a week solo travelling the french riviera !! ft UTMB côte d’azur trail running race in nice, mega 🥹🌟

[Music] [Music] Oh my gosh. [Music] So gorge. Hello. Hi you guys. Welcome back to the vlog. I have just made it to Nice. I’m currently here on my own. I will fill you in a little bit more on exactly why I’m here soon. Right now I just need to find somewhere to charge my phone cuz it’s on 7%. But I’ve dropped my suitcase off. I’ve just got my little bag and I’m going to go and have a little mooch. It’s bloody gorgeous though. First impressions. Stunning. [Music] Oh my god, you guys. This place is absolutely gorgeous. Just walked from down there. Look at the color of this water. I have no filter on this camera at all. Can you see over here? Look at it. Are you mad? That is just absolute insanity to me. I’m going to go into the old town, have a little mooch about cuz I’ve still got hours. So good. New mission is to find some lunch and some water cuz I’m feeling really dehydrated. Realized I haven’t drunk any water, which is so bad since my flat this morning at like 3:00 a.m. Silly goose. Silly goose behavior. Oh god, this looks like a gorgeous coffee shop. Oh my god. Obsessed. I’m going to have to when I get into my Airbnb later. I had like written out a plan, like a loose plan with recommendations, but there are so many unreal places about. I’m going to have to do like a deep Tik Tok dive and make sure I don’t miss loads of places like that. Looks gorgeous. I’m going to this place called Cafe Thea, which my friend recommended. So hopefully they’ve got a nice nutritious lunch for me. It’s what I’m after. Feeling quite deceased. Feeling quite wrecked. Okay guys, I got the chicken cats bowl, right? And it looks absolutely insane. Oh my god. Yum. It’s quite a good like little co-working place as well. People coming for holiday. It’s quite like I can’t talk very loudly. That’s not [Music] [Music] This is creepy, guys. Oh, there we go. Spooky. Why is this so strange? This is my home for like the next week. Okay. Interesting. I’m so excited to lie down, guys. It’s been such a long day. It’s like 4:00. I left my flat at 3:00 a.m. on 2 hours sleep. I’ve powered on so well. Just need to sit down, shower, sit down, unpack, and then tell you about why I’m really here. I also look just like really interesting. It’s not really my my finest look. Necklace is all twisted. Looking a bit greased. Just need to wash my face. That’s okay. We’re not going to be self-critical right now. That was unnecessary. Rihanna. Oh my god. I don’t know where I’m going. First floor. When you exit like turn left. It’s the second door on your right. Here we are. He said follow the lemon. So I know. Why is it so dark? Oh god. Can we bathroom? These lights work. Okay. Nice. the rest of the um people that I’m here with, well, the like team that I’m here with are staying in this hotel. But one, they didn’t have all of the dates available that I’m staying here cuz I’m staying longer than the weekend. And also, I just thought it’d be quite nice to get a little Wow, Airbnb, you know. [Music] Oh god, that’s fun. Good morning. Well, good afternoon. Oh, lovely. Probably going to be semi loud for me in the night time, but I won’t go over it. Lovely, you guys. Oh, yeah. You know what? One thing I will always pride myself on is my ability to find a good Airbnb. What a hilarious pillow setup. Got TV at the end. Oh, good. Lovely. Yeah, pleased with this. All right, let me sort myself out. Oh, dear me. What a life. Where am I going to put everything? Oh, yeah. That road is that road be loud. Camera, charger, important stuff. Got my Percy pigs. This going to be my makeup station. I think that is so loud. How any of you guys do any of you guys own a really nice suitcase? Because I absolutely adore my big blue, but she is she’s lost one zip. She’s becoming a bit like tatty. The zip gets a bit stuck and I just use it so much that I feel like getting myself a nice suitcase would be a fun purchase for me. So, if you have any wrecks, do let me know with me. I’ve got my Solomons, got my flops, got my everyday runners, my current sockies, my new trail running shoes, which I haven’t yet tried, but I got the on cloud ultras, I think. I’m really excited. So, I’m going to obviously try and wear these in before my race, which I’ll tell you about in a second. But yeah, these are like my race day shoes, which is exciting. electrolytes. Even brought my eye mask. I’m so prepared. Sunny’s. And then I’ve got my like water pouches and my humantra. Got my Milo off vest. I’m thinking for race day. I want to wear my Milo vest vest. My love vest with all of my fuel in. And then my some pair of white shorts. I brought a few options to see what I fancied, see what felt good on the day cuz I’m currently like just I feel like I’m still going through a weird in body image, guys. So, I just like to bring myself options. Make myself a little gym gym area. Definitely not what this thing is built for, but just going to serve a purpose. What do I want to have out to put on after my shower? I haven’t decided if I want to go back out yet or not. I probably will. All right, shower time. And you guys, I just had a lovely, really quite long hot shower. I was a little bit nervous about the shower because this building is feeling quite rickety. thought it was going to be one of those like really low pressure, sad, cold showers, which you don’t want when you got a race this weekend, but it was lovely. I’m feeling I’m not feeling more human, but I’m feeling better than I was. And I’m just going to chill for a bit down some water and tell you a little bit more context as to why on earth I am in Nice. So, I was just doing a little bit of Googling when I was sat before I went to do my skin care. So, I can tell you all of the actual true facts. Also, you propped up there as giving me big like Zoella throwbacks. like I’ve just propped you up on a little thing, sat on the bed doing a chit chat. Anyway, so super exciting. I am here for the UTMBB race series in Nice, which if you don’t know UTMB, I’ve looked up exactly what it is because