Episode 238 of Talk Ultra – After 37-years, the iconic Marathon des Sables will move ahead with new owners, the legacy of Patrick Bauer is there for all of us to see. With new owners comes change and in this episode of Talk Ultra, we discuss these changes with co-owner and CEO Cyril Gauthier.
This in-depth podcast discusses the history and background of Cyril Gauthier and then organically follows through to discuss the brand WAA, the growth of HMDS and the future and changes for Marathon des Sables.
UPDATE – This was not addressed in my podcast, at the time, I did not have the facts. However, post podcast I have had questions raised by some who had concern about medical support and the Doctor team, so I reached out for an answer, and I quote:
“We will try to do better than with Doc Trotter. I have been contracted with DoK Ever since the beginning of HMDS. They were also the ones who managed MDS Peru. They are among the leaders in Europe and I believe we can increase the quality. We have the same number of doctors, podiatrists and nurses: 60. I am going to modify the management of vehicles by keeping the current system but adding a rapid intervention force with SSVs. Always with the helicopter as back up.” – Cyril Gauthier
It’s suggested you read this article written Jube 2023 in advance of this recording.
The beautiful island and people of La Palma have had their share of troubles, the impact of coronavirus, forest fires and of course the devastating volcanic eruption.
Nestled away, a hidden gem, the island was unknown (relatively) until a summit in 2012, ‘Less Cloud, More Sky’ – the idea of Lauri van Houten, Marino Giacometti (International Skyrunning Federation) in conjunction with Julio Carbera on the island; La Palma was elevated to a ‘go to’ place, particularly for runners.
Kilian Jornet, Luis Alberto Hernando, Marco De Gasperi, Max King, Dakota Jones, Anton Krupicka, Sebastian Chaigneau, Francois D’Haene, Anna Frost, Nikki Kimball and he worlds best runners assembled on the island to discuss the future of skyrunning and discuss the future of the sport.
They also participated in the 2012 event and the stage was set for it to become one of, if not THE events of the year.
2012, victory went to ‘young money,’ Dakota Jones with Andy Symonds and Kilian Jornet 2nd and 3rd. For the women, Anna Frost dominated ahead of Nuria Picas and Nikki Kimball.
2012 – Anton Krupicka, Mike Wolfe, Joe Grant, Geoff Roes and Dakota Jones
2013, Kilian Jornet, Luis Alberto Hernando and Sage Canaday made 1,2 and 3 and for the women, Emelie Forsberg burst on to the scene ahead of Nuria Picas and Uxue Fraile.
2014 Luis Alberto Hernando finally beat Kilian Jornet and once again, Sage Canaday placed 3rd. Frosty (Anna Frost) returned to the top of the podium, this time with a course record 08:10:41 ahead of Maite Maiora and Uxue Fraile.
2015, Luis Alberto Hernando did the double followed by Dani Garcia and Blake Hose. For perspective, the top-10 reads today, in 2023, as a who’s who of trail running: Dakota Jones, 4th, Zach Miller 5th, Dimitrios Theodorakakos 6th, Cristofer Clemente 7th, Pablo Villa 8th, Julien Coudert 9th and Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz 10th. Emelie Forsberg once again topped the women’s podium with Anna Comet and Myriam Guillot placing 2nd and 3rd.
Quite simply, Transvulcania was the bomb.! The stunning route, the sea, to summit and back to sea route personified the essence of skyrunning and the views while running, mind-blowing. Few forget the sunrise in the volcano section on race day.
Having travelled all over this island many, many times and having known routes and trails like the back of my hand, the devastation post the volcano was hard to see. What had been familiar was no longer familiar. Houses gone, homes destroyed, and roads eradicated from the landscape.
Emerging from difficult times, La Palma and it’s people needed a boost.
In February 2022, Transvulcania joined the ‘by UTMB’ and to many, the move did not make sense. The heritage and growth through skyrunning disappeared along with the website and the record of the races history.
Celebrating its 12th edition, the first since 2019, Transvulcania hoped to return stronger than ever; a poignant edition following the troubles of the 2021 volcano. Petter Engdahl and Abby Hall were crowned champions.
Despite the razzamatazz, despite the buzz, despite the incredible finish line atmosphere, the event never matched the 2012 to 2019 heyday.
27th September 2023.
An official announcement is made and in the words of President Sergio Rodriguez, Transvulcania will aim to “recover its essence.”
