Lavaredo Ultra Trail: live every step to the max

 “Satisfaction, family, nature” – “ An introspective journey” – “Emotions, regret, joy”.

Every trail runner has his own three words to describe La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB. For Fiona Porte, an athlete on the La Sportiva team and winner in 14h 57' 36” of the 120K, the queen distance of the competition, the LUT was: “Fascinating, demanding, warm”. First from start to finish, tenacious and with a pressing pace, the Frenchwoman was 46 minutes ahead of the runner-up: “The LUT is a unique competition: if you want a good performance, you have to be a truly complete athlete. The most challenging part was the first forty kilometres: the track is too flat for me, I come from the mountains and I did a lot of ski mountaineering this season. The most fascinating moment, however, was the sunrise at the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, which was something truly magical”. Fiona Porte was greeted in a very packed Corso Italia by the entire La Sportiva team, her partner and her little girl, whom she took in her arms as she crossed the finish line: “I dedicate this race to my daughter and I thank La Sportiva: I believe it is the best partner for my mountain activities: practical, technical and of the highest quality”.
 

From 22nd to 25th June Cortina D'Ampezzo became the stage for international trail running: Australia, Korea, Argentina, Portugal, the United States, Canada, Finland, New Zealand, and Greece, are just some of the countries represented. First held in 2007 and now in its sixteenth edition, the La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB is every runner's dream: it takes place in one of the world's most evocative landscapes: the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, winding through the trails at the foot of the Cristallo and Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the Tofane, the Averau and the Croda da Lago. This runner's dream is spread over five race distances, from 10 to 120 km, to bring together both newcomers and experienced ultra runners and unite them in a single event, in which they can share their passion for mountain running.

At the start of the main race, at 11 pm on Friday 23rd June, the atmosphere was full of energy in Corso Italia. Over a thousand headlights poised to become fireflies in the night set off to the roaring cheers of the audience accompanied by the iconic notes of Ennio Morricone. “The atmosphere at the start of the 120K was something incredible, there is nothing like it in the US, either in terms of cheering or the number of participants”, said Anton Krupicka, the ultra trail legend who won Lavaredo in 2014. The same emotion drives runners who compete in shorter distances, and who come to Cortina to live the experience, to feel part of something big, unique, something “ultra”.

Among them were almost forty La Sportiva employees, who showed up at the starting line in a more or less competitive manner.  “The LUT is special: it touches the Dolomites, the area where we started as a company. - said Lorenzo Delladio, CEO and President of La Sportiva - I was very surprised to see the list of our employees who took part in this year's event: they were really numerous, and they fill me with pride ”.

Like the Operations Director of La Sportiva Nicola Da Rold “Last year was my first Lavaredo 50K, a distance that I walked rather than ran and finished in almost 12 hours. I believe that with my attitude I inspired some colleagues to participate, and this year we shared this long journey together, chatting and getting to know each other better as we passed through these stunning places. It was a truly intense, powerful, and inclusive experience”.

A different but equally special adventure was that of Valentina Monsorno, Trade Marketing Specialist, the 16th woman to finish in the 50K: “it's a very heartfelt race, due to the unique context and the family atmosphere when you're here: our colours are everywhere! I feel involved on a personal as well as professional level, and I wanted to give something of my own. Here at the LUT we support each other, we are no longer colleagues but friends. I had never run this distance before but today it went well, beyond all my expectations: it was truly a crazy experience, something I'd like to do again”. Simone Turrini, Controller of La Sportiva, also obtained an excellent result, finishing in thirty-first place, also in the 50K: “Last year I ran my first LUT and from there I got into trail running. Living in Val di Fiemme it is easy to go running in the mountains, plus there is a good group of colleagues with whom I can train in the evening and during the weekends.”

The same goes for Romina Pinamonti, Human Resources Director of La Sportiva, who ran her third 50K in 07:02:00 hours and confirms the incredible thrill of experiencing this event: “My favourite section is the one that goes from Passo Giau to Forcella Ambrizzola, where a special panorama opens up, which I enjoy in winter with ski touring skins. For me, trail running is about living the moment, immersing myself in nature and getting away from it all, but running the LUT is even more than that, because it really feels like family: colleagues follow you on the trail, they cheer you on and support you in every way. taking part is good also for this reason”.