I thought I could try and tell you, but I think I’ll embarrass myself. So, I’m here for the Coat Dour, which like the obviously the coast here. And the UTMB World Series is the global trail running circuit that brings together the biggest and most iconic races in the world. You might have seen recently literally like everyone and their mom was in Shamine for the Mont block marathon. UTMBB run that. So like they’ve been on my radar for the longest time. They are literally like the name in trail running and I really want to get into trail running and doing more outdoorsy [ __ ] doing more like mountain stuff. So yeah, it was born from the legendary UTMB Montlanc, an ultra an ultra distance trail race that takes place every August in Shamine and is considered the most prestigious event in the sport the series. So, it was born there, like I was just saying, but now it’s like a series. So, the series now includes races all over the world. And this weekend, it’s here in Nice. The coke do your I hope I’m saying that right. I don’t really know any French. I could do Spanish. French can’t. But this weekend, they’ve got four distances, right? They’ve got a 20k, a 50k, 100k, and a 100mile ultra race. How many miles in kilometers? Oh, it’s 160k. I’m basically going to try and get to the finish line for like a fair few of the different like races and just see what everyone’s doing. But basically runners from like literally all over the world come and join these races. It’s actually really cool. Like even when I was sat in the coffee shops, like you just hear all the different accents. You can hear loads of English accents. You know, it’s like a big thing when it’s not like just the French accents around, right? The courses are not flat. They go up into the surrounding mountains of the Alps and the how do you say that? Merites. Do you have a degree in geography? Don’t know how you say that. So, even the shorter distances pack in serious elevation and technical trails. And so, basically, I’m here with UTMB, which is a little bit insane. Well, I’m here at the weekend with UTMB and then I basically just extended the trip either side for me because if you know me, you know I just love to extend a trip. I think it’s just so much fun. I’m already in a place I want to explore. I’ve never been to Nice before. I’ve never really been to South France, don’t think. So, I thought I would just extend it. But this weekend, I’m here with [ __ ] UTMB, which I’m mad asked about. Like when I got that email through, sorry, this is so I didn’t need to be doing two things at once with me. Gassed about when I got that email. So a little bit about the 20k. I was actually looking at this, right? It says 20k. That’s the ticket I’ve got. That’s the bib I’ve got. But then when you go on the course, it says 24k. Either way, more than a half marathon and a trail race. So really interesting considering I haven’t run a half marathon since my marathon in June. It’s now the end of September. Um, and I’ve never done a trail run and I’ve never done really any run with that much elevation, more than a couple hundred. So, they just reached out to me. I think it was like a month ago and I was like, “Fuck it. Yeah, I’ll give it a go.” Um, the 20k is the shortest distance of the four. Um, but don’t be fooled. It still includes around 1,000 meters of elevation gain over a mix of rocky climbs, fast descents, and panoramic views over the sea. It starts up in Rimlas. I probably butchered that. A mountain village. Um, and it finishes all the way down in the prominard dumb place, which is where I was earlier today where you saw when I was doing the you could see all the what you call them barriers. Don’t know what they’re called. What the [ __ ] are they called? Like the finish line thingies, blown up things in these, which the whole race just sounds so iconic. I’m so excited about it. And like I feel like it’s just such a cool thing to be doing. Yes, it’s currently Thursday. I am here chilling today, chilling tomorrow. Going to go for a run in the morning. Going to go for like an explore run. Very, very sexy pace. Um, and then have a whole day to myself to just explore. I’m going to go and see I think the one of the races might start tomorrow, I’m pretty sure. Going to go and explore that. And then on Saturday, I’m going to wake up, do my last shakeout run, go and collect my bib, go to the expo, do all of that stuff, um, see some of the UTV team, and then get a really early night cuz I think the race starts at 7:30 up in the mountain village. So, I think my train is at like 5:00 a.m. So, yeah. And then I’m here until Tuesday to do some exploring. So, going to bring you along with me. I’m super excited. Right now, I’m going to look at my pictures I’ve taken today cuz it’s so gorgeous here. Have some Netflix time. Then, what I’m now thinking is if I get hungry, I’ll go out for dinner, but if I don’t get hungry, I’ll go out for like an ice cream cuz my friend who sent me the recommendation for lunch said that one of the ice cream places here is like one of her favorite ice creams ever. And I’m such a sucker for a good gelato. So, yay guys. This is so cool. Oh, welcome to my trail running era. I ventured out for a little very, very chill, casual evening stroll to find something to eat. I’ just eaten really weirdly for the last 2 days. You know when you just start messing up your meals and then you just like never quite catch up cuz you’re still playing catchup. And I thought, right, if I’m running, this will be 24K. I need to get my regular like eatings back. So, even though I kind of wanted to just like eat something sweet and then go to bed, I was like, right, let’s go out and find something, have a bit of a wander. Uh, also put my jumper on. I don’t really need it. It’s still warm. But while I was scrolling, I think I’ve just learned that there is an abundance of gorgeous coffee shops and restaurants here. Like the scene is just so good. So, I was getting overwhelmed cuz I’m obviously currently in a state where decision-m isn’t my strongest skill. So, I thought I would just walk around until