UTA50

Race strategy

Run the downhill at race pace, but focus on the climb.

• 598m descent. Go easy, save your quads.
• Start easy and control your HR up to 36.5km.
• Ease into the early runnable section, save your quads on the descents until 36.5km, then run your race pace.
• Start · 0.0km–1.7km · Race-day nerves push your heart rate up: don't follow the crowd, find your own rhythm.
• Settle in · 1.7km–36.5km · 9.5km of runnable trail, high point 1018m, descent of 598m averaging 10%. Plus 1 more descent. Ease in: hold back more than feels necessary. The race is still ahead. This descent is hard on the legs: short steps, stay in control, poles if you have them. Running pays off here: run wherever you can.
• Home · 36.5km–49.9km · Climb of 1030m. No heroics: settle back into your own effort and hold it to the line. Climb by heart rate or breathing, not pace.

Course

The course climbs 2400m+. With 47m/km of climbing, this is a true mountain course with sustained climbs and descents. By gradient, 38% of the distance is uphill, 43% downhill and 18% flat. The longest climb runs 13.4km at an average 7.7% grade (1030m of vertical). The longest descent runs 6.2km at an average 9.7% grade (598m of vertical). The steepest climb averages 42.8% over 0.3km. The steepest descent drops at 55.7% over 0.3km. Surface: 51% smooth, 30% trail, and 16% road.

Poles

Poles bring little benefit here: only about 4.4km of pole-friendly terrain.

Quad damage

Quad damage risk is moderate (index 27 of 100), with 49% of the load in the first half: 1 descent deserves a plan and a couple of downhill sessions before race day.

• Ease into the early runnable section, save your quads on the descents until 36.5km, then run your race pace.
• #1 · 30.3–36.5 km · 598 m D−, -9.7% · 13.4 km ahead → control