Extreme ultra-runs like the UTMB demand everything from athletes. The results show: if you want to win, you need the right mental strategy in addition to endurance.
An extremely long race like the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) over around 108 miles (approx. 173 kilometres) and around 33,000 metres of elevation gain is far more than just a physical test of endurance. When the world's elite trail runners gather in Chamonix, mental attitude and race tactics often decide between victory, podium finishes or an early DNF. The results and race progressions of the UTMB events clearly show how different the approaches of the pros are – and what recreational runners can learn from them.
As reports from media outlets like Trail Runner Magazine and Runner's World show, different tactics lead to the finish line in ultra-running. The American Ben Dhiman chose an extremely aggressive approach in his historic victory, where he became the first runner to break the 19-hour mark. According to his own statements, he showed no respect to the course and pushed as hard as possible from the very beginning. After taking the lead, he continuously built on his advantage.
His compatriot Caleb Olson, who secured third place, demonstrated the exact opposite. He approached the race in a controlled manner, was initially in tenth place and patiently worked his way forward over the course of the night. Patience also paid off in shorter distances like the 60-kilometre OCC race: the American Lauren Gregory held back for a long time, relied on her speed endurance and only overtook the leader in a sprint on the final kilometre. The Norwegian Yngvild Kaspersen was even outside the top 10 halfway through the CCC race and fought her way to victory with a strong second half.
A key to success in the ultra sector is the ability to deal with unforeseen problems and setbacks. The weather forced a two-hour start delay at the UTMB, sending the runners into the dark almost immediately. Blandine L’Hirondel, the women's winner, was not deterred by this and passed the early aid stations with a smile on her face – a sign of mental ease, even though she had to struggle with heavy falls and shaking legs in the final stage of the race.
The third-place finisher of the CCC race, Hans Troyer, also proved mental resilience. After a bitter DNF at the Western States in June, he channelled his disappointment into a strong performance at the CCC. He ran the entire race without poles and took it with humour when he was overtaken uphill by competitors with poles – an important lesson for future races for him.
The strategies of the pros can be easily transferred to your own training and the preparation of hobby runners. If you want to tackle long distances, you should not only rely on physical fitness:
Your takeaway: Pace yourself patiently from the start and learn to react flexibly to unforeseen situations.
This article was generated automatically with AI from the sources listed above and has not been editorially reviewed.