I saw somewhere that I thought looked nice and then just go in there cuz I also don’t know what I want to eat. But I thought, let’s try and have some balance, some greenery, just like I did at lunchtime, and then we can get back on a proper regular schedule tomorrow is the plan. Big running scene also, which I know sounds silly because I’m here for a running race, but I don’t know, didn’t expect it. Oh, this smells delicious. This is a sweet little bath street. Anybody else when they’re like in a new city compare parts of the city to like parts of London? So I always go around like in every city there’s always a shortage of a city. There’s always a hackne of a city. There’s always that just there. This bit that I’m in right now bar and market of Nice. There’s always little pockets, you know, like where’s the where’s the ones worth of of Nice. The little bit tiny bit out on the river. It’ll be there. I’m obsessed with this. Look at everyone outside with their raffles. Also, whatever food this is smells so good. pasta. [Music] So cool. I’ve established from all of my wandering that I’m in the mood for pizza and maybe like a side salad. And so I’m coming to this place right near where I’m staying. It’s got 4.9 on Google Maps. So hopefully it’s delicious. What’s it called? Primar, I think. Right then. Let’s see. Guys, I know how to find a good pizza spot no matter where I go. Especially I feel if I’m on a solo date, my go-to solo date is just to find a nice pizza restaurant, just sit outside at drop zero on my own, have some braid space. I’m so tired, like actually exhausted. This is great carbs for me. So, I’m going to eat. Let’s have a go. I went for the like Oh, it’s hot. Spicy American situation. So, it’s got spicy salami and pepperoni on it. You guys are so good. Are you ready to watch me be in it? Live in action. Morning you guys. Happy Friday. I just had my longest sleep ever recorded on Whoop for over 9 hours. Obviously needed it. I’m up and I’m going for a run. Going for an explore and I’ve got my stocking these on just because my trail run on runs my my cloud my ones are so they’re literally built for like I think they call like the everyday trail runner which obviously like not everyday person is a trail runner but they can do road to trail but I just want to like leave as much trailness in them as I possibly can. So, I’m going to wear these on my shake out run tomorrow when it’s a little bit shorter. And today I’m going to go for a little bit of an explore run. But I want to have something to eat. And I’m wondering if I try one of the sap gels this morning cuz it’s literally just dates and and salt. So, it’s like as if I was having a date at home before a run is what I’m thinking. So, let’s give one of these a go. See, this is my first time trying as well. So, you get the full taste test. Right. Let me get it so my phone get I’m phone vlogging. Inception. I’m like phone vlogging and YouTube vlogging. So do both at once. Ooh. I don’t know why I was expecting a chemically taste considering it’s literally dates and salt. But it literally just tastes like dates and salt. That’s good. All right, let’s have a quick glass of water and then let’s go explore. And I got a whole box. Also, this Airbnb is lovely, but the water pipes make like a like noise when I think literally anyone in the building has a shower. So, I was kept up a little bit, but evidently not that much cuz I didn’t sleep for 9 hours. All right, I’m going to go for my run now and get to bed. And bonjour, is that correct? French, I don’t know. How are we? I am back. It’s currently almost um 11:00 and I went for my run. Bloody gorgeous run. You guys, I did make a like a Instagram reel about that. So, if you want to see more from that run, then I would suggest you go follow me on Instagram. Fun plug from me. But, um ran all the way down the prominard, the Prominard, and it was lovely. And then I ran back. Beautiful blue skies. That’s all going to be on Instagram. So, we go have a look. But I ran 10k. It did feel a little bit tricky. I think I just had mad dry mouth which has made me think, “Oh my god, today I need to drink so much water.” 10k 602 pace literally down and back. Ran obviously touched a bench at 5k and ran on back. Heart rate was fine. It is pretty hot. And then I have had a quick shower. got myself dressed and I was having a look at what the bus situation is for me to actually get to the race start because obviously I’m starting like up in the mountains and I can’t lie I did ask chat GBT because I was having to translate every single page on the UTMB website from French to English and I was getting really frustrated but she always comes through so orderly. I think I’ve got SPF in my eyes. They’re streaming and basically I need to I’m like the last start wave obviously cuz I’m not going to be that fast. But all of the late trains are booked up. So there’s a train at like 6:50 and then 7 something. My start wave will be probably like 8 a.m. But the only train that I can book is 5:50 a.m. So that’s 100% my bad. And if you’re coming to one of these races, I would say maybe be a little bit more on it with your organization. But that’s okay. I’ll make it work. I am going to see if there’s like capacity to get on later trains or if there’s another way to get there because I don’t really want to be hanging around longer than I need to cuz I’ll get cold and like with eating and stuff, you know, like I don’t really want to be eating. I want to be eating at 6:00 if I’m starting at 8. Don’t be eating before that. Anyway, I’m going to go into town now, have a little bit of a mooch and explore, get myself some lunch cuz I went back to Alvin’s coffee shop for a pastry and a coffee just because it’s closest to where I live and there are other coffee shops that I want to try but they’re like in Oldtown and so I thought I’m not going to go there after my run and then come back. I’m just going to go in there later. So, I’m going to go and get myself some lunch, drink loads of water, get an electrolyte in me, and then I’m wearing my bikini cuz I kind of want to go for a swim. I