VERBIER ULTRA TRAIL RUNNING X-TRAVERSEE - UTMB Word Series

The Verbier St Bernard x-Traversée Ultra Trail Running race is a 77km and 5'300mD+ race in the heart of the Swiss Alps. It is my last stop before the big event: UTMB Mont Blanc which is my 2023 goal race. The Verbier St-Bernard course is gruelling and crushes all that attempt it. I do this race with two friends, Arnaud and Alex. Follow until the end to see if we all managed to reach the finish line.
Follow me here:
- Strava: / strava
- Instagram: / rafael.eduardo.hidalgo
- Facebook: / rafaelhidalgorunner
- Nutrition: baouw-organic-nutrition.com
- Rire Médecin: tinyurl.com/utmb-LRM
Join me, Rafael Hidalgo, on my ultra running adventures as I balance life as a full-time father, husband, and employee. In this video, I'll share my experiences, tips, and the breath-taking trails I've discovered along the way. If you're looking for motivation and inspiration to hit the trails, you've come to the right place! Don't forget to subscribe and hit the like button to support my journey and stay updated on my latest ultra running experiences. Let's conquer the trails together! 🏃‍♂️🌲🏔️

[@ellhaynes]

Love your narrative style and filming…. Some of the best ultra running content available… all the best for 2024 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃🏾‍♀️🏃🏿‍♂️🏃🏻‍♀️

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks so much! Final touches on the UTMB film. Finally finishing it. Should be publishes in the coming weeks 🙏

[@Swimmer47]

As usual, excellent. I really enjoy your video logs. You are the first of-the videographers who has mentioned the possible hazards of trail running. I fell three years ago and, in the words of my French doctors, as I live in Paris, I pulverized my shoulder. It has made me paranoid about running fast.

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks for the support! Sorry to hear about you fall!! That mist have been horrible!! I am also paranoid of going fast! So easy to trip and hurt ourselves badly! Hope you are better and can safely hit the trails again 🙏

[@GiovanniRaffa-by8eq]

I am doing the race this year for the first time, your insights are very valuable!! Thanks for sharing

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Awesome enjoy the ride! 🙌 its a great race!

[@sofiarodriguez3050]

Same here!! Looking forward to it ☺️

[@rafaelhidalgo]

@@sofiarodriguez3050 have a great one Sofia!

[@markdawson2989]

Brilliant video. What a tough race. On my longer races I also have trouble taking any energy drinks after about 100K in. I found that salt tablets really work for me. Caffeine gels also saved my 2023 TDS race. So glad to finish that race after a DNF in 2022. Well done for finishing Verbier.

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks Mark! Kudos to you for TDS! That race was epic given the weather conditions!! 🙌

[@user-wg8jd1hx3t]

Very well presented and filmed. I had very bad noutios through the TDS half of the race barley ate anything, very tough situation...

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks! Sorry to hear about your similar issues during TDS! It’s not easy to say the least.

[@botelhog76]

Great video Rafael. Congrats for the accomplishment. I knew the Brazilian that passed away in the UTMB PTL 😔

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks a lot, stoked you enjoyed it! so sad for the two runners who lost their lives... and sorry to hear you even knew the Brazilian... terrible tragedy... thanks for dropping a line and following.

[@flare31777]

Hi Rafael, nice video, many thanks! I ran X-traversee in 2022 and 2021 with my wife. So I know well what The Wall means 😂. For me there is even more cruel passage (Coll des Avouillion and Panossiere + the subsequent downhill to Lourtier. That part can be very cruel as well 😉🫥

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks, yeah that long downhill is deadly!!

[@struepsel]

Great video and such a beautiful area! As a swiss living in Asia since 2011, I need to do more Swiss mountain exploring😄 I only know the Alpstein quite well.

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks a lot! There are indeed many beautiful places to visit in Switzerland 🇨🇭 🙌

[@dannyreevesrunning]

Bravo Rapha! This got you ready to tackle Mont Blanc!

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks Danny! And hope it also gave you motivation to go out their and crush it 🙌

[@PeterdeRooij]

Great video - does the race justice. (Ran it twice, and love it!)

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks a lot Peter! Kudos to you for completing it twice!! 🙌

[@simonleeman7884]

Wow Rafael you did another extreme trail. Congratulations on the X-traversée and for sure on finishing UTMB. I want to say I really look forward on every video you make. You are a big inspiration for me and i love trailrunning because of you. I finish my first ultra 'the matterhorn ultraks, SKY' because of your videos. Now I'm also building to my UTMB dream and I will start to collect running stones in 2024 on the Julian alps trail run 100K. I understand you're taking other goals right now beside trailrunning. I really hope we can share the trail together one day. I just turned 20 years old and got a lot of support from my family. I find it hard to get the training in with university, girlfriend and family but your videos show me it can be done. I'm suffering from a stress fracture in my shin so stuck to swimming for now. I hope I can hit the road soon and als achieve my goals. Again a big congrats on UTMB and thanks for all the videos. I hope you now they really inspire me. Always nice to get the Kudos on Strava from you, thanks a lot. Good luck with your upcoming goals. Great time btw on the half marathon! if you have any tips for the 100K I would really like to hear them.