In the mountain, ultra and trail world, the progression of ‘by UTMB’ has become overwhelming for many, at the time of writing, there are 39 events worldwide. The ‘by UTMB’ brand has shown growth in our sport, it has provided opportunities and incentives and has helped elevate trail running on a global level.
But…
For Transvulcania and the people of La Palma, a return to its roots has produced a cheer of acceptance. One quote stands out, “No one like us, the inhabitants of the island of La Palma, to decide how we want our competition for excellence to be,”
It’s a clear statement that the growth and pressure of ‘by UTMB’ is not welcome in certain places.
Taken from a release on Transvulcania social media (translation by Google):
In this sense, the president of the First Corporation, Sergio Rodriguez, stresses that the project will be reconfigured “to regain its essence”. “We wanted a jewel like the Transvulcania to regain its splendor, to be palm trees again. That’s why we support public and local management, but with a global perspective. “No one like us, the inhabitants of the island of La Palma, to decide how we want our competition for excellence to be,” explains.
And it is that, Rodríguez understands, the Transvulcania, “from its early years, it was a revulsive for companies, and unfortunately in the latest editions it lost a lot of strength.” “We set ourselves as the goal of taking it to the highest level, although without giving up what made us feel like a symbol of our territory. “We pursue that in the streets, weeks before, a festive atmosphere is breathed again; that awakens enthusiasm between locals and foreigners,” adds the island leader.
I’m very happy with this decision, I have performed the test before and after with the UTMB in the middle and there is no color, before it was a spectacle in every way: organization, treatment with the runner and palm trees as always generous and delivered. Congratulations on the decision made and the great career it is.
Bring back that Transvulcania of yesteryear.. It will be a matter of returning to the beautiful island and its people. The real protagonists of this great race that fell in love and hooked everyone who ran it.. 2024, signed up to try and get that 6th Palmera ultraMarathon, for me.. the best in the whole world!!
As I get deeper into my love for photographey, I want to speak to those whose work is not only technically profound but unique. Being unique is the key to unlocking a world of opportunities and experiences that others can learn from and see what is possible. That is why I reached out to connect with Ian Corless.
Photography enthusiasts, if you’ve ever scrolled through Ian Corless’s Instagram feed, you’ll understand why I was eager to connect with him. His extraordinary work stands out, but it’s not just his talent that sets him apart. Ian’s remarkable willingness to engage and network, both with clients and during this interview, is a testament to his character. He takes photography to the extreme, whether it’s capturing high-profile commercial assignments, scaling a mountainside for a passion project, or sharing as much knowledge with the photography community as he can. Check out his work and the words he shared with me about his journey in photography.
New for 2024, Norway’s first multi-day trail running event, the LOFOTEN STAGE RUN brought to you by the team behind The Arctic Triple taking place Week 22 2024 (w/c 27th May)
Located in the stunning and world-renowned Archipelago of Lofoten, The Arctic Triple team will offer two stunning races, the 175km Expedition Run and the 120km Adventure Run, both starting in the iconic, beautiful, and picturesque Reine and concluding in Svolvær.
Travel point-to-point, on foot, experiencing the majesty of Norway. Stunning trails, majestic mountains, resplendent views, and all during the endless daytime of the midnight sun. A fully supported journey over 4-days (6-days in total) and remembered for a lifetime.
The Lofoten Stage Run will bring the best of what Norway has to offer – fjords, fishing villages, beaches, mountains, ridges and of course the world-renowned Hytte experience.
Kristian Nashoug at Reine
“Lofoten Stage Run came about after the 2021 Arctic Triple and the realisation that only the 100-mile runners were getting a full 360 Lofoten experience. Not everyone wants or can run 100-miles in one go, especially here in Lofoten. So, we have created the Lofoten Stage Run which effectively breaks down our 100-mile race in 4-stages and therefore offers a more manageable way to experience all that Lofoten has to offer.”– Kristian Nashoug
The Lofoten Stage Run, either the 175km or 120km versions offer a full day to cover the respective stages and the opportunity to really experience all that this area has to offer. In the evening, runners will meet local hosts, experience local food, have comfortable lodging, and create new bonds and friendships with like-minded people. Lofoten is one of the most ‘desired’ places to visit in the world, what better way to experience it?
This is no ordinary multi-day race!
Stages will consist of 4-days, 39km, 60k, 31km and 45km for the 175km Expedition Run and 39km, 29km, 31km and 21km for the 120km Adventure Run, it’s The Arctic Triple’s aim to make this experience available to all.