just need to sus if it’s safe as I’m here on my own to like leave my bag on the beach, you know? I don’t really want to get robbed. Not really in the market for that. I also definitely need to put a top on. Like I don’t want to be walking around near this naked. But bikini is cute from Maltzel. So I need to get a top and I need to pack a bag. I don’t have a water bottle here with me. How stupid am I? I packed my water bottles like for my race but not water bottles as in like just everyday water bottles. Would this look weird? Like an off the shoulder top vibe with this bag or do I just wear a little mini dress? Maybe I just put this on. Oh, I shrunk this in the wash. I do not remember her being this short. I think I’ve definitely shrunk this. This used to be my like reliable longer linen dress. I am so bad at doing laundry. I don’t understand. I think I might just take my little bag and some sachets of electrolytes. Turn the light off. Bag sunnies. Sunny. Do the red sunnies are cool, aren’t they? Big fan. Um I’ve got black ones which I think are really cool, but I just never feel like myself when I wear black. I do feel like they quite go with the outfit though. like, “Yeah, I’m going to wear one of these.” All right. Bamos. I am going to go into Oldtown and get some lunch, but I first wanted to come. So, I’ve been running like I’m staying over there. I’ve been yesterday I walked around that way and I ran that way this morning as well, but I haven’t come this way. And there’s this shop here called Cafe Dist and my French, which Alex from Alo at home, who I work with, has got some really cool bar bags from, and I know they do really cool like cycling kit. So, I wanted to have a look in. And then I also wanted to have a little mooch around this corner and see what’s around there. So, going to go in and see. I know that this shop does also have a coffee shop inside. So, going to have a gander. Going to see what’s popping. I know I’m here for a running event, but it doesn’t hurt to have a little look, does it? This is the one she has. So cool. I was like so tempted to buy it cuz I’ve got my cycling holiday to Morca in Oh, there’s some cool bibs in here. Some cool jerseys. My cycling holiday to Morca in October. So, I was like, “Do I want to buy it?” I’m being too spendy at the minute, guys. I got to rain it in. Gorgeous. [Music] Just seen another um walk past another gorgeous coffee shop. There are just so many. I think I’m going to go and get myself some gelato. So, I just sat on that little beach ledge for like 2 hours going through all of my emails and WhatsApps. Gorgeous little work spot if you ask me. And now I’ve come on my hunt for my sweet treat. My afternoon sweet treat. What a weird day. Oh my god. This is the place that my friend recommended me. And look at all of the flavors. Oh my god. How do I choose? And it’s in this gorgeous little square. All right. They’ve got pistachio. Oh my god. Yum. Wow. Avocado ice cream. Tomato. Cocoa. Oh my god. These ones are rogue. Let’s go back to the nice end. Can I get one scoop of pistachio in a cone? And then one of the washer. Wow. Look at all the different chocolate flavors though. Mad. Thank you. There she is. Yep. I’m so excited. I’m lally so excited about this. This is so good. All right. Wait for pistachio and rer. [Music] Ooh, the pistachio is like a bit almondy. M. That washer one is so good. [Music] Okay, I’ve come to a carour and I’m going to try and find myself some stuff to have for breakfast on race day. I’m like, do I go for oats? Oh, that’s like health stuff. Do I go for oats? I need to get some bananas. But like what do you do when you don’t really have like I’ve got a little kitchen so I am fine. I could make oats. Why am I finding this difficult or like maybe just like bagels bagels? Bananas. Some peanut butter. Bagels. Then I just get fresh French bread, you know. Let’s grab some bananas for now. How much fun is just walking around a foreign supermarket as well? Wo! So many cereals. This is where I’d get Oh, have they got like little packets of boats? That would be handy. And these all just loose oats. I don’t know. I’ll do a haul when I get home. For a haul for you, this all was €6 something. So, an absolute bloody bargain. I got myself some mint tea cuz last night when I got in, that was one thing of my evening routine I really missed. So, got myself that. I got myself some bananas. And then I found some dates because all the peanut butter was like six and I just thought I’m realistically not going to fly it home because my bag was already almost overweight so would have just gone to waste and I thought I could put some dates in my porridge to for extra fuel and sweetness because then I did go for oats and then I got some oat milk to make my oats with. So that’s going to be my most favorite day breakfast. I’m now back going to chill before I’m going to the like UTMB. They’ve got a press evening which I’ve been invited to. Hilarious. So, just going to chill out, make sure my work’s done before I go to that in a bit. I really enjoy the way this little motorbike thing stand looks just outside my window. Feel like it looks very Lizzie Maguire Euro summer era. Right, I’m off to go and find my UTMB friends. All right, Baminos. Or how do you say that in French? I don’t know. I right now feel like I’m living my Lizzie Maguire moment. And I have such main character energy whenever I’m like solo chanting in a city. It’s so good. Guys, why am I now panicking that I’m really underdressed for a press conference? I didn’t know what I was signing myself up for. Now I feel like a woolly. Oh, we fine. I’m going to take a photo this group chat though. Press conference. Huh? That’s fun. [Music] Yeah, I’ve come to a French restaurant. I got myself steaks and chips and it’s so good. My favorite thing about French restaurants so far is that you just get a bag of bread. Fantastic for my caring. [Music] I probably don’t really need Good morning. Good morning, gorgeous vlog. Welcome to the day before race day. How are we feeling? I slept fantastic again. Really pleased with myself. Got like 