La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB: Gear & Race Tips

First 40km: control your pace. Second 40km: stay concentrated. Last 40km: compete. The real race starts at km 75 (Malga Ra Stua). Being conservative early is critical — the course gets harder exactly as you get more tired. Tim Teege projected sub-20 hours based on his Mozart 100 time and finished in 25:27. Source: Tim Teege (teesche.com), Kieran Alger (manvmiles.co.uk)

Apply Vaseline to sensitive foot areas, then wear thin Injinji toe socks under thicker socks, then regular trail socks over top. Multiple finishers report zero blisters over 25+ hours on the rocky Dolomite terrain using this approach. Also consider packing a second pair of shoes in your drop bag at Cimabanche (km 66) — a fresh pair with a wide toe box helps for the harder second half. Source: Tim Teege (teesche.com)

You cannot start without poles and pick them up from a drop bag later. Nearly every runner uses them — they help on both uphills and steep descents. Invest in lighter poles (LEKI over Salomon) and practice technique before race day. Extended pole use causes triceps pain and hand numbness — rest with arms dangling periodically. Source: Tim Teege (teesche.com), official mandatory equipment rules (lavaredo.utmb.world)

The gap between Malga Travenanzes (km 89) and the next hot food can catch you off guard. You can easily burn 10,000 calories over 120km. Bring your own cutlery and container — the race doesn't provide disposable tableware. Stick with your own nutrition (Tailwind, gels) rather than switching to what's on offer under fatigue. Source: Andrea Ceccolini (Medium), Mathias Eichler (electriccablecar.com)

This is the longest unsupported segment: 20.4km with 1,300m of elevation gain and no water point. Natural mountain streams from snowmelt can supplement but don't rely on them. Also watch the gaps between Federavecchia–Rifugio Auronzo (km 33-49) and Rifugio Auronzo–Cimabanche (km 49-66). Source: Kieran Alger (manvmiles.co.uk)

Bank a full night's sleep the night before instead of trying to nap race day — most runners only manage 3-4 hours of stressed rest. Do at least one training run starting late at night before race week. The first 6 hours in darkness are manageable forest trails. The second night (21+ hours in) on technical alpine terrain is where hallucinations and real fatigue hit. Source: Kieran Alger (manvmiles.co.uk), Doug Stewart / TMR Coaching

When you're most fatigued, you hit the most technical sections. Boulder fields from km 99-110 require actual hand-and-foot climbing with hip-high steps. One runner covered just 7.4km in over 2 hours on this terrain. The Col Gallina "deception" at km 97 is a psychological trap — you can see the aid station below but the route climbs back up before descending. Three significant climbs remain in the final 20km. Source: Andrea Ceccolini (Medium), RunnersLab

June in Cortina swings from scorching valley heat to windchill at the 2,400m+ passes. Expect thunderstorms between 6-8pm. Rain washes away anti-chafe products — reapply generously from your drop bag at Cimabanche (km 66). Pack your waterproof in a plastic bag after use to prevent it re-soaking other gear. A fresh dry shirt at the halfway point is a massive morale boost. Source: Andrea Ceccolini (Medium), Kieran Alger (manvmiles.co.uk)

Your only drop bag point is well-equipped and comfortable — but it's also where many runners DNF. The warmth, food and dry clothes make continuing feel impossible. Spend 20-30 minutes max: change shirt, change socks, reapply Vaseline, eat warm broth, drink Coke for caffeine, and get moving. The comfort of sitting down is what ends races. Source: Andrea Ceccolini (Medium), Tim Teege (teesche.com)

The 120K has a ~23% DNF rate (2024: 375 out of 1,614 starters). Total elevation: ~5,800m gain and loss. Highest point: ~2,450m at Tre Cime di Lavaredo. The course never drops below 1,200m — you're at altitude the entire time. Winners finish in ~12 hours; mid-pack runners average 12:50+ min/km. There are virtually no flat recovery sections. Source: Electric Cable Car (2024 results analysis)