UTMB — Race Reports — Will to Run

UTMB 2021 Race Report

107.6 miles

33,500 +- vertical feet

Arriving in Chamonix felt like a return to the glory days. I was back in trail running paradise for the Superbowl of mountain ultras and my 3rd UTMB.

I came to the start line fit, strong, and prepared after enlisting the help of Coach Damian Hall (5th place at the 2018 UTMB). Jen couldn’t make it to crew this year, so Keith Knipling – the man, the myth, the legend – came all the way out to help.

Race day arrived with clear skies and cool weather. It would be cold and windy up at high altitude, but otherwise we had great conditions for the lap around Mont Blanc. If all went well, I hoped to best my time of 28:23 in 2019, but that was a perfect race and would be tough to top. Most of all I wanted to enjoy the ride, soak in the experience, and finish this epic adventure.

Will WeidmanSeptember 3, 2021UTMBComment

UTMB Race report

105 miles

+-33,000 feet

30h17min

GPX Track

Where to begin? I got into ultramarathons 10 years ago, and way back then UTMB captured my heart and my imagination. About 4 years ago I started working backwards from what it would take to toe the line. 3 years ago I ran a humbling 36 mile race in the Swiss Alps. My Trail Verbier 111km finish 2 years ago started the collection of qualifying points and gave me the confidence that toeing the start line wasn’t insane. I ran an 80 mile race in the German forest and a 50 mile race in the French mountains to get the rest of my points. I entered the lottery late last year and was very lucky to have my name drawn. Game on!

Race ReportWill WeidmanSeptember 9, 2017UTMB, Ultra Trail du Mont BlancComment