8 and 1 half hours sleep. We’ve got a green recovery. Hopefully, we can maintain that. It is 8:00 a.m. Woohoo. I’m going to go for my final shakeout run in my new shoes is the plan in my arms which is quite exciting to be fair cuz I haven’t worn them yet. I was also like starting to lay out stuff for tomorrow cuz I was planning on going to the start line. Not start line what you call it the finish line for when the first 100 mile man comes around. He was supposed to be finishing at 10. So I thought get up, go for my run, you know, plenty of time. Nuh-uh. He’s more than 2 hours ahead of schedule. Let me check his name so he gets the credit that he deserves. Got got a message at Yeah. Oh, it was this morning. Um Paul Cornut Shvik, leader of the 100 mile, is more than 2 hours ahead of schedule and is expected to reach the finish line in Nice around 7:50. So he’s already finished running 100 miles. So obviously that’s the window. But I’m thinking if I go for a run now, then woohoo, it’s time. I can hopefully catch some of the people who finish more on the plan schedule. Really pleased for you, Paul, that you beat the schedule. Really unbelievable work. Absolutely amazing. Ooh, there are some fun parts to a trail running shoe, aren’t there? Not that I know what they’re for, but there’s this like elastic band bit. What’s that for, guys? I don’t know. But I’m going to do max 5K. I’m thinking maybe even three in these just because I don’t need to run anymore and then plan for the day is just to rest and I need to eat something before I go I think cuz I’m going to run to the finish line, you know, cuz then I can also go and try a coffee shop in Oldtown for my morning coffee. Then I’m in town, but that also means I don’t have access to food. So, I’m going to have something now. Oh my god. But also last night when I got in, I had my peppermint tea and I had I bought some dates from the supermarket when I went. Actually, I usually didn’t for my oats. But then I bought some dark chocolate on my way home and I had like my what I always have at home for like dessert where I had like a date with dark chocolate and my peppermint tea and I was like peak life. Peak life. I’m not hungry right now though, guys. This is like quite a useless little prop that they’ve given me though because the dates are so heavy. that like you don’t this just bends or am I using that wrong? Maybe I’m using it wrong. Sue me. They are really good dates as well compared to the big M&S box at home. Slaps. [Music] Okay, guys. I’m back home and I’m absolutely covered in mosquito bites. Like, I’ve got a blotchy leg situation going on. It’s really not hot. It’s really not ideal. Lovely morning. Um, lovely brunch. Although the eggs have given me the bit of the ick. I can’t lie to you. But I’m back. I’m going to have a shower and wash my hair. I know you don’t need to wash your hair for a race. It’s a little bit backwards. But I want to feel nice when I go and like collect my bib later. And then when I’m getting ready tomorrow, yeah, I’m pretty pretty fueled up to be fair. I decided to go for like actual brunch vibes cuz I thought I can’t just have pastries forever. But now I’m going to go and get my coffee of the morning once I’ve showered and everything and get a sweet treat. Oh, ugly. Okay, guys. Do you like my outfit? Got on a little denim top, my white jeans, Elijah bags, the tops backless, and my clothes. And I’m going to go get my coffee now and a sweet treat. And then I’ll go in to town, find some lunch, say, and read my book. Today’s plan is to do as little as possible obviously. Oh, do I want that book? I might take my actual book and then going to go and try and watch the first female finisher of the 100 miles, the 160k. That’s about 3:00 and then pick up my bib at 5 and then just honestly get some dinner and chill cuz I’m going to have to be up early. Guys, this this right here is my actual ideal setup. a like chocolate sea salt cookie, a gorgeous flat white, a lovely little alfresco spot, and a podcast on. We’ll come back to the same place again cuz it’s just so good. Right. Allow me. Yeah. Right. Should we cook a test? Soft and like brown sugary. That combination is just unmatched. So good. Kind of love it. Come on. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Guys, I’ve just spent the entire afternoon getting unnecessarily emotional watching everyone finish their races. It’s actually just insane. This literally reminded me of the reason I wanted to start running in the first place. But in a dramatic turn of events, I’ve realized there’s a mandatory equipment list which includes a survival blanket, a whistle, and some kind of a reusable cup that I do not possess. And so I’ve Googled a running shop in Nice and I’m on my way try and find it. And I’m flagging and I really need some food and some water. But I thought get this before it shuts and then go do everything else I need to do. Um, I think I’m going to have to ask someone, aren’t I? Talk about last minute. Rihanna. Oh, it’s all of them. Oh, amazing. Perfect. That’s ideal. Thank you so much. You’re welcome. That was handy. The man helped me find like this one pack that had everything I needed in it for €14. So, that’s all good. I’m being completely honest, guys. I’m feeling a little bit overwhelmed. Watching everyone I don’t want to talk about now cuz I’m going to get upset. Watching everyone finish always makes me feel emotional, but I think it’s made me feel really emotional the fact that I’m here on my own. I love doing stuff on my own. Just feeling a little bit like I don’t know. Feeling a bit weird. I need to go and get my bib. I need to go get myself some carbs and then I’m going to go back and chill. Monies gota I’m back home. It’s like 6:00. Had a less than optimal afternoon before race. I’m just feeling a little bit like emotionally wobbly. I don’t really know what’s come over me. I think I’m just a bit like watching everyone finish did make me feel kind of a kind of way. And then I don’t know, four race is always quite a big deal, isn’t it? And then my phone was on 3% and I was like, “Oh my god, how