Just Outside the Podium: Two Athletes, One Shared Experience

A double interview with Marcos Villamuera and Peter Fraňