France’s Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz is back to race the 2024 UTMB after placing second in 2021. In this interview, he talks about his successful 2023 season, during which he won the Hardrock 100 and Diagonale des Fous, a busy ski season last winter, and how he builds up his training to race 100 miles.
For more on who’s racing, check out our in-depth men’s and women’s previews and follow our live race coverage starting Friday.
Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz Pre-2024 UTMB Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Sarah Brady of iRunFar. It’s just a few days before the 2024 UTMB. I’m here with Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz.Aurélien, how are you?
Aurélien Dunand-Pallaz: [through a translator] I’m really good, thank you.
iRunFar: Good start. When did you arrive in Chamonix and have you been out on the course?
Dunand-Pallaz: I’ve just arrived in Chamonix 30 minutes ago. I haven’t been on the course today, but obviously I live pretty close to here, so I’ve done a full recon of the course four weeks ago. I’ve only got two small jogs left until race start.
iRunFar: Okay. The last time we interviewed you was last year just after you won the Hardrock 100 and then you went on to win Diagonale des Fous after that. So, do you want to talk about that race? Did you feel good throughout or how was it?
Dunand-Pallaz: I had a really good day at Hardrock, but Diagonale was even better. It was really almost a perfect day for me. I was feeling really, really good before the race, same as Hardrock. I led pretty much, not from the beginning, but I was on my own quite quickly. I was able to, let’s say, manage the race and the guys behind me. It was a race I was very eager to do, because I had been to the island three or four times already, but injured, so I couldn’t take the start. It was really a great day for me. I think I won by 40 minutes, so I was able to manage the guys behind me. It was a really, really good race, which obviously concluded a great 2023 season.
iRunFar: Brilliant. It’s amazing, so soon after Hardrock. And then, over the winter, how did you manage your training? Did you take extra recovery time after two difficult 100 milers?
Dunand-Pallaz: Well, it’s the same as every year. I didn’t take so much of a break after Diagonale. I took two weeks off, then I was on my skis. I take ski mountaineering for the winter, which started in November. And I had, actually, my biggest season in ski mountaineering. I did 150,000 meters of elevation gain for the season. Also with a lot of racing, with two big race goals, which were Pierra Menta and Tour du Rutor in Italy, which are two, let’s say, big monuments of ski mountaineering. And then I started, let’s say, running again in April.
iRunFar: Wow, that is a really big year, two big seasons. And then this year, you’ve done some shorter ultras. You did the Marathon Mont Blanc 90k, and you were third in the Maxi Race 90k. And how did the Maxi Race go? Was that a good day?
Dunand-Pallaz: I was happy with it, with Maxi Race. Obviously, I wanted to race close to home early in the whole year because I had my second son at the same time as one or two weeks before Maxi Race. I was happy with it. I had a similar time to the year before, and the race was just a bit longer. And obviously, there were two very competitive guys ahead, Mathieu [Blanchard] and Thibaut Garrivier. They were stronger on the day, but I was very happy. My training was the same as the year before, and I felt pretty good.
iRunFar: Okay, brilliant. And congratulations also on your son. And then after a winter of skiing and then some shorter races, what’s your process in your training to build up to racing 100 miles again?
Dunand-Pallaz: What I do is, when I come to Maxi Race at the end of May, obviously I’m not at peak fitness yet, because I haven’t been running so much, but I’m already quite good. Then I don’t take a break until 90k du Mont Blanc. I have a huge training block, which makes, building towards those, let’s say, higher and a bit more technical terrain, like the 90k, more mountainous races. So, I do that big block between the two races. I take a small break, and then obviously I do a second big break with a lot of mountain session home and here doing the recon and some other key mountain sessions. And usually that does it to be ready for UTMB.
iRunFar: That sounds like a well-worked system. Very good. And then you’ve been here before. So, you placed second in 2021, and you had a DNF then in 2022. So, is there anything in particular you’ve learned from those two experiences at UTMB to try and do better this weekend?
Dunand-Pallaz: So obviously, the DNF of 2022 was due to an injury, I had a stress fracture. So, the first big lesson is to arrive uninjured. That was my big focus as well last year for Hardrock and Diagonale, to make sure I come fresh and with a 100% body. It’s now going to be my fourth 100 miler this year. I’ve learned a lot from the three previous ones, which were all actually quite successful. Second at UTMB, then two wins. So I think I’m quite suited for that long distance. I have to stick to my plan, what I usually do, and normally it should be okay. So obviously, it all depends on how the other guys will be doing. But that’s not up to him.
iRunFar: Of course. And then, you know this course quite well. So, is there any one part you’re quite looking forward to on race day?
Dunand-Pallaz: So, I’m looking forward to Notre Dame de la Gorge, which is at kilometer 35, because that’s when you really get into the mountain. Before that, it’s actually quite flat and quite rolling, and you have to run fast. I don’t like that. So, I want to get into the mountains, take out my poles and start climbing. And also, that’s when they go into the night, which is a moment I really like as well. So that’s why I’m looking forward to Notre Dame.
iRunFar: Okay, very good. And then, maybe you haven’t thought about this, but have you any plans for the rest of the season or is this your last big race?
Dunand-Pallaz: I’ve already got tickets booked to La Réunion, two weeks after UTMB. We’re going on, long-term holidays with my partner and two kids. So, I’m going to Réunion Island. Normally, depending on the recovery after UTMB, I should be doing Diagonale again. If the recovery doesn’t go so well, maybe I’ll switch to a shorter distance. But I’ll be on the island during the race.
iRunFar: Okay, that sounds like a very good holiday either way. So, thank you very much. Wish you all the best this weekend, and we’ll see you out there.
Dunand-Pallaz: Thank you. Thank you very much.