am I going to like sit and eat and then still have charge to pay?” I concluded that I wasn’t. And also I was like, I think I just need to go home now. I think I just need to go home. I think I just need to sit down, sort myself out, like chill the [ __ ] out before tomorrow. So I used my 3% to go home via car 4 again. And I’ve got myself one bag. Really excited about that. And then I got this chicken pasta thing they have, which looks delicious. And I also got some like meat for me to have with my bread. I got some crisps, some hummus, and I got some pineapple for some goodness, some electrolytes. So, I’m going to get into some comfy clothes. Oh my god, these mosquito bites are so itchy. And I’m going to have a girl dinner in bed. Sue me. I think that’s probably the best option cuz I was just feeling a little bit weird. But let me give you a a bib bag haul. Is that a thing? So when I got my bib number, I did film bits of that cuz my camera was also running out of charge as well and I was like, “Oh my god, I’m unprepared.” This is my number. Very exciting times. For some reason, my name wasn’t printed on it. And for some reason, I also had two numbers registered to me, so they were all very confused and it didn’t really help with the language barrier. Um, this is my bag. In here, I’ve got my bag. So, I did do a little bit of shopping earlier and I bought myself this gorgeous bag. I’ve wanted one of these bags for so long and these were all handmade in Nice and it’s real leather and I just thought bloody gorgeous and I love the color. It’s like a grayy blue. Stunning. Can’t wait to wear that. Oh my god. Yeah. And then my pack that I managed to secure, thank God, with my safety blanket and my whistle and my reusable cup that I need to have to run tomorrow. So, that can all go down there. And then in here, I’ve got this is the bag that I get to put my jumper in tomorrow morning. I’ve figured that out. I also luckily Oh, lovely. That’s fun. Oh my god, I love that. That’s cool. Obsessed. I spoke to the general information people and I was like, “What do I do about the train tomorrow? Respect nature.” Oh, lovely. That’s for a bin bag for if when you’re on the run. So, let me put that in my pocket in case I need it. And then we’ve got Oh, yeah. That’s just my thingy mabob. The envelope that my bib was in. Not sure what this is. A delicious drink with some branding on it. Big fan. Thank you so much, UTMB. And that’s everything that I’ve got. I need to remember to take my pass tomorrow because while I did figure out my train situation, for some reason my bib number says that I’m in the first wave, which is basically the really speedy people. So obviously I spoke to like Queens, you’ve got it wrong. I will not be fronting up the race. Wrong girl. Um and they were like, “No props. Just cuz I’ve got a media pass.” And here at UTMB, they were like, “Just use your media pass to get on the later train and then you’re good to go.” Oh, hurty. All right, let me Get myself into some comfy clothes, I think, and start to decompress. That’s a good plan. This is what we’re working with, guys. Pretty excited about it, can’t I? Just did just have a dip of the hummus already. Get a bit of whatever cured meat this is. I’ve also got a big bottle of water and a big glass of extra. I’m so cool. Let’s get some of this in me first. Get some goodness in. Some salad, some chicken, some pasta. I mean, it’s very dry. I go, there is a sauce somewhere. Maybe I can make a little hummus, chicken, bit of cheese, salad, little sne Oh, I haven’t tried it. I got a flavor. mainly cuz I was quite in the mood for bread, but I couldn’t find any anywhere. Yum. Okay, I’m feeling so significantly better for to have eaten, but I am truly just feeling a little bit like a mess. I feel like I’ve just maybe boss independent girl a little bit too hard. Like, why am I actually here with no one else? Like I keep thinking about how much everyone was cheering today and like so many people were like crossing the finish line holding hands like they done it with friends and they or they done I could saw like so many people crossing the line holding their hands with their kids or like a couple of girls were running with their dads and I was like oh my god like it just makes me so happy and I’ve got into this massive hole of just doing stuff on my own and I feel like I’ve I’ve worked quite hard this year to not be so hyper independent but it is just like quite hard sometimes because I mean I wouldn’t have had anyone to come with on this anyway like it was such a last minute really cool trip and I don’t ever want to have to wait for somebody to say yes to cool opportunities but I don’t know like the idea that tomorrow I’m just like waking up on my own get myself ready get the train on my own to start and like run this whole race on my own and then not have anyone at the end like I love being my own biggest cheerleader and I’m excited about it but I also am just feeling like really wobbly about it like no one’s there people are cheering and I know that people will be following me from home but I’m just a bit like and then I’m going finished. I’m just going to be on my own. I feel I don’t know. Is that really sad? Like I feel like I went through such a phase of having to prove that I could do it on my own, but now I know I can do it on my own. Like I don’t want to do it on my own. I’m being a silly goose. I made a really good dent in this food that I ate all of the pasta. Just still powering through some bread to get some extra carbs in, but I’m going to have my sweet treat soon. And I want to look through all of my videos from people cheering cuz that’s going to make me cry even more while I’m feeling like an emotional mess. [Music] It’s time to get ready and go. Um, guys, I got 4 hours sleep. Isn’t that so peak? I mean, 4 hours sleep, the yellow recovery is pretty good going. I could not switch off for the life of me. I was doing that thing where I’m definitely just worried about today or like nervous about today. But rather than just being nervous about today, I was redirecting like my anxiety