An emotional bond links La Sportiva to the Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB, not only due to its geographical proximity but also to the active interest of its employees in the event and the discipline. The meeting point for staff, fans and athletes was certainly the LaSpo Hub, in Corso Italia, where it was possible to meet with the La Sportiva team, meet the professionals in person and raise a toast together. It was also the scene of unique activities such as the Movie Night on Thursday 22 June, in the company of Anton Krupicka and Michele Graglia, who during the evening presented videos of their adventures in the mountains, and the rock and roll concert that warmed up the spirits on Friday evening in anticipation of the start of the 120K.

“In addition to the great scenic impact and worldwide prestige, the race is also a great opportunity to meet both those who love this sport and our athletes, who come here from all over the world for the occasion”, was the comment of Vittorio Barrasso, Brand and Communication Corporate Manager of La Sportiva. “In the days leading up to the race, this year we organized the traditional team meeting, an opportunity to talk about the new collections and receive feedback from the athletes on the products they are testing and using, in a spirit of continuous mutual exchange. On the other hand, the fact that so many people from the company are physically here means that we show our support for the athletes of the La Sportiva family during their performances”.

“It was my first LUT and I am very satisfied with these beautiful days in Cortina: LaSpo means friends to me, and it was nice to share these moments together.  – comments Nadir Maguet, athlete of the La Sportiva team and silver medal in the 50K. “I ran with the Prodigio, a super cushioned and innovative model that will be available in stores from next spring. Although mainly developed for ultras, I also wanted to try it on shorter distances to better understand its characteristics. It's a comfortable, light and performing shoe, an ideal mix for medium and long distances.” After a race spent in the lead, cramps kicked in before the final descent, putting a damper on the Aosta Valley athlete's solo sprint to the finish. “It's part of the game and you have to learn from these experiences and understand where you are wrong to become stronger. Then it must be said that this is sport, not science, and every race has its own story. Next year I would definitely like to go back to Cortina, although I don't yet know which distance…”. Immediately after him, another runner of the La Sportiva Spain team, Jan Margarit, while Simone Eydallin in fifth position was the last of the yellow-black team to finish in the top five.

Moving on to the queen race, the 120k won by the Swiss Jonas Russi in 11h28, a special mention for the South Tyrolean Georg Piazza, standard bearer of the La Sportiva team on his first podium in this iconic distance. “The LUT is fast, hard and difficult to interpret. It is undoubtedly the most beautiful race in the world: when the sun rose in Val Travenanzes, I took a few seconds to enjoy the moment. The hardest point however was when I still had half the distance to cover, and I was already really struggling! Luckily, thanks to my forty-three years, I'm quite strong mentally and know how to overcome these problems. I dedicate the race to my wife, my children, and the La Sportiva team: I really thank the Delladio family for the top equipment and clothing I have received over the years!”.

In the top ten of the 120K, in eighth place, was Roberto Mastrotto from Vicenza: “It was my best time at the LUT and I achieved a good result. For me, this race means home, incredible views and La Sportiva. There was a moment when I was focused on trying to work out the lead of the competitor ahead of me, when I suddenly saw the sunrise over the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and decided to stop: I am here for that too, I thought! During the race there were moments when I asked myself why on earth I was doing this, but at the finish line I realised that it was worth every drop of sweat”. Immediately after him, the Australian Matthew Crehan in ninth position: “I'm very happy with how it went: I felt good for the first hundred kilometres, while the last twenty were really tough! Sunrise on the Tre Cime di Lavaredo was one of the most beautiful emotions of my life. My LUT in three words? Astounding, very hard, rocky”.

There were important placements also in the women's race, won by the French Fiona Porte, followed in fourth position by Sophie Grant from England.

At the Lavaredo Ultra Trail you experience every step in full. Running connects; it allows one to meet new eyes that otherwise would never meet. In fatigue, we seek authentic satisfaction, beyond our own comfort zone. “Ultra trail makes you feel small and helpless: in this way it allows you to get to know yourself better, to grow as a person, and paradoxically makes you stronger in the end. Easy things teach nothing”, concluded Anton Krupicka. Rain and sun. Dawn and night. Suffering and joy. La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB: bringing everything back home, you come out more alive than ever.