For Ferdinand Airault, UTMB is proof that magic does exist. Training out of New York City but competing in the Alps is just part of his big story. Finishing 25th overall in 21h44min, Ferdinand came away with a race that reminded him why he does this in the first place.
FUELING THE ENGINE
Nutrition can make or break an ultra, and my strategy this year was built on a high-carbohydrate plan, pushing well over 100 to sometimes 200g of carbs per hour. The secret to making this work was heavily relying on The Feed to source a massive variety of products, allowing me to rotate through a mix of Precision Fuel, Maurten, Enervit and SIS but also sometimes some local brands nutrition like BIX, and Baouw or even the checkpoints fruits & nuts — so I never experienced flavor fatigue.
However, I realized last year that high carbs only work for me if your body can process them. Hence, this edition I drank significantly more water and electrolytes than last year to ensure my gut could actually absorb the fuel. And it worked.
The most crucial part was listening to my sensations. If my stomach felt off, I didn't force a gel. I'd proactively back off the pace, wait for the next checkpoint, and switch to real food like soup and rice to reset my system. For the final push, a perfectly timed Red Bull and caffeine kick was an absolute lifesaver — mostly thanks to Maurten CAF.
THE "REMONTADA" PACING STRATEGY
My mantra this year was borrowed from Ruth Croft: "Start like a donkey, finish like a horse." Last year, I cooked myself early. This year, dealing with plantar fasciitis and a recent cold, I was forced to be incredibly conservative. I sat at 187th at the first checkpoint and 75th at Courmayeur. Chasing people down instead of just surviving is a vastly better experience. Because I saved my quads early on, I was actually able to run the flats in the back half, even hitting a 3:45/km pace at km 170.
FROM CENTRAL PARK TO THE ALPS
Training in New York City half of the year and racing the Alps is a massive contrast. Finishing in 21h44min (25th overall, 11th French) while living in the city feels like a huge achievement. I'm fairly confident this might be the fastest UTMB ever run by a New York-based athlete. I want to tell every city dweller: yes, you can. Through my coaching company, Trail Blaze Coaching, I've seen athletes conquer La Diagonale des Fous and UTMB, and I just proved you can even be in the mix at the top of the sport while training in a concrete jungle.
MINDSET AND CREW
I spent 10 days at a Vipassana silent meditation retreat before the race, which helped me stay humble and open to the surprises an ultra throws at you. The race really starts after La Fouly. Having the discipline to stay relaxed and take my time at checkpoints with my crew chief, Romain, paid off immensely. My total rest time across the entire race was only 23 minutes — which is short but also long compared to the top of the pack. I intentionally took the time to completely change clothes, reset my gear stress-free, and bring my heart rate down, but foremost to eat and prepare well for my upcoming nutrition by "picking" from the options offered by my crew on the table. That calm, "exogenous time" paradoxically made me much faster on the trail.
THE REAL MAGIC TRICK
In French, we call a magic trick "un tour de magie," and this race is the "Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc." An ultra really is like a magic trick: it looks entirely impossible from the outside. But if you embrace the environment, dial in the steps, and let the energy of the crowd carry you, you become a bit of a magician.
On a deeper note, I carried a breast cancer awareness symbol with me around Mont Blanc to support Fanny's sister — my sister-in-law — in her fight against the disease. It was a grounding reminder of how lucky we are just to be able to take part in such a beautiful adventure.