to like every other area of my life. Just couldn’t switch off the life of me. Kept going back on my phone. Not feeling vibes. But got my oats down me. Feeling excited. Feeling like it’s very early. Got to walk over to the train station in like the center of Nice this morning and then get the train over to the start line. My train is at 6:50, so we’ve got some time. I’m just being over cautious cuz nothing worse than super stressing about being late on race day. Don’t know if I ever reported back on these shoes yesterday after my shakeout run. Immediately very comfortable. Felt it required no wearing them at all. Okay, right. Vest going on. Maybe I’ll put the pack thing in the back. Oh, is there a back? Cuz I don’t really want that like on me. So, I’m putting in my safety pack situation. Where did I put my safety pins? Thinking on my side. Watch. Taking four gels. My plan is going to be to take one every like 40 minutes. So, I’m just taking enough so that I don’t know how long this is going to take me. I would love to do it if the cut off’s 5 hours. I would love to do it before, but I don’t know if that’s really optimistic thinking. I have no idea. I have no benchmark. Oh, not that. I have no like concept of how take delicious as well. Just in case I fancy some natural food. Let’s fill up these two and see where I fit them in. my two wadders. Pop the water to the road. Just going to put these in this barrel for now because I don’t need to wear everything right away, do I? I might even just load up when I’m there cuz just want to be as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. Naked bars. Take an elect. My headphones waters can go in there. No, I was just having a bit of cry. Not cry. It’s like a dilemma as to which sunnies I wanted to wear. I love my orange ones. I think I’m going to do these. Just clean them quickly while I wipe them. Yeah. Right then. Going to wear my hoodie on my way down there. This is going to be so much fun. Let’s go enjoy it. Right. Going to put my safety pins in my pocket. Headphones in my pocket. Remember, I’m also going to put on starter line in case I want to go for another wheel. I don’t want to rip it. Got my media pass, which I’m going to wear around my neck just for a nice ego boost. Okay, I’m going to leave you here just because I don’t want to be thinking about too many things. Got my phone. All right, then. Let’s go. decided to bring you with me and I just packed a little makeup bag to put you in my backdrop, which I know is risky business. Leaving this camera in backdrop, but I just Oh my god, that’s dark. Can’t see a bloody thing. I figured I’m going to be using a lot of phone battery today because you have to share your live location. Um, and I thought, can’t be having me at a finish line with no phone. That’s not vibes. I might just see if I can put you in my vest. Probably the better idea. Guys, this is like really quite a sketchy walk. I can’t lie. I feel like I should have got an Uber to the station, but I’m still 20 minutes away. I’m wondering if I do Uber. Like, I’m feeling a bit a bit uneasy. Yay. I found other people with backpacks on. I was starting to worry for a second. I was like, at what point do I stress that I haven’t seen anybody else in race kit? I’m just walking on my own here. Have I have I missed something? This is flashy part of Nice that I definitely haven’t seen. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] I just queued like half an hour for a toilet and it almost killed me, which I think is a good thing. Means I’m hydrated. But now heading to the start line. I just need to get my number on and I’m good to go. What a gorgeous morning though. That sunrise was stunning. [Music] You ready? [Music] All [Applause] right, we’re off. Oh, gorgeous. I’m trying so hard to pace it though cuz it’s really flat for the first 8K and then we’ve got a ginormous climb. It’s also warm, guys. This is one of my favorite things I’ve ever done in my life. And I’m like 4K in. Although what trail run is called flat, it’s not [ __ ] flat. Like gone up a million stairs. But it’s nice cuz everyone walks collectively on the uphill. So it’s fine. Oh my god. All right, guys. I think that was the first big climb done. This is hard, but so unbelievably beautiful. I think we’re now Oh, there’s like a little stop. [Music] I think that’s the answer for the 100 messy. I just love it. It’s so much more chill than any other race. Like I’m actually getting to take in the leaves. I’m not giving a [ __ ] about my time. Like 1 km back there took me 25 minutes. My new record. What’s going on here then? Oh, water. Yes. So much fun. Feel like a child. Feel alive. Heat. Heat. [Music] All right, guys. We are almost almost 3 hours in. almost 16k down and this is easily one of the coolest and most enjoyable things I think I’ve done in my life. It’s just so like gorgeous. Like it’s tough but like you can just make it as tough as you want to make it, you know? Like I’m just kind of cruising taking it all in. It’s gorgeous. I think we’re done with most of the hills now as well. Thank god. So hopefully sub four. It’s madly you go from chasing a sub4 American to chasing a sub4 half. Wow. unfucking real. I was so wrong about the hills. We went all the way down and we’ve come all the way back up. Gasp. Oh my god. We’re still going up. This is like the stair master in real life. [Music] We’re done. [Applause] [Music] Oh my goodness, you guys. I did it. I fully just did that. That was easily one of the coolest things I’ve ever done in my life. I think it might be the No, it’s not the coolest, but like one of them. I just like loved it so much. It was so different to anything I’ve ever done before. I cannot believe I just did that. The end result was my Straa says different obviously. When does it not? Does anybody else ever get that? Like it never is correct. Well, one of them is not right, but anyway. My Straa says 23.35 km. Moving time three hours 48 minutes 50 seconds, 819 meters of elevation gain. And then there’s my pace and like the grade adjusted. So like hill adjusted pace which oh my god just like the