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Hey Simon great to hear from you!! Thanks a lot for the message which is heartwarming 🙌 stoked the channel continues to inspire you 🤩 congratulations on your SKY race! It not an easy one but its beautiful!! Fantastic goal you have to do UTMB at your age! Shows a lot of maturity! Shin splints are annoying indeed. I suffered from one in april… spent the whole month on an indoor bike. Try that as well. You can do high aerobic sessions on that as well to maintain fitness. Keep up the great work! 💪

[@solebrother9620]

Rafael..every video you make is fantastic. Only outdone by the achievement itself..outstanding effort and huge respect!! Digging so deep..incredible effort 💪🏽

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks so much for your support means a lot to me! Takes so much time to try and transcribe what I feel and experience in these events to make it relatable and motivating for you guys to go out there and crush it! 🙌 so your super kind words touch me! Thanks mate!

[@aramis.sasinka]

Amazing video Rafael! You got a new subscriber! Thank you for sharing m8! Great job! 😉

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks a lot Aramis! Really appreciated! Next film will be the big one ⭕️

[@thomascoolen2064]

Well done and a great video!

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks!!

[@monhmonhmonhmonh]

What a great video, as a viewer you feel so much part of this crazy journey, good running too!

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks a lot! Stoked you enjoyed it!!

[@clarissakelly1560]

Congratulations on finishing! This makes me really excited for my first trail race in July.

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks! Fantastic, kudos to you for taking on the trail adventures! You’re gonna love it!

[@josepcarrera950]

Great race and great video Rafael. Very motivating for our challenges!

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks Josep!! Enjoy your adventures! 💪

[@ChristophLatzer]

@rafael hidalgo great achievement congratulations; just one recommendation from my side if you are prone to chafing tryout the T8 commandos, since wearing them I never chafed up again -> Chrig-L

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks a lot Chris! Will check those T8 commandos out!

[@alandolan7125]

Ehi another great video. Training for "trail delle 5 querce" 24km in Gravina here in Southern Italy. Nothing compared to UTMB but still tough. Wish me luck!💪

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks! fantastic on your trail journey that’s awesome! We all start somewhere. We start on shorter trails and finish at UTMB haha keep up the great work and enjoy the ride! 🙌

[@ema_runs]

very good film! thank you for this one and well done!

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks a lot! 🙏 dont hesitate to subscribe so you get notified for the next one. UTMB is up next 🙌

[@Sejdr]

Awesome video - beautiful race and inspiring fotage!

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks a lot! Stoked you enjoyed it!!

[@geohatzilambi]

Very nice documentary!!!!

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thank you!!! How did you come across this film?

[@geohatzilambi]

@@rafaelhidalgo it showed up on my feed

[@rafaelhidalgo]

@@geohatzilambi awesome thanks for watching?

[@gorath0007]

Another epic documentary! I was feeling your pain throughout the video 😂. My first 100k is coming on the 8th Dec and I have got the similar niggles. Inspirational to see you battle through it! Ton D.

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks mate! Good luck with your 💯 k! You will crush it im sure! Never give up!!

[@rhodmc312]

Great video, great experience, big effort. What do you think could be the reason for the IT band pain go away? Got same issue and needed some help.

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks! I think the band I put around my knee helped a lot. But the best is to do a lot of stretching and strengthening. This is what saved me in the long run: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWrYgXurgdmekKssi=zo9vU1dYTgzLaP2Y

[@monique6604]

Great video as always. Isn't the Trail de Dents du Midi the oldest of Switzerland? It claims to be the oldest of Europe (started in 1963)?

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks Monique. I checked that fact out as I was also surprised, but it indeed was the first ULTRA trail. Les dents du midi was the first trail race, not considered as an ultra distance.

[@x__dos]

check out Trail du Besso, the most brutal race I've run

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks!

[@JBDiaz81]

Hey - Awesome race! Regarding your IT Band, I'm going through something similar, have you fixed it? If yes, any tips you can give me? Cheers

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Thanks! Yeah IT band completely sorted thanks to these exercises: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWrYgXurgdmekKssi=98w7JzRd40Hx7H9W

[@JBDiaz81]

Thank you very much! I'll give it a try. It's a quite enjoying injury..... Looking forward to more videos ;)

[@rafaelhidalgo]

@@JBDiaz81 thanks mate! Good luck with the IT band. Just the stretching and then the strengthening and you will be all good 👍

[@mtber1988]

Vertigo dudes right ankle was looking rough 😮

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Haha true i hadn’t noticed!

[@theVisualStoryTelling]

Hello Rafael, Great video once again. Been trying to communicate with you on Instagram regarding a race but due not accepting my invitation cannot sent the rest ❤️❤️

[@rafaelhidalgo]

Hi! Thanks for your kind words 🙏 yup just saw your message and replied 😃