Pre-Race At Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc

An unidentified kids’ race winner is paced to the finish line by Sebastien Chaigneau at left and Jez Bragg to the right. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

Earlier this week, The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc race organization hosted a barbeque dinner in Chamonix, France that brought together elite athletes from around the world and their families. The race organization is hosting four ultramarathons this week, including the venerated Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), a 103-mile race that circumnavigates Mont Blanc through France, Italy, and Switzerland. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

Colorado’s Dakota Jones hams it up during the elite athlete dinner. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

The North-Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc expo event, as seen from four stories high. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

The race’s expo is held in downtown Chamonix, under the rocky peaks of the Alps. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

An unidentified runner completes her check-in for The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. Racers are required to carry compulsory equipment, and most choose to do so with small packs like hers. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

An unidentified racer gets a chip-timing device attached to his wrist during check-in. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

Nick Clark, a British national living in Colorado, receives his race bib during The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc check-in. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

Colorado’s Darcy Africa completes her race check-in. She’s carrying a prototype pack made by UltrAspire, a new American hydration system company. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

Scott Jaime, of Colorado enters the race check-in area. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

The appropriately named Mont Blanc, a massive mountain 15,780 feet tall, looms as the region’s geographic centerpiece. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc race organization hosts a series of kids’ races. This young racer has already raced, and now he’s ready to cheer on the next wave of wee runners. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

Elite athletes pace the kids’ races. In this wave and from left to right, runners Hal Koerner (Oregon), Mike Wolfe (Montana), Jez Bragg (United Kingdom), and Sebastien Chaigneau (France) prepare for pacing duties. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

Hal Koerner smiles at The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc kids’ races finish line. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

Elite female athletes also pace one of the kids’ race waves. From left to right, Helen Cospolich (Colorado), Fernanda Maciel (a Brazilian living in Spain), and Lizzy Hawker (United Kingdom) lead off the kids. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

Another unidentified runner completes one of The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc kids’ races. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

Frenchman Nico Mermoud, one of the founders of Hoka OneOne, and Sebastien Chaigneau chat during the kids’ races. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

Salomon hosted a press conference for their athletes who are running in one of the several The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc races taking place this week in the Alps. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

Two other Salomon athletes who have experienced success in American ultramarathons look on during the press conference. At left is Julien Chorier of France, who won the 2011 Hardrock 100 in Colorado and on the right is Ryan Sandes of South Africa, who just won the Leadville 100 last weekend in Colorado. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks

Kilian Jornet of Catalonia, who won the 2011 Western States 100 in California, chats with iRunFar.com Editor-in-Chief Bryon Powell of Utah. Both Kilian and Bryon will run the The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc which starts at 6:30pm (Central European Time) on Friday, August 26th. Photo: Meghan M. Hicks