
Thanks Jan, for the organisation of this great event, and everyone else for the support and the good company, and I hope to meet you all again next year…
Julien Rayée