Day 3 at Brustranda Fjordcamping in Rolvsfjord, a real gem on the inside of the Lofoten archipelago.
And finally, all races conclude in Svolavær.
Experience Lofoten.
Experience the Arctic Circle.
Experience the midnight sun.
Experience the majesty and beauty of Norway under your own power.
PRICE NOK 32.900 (ca €2950)
What is included? Accomodation 5 nights (one night before and after is also included) Race registration Luggage transport from basecamp to basecamp All meals from when we meet in Svolvær day 1 until breakfast day 6 Start kit The Arctic Triple buff Service stations First Aid Evacuation transport Timing Tracking Warm meal after finish Boat ride to the starting line in Kjerkfjorden Quality Finisher shirt
Over 1500 runners are celebrating 10-years of the Salomon Cappadocia Ultra Trail in 2023, the stage is set for it to be the best one yet. Offering three distances, 119km, 63km and 38km, what better way is there to experience the hills and valleys of this UNESCO world heritage site? A place of exceptional natural wonders and a peerless historical heritage!
Cappadocia is a semi-arid region in central Turkey, is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in Monks Valley, Göreme and elsewhere. Other notables sites include Bronze Age homes carved into valley walls by troglodytes (cave dwellers) and later used as refuges by early Christians. The 100m-deep Ihlara Canyon houses numerous rock-face churches. This unique cultural and morphological heritage site was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985 and today is one of the most visited regions of Turkey.
Three events and one unique experience.
CUT 119km 3730m+ (200 participants)
withAleksi Tolstenko, Dmitry Mityaev, Ekaterina Mityaeva, Alper Dalkilic, and Elena Polyakova.
CMT 63km 20230m+ (552 participants)
withTofol Castanyer, Erik La Puma, Dioni Gorla, Janosh Kowalczyk and Kim Schreiber.
CST 38km 1120m+ (833 participants)
withMartin Dematteis, Martin Anthamatten, Jeshrun Small, and Sven Koch.
Episode 237 of Talk Ultra has an interview with Corina Sommer who won Oman Desert Marathon early in 2023 and went on to place 4th at Marathon des Sables.
Now in its 8th edition, the Oman Desert Marathon took place January 21st to 24th. A self-sufficient race, the event took place over 4-stages with a total distance of 165-kms. Corina Sommer battled hard to take a convincing victory.
HOME of the GIANTS goes live August 1st. A multi-day adventure through the magical and amazing playground that is Jotunheimen, Norway. Unlike a race, this journey is a finely balanced exclusive trip for just 12 participants. A challenge at a more relaxed pace, taking in an amazing route whilst moving light in a semi self-sufficient mode. More HERE
Are you up for an adventure in an incredible part of the world?
If the answer is yes, Home Of The Giants is for you!
JULY 21ST TO JULY 28TH 2024
A multi-day adventure through the magical and amazing playground that is Jotunheimen, Norway. Unlike a race, this journey is a finely balanced exclusive trip for just 12 participants. A challenge at a more relaxed pace, taking in an amazing route whilst moving light in a semi self-sufficient mode.
The iconic ‘The Church’ we go to the summit on day 2
Spread over 5-days, our journey starts from Bygdin Fjellhotel with an overnight stay, the following morning we depart via the iconic M/B Bitihorn boat covering the length of Bitihorn lake to our start point at Eidsbugarden. A magical journey, on foot, covering 100kmand 4774m+
Snow fields, water crossings and morraine
You will encounter snow, water crossings, airy and exposed sections, plenty of climbing and descending and full days on the trail. Each day will conclude at a DNT cabin where you will have a bed, shower facilities, 3-course dinner and breakfast included.
Rock and snow transitions to lush green and single-track
WANT TO JOIN US?
Only 12 places are available for what will be a journey of a lifetime.
Episode 236 of Talk Ultra is with adidas Terrex athlete, Sabrina Stanley who placed 2nd at Ultra Trail Snowdonia by UTMB.
Ultra Trail Snowdonia by UTMB blossomed in 2023! The dream project of RD Michael Jones was to bring a UTMB scale event to the UK, the event reached new heights with some 3000 participants toeing the line of one of the many races on offer.
The 100-mile race is a brute and adidas Terrex athlete, Sabrina Stanley, flew in from the US to participate looking for a podium place and a secured entry for UTMB in Chamonix come August.