coolest thing ever. Like you can see the route as well if it wants to load up. So like we hugged the clothes all the way around. It was just so mega. Like it was so cool for my first experience of a trail run ever. Like I loved that no one there was just like zero judgment. Everyone was doing their own race. I like had my headphones in for the first had one headphone in for the first 4K and it was pissing me off because I was like, “Oh my god, why am I listening to music when there’s this?” And I I’m like such a get in my head kind of gal and I took my headphone out and I just didn’t put it back in for the remaining 20 km, which also mad how they sell it. [ __ ] 20k. I get it. Like the trails are 20k and the other bits either side make it. I understand. But like boy oh boy, that’s a long time. That’s basically also a marathon running for four hours. Oh, are you mad? And the hills. Oh my god. I mean, you would have seen it all anyway. But I’m just like debriefing to you. It was just so insane. So in my head, so beautiful. Like parts of the world that you would never see unless you were like out and or like on your feet and like going and doing something cool. But like the views. Sorry, I’m like propped on my window so you’re getting the reflection. And then when we that bit when you like actually well the two bits where you actually [ __ ] hiked. Oh, you mad. Like the fact that I got myself up there and down. There were three like climbs I’d say was mega. I loved the aid stations. Oh my god. You know how in an aid station when you’re in like road runner? Side note, got a tiny blister on the bottom of my left foot, but that was it. Which considering for new trainers and trail running, I think it’s quite impressive. The aid stations normally when you’re on a road race it’s like chuck an electrolyte down your like sports drink. They’ll maybe have some shitty gels on the side of the road which obviously lovely very grateful for but they’re not it and then no one’s like stopping these. They had cakes, they had cookies, they had watermelon, banana, oranges. I understand there also people was 100k today. So yesterday was 160k 50k. Today was 20k and 100k still mega. They had like a sweet portion and a savory portion and people were just stopped filling up their water having a chat like I got my vlog out. Gorgeous. Loved it. Everyone was just so supportive. I mean, they were supportive in French, which unfortunately I just really don’t know any of. I didn’t really come very prepared for that, did I? The water here is just insane. And you would have just seen all of this, but like absolutely unreal. And then the girl from UTMB who I’m here with, um, Priscilla, I want to say her name is, correct me if I’m wrong, Priscilla, if you’re I don’t know if you you know what I mean. She came to the finish line. I had a meltdown yesterday, obviously, about having no one here, and she filmed me crossing the finish line, you guys. Oh, look at me. Hey, springy ass. Adorable. So, one thing I’ve learned since being here, right, everything shuts at 2:00 p.m. and reopens at 7:00, obviously for their lunch and then their evening, which their dinner, which I understand, but I finished and then after I like collected my bag and I sat in the little hawker chair for a bit just like replying to my WhatsApps and I stayed. I also watched the oldest man finish. What a [ __ ] legend. Apparently he’s 80s something. He did what I did. Are you mad? I hope. Oh, look at him go. I stayed and watched him. So I I like popped about for a little bit and it got later and I was like, “Right, what am I going to do?” Walking back through Oldtown and there was like nothing open. I really wanted to go to my coffee shop and get a flat white and a cookie shut. Alternative coffee shop shut. And I was like, “Oh.” But then I’d already walked too far to the other ones that were open. And I was like, “Right, I just need to eat something.” Because my gels, the sap gels, went down a tree. Kind of reminded me. Did anybody used to make those cakes when you were like a child where you just like melt butter and sugar in a pan? Kind of felt like drinking that, which obviously is a plus. My stomach’s fine. Gorgeous vibes. Love that. Felt very fueled and very hydrated actually. Had to go for a couple of wises, which I don’t think I’ve ever felt actually hydrated on a race. I mean, at the end, my mouth was so dry, but that was because like it had been a while since the aid station. It was the last stint. I’ve done it before where I finish a race and then I like stupid. I normally go and get like a sweet treat or you go straight for a drink or you just don’t get like an actual balance meal. So I was walking back and I was getting really tired and I was like everything’s shut. I’m getting hungry. I’m getting just tired and annoyed now. And so I just walked past this like little French petissery place and they had a chicken and an avocado baguette. And so I just had that and sat outside for a second and ate that before I walked the rest of the way home. And now I’ve had a quick shower. I’m just going to sit in bed for a couple of hours to be honest because everything is shut. So I don’t feel like I’ve got that much FOMO for missing anything. And also, I just ran that this morning, so I’m allowed. Going to make myself a mid tea and probably have some of my dark chalk. And then I’m going to probably head back out later and get some dinner. But I’m going to leave this vlog here because I feel like I’m going to just try and like soak in the evening and my last two days in Nice. And then I’ll be vlogging again. I don’t know. Oh, maybe it’s my birthday weekend. Well, my London birthday weekend. My birthday’s not to the 9th of October, but I’m having all of my London birthday celebrations next week. So, please do like, subscribe, comment, follow me on all the other things. I love you loads. Thank you so much for being here. Maybe we’ll do a trail race again soon. Maybe we can do one together. Maybe we’ll plan one for TLC. The options are endless. Bye, love you loads. Thanks so much. See you in the next one. Bye.