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Val d'Aran VDA 163K 2026: Europe's Biggest Mountain Ultra Is Running Now
The HOKA Val d'Aran by UTMB's flagship 163K race — Europe's biggest trail ultra and a direct qualifier to UTMB Mont-Blanc 2027 — departed Vielha at dawn this morning with 7,500 runners from 91 countries.
By ZealZag TeamThe Appetiser Runs First: Val d'Aran's PDA 55K Today, UTMB European Major VDA 163K Tomorrow
The HOKA Val d'Aran by UTMB's 2026 edition is mid-race: the PDA 55K runs today through the Colomèrs glacial cirque from Salardú, while tomorrow the VDA 163K — the UTMB World Series European Major and a direct qualifier to UTMB Mont-Blanc 2027 — fires from Vielha at dawn.
By ZealZag TeamRacing UTMB as a Foreign Athlete: The Practical Logistics of Arriving in Chamonix
Thousands of international athletes race the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc every August, and the non-athletic logistics — accommodation, gear registration, jet lag, drop bags, crew access across three countries — are as demanding as the training. A practical guide to getting to the start line organised.
By ZealZag TeamWestern States 100: Four Days Out, Heat Strategy Becomes the Race
Four days from the 53rd Western States 100, the heat strategy conversation has taken over race week — 92°F canyon forecast holding, sauna protocols entering their final week, and the contender field arriving in Olympic Valley.
By ZealZag TeamRunning the Western States 100 Trail: Olympic Valley to Auburn
The 100 miles from Olympic Valley to Auburn traces the oldest 100-mile footrace course in North America — through Sierra Nevada high country, across the American River canyon, and onto the finish-line track in Auburn. A practical destination guide for runners who want to run the route.
By ZealZag Team
Race the Western States 100: Sierra Nevada Trail Running Guide
How to run the iconic 100-mile Western States course — Olympic Valley to Auburn — in training segments, the practical permits, the lodging logistics, and the heat training that race day requires.
By ZealZag Team
Western States 100 2026: Race Week Begins in the Sierra Nevada
The 53rd Western States Endurance Run is one week away — 100.2 miles from Olympic Valley to Auburn, the original 100-mile trail race. Here is what the 2026 field, the trail, and the week look like.
By ZealZag Team
Race the Mont-Blanc Marathon Route: Chamonix Trail Running Guide
How to train, run, and experience the trails that host the Marathon du Mont-Blanc — Brévent, Flégère, Posettes, and the high Chamonix balcons that define alpine racing in Europe.
By ZealZag Team
Marathon du Mont-Blanc 2026: Chamonix Welcomes the World's Best Trail Runners
The Marathon du Mont-Blanc returns to Chamonix June 25-28 — 90K, marathon, 23K, KMV and Cross — a UTMB World Series cornerstone that gathers the best of mountain running beneath Europe's highest peak.
By ZealZag TeamFlying to Your Ultra: Kit Compliance, Drop Bags, and What Overseas Race Registration Actually Looks Like
The running in an ultra is the part you're most prepared for. The administrative layer — mandatory kit compliance, medical documentation, drop bag logistics, overseas registration, and jet lag before a 5am start — is where first-timers lose hours and sleep. Here is what it actually looks like.
By ZealZag TeamRunning Comrades: How to Train, Enter, and Conquer the Up Run
The Comrades Marathon is 85.777km from Durban to Pietermaritzburg with 21,000 runners, a 12-hour cutoff, and five named climbs. Here is everything you need to plan your own Comrades entry: qualifying, training, the five hills, and how to spend your week in KwaZulu-Natal.
By ZealZag TeamComrades Marathon 2026: 21,000 Runners on the Eve of the Up Run
On Saturday morning 21,633 runners line up on Dr Pixley Ka Seme Street in Durban for the 99th Comrades Marathon — the Up Run to Pietermaritzburg. Gerda Steyn chases a fourth straight title. Piet Wiersma defends. The Big Five climbs await.
By ZealZag TeamFirst Hydration Pack: Vest Fit, Bladder vs Flask, and Why Most Runners Over-Buy
The hydration vest you actually need is rarely the one runners buy first. Capacity, fit, and the bladder-vs-flask choice all interact in ways that matter once you're out for 4+ hours — and the wrong choice produces back chafe, sloshing weight, and a vest that lives in a cupboard. Here's the framework.
By ZealZag TeamRace-Week Taper for 50K+ Ultras: What the Data Actually Says About Volume Cuts
The marathon taper literature is extensive. The ultra-distance taper literature is much thinner — and the lessons that transfer from marathon work do not all transfer cleanly to 50K and longer. Here's what the available evidence actually supports for ultra-distance race-week preparation.
By ZealZag Team