Sabrina climbing with Tryfan behind.
Have you tried the new HOKA Torrent 3? Review HERE
The Hoka Torrent has become one of my favourite shoes.
The Torrent 2, while not the best shoe at anyone thing, is without doubt, one of the best all-rounders. Trail, single-track, rocks, mountains, forest, some mud and yes, even road. If I could only have one shoe, it would be a Torrent.
So, when I heard a Torrent 3 was going to be released, I got a little worried. Shoe brands have a tendency to want to change things, wether they need changing or not. Gladly, Hoka seem to be able to restrain that urge, listen to the audience and tweak appropriately.
The Torrent 3 is exactly this.
For me, the Torrent 2 was pretty much perfect, the only misgiving being the outsole which most definitely was compromised on wet rock. The Torrent 3 has a new outsole and without doubt, it is an improvement both in the wet a dry.
Torrent 2 was, on occasion, a shoe that retained heat. So, the Torrent 3 has a stripped back upper which is now single-layer mesh for increased breathability.
Profly construction, neutral, gusseted tongue, meta-rocker, 4mm lugs, cushioned but not excessive, great ground feel, light, responsive and a 5mm drop make the Torrent 3 a perfect shoe for most scenarios.
I got introduced to the Hoka Torrent in early 2021 after avoiding Hoka for many, many years. I was tempted back due to the Torrent being the least Hoka like shoe, basically, less cushioning and more ground feel. I was not disappointed. I immediately fell in love with the Torrent 2 and 6 pairs later, I am still in love with them, but that will change, the Torrent 3 is better and that says a great deal.
The Torrent 3 is just a great everyday shoe that works on most terrain and provides comfort over short or long distance. The PROFLY is excellent, and the propulsive phase is great, as is ground feel. There is a firmer feel to the Torrent 3, but not as form as the Zinal. Just like the Torrent 2, the Torrent 3 sits nicely between the Zinal and Tecton which has two carbon plates, I still choose the Torrent 3 over these other options.
Neutral, a 5mm drop with 18mm cushioning at the front and 23mm at the rear makes this a shoe that blends ground feel, responsiveness and cushioning perfectly. Great on on long or short runs, the Torrent 3 manages anything except very muddy ground. The wider footprint goes a long way in providing great comfort and less roll. There is no rock plate in the shoe and in all honesty, for me, I found no issues or problems. However, some say they feel too much…
A key improvement is the outsole, which has been re-worked from the original Torrent and Torrent 2. The grip works well in soft ground but if heading into muddy terrain, you will no doubt need a more aggressive outsole. The key difference is grip on wet rock, the softer rubber is a big improvement.
Fitting is true to size, with great comfort in the heel, excellent padded tongue, good lacing, a considerably more breathable upper and modest toe protection, the Torrent 3 is a winner.
Conclusion
Torrent 2 was superb, Torrent 3 is even better. It really is that simple. Ultimately, a great all-rounder over any distance and any terrain. It has low weight, comfort, toe splay and cushioning. If you only can purchase one shoe, the Torrent 3 is ideal. If you need a really specific shoe, for specific purpose, then yes, there maybe better alternatives, Speedgoat for technical trail, Challenger for road to trail and Zinal for fast and short, but trust me, the Torrent 3 sits perfectly amongst all these shoes and does the job superbly.
Episode 235 of Talk Ultra and we speak with Katie (Catherine) Young who placed 6th lady and 1st Brit at the 2023 Marathon des Sables in 34h 21m 18s.
The 2023 Marathon des Sables will go down in the 37-year history of the race as a tough one. With second longest stage in the race history (90km), a tough course and excessive heat, 30% did not make it to the finish.
Katie Young from the UK, running her first stage race had an incredible run placing 6th woman and 1st Brit.
Are you planning on running Marathon des Sables or a similar race in 2024 or beyond? Why not join us in January for our LANZAROTE TRAINING CAMP which runs from the 11th to 18th. More information HERE.
Marathon des Sables 2024 #MDS – The New Features Discussed
2024 Marathon des Sables entries are due to open on June 30th. Moving forward, some changes will be made to the race. Read a summary of points HERE.
NEED A NEW PACK?
Are you looking for a new pack that is suitable for fastpacking and stage racing? We are currently testing the Camelbak Octane 25 and it is proving a real favourite. It’s full of features, has great storage and is extremely comfortable. Check out our first impressions HERE.
IAN CORLESS 