The Mont Blanc Ultra Trail, a day and night race around the highest summit in Europe, attracted around 7,500 runners as it began on Friday.<br /><br />Billed as the race every runner should complete at least once in their life, several runners said they were apprehensive about finishing the race.<br /><br />One runner said: “I’m scared to death! Every time I ask myself: ‘Why am I going on a such a thing?’ 168 kilometres really is for mad people, but I’ve trained for this, so I hope it will be ok! Last time it didn’t work.”<br /><br />Starting in the centre of Chamonix on Friday evening, some will complete the 168 kilometre trail in as little as 12 hours, although most take much longer.<br /><br />The race sees participants climb as high a 9,600 metres and takes in the incredible scenery of the French, Swiss and Italian sides of the Alps along the way.
