Hannes Namberger of Germany is back for his fourth start at UTMB, having finished eighth in 2023 and sixth in 2021. In the following interview, Hannes talks about how becoming a dad has changed his outlook on racing, his past year which included a win at the 2024 Lavaredo Ultra Trail, and what he hopes to get out of this year’s UTMB experience.
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.
Hannes Namberger Pre-2024 UTMB Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Sarah Brady of iRunFar. I’m here just before the 2024 UTMB with Hannes Namberger. Hannes, how are you doing?
Hannes Namberger: I’m fine, thank you.
iRunFar: Great. Welcome back to Chamonix. When did you get here?
Namberger: I arrived yesterday not too early and that’s always perfect for me to have some days here and then we can go directly into the race.
iRunFar: You know this route pretty well. So I guess you don’t really need to go out and recce again.
Namberger: I planned it, but it was not possible. When I wanted to do it, my body was not working really well, but it’s part of the game. But I did it three times now and it should be enough.
iRunFar: That should be enough. Yeah. So I believe you had some sort of Achilles pain a few weeks ago. Is that all put to bed now?
Namberger: Yeah, everything. It was not directly Achilles, it was locking the foot and the knee and that makes some. Body is something really strange. And then Achilles was hurting, then we unlocked it and everything was nearly okay.
iRunFar: Nearly okay is as good as it gets in the sport, I think. So you became a dad since I’ve last seen you. Congratulations.
Namberger: Yeah. Thank you very much.
iRunFar: So how has that changed your training and your racing?
Namberger: Yes. I would say it’s more relaxed, but that’s not the right word. Focus is not always about running. It’s more about my son and the family and running is always a big part. But yeah, you have to save your energy also for the family and not always thinking about yourself.
iRunFar: So it’s less pressure in a way that it’s not the only thing?
Namberger: Yeah. And it also gives you a lot of motivation. For example, I’m dreaming about to make it to the finish line and my son is waiting there and that’s for me the best thing ever.
iRunFar: That would be fab. So this is your fourth time starting UTMB. So you’ve had some really good results here. You were at sixth in ’21, you’re eighth last year, but an hour faster and then you had a DNF in between. So what do you think is kind of possible for your best day here?
Namberger: My plan is to stay at my program, what I have to do to do my exercises perfectly, to eat enough, stay warm, full focus, not thinking about time or splits or something. I have to do a race. I want to race, I want to do a race and that’s my plan. And also to enjoy it, to be here, to be healthy, to enjoy this atmosphere, like the first time when you’re here. Yeah, when you do your first race here. And that’s my main goal for ’24.
iRunFar: Okay, great. And then you’ve had a good year so far. So you had a really good win at Lavaredo and I saw it was quite close. You were just two and a half minutes ahead of Tom Evans. So how did that go?
Namberger: The year was not always perfect, a lot of things around or next to the sport like work and we tried to run away the house and that was at the beginning of the year, not easy, but then we changed a little bit and Lavaredo went perfect. And then I was knowing, “Okay, I have the skills to win races.” To be also successful here in UTMB is super difficult, but I try to do my best and we’ll see what happened on Saturday.
iRunFar: And you said when we were chatting just off camera, that they’re quite close together at Lavaredo and UTMB and to do both of them well is difficult. So how have you managed to balance recovery after that race with training and building up again?
Namberger: To do a normal training. To do nothing special. Nothing too crazy. Things what you always do. Normal training, not too much volume. That’s my medicine and do what I always do and maybe it works or not.
iRunFar: Yeah, we’ll find out soon. And then there’s a lot of men on the start list who you’ve run with before. So obviously you’re pretty close to Tom a few weeks ago at Lavaredo, he’s back here. And then Dimitri [Mityaev], who you shared a win with before. And Ultra-Trail Cape Town is running as well. So is there anyone else you’d like to share some miles with this weekend?
Namberger: I don’t think it’s important to share some miles. Only if you have the same performance then you can help each other. But the fastest way is always to go your own pace and don’t wait or to run over your limit. So I will stick to my plan, have a good race, eat enough, stay warm, run smooth, and yeah, don’t do stupid things.
iRunFar: And is there any particular part of the course that you’re excited to get to again, besides the finish line?
Namberger: Yeah, the last three hills of the Champex-Lac, they are super special because the people there are waiting for you. If we have good weather, then it’s like to the frost, they’re cheering for you. You cannot walk, you have to run. They push you to a higher limit and your body is totally wasted, but they push you forward. And I love this feeling. It’s not only for the elite runners, I hope for everybody. And then if you make it to the finish line, that’s the best feeling ever.
iRunFar: Of course.
Namberger: That gives you a lot of energy back and then hopefully the family’s waiting and we can celebrate it.
iRunFar: Okay, very good. And then it’s probably too soon, but do you have plans for the rest of the year after this?
Namberger: Directly into holiday.
iRunFar: Very good.
Namberger: And to the beach.
iRunFar: Brilliant.
Namberger: And then Cape Town again.
iRunFar: Okay, very good.
Namberger: It’s for me, one of the best places to do beach holiday or beach things, spend holiday and to run. And yeah, I love Cape Town.
iRunFar: Okay, and you’ve had some very good runs there?
Namberger: Yes.
iRunFar: Okay, great. Well, I hope you have a fantastic run this weekend.
Namberger: Thank you very much.
iRunFar: I look forward to seeing you out there. Thanks very much.
Namberger: Thanks.
