This weekend legendary ultra-distance runner and Runner’s World columnist, Ryan Sandes and RW designer Alana Doyle will be stepping out into the unknown, with more than 2300 other participants, and taking on not only the French, but also the Swiss and Italian Alps in the 100 mile Ultra Trail Mont Blanc Run.

On 28 August, starting at 6pm, local time, in Chamonix, France this 170km loop race, known as the most difficult foot race in Europe, will have more than 10 000m of positive altitude change before it ends – a total climb which is higher than Mount Everest.

“I was really disappointed not run Western States this year due to a stomach virus, but I am a firm believer in that everything happens for a reason,” says Ryan. “The set back of not running Western States has opened a door to a new adventure, to run the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc. This is the race that inspired me to want to run 100 miler ultra-trail races. I am really looking forward to the new experience and the unknown of running in some very big mountains.”

The race loop around Mont Blanc follows the Tour du Mont Blanc hiking path that normally takes hikers between 7 to 9 days to complete, but the lead runners will complete this course in just over 20hrs, with the final cut off time after 46hrs30min. The race is termed semi-self-sufficient, with 10 food/drink posts are situated on the course where the participants can take whatever food and drink they need.

You can track Ryan and Alana on https://www.ultratrailmb.com/en/page/88/Supporters.html and follow our instagram and twitter feeds for live updates on their progress.