UTMB 2011: Final balance... let's see what's next!!!!

The UTMB 2011 is finished and it's time to look back and analyse the race. I have no regret of my decision to abandon in La Fouly (110km). My quadriceps were "on fire" from the Grand Col Ferret descent and I was suffering so much that it would takes ages for me to finish the race.

But one this is sure, when you see the video below and you live such a big, a human and an amazing experience, it's hard and it's frustating to see those images and not feel that I could have push harder, that i could have been stronger.... who knows???

It's hard to look back and say exactly what went wrong. I eat and drink well. No gastric problems at all. I started the race slowly and for the 1st time in my life i was being overtaken on the uphill and i was overtaking on the downhill. So no errors here too. Maybe the cold temperatures?.... Once again... who knows??? In a race of 166km so many things can happen that is very difficult to tell exactly what went wrong.

I want to say a very special thanks to all the people that followed me and help me during these last 4 months of trainning.

- Amaury thanks for your advise and your coaching.... it's not finished yet!!!

- Yann, Tof and Guigui, thanks for summiting Mont Blanc with me :-)

- Thanks to Gonçalo for all the advise and the night without sleeping

- Thanks to all the team La Fouly (Rich, Steph, Lionel, Nico, Steph, Maud, Juju, Yann & Adri)...

- to all my friends for the warm and encouraging words

- and a very special thanks to Mimi for all the support and all the sacrificies that you made.

Without you all, I couldn't get there!!!!

Congratulations to all the runners that finished this edition of the UTMB!!! You are really strong and real warriors!!! You have my respect and consideration!!!

A special word for my two friends from Portugal, Carlos Sá (5th) and João Gonçalves (20th)... well done and congratulations!!!

More photos here!!!