Mountain guide from George prepares for Mont Blanc
George-based mountain guide and trail runner Colleen Brown is preparing for an attempt at the holy grail of the international trail running calendar, the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB). Held over the final weekend of August in Chamonix, it is regarded as the most competitive trail ultramarathon in the world, and is the final of the trail running world series.
The George Mountain Ultra Trail by UTMB (MUT) also forms a part of the world series, and will be taking place at the end of May. Brown will be assisting with registration and trail marking at the George MUT, and she will also be one of the sweeps for the 'miler', which is the 100 mile race. She sees this as a great part of her preparation for her trip to Chamonix and the UTMB. "I'm really excited to be part of the George MUT on the other side this year - less nerves and more excitement," said Brown, who completed the race in 2023.
She has described the UTMB as absolutely massive, and added that if anyone had told her five years ago that she would be running 170km around Mt Blanc, she would have called them crazy.
Part of her reason for missing the George MUT is to allow herself an opportunity to arrive in France feeling fresh and strong. "A 100 miler takes a huge toll on your body, not just physically but mentally as well, and I just want to get to UTMB feeling fresh and motivated."
Colleen started trail running in 2018, at the George parkrun, where her passion and love for being in the mountains resulted in her initially turning to races as they allowed her to be out there in a safe, controlled environment, as opposed to venturing out alone.
The Outeniqua Mountains have become her playground, and when not out training, Colleen is a registered professional mountain guide who gives clients a safe and unforgettable experience of the magnificent peaks that overlook George.