UTMB week - UltraTrail Salon Opens

A large crowd cheered on the brave 190 competitors last night as they set off into the dark of the night for a little trot (only 240 kms!) around the Mont Blanc massif.

The town centre was packed to see the 71 different teams of 2 - 3 runners and show their support. If you missed you can see the start as part of our time-lapse webcam videos.

After the first night no incidents have been reported apart from a couple of route complications for a few teams, after all the route is not marked, there are no support helpers and it's dark at night!
At 6.00am teams number 48 and 62 were in the lead but unlike the other races this week this is not a competitive event which means everyone showing up at the finishing line is a winner.

You can follow the Petit Trot a Leon runners progress live on-line here.

Back in Chamonix itself today see's the opening of the Ultra-Trail® Salon with a bare-foot running salon at 17.00 on the Place du Mont Blanc as well as numerous stands put up by sponsors and partners of the race.

There is also an outdoor screening of Festival Outdoor 2011 action film tonight at 21.30 in Les Houches at the Chavants lake.