# Why the World’s Biggest Trail Race Happened in France

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderlands-trail-and-ultra-running-6921910/why-the-world-s-biggest-trail-race-happened-in-france
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderlands-trail-and-ultra-running-6921910/why-the-world-s-biggest-trail-race-happened-in-france.md
Podcast: [Borderlands Trail and Ultra Running](https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderlands-trail-and-ultra-running-6921910)
Published: 2026-08-22T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.borderlands.cc/recent-podcast-episodes/why-the-worlds-biggest-trail-race-happened-in-france
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/61d66394-e9cd-4bc8-a113-d52b2062ff24.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/borderlands-trail-and-ultra-running-6921910/episodes/why-the-world-s-biggest-trail-race-happened-in-france
Duration seconds: 2349

## Resource

UTMB is the biggest trail race in the world, but why did it happen in France? The easy answer is Mont Blanc. The better answer has more to do with culture, timing, and the kind of endurance tradition that was already there long before UTMB existed. Josh talks with Doug Mayer, founder of Run the Alps and author of The Race That Changed Running , about the deeper conditions that made UTMB possible, from old mountain races and ski mountaineering to the Pellettis’ execution and the way places like Vallorcine turned the race into something people gather around, not just run. Please give us a follow, rate the podcast, and give a review. If you’re new to Borderlands, start here . Resources / Links Run the Alps Salt Lake Foothills Trail Races Josh Rosenthal on IG Borderlands.cc Subwhatever Related Episodes Ultra Running isn't Just Running Presented by Kiprun . ---- Borderlands explores trail running through culture, media, and the forces shaping it. Watch on YouTube Read on Substack

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