For her fifth time at the start line, Fu-Zhao Xiang of China arrives at the 2024 UTMB hoping to run faster than her time last year, which resulted in a fourth-place finish. In the following interview, Fu-Zhao talks about her recovery and training after placing second at the 2024 Western States 100 just nine weeks ago, her motivations for coming back to this race year after year, and her plan for keeping her stomach in the game through the night.
For more on who’s racing, check out our in-depth women’s and men’s previews and follow our live race coverage starting Friday.
Fu-Zhao Xiang Pre-2024 UTMB Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Meghan Hicks of iRunFar. I’m with Fu-Zhao Xiang. It’s a couple of days before the 2024 UTMB. Hi, Fu-Zhao. How are you?
Fu-Zhao Xiang: Hi, hello. How are you? I’m fine, thank you.
iRunFar: I feel like you’re almost a local here. You have been in the Alps for one month. I’ve just arrived.
Xiang: Yes, welcome to Chamonix.
iRunFar: Thank you. Fu-Zhou, this is your fifth UTMB. What keeps bringing you back to this race?
Xiang: Because for me, it’s very important, the race. Because every trail race, I need to run longer. I think this race must be run.
iRunFar: This is the must-do race.
Xiang: Yes.
iRunFar: And so, if it’s the must-do race for others, it’s the one you also have to do?
Xiang: Yes, and also a lot more people. Also, this is for everybody is very important, because the Chamonix outdoor culture is very famous in the world. So, everybody wants to run the race once. Maybe more and more times, like me. [laughs]
iRunFar: Like you.
Xiang: Yes.
iRunFar: We saw you not so long ago, just nine weeks ago, at the Western States 100. How has your recovery been from your second-place finish there, a really good run at Western?
Xiang: After Western States, I had three weeks rest, no run.
iRunFar: Three weeks rest.
Xiang: Yes, no run. After, I tried to run later and more and more. Now, my longest training is about 60 kilometers. I think now I can finish all the training plans. So, I think I’m fine now.
iRunFar: Yeah. I mean, a 60-kilometer long run between two 100 milers, only nine weeks apart. I don’t think you need to do really long runs. You just did. You did a long run at Western States, right?
Xiang: Yes. [addresses a translator]
iRunFar: I was going to say that she said her longest run had been 60 kilometers, but she already raced 100 miles this summer, so it’s not necessary to do lots of long runs between then and now.
Xiang: Yes, of course.
iRunFar: So, Western States and UTMB are very different races.
Xiang: Yes.
iRunFar: Western States, more flat, hot, more downhill than uphill. UTMB, big mountains, higher altitude, will be cold at night, probably.
Xiang: Yes.
iRunFar: How have you shifted your mind and your body to this totally different race?
Xiang: Yes, because it’s very different, the two races. Actually, I’m better. I’m good at hot races.
iRunFar: Okay.
Xiang: Yeah, but, no problem. I come here about five times, and I come here this year about one month, more than one month. So I also do a lot of the race course, so I think it’s no problem. I just follow my pace. Yeah.
iRunFar: Did you find it difficult converting from training for a flat, runnable race like Western States to training for lots of vertical, very steep ups, very steep downs? Did you find converting the training was okay for you?
Xiang: For me, it’s okay, because Western States can’t use poles, but here we can use the pole. I think pole is very important for me, the big mountain. Because my hometown is Chongqing, but in Chongqing, the mountain is very small.
iRunFar: No big mountains.
Xiang: Yes.
iRunFar: This race, you have now been here, this is your fifth time. Each time, you have improved.
Xiang: Yeah.
iRunFar: To finishing fourth place inside the top five. For many people, that would be a career goal for that finish, but if you come back, does that mean you think you can run better than fourth place?
Xiang: I can’t choose the finishing place.
iRunFar: Right.
Xiang: But I hope I can run faster than my last year. I love it, because every year, the competition is different, and more and more competitive.
iRunFar: Yeah.
Xiang: I know many females, good runners, come back to UTMB, but no problem. I will keep my mind peaceful and follow my pace.
iRunFar: What is it that you’re thinking about from last year? Really wonderful performance, so strong. What are the things that you’re thinking about doing a little bit better this year? What do you want to improve on?
Xiang: Maybe my stomach.
iRunFar: Okay.
Xiang: Because the last four times, my stomach was in different trouble, but this year, I think I take some medicine in the race.
iRunFar: Okay.
Xiang: So maybe it’s better. Yeah. This is my biggest trouble, my stomach, because the weather is a little cold in the evening, so maybe keep warm is also very important.
iRunFar: So for you, in the nighttime when it’s cold, your stomach stops working?
Xiang: Yes.
iRunFar: Okay. So, you’re taking a medicine this year that will maybe help with that?
Xiang: Maybe, yes.
iRunFar: And then, you said you’re going to try to stay warmer, so that your stomach works a little better?
Xiang: Yeah, yeah. Keep warm and take medicine for my stomach.
iRunFar: Got it. Best of luck to you on your fifth lap around Mont Blanc.
Xiang: Thank you. Very lucky to see you again in Chamonix.
iRunFar: I feel very lucky to see you again in Chamonix! Xie xie.
Xiang: Xie xie.
