Kings of the Trail #160
- Luke Jarman
- Apr 3
- 2 min read
Go Further & Explore More...
“Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough."
Og Mandino
Tom Evan’s history with Ultra Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB) sums up this week’s quote. Despite winning the slightly shorter CCC in 2018, in the main race, looping around Mont Blanc over 174 km through France, Switzerland, and Italy, he suffered back-to-back DNFs in his 2023 and 2024 attempts. Not to be discouraged, he focused on his goal and, through strict training and an endurance mindset built in part during his military service, he came back in 2025 to win the race, overcoming his past failures despite the brutal conditions the runners faced. The mindset and positive self-talk he implemented allowed him to take the positives from previous setbacks and use them to conquer the challenges he had set. By implementing strategies to overcome discomfort, he carried an extra pair of waterproof gloves to provide relief to freezing hands, and by using memories of past experiences in such conditions, he was able to run with strength and discipline for over 19 hours and claim the top prize. We can build a similar mindset if we hold on to steady determination and discipline and react positively to situations and experiences that we face along the way…
Until next week, be safe and enjoy the trails...
Tom Evans became the first Briton to win UTMB in 2025 for over 15 years. His dedicated and surgical approach to his training had a lot to do with that win…
Ioana Barbu became the first person to complete all six Beyond the Ultimate races in one year, braving a myriad of conditions and wild dogs along the way…
Long runs are an integral element of distance running training, but upping your mileage throughout the week can bring big gains for endurance runners…
If you are looking for inspirational ideas for your next hiking trip, here are some amazing trails to help...
📸 Fala, Midloothian, Scotland
This classic cut was popped out by the shuffle gods this week and upon hearing it, I decided it had to be the selection of the week. MJ Cole’s music is instantly recognisable; his classical music education showing through the garage bass lines. This track is over 25 years old, but sounds so fresh…
Each week, I update the Kings of the Trail playlist with a new selection of music. Like trail runs or hikes, the playlist will be varied and eclectic, but hopefully, there will be something for everyone to enjoy…
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