Athletes compete in the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc mountain race

Athletes from diverse backgrounds are preparing for and competing in the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), a premier international mountain running event that traverses France, Italy, and Switzerland.

Argentine runner Bárbara Gassman completed the 174-kilometer course, which features 10,000 meters of positive elevation gain, in 42 hours and 55 minutes. During the race, she faced extreme temperature shifts, including heat exceeding 35 degrees Celsius, and completed the circuit around the Mont Blanc massif with minimal breaks.

Representing the Rarámuri community from Mexico, Mauro Martín Quimare is set to compete in the UTMB World Series finals in Chamonix. Quimare, who trains in the Sierra Madre Occidental, utilizes traditional nutrition such as pinole—a toasted corn drink—to sustain his long-distance running. The Rarámuri people are historically recognized for their endurance and ability to run vast distances as part of their cultural way of life.