RELATED: Runners Reflect On Their Connection To Chamonix And UTMBĪfter winning his third consecutive Western States 100 on June 26 in Auburn, California, Walmsley says he took a slightly more conservative approach to training in the seven weeks leading up to this week’s 106-mile UTMB race. That’s just one of the ways Walmsley is revamping his approach to the UTMB this time around. We have our little techniques to stay under the radar a bit.” You have to look after yourself and manage it. “And the knowledge of the people who are in the area for UTMB week - they know everything about all of the elite athletes - it can definitely be an energy trap that you can get sucked into a little bit. There’s no place in the world like this where you see so many people walking around in hydration vests, running shoes, spandex, calf sleeves, all sorts of gear, all decked out after a run or heading to the expo,” says Walmsley, who says he’s been healthy aside from a minor foot issue. He’s also backed off posting to Instagram and Strava, partially to keep people from knowing where he is. He spent Tuesday afternoon in partial disguise - made possible, in part, by complying with the local mask recommendation as a Covid-19 precaution - wearing a non-descript cap, sunglasses, a casual pair of Teva sandals and, for the time being, nothing from his primary sponsor, Hoka One One. Walmsley flew into France about 10 days ago, but he didn’t arrive in Chamonix until August 24. You can watch the live stream of UTMB races here. With a combination of a deep field, moderately high altitude, long stretches of technical terrain, 10 wickedly steep climbs and descents through parts of France, Italy and Switzerland, the UTMB always provides a global benchmark of competitive mountain ultrarunning. More than 10,000 trail runners from around the world are participating in one of the seven races this week in Chamonix, including 2,500 in the 171km UTMB. But given the acute concentration of fans and followers trying to seek his attention and acquaintance in the days leading up to the race, he’s been trying to keep a low profile out of the public eye so he can rest up for the race.

The celebrated 31-year-old American ultrarunner is known the world over and loves the camaraderie he feels among friends and fellow runners when he’s in this hallowed mountain village.

RELATED: Courtney Dauwalter Returns To UTMBīut before taking center stage of trail running’s most prominent event on Friday evening, the tall, lanky athlete with long frizzy hair will be trying to hide in plain sight. Coming off what he calls a smarter approach to post-Western States 100 training, Jim Walmsley is excited to be back in Chamonix, France, to take another crack at winning the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc.

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