For the fourth year in a row, I find myself back in Chamonix excited to circumnavigate Mont Blanc with the world’s best “trailers.” I haven’t had my day here but I am feeling in the best shape I have ever been for this world class event.

I relocated to Boulder, CO for the past two months to get my sea-level lungs ready for the oxygen deprived air in the Alps. Tony Krupicka has been a regular sidekick for high altitude exploits. It has been a pleasure sharing time on and off the trail with this great athlete.

Not only is he a phenomenal runner, but he’s also an exceptional writer and you can browse photos and read about our adventures on his blog.

I also had the pleasure of hanging out with Kilian Jornet. I made him lunch (he’s mostly vegetarian) and taught him how to slackline, which he was quite good at on his first try!

At the end of July, I headed back to Seattle for an all time favorite race, the White River 50 Mile Trail Championships. I shaved 11 minutes off my PR and came in 4th amongst a deep field – a good that sign that the Boulder training is working!

It was great to see friends like RD Scott McCoubrey who puts on a fantastic race year after year.

Congrats to the winners Tony and Meghan!

A few days later I went to Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City with Brooks Sports where we unveiled the new Cascadia 6 which will be released spring ’11! I participated in the Uphill Challenge against Jared Campbell. Fun stuff, though to be honest, I prefer trails to treadmills.

One of the downsides of doing the Uphill Challenge is being a sweaty mess for the rest of the day. However it didn’t dissuade this “monkey” from talking to me.

Alex Honnold is one crazy mofo climber and is training to run his first ultra this fall. I watched his short film, “Alone on the Wall,” last year and was inspired by his mental fortitude while doing the first ever ropeless climb of Yosemite’s sheer 2000 ft wall of Half Dome. I highly recommend watching the series, “First Ascent,” made by my talented friends at Sender Films.

After the tradeshow, I traveled to France and immediately spent four days fast-packing around Mont Blanc for a little course recon, sleeping up high in the refugios.

Upon my return, I got my chef on by making vegan Thai Red and Green curry for 50+ people at an outdoor dinner sponsored by Brooks Sports France. Mount Banc and the mountains looking over Chamonix made for an incredible backdrop!

I spent the last few days relaxing, making final preps for my race, and getting the gear dialed for the “big loop.” Big thanks to my fun and hard working crew!

Congrats and thank you to UTMB RD Catherine Poletti for all the incredible work and energy she and her husband Michel put into making this the world’s best 100 mile event!

Feeling ready to go like I never have been before for UTMB! Merci pour votre support!