🇵🇭 A Filipino’s Journey to UTMB (2014 Race Report)

By Aldean Lim — originally published on Blogspot (2015). Preserved on Wala Pang Strava as part of the Filipino trail running archive.

This story was first published on Aldean Lim’s Blogspot in 2015. We’re preserving it here on Wala Pang Strava as part of the Filipino trail running archive. Read the original post → https://aldeanlim.blogspot.com/2015/09/filipinos-journey-to-utmb-2014-utmb.html

Like most people, I have a bucketlist of dream races and last August 2014, I accomplished one of my dreams as an Ultra Trail Runner. I finished UTMB (Ultra Trail Mont Blanc)…

Qualifying

Every runner who dreams of UTMB starts small. For me, it was the local races in the Philippines — Clark-Miyamit Falls, TNF100, and the KOTM Hardcore 100 Miles. Each one gave me the points I needed. Each one toughened me up for what was coming.

Training & Preparation

UTMB isn’t just about running. It’s about logistics, gear, visas, long nights planning.

I trained in our mountains — Rizal’s rolling climbs on weekdays, Batangas’ hot trails on weekends, Benguet’s punishing elevation whenever I could escape. Each session was a rehearsal for the Alps.

Our staple local trail – AFP-Silangan Road.

Weekends meant back-to-back long runs, simulating the fatigue of climbing through two nights. Weekly mileage built up into the hundreds, then dialed back down as taper came closer.

I obsessed over the little things: nutrition strategy, how to run with poles, whether my headlamp would last the foggy nights. The Alps loomed larger than any Cordillera climb, but every session at home was a brick laid for Chamonix.

Gears

UTMB has a strict mandatory gear list. I checked, packed, and re-checked every item — paranoid that I’d miss one. Some of it I’d used countless times in the Philippines, but the Alps were a different beast.

Waterproof jacket & pants – tested for storms
Thermal base layer – backup warmth for the high passes
Gloves & beanie – small but lifesaving
Headlamp + spare batteries – could it survive two nights?
Mobile phone & emergency blanket – never to be used, hopefully
Food & water containers – soft flasks, gels, bars
Whistle, bib, ID – the tiny things the race marshals always check

I obsessed over the list for weeks, trimming weight, swapping gear, debating backups. In the end, it wasn’t just about compliance — it was about knowing I had a fighting chance against the mountains.

*Mandatory UTMB gear — every piece checked, re-checked, and tested.*

Race Week

When you arrive in Chamonix, you know you’re at the heart of world trail running.

The town is buzzing with athletes from every corner of the globe. Flags, languages, nerves.

I carried the Philippine flag in my bag. I wanted to raise it at the finish.

Race Start

The gun went off. Thousands surged forward. I held back, knowing this was a long battle.

Night 1

The climbs hit immediately. Darkness came, and with it — doubts. My headlamp faltered. My stomach turned. The Alps were unforgiving.

*Endless headlamps snaking through the night.*

Day 2

Blisters formed. My pace slowed. Aid stations became my lifelines. Soup, cheese, Coke — small comforts in a long war.

Night 2

This was the hardest part. Alone, nauseous, broken headlamp, cold cutting through layers. Many dropped. I pushed on, one step at a time.

The Finish

Chamonix came alive as I entered. People cheering, cowbells ringing.

I pulled out the Philippine flag. I crossed the line. I cried.

*Carrying the Philippine flag across the UTMB finish line.*

Post-Race Thoughts

UTMB was not just a race. It was survival, discovery, pilgrimage.

I learned that preparation matters, but spirit matters more.

Back home, I carried not just a medal, but a memory that will always remind me: Filipinos belong on the world’s toughest trails.

Closing Notes

UTMB has grown since 2014. More Filipinos now chase it, more names will echo in Chamonix. But I’ll always remember being among the first. Crossing the finish line in Chamonix was the culmination of years of dreaming… and the start of even bigger ones.

📌 Related Reads (Wala Pang Strava Archive):

📌 If you’re chasing your own summit:

✍️ Written by Aldean Lim (2015). Republishing coordinated with Ahon Trail for archival purposes. All photos from Aldean’s original post.

👉 Original version: A Filipino’s Journey to UTMB 2014