UTMB Chianti Ultra Trail 100 mile

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 the history and nature, navigating through 25 medieval castles.

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.

Seasoned ultra marathon runners, with knowledge of self navigation.

This race has reasonably low participants and marshals compared to other ultras, so be prepared to be navigating and running the course solo for most of the race.

There are no direct flights to Chianti so get a flight to Pisa, transfer to Chianti. Or stay at Florence and travel a day before. Either way 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.

Here comes the experience - 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 your 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 includes having a power cut before the race and bed bugs in my 5 star hotel to add to the nightmare year that I had.