Istria by UTMB 110K - My First Big Ultra Finish
Date: April 12, 2025
Distance: 110 km
Elevation Gain/Loss: 4,000 m
Finish Time: 15h 18min
Overall Place (Women): 13th
Part of the UTMB World Series
The Istria 110K race will forever hold a special place in my heart—it was my first real ultra. A challenge I approached with excitement, doubt, pain, and strength. And like most meaningful achievements, it didn’t come easy.
A Sleepless Start in Buzet
The morning of the race began with just four hours of sleep. Not ideal, but my nerves were racing long before I started moving. My husband and I had rented a home in Umag, where we quietly shared a simple breakfast: oatmeal with a few rose berries and one cup of matcha tea.
We caught the race bus to Buzet, the official start of the 110K. The atmosphere there was buzzing with anticipation, and when the race started at 7:00 a.m., adrenaline carried me through the first 10 km at a slightly faster pace than planned. I felt light and strong, as if floating through the early kilometers.
Photo (left): My Collection- ME on the right and MY HUSBAND on the left; Photo(right): ISTRIA 100 by UTMB Facebook page
Settling Into the Struggle
By the 10th kilometer, reality settled in. Runners began passing me. I questioned whether I was just slower or had ended up in the wrong group. I tried not to compare—just to keep moving.
Around the 30th kilometer, I felt the first big challenge—pain in my right ankle. It wasn’t a surprise; this old injury had been limiting my long runs for months. I was forced to slow down, especially on downhills, which was frustrating because the terrain was so runnable.
But reaching the Buzet aid station around 40 km felt like a blessing. I saw soda on the table—it might sound silly, but that moment lifted me. I filled one flask with soda, another with Coke, and that became my go-to hydration for the rest of the race. I also grabbed orange slices at every aid station and alternated with endurance gels (each with 45g carbs) roughly every 45 minutes. It worked beautifully: no stomach issues despite the heat.
Photo: My Collection - ME at Buzet Aid Station
The Turning Point at Livade
I reached Livade feeling stronger, running alongside another woman. A steep uphill followed—non-runnable, but perfect for hiking. Something in me clicked. I powered up that hill and began overtaking other runners, one by one.
Somehow, I still had strength left in my body. Every new aid station re-energized me. I overtook another woman around the 90th kilometer and found a second wind simply by focusing on one runner at a time—just trying to catch the next person ahead.
Into the Darkness
Darkness fell around kilometer 92. I switched on my Petzl Bindi headlamp, which worked flawlessly. It got cold, but I couldn’t bring myself to stop. I was deep in autopilot mode—just moving forward, step by step.
The final 10 kilometers were the hardest. My feet were battered, and all my toenails paid the price for those steep descents. (Shoutout to my Merrell Agility Peak 5s—super comfy, zero blisters, but my nails weren’t prepared for the pounding.) And still, I kept going.
When we crossed the asphalt and hit the bike trail about 1–2 km before the finish, I was overwhelmed. I realized: I'm really going to finish this. My first big ultra.
The Power of People
Seeing familiar faces—friends, running buddies, even volunteers I knew—was one of the most emotional parts of the race. Their words, their cheers, their presence gave me bursts of energy in my lowest moments. It’s hard to explain how much it means in the middle of such a long effort.
Be strong and move on!
Photo: My Collection - ME at Butoniga Aid Station
Happy as I saw a friend there :)
My Training Reality
If you’re reading this and thinking you need perfect preparation to run 110K—let me share a few truths:
📊 My Training Looked Like This:
Longest run: 27 km (2h 45min)
Longest hike: 15 km (4 hours)
Average weekly training time (running, hiking, strength, and bike): ~10 hours
Average weekly volume: 78 km
Average weekly elevation gain: ~1,000 meters
Key focus: Structured strength training following the Experto en Descensos methodology—especially important for downhill control and injury prevention
Due to my ankle injury, I couldn’t do long runs or back-to-backs. But I stayed consistent, worked hard on strength, and focused on quality over quantity.
Recovery: The Real Finish Line
Recovery was tougher than the race.
Week 1: No running—my legs were swollen and sore. I only managed light walking.
Week 2: I tried two runs, but pain behind my left knee stopped me. My calves and hamstrings were overloaded—my physio even joked, “Did you run the whole race jumping on your left leg?” 😅
Week 3: I slowly resumed easy running. Pain was still present, but manageable. A deep sports massage helped, but I’m still recovering. Recovery takes time—and patience.
Final Thoughts
Crossing the finish line in 15 hours and 18 minutes, as the 13th woman overall, was a moment I’ll never forget. After months of limited running, self-doubt, and uncertainty, I proved something to myself: you don’t have to be perfect to be strong.
If you’re considering Istria 110K—go for it.
It’s well-organized, scenic, and surprisingly runnable. The volunteers are incredible, the aid stations are well-stocked, and the energy of this UTMB World Series race is unforgettable.
Photo(left): My Collection ME at the finish line; Photo(Middle): My Collection - Race Medals; Photo (right): My Collection- The watch face after the race
Want to see the official results? 👉 https://istria.utmb.world/races-runners/runners/results?year=2025&raceUri=1573.istria100byutmb--110k.2025
Top Finishers (110K):
🥇 Men:
Zan Zepic (Slovenia): 09:56
Martin Halasz (Slovakia): 10:38
Tomasz Kik (Slovakia): 11:04
Photo: Istria 110 by UTMB Facebook page - The top man at 110K race
🥇 Women:
Nicol Guidolin (Italy): 12:17
Alena Pabortsava (Belarus): 12:33
Julie Lesage (Canda): 12:45
Photo: Istria 110 by UTMB Facebook page - The top woman at 110K race
If you have questions about gear, training, or recovery, feel free to reach out via Instagram @sky.2.run or write me an email at sky2running@gmail.com.
I’d love to support your journey to Istria—or any ultra you’re dreaming of.
