Chris Myers, a professional trail runner, presents a two-month European training block aimed at the UTMB, launched toward the end of August. The article explains that this journal gives access to his personal perspective and to how he prepares the “big loop” of Chamonix, even if his day at the UTMB ultimately ends in a DNF.
Myers explains that, to document his preparation this summer, he chose an original tracking method inspired by his artistic profession. He says he decided to log his runs in a way tied to his life as a “visual effects artist” in Hollywood, before becoming a full-time runner.
He then describes his role in the industry: as a Digital Matte Painter, he mainly creates 2D backdrops in Photoshop, later used in shots. This artistic path is presented as a connecting thread linking his creative activities to the content of his training journal.
Myers says he has already studied art and trained in France during his first year of university. He adds that one of the tasks involved carrying a sketchbook during trips, with the goal of filling it at the end of the stay through a variety of sketches.
Finally, he explains the practical origin of the fusion between sketchbook and training: a friend, having seen his sketchbook after a previous trip, encourages him to document his UTMB preparation by combining a traditional journal with his drawings. He also says that each day he sets the goal of sketching something connected to his race.
The piece opens with a progress milestone: the mention “Week 5: Chamonix, France”. This places the stage discussed within the context of the weekly update of his journal during his preparation through the end of August.
