TOR DES GEANTS | Running 200 Miles Among Italy's Giants

After trying for a few years, I finally got lucky and won a starting spot for the 2023 Tor des Geants 330K in Italy. The Tor des Geants is a 200+ mile mountain race in the Italian Alps where runners climb 86,000 feet and descend an equal amount while circumnavigating the entire Aosta Valley. Runners have a total of 150 hours to complete the course. Due to the difficult nature of this race, only about 60% of the approximately 1,200 runners are actually able to finish the race. Runners face challenges beyond just the difficulty of the technical terrain, the 86,000 feet of gain and descent, and the 200-mile distance. Sleep deprivation is severe for all but a few and I was no exception to this rule. In fact, my inability to sleep when given the opportunity resulted in sleeping a total of just 3 hours over the course of the entire race. As a result, it ended up taking me 143 hours or nearly 6 days. Hallucinations were one of the effects of this severe sleep deprivation along with a gradual decline in my overall pace. In addition, I had to manage foot issues from day one, spending a significant amount of time at each life base to get my feet retaped to address hotspots and developing blisters. But none of this could take away from the amazing adventure. The Tor des Geants was exactly what I had hoped for and more.
Please check out my blog for accompanying photos at www.ultrakrautrunning.com/2023... and feel free to comment below with any questions you may have.
For anyone wondering what type of gear it takes to take on an event like the Tor des Geants 330, I am sharing my gear list for that event here: www.ultrakrautrunning.com/2023...

[@MrRunner10]

Congratulations Martin! What a fantastic race, can't believe that you were able to accomplish 210 miles with so little sleep! Even when you're obviously having lows you're still hammering AND recording it. Amazing! The film and music choices were perfect and give just a little insight to what you experienced. What an adventure, can't wait for the next one.

[@ultrakraut]

Thanks, it was quite the adventure! I wished I had recorded more at the aid stations, but you just get so busy trying to take care of yourself that recording just doesn’t happen as much. Anyway, to me the scenery and experience while out there are most important to me and I think I captured a lot of that:-)

[@thesamenumb5437]

Beautiful video!! Looks truly amazing!

[@ultrakraut]

It was the most spectacular and also the most challenging race I’ve ever done.

[@UltraTrailSteven]

Such beautiful scenery! Seems like one big climb and descent after another!

[@ultrakraut]

Yeah, man, I joked at one time during the race that we actually found a 1/2 mile flat section at one point:-)

[@DavidJones-xt4bi]

Thanks so much for this Martin. I met you post race on the Saturday night (out with Patrick, Tobias etc) - I was the British, bald, old guy wearing Altra's. It was really great to watch this because I had forgotten (or blanked out?) so much of the route, checkpoints and scenery. I had done (with Patrick) Swiss Peaks 360 in 2022 and I have whole sections of that race that I can't remember. Such is the nature of 200 plus milers in the Alps I suppose! Hope to see you again out there one of these days.

[@ultrakraut]

I totally get that, I had to use the video to help me remember. Everything was a giant puzzle after the race, ie I could not remember what happened when during the race, only that it did happen. Sections were all garbled up and out of order in my head. The race felt more like a month long event than a week:-) I kept thinking on day 3 that day 1 felt like weeks ago. So strange, but sleep deprivation is definitely to blame for most of that:-)

[@Sanko1960]

Aside from your great talent as a videographer of tremendously beautiful courses, what also amazes me is your fortitude, perseverance, resilience through the ups and downs (literally) and the often brutal weather conditions. The grandeur of the views from the tops of the cols in this particular race are breathtaking. I can only imagine what they were like in person. The sound of your voice, the words you speak, the sound of your breathing, your facial expressions - these are just so very inspiring. Thank you.

[@ultrakraut]

Thank you for your thoughtful and kind words!

[@wilmertsch]

Congrats on your run. Very inspiring!

[@ultrakraut]

Thank you very much, toughest and most memorable run, yet!

[@helkeseitz4704]

Landscape amazing! Choice of music quite stressful :-)

[@darkstar.runner6669]

congratulations 🥂🍾🍀🥳 you´ve done a really good job 👍👍👍 thx for this amazing trip with you by video 👌👏

[@ultrakraut]

I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@danielgrant8289]

Congrats, Martin, on yet another amazing finish, accomplishment, and incredible journey! Thanks for sharing an absolutely beautiful video! I consider it a privilege to view such majestic handiwork!

[@ultrakraut]

Much appreciated! Glad you’re enjoying my race videos!

[@Ultrarunningamber]

Congrats on your beautiful race. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@ultrakraut]

Glad you enjoyed it. It was a grand adventure and challenge!

[@freewilly6300]

Very nice video! I've watched a few others about this race, but none shows the beauty of the area, the small towns and details as this one. Very nicely done! And, of course, your accomplishment. Congratulations.

[@ultrakraut]

Thanks so much! I’m excited about new adventures ahead in the new year which I hope to share here as well!

[@jonathank7221]

Dankeschön Martin. Perfect visualization material in preparation for the upcoming race!

[@ultrakraut]

If I hadn't signed up for SwissPeaks 360 this year I'd tackle TDG again right away! Such an amazing adventure!

[@jonathank7221]

@@ultrakraut I’m curious to see from your perspective how the two compare. Even more so now they offer a 660k option. Viel Glück!

[@paulsummerly8203]

Amazing that looked so hard.well done sir

[@ultrakraut]

Thanks very much!

[@kevinjoest2738]

Awesome video! Congratulations on your great race, and thank you for sharing! It just needs more cowbell!

[@ultrakraut]

Haha, you can never have enough cowbell!!!

[@grennangoeshiking]

You take some of the most epic adventures! That is so awesome! Great job! Also are you planning on running the Appalachian 100/200 when they open!

[@ultrakraut]

Not sure about the Appalachian race yet, mainly because I want to either run the event or run an aid station as volunteer, instead.

[@christophechauvin8013]

gigante ;)

[@ultrakraut]

thank you!

[@SchmittsPeter]

Congrats. I wonder - is melatonine and such stuff legal for these races? Something like 2-5 g ~30-45 min before a planned sleep? Could help with unusual schedule+"having to go to sleep", especially when you stick to non-slow-acting (probably something to try out in the training up to such an event). I mean, caffeine for the opposite effect is somewhat popular.

[@ultrakraut]

Not sure, I didn’t have this issue during the 268 mile Spine Race in June. It’s mainly the fact that I need quiet around me as I am a light sleeper. I eventually managed to get an hour or so, but that was due to sheer exhaustion. The earplugs and sleep mask helped, but the environment was often just “too busy”. I already know why to do differently next time, plan on sleep away from the life bases, at the rifugios or other opportunistic spots, instead.