HOKA Val d'Aran by UTMB®

You surely know UTMB® in the Alps, a legendary race and the dream of many trail runners around the world. But do you know the race from Val d'Aran By UTMB® ? Launched in 2021, it takes place in the Spanish Pyrenees. And we guarantee that its climbs and breathtaking scenery hold their own against UTMB® 🤜.

Heading to Catalonia, in Spain, and more precisely the village of Vielha to kick off on trails that will take you through the most beautiful corners of the surrounding mountains. The organizers offer four distances so you naturally find the one that suits you best. Across the Val d'Aran, you can choose between the "SKY Baqueira Beret" long with 15 km, the 55 km of the "Peades d'Aigua ", then, if you're well trained you can go for the "Camins d'Hèr" of 105 km and finally you have the famous, the big "Torn dera Val d'Aran" long of 161 km. Just reading the names of these distances transports you to Catalan culture so memorable 🤗.

To top it all off, the event takes place in July, which means you’ll be running under the sun and the high mountain temperatures of summer. It’s true that when you think of Spain in July 🇪🇸, holidays, beaches, sun and typical dishes come to mind. But this Spanish excursion won’t be a walk in the park for you; you’d better not come as a tourist to the Val d'Aran By UTMB® or you’ll soon be disappointed 😅.

What course is on the program? Whatever distance you choose, you’ll enjoy absolutely stunning scenery in the Pyrenees and in the Val d'Aran. Even though the start points are specific to each race, you’ll find panoramas that are quite similar across all courses. To whet your appetite, you’ll encounter a very large number of lakes along your route, there are no fewer than 20 in the mere col d'Colomèrs cirque 😲. Déu n'hi do ("well, I must say" in Catalan), what a view! With rocky and very green mountain scenery around, the lakes are the cherry on top 🍰. Along the water, you wander along trails that lead you to peaks over 2 000 m of altitude. Among them, you’ll find the Port d’Urets (no boat 🚢), the Cap des Clòsos or the col du Pòdo (and not podiatrist, even if you might need one). Hard not to fall in love with the wild nature so characteristic of this massif in northern Spain. Cows, horses, wide open spaces, forests and all kinds of waterfalls make up this authentic environment. Beyond all these wonders, the climbs will push you to your limits. Yes, the Pyrenees are also known for its challenging, steep trails made of plenty of rock. No problem for you, you have footwork and strides as effective as the isards around, right?

And what about the vibe? It’s Spain after all, so it can only be joyful and festive 🥳. At the start, at the finish, or along the race routes, Catalan supporters will be there to cheer you on and give you the extra strength to finish. Plus, you’ll see that passing through hamlets and authentic mountain villages like BossòstBagergue or Canéjan will make you fall in love with the region for good 🥰. After all these thrills, you’ll be up for a culinary discovery of local dishes 🍽️. On the menu you’ll have the choice between the wild boar civet, olla aranesa or eel confit. For sightseeing, you can visit Aran Park, a wildlife park where you can observe mountain wildlife. Or you can also stroll through charming mountain villages like Babergue, Arties or Salardu.

So, does Val's the deal with this little trip across the border into the "valley of the valley" (Val d'Aran’s meaning)? 😆