From August 23 to 29, 2021, thousands of runners headed to Chamonix. For one week, the trail running capital of Haute-Savoie in the French Alps turned into the stage for a fierce showdown between the best trail runners on the planet. More than 300 runners trusted RunMotion Coach to prepare for this goal!
If the UTMB® brings together so many passionate runners, it’s because it’s a one-of-a-kind event, and we’re going to tell you why.
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UTMB®: An international race on every level
Kilian Jornet, François d’Haene, Pau Capell, Courtney Dauwalter, the best trail runners in the world all meet in Chamonix for UTMB®. The 2021 edition delivered a truly elite field, with French runner François d’Haene taking the win for the 4th time.
If the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc is the most anticipated race of the year, it’s also one of the most watched. This year, organizers made it possible to follow the races live, including real-time coverage filmed from electric bikes. With nearly 100 different nations represented, UTMB® brings the whole world to Chamonix for one shared mission, to live and breathe trail running for a full week.
UTMB® Mont-Blanc: 7 days, 7 races
For one week, Chamonix becomes the beating heart of the event. It’s where you leave loved ones behind to find yourself alone on the trails around Mont Blanc. It’s also where you raise your arms and shout with joy at the finish. In 2003, trail fans discovered UTMB® for the first time. That inaugural edition had 711 runners on the start line, but only 67 made it to the finish. The race was defined by epic mountain weather, with rain, hail, and cold.
With demand exploding, the organizers created additional races that take place alongside UTMB®. The most recent is the MCC® (Martigny-Combe-Chamonix, 40 km), launched in 2018. Three years later, the event features 7 races ranging from 15 to 300 km, and that’s a big reason why UTMB® remains one of the most anticipated trail and ultra endurance events in the sport.
Mont Blanc as the backdrop
If Chamonix has become the trail running capital, UTMB® is a huge part of the reason. From France to Switzerland, via Italy, runners take on breathtaking mountain trails with one massive landmark guiding the way, Mont Blanc. At 4,810 m, it’s hard not to lock eyes with it at least once.
The different UTMB Mont-Blanc® races cross high mountain passes and iconic trails in a unique setting around Mont Blanc. The finish-line atmosphere in Chamonix is often described as spectacular, and it plays a major role in the event’s global reputation. On top of that, the organization is widely recognized as exceptional.
UTMB® is a tough race
Even if UTMB® isn’t the hardest ultra out there, it’s still a serious monument in ultra trail running. With 170 km (about 105 miles) and nearly 10,000 m of elevation gain, UTMB® is famous for its brutal, highly mountainous course. The race is marked by countless DNFs, among amateurs and pros alike.
The event always takes place in late August. Weather conditions can be amazing or absolutely savage. Intense heat, then an icy night, ultra-trail runners who take on this challenge need to be ready for anything.
UTMB®: how to prepare for it?
Let’s be honest, to finish a race like UTMB® (170 km and 10,000 m of elevation gain), you need a solid and consistent running base. For an amateur runner, finishing UTMB® usually means at least 30 hours in the mountains. Over a race that long, everything matters, nutrition, recovery, hydration, pacing strategy, and sometimes even sleep management. It’s pure endurance performance.
If you want to line up for one of the races, you need to factor all of this in. Here are a few tips to prepare for a UTMB® race:
- Bien choisir ses bâtonsChoose the right poles and learn how to run with them
- Plan and test your race nutrition well before race day (bars, gels, sports drinks)
- Follow a training plan tailored to your goal
- Choose the right gear (shoes, pack, clothing)
- Get used to altitude
- Learn how to descend efficiently
Discover comment réussir son UTMB® avec un plan personnaliséhow to succeed at UTMB® with a personalized plan.
Congrats to all the finishers! Did this UTMB® overview make you want to take on Chamonix one day?