Jez and Lizzie earn UTMB bragging rights
Lizzie and Jez, champions!
You can only win what is put before you. The history books and results of this famous race will not detail the trials and tribulations of the 2010 UTMB. They won’t spell out who was missing from the start line-up. They will state that the 2010 winners were Britons Jez Bragg and Lizzie Hawker…
After starting Friday night’s race (stopping at the Contamines aid station in around 15th place) unassuming Englishman Bragg got up leisurely on Saturday, intending to do a “3-4 hour run”, checked his phone, saw that there was a ‘new’ race starting at 10am, made a mad dash to Coumayeur start, getting a lift (as he missed the shuttle bus) from iRunFar.com man Byron Powell. Put on his kit, set off, and duly took the 2010 crown some 10 and three-quarter hours later. You couldn’t have written it!
Jez Bragg crosses the line in Chamonix
Of course there is a whole tale to tell on how the race unfolded, and you can check out the live video race feed on the UTMB site for some great footage, along with all of the results, on how the race that was, wasn’t, and was again, in this crazy day in Chamonix. And is perhaps best told by Jez himself, on the couch with Byron. Respect.
Course for Lizzie Hawker winning the UTMB isn’t anything new. This win now makes it three titles for the diminutive Brit, after wins in 2005 and 2008. A North Face press statement says:
In the women’s category, The North Face® accomplished multi-sport athlete, Elizabeth “Lizzy” Hawker (UK), ecstatically claimed first place for the third time at The North Face® UTMB®. In addition, Lizzy is the first athlete ever to achieve a hat-trick at the UTMB®. Lizzy arrived at the finish strong, at 11h:47m:30s, a full hour ahead of second place finisher Nere Martinez Urrozola (ESP). In a relaxed mood, Lizzy commented: “I’d like to thank the organisation, my fellow runners, the volunteers, and all the supporters. It’s the spirit of everyone which makes the UTMB® such a special event.”
Hawker must surely be now considered one of the UK best ultra distance runners, full stop, and will go down in history as a triple winner of this legendary race. Byron also caught up with Lizzie after the race.
Lizzie Hawker arrives
