Al goes wild in Tuscany… or more accurately, Tuscany goes wild with Al.
This is the story of one man, one dream, and one very muddy path to UTMB.
Al’s that man, and his dream is to run UTMB. And to make that dream as painless as possible, I designed a spreadsheet to break that dream into two parts (yes, I’m that prosaic):
Qualify - ideally without too much drama
Then prepare for the big dance in Chamonix.
After some mildly obsessive research, we settled on Chianti. A 100-miler through vineyards, medieval villages and rolling Tuscan hills - it looked like the friendliest route to a UTMB Index score.
Sunshine, good food, and only moderate trauma. What could possibly go wrong?
Well… Pneumonia. Then rain. Then mud. Then bed bugs.
But I won’t steal Al’s thunder - this one’s a proper story. The kind of race where the weather turns biblical, the hills never end, and every wrong turn is character building.
Chianti Castles 100M - My Wild Road to UTMB Qualification
Looking back, if I had to describe the event in three words, it would be epic, gritty and unforgettable.
While I got a real kick in being able to participate in a race with Kilian Jornet (second time in 10 months) and Jim Walmsley - this race is not just about endurance, it’s a journey through history and nature, navigating through 25 medieval castles.
Of course the biggest delight of this race for me was accomplishing the most important part of my running project and qualifying for the UTMB ballot.
But it wasn’t all easy…
In Chianti, a region celebrated for its pristine, sunny landscapes, the weather took an abrupt and harsh turn. What was meant to be a scenic and predictable trail turned into an unpredictable battleground.
A relentless downpour transformed the route into a treacherous, clay-laden track, where every step forward felt like a monumental struggle.
Before race day, a gruelling six-week illness meant I had only a three-week window to recuperate and rebuild both physically and mentally. With unwavering support from my coach James, and his race day text "YOU GOT THIS AL!", I managed to restore my fitness just enough to make it to the race.
Embarking on the race solo - without any crew support, bag drops, or a spare change of clothes - I dove into what turned out to be a raw test of endurance and determination.
Aimed at seasoned ultra marathon runners…
… with knowledge of self navigation, this race has reasonably low participants and marshals compared to other ultras. So I knew I had to be prepared to be navigating and running the course solo for most of the race.
The challenge starts well before - there are no direct flights to Chianti. You need to get a flight to Pisa, transfer to Chianti, or stay in Florence and travel a day before. The region is very similar to our Peak District with higher hills so the conditions are varied and the weather can change suddenly.
Worth mentioning too that there’s not much to see in Radda after the race.
Best to travel to Florence and enjoy the beautiful architecture and food there. Unless you are staying in Tuscany in a vineyard and opt in for a good wine and village atmosphere.
The cut off points in this race…
… are a not generous total of 26 hours. One person missed the last cut off point on the finish line by ELEVEN MINUTES.
I was determined to not be that person, and pushed to get through the first 3 check points with purpose, before buckling down for the long haul.
I trusted my training, and paced myself - paying attention to the routes and signs, as they were very few and far in between, especially when it was stormy. It was only too easy to take a wrong turn.
In fact I managed to lose my way 5 times, adding an extra 5km to the already longest distance that I’ve ever run.
In all, there were 5 stages in this race for me…
The Awakening: 4am start at Radda in Chianti and the realisation of the task ahead
The Technical Ascents and Descents: Brolio to Monteluco uphills, Monteluco to Cantalici steep downs, continuous uphill from Gaiole in Chianti to Vila san Michele
The Turn in the Weather: From 1:25pm on Saturday to my finish time of 4:39am on Sunday, there was non-stop rain, fog and storm. Going through 7 angry river crossings and fallen trees with loose rocks in my soaked trainers, shorts, and one layer of light water proof jacket.
The Loneliness & Resilience Test: Knowing that I am there all by myself in the middle of a place that I’ve never been. Not being in the best shape of my life, and that one wrong step can have an irreversible consequence on my future life. I had to dig deep and go to a place in my mind that would get me to the finish line. Remembering that giving up is harder than finishing the race.
The Final Surge: Rising through the night and heading back to Radda in Chianti
The final stretch consisted of exhaustion, determination, and the will to succeed despite overwhelming odds.
Whilst I was watching participants going past me…
… I drew from my past ultra experiences knowing that patience is the key to completing the task. Sitting back during the race and letting go of my ego is the biggest lesson that I’ve learnt from my challenges.
I came through the race only by pacing myself and getting the balance right when everything went wrong before the race. That included having a power cut before the race and bed bugs in my 5-star hotel - all adding to the nightmare year that I’d had.
As the finish line approached, every painful step and every lesson learned along the way combined in a final surge of energy.
In those last moments, the challenges of technical terrain, relentless weather, and solitary struggle combined into a bittersweet experience - an emotional mix of hard-won victory and the somber reminder of a tough battle fought on every front.
And best of all?
That lovely old lady who stayed at the finish line and kindly took my photo at the end. That made it the perfect humbling end to my Chianti adventure.
A final word from me…
This one had everything - illness, chaos, relentless weather, and a route that gave nothing for free.
But what carried Al through wasn’t luck or perfect prep; it was total conviction. Quiet, determined, no-fuss belief that he could keep moving forward, however grim it got.
Honestly, I thought he could get round, but that was with a full training block, good health, and something vaguely resembling normal conditions.
To do it solo, sleep-deprived, soaked, and stubborn as hell, in that weather, on that course… that was something else.
That’s one giant step closer to UTMB (ballot permitting). And a big tick next to the hardest part of the plan - qualify.
Chamonix, Al’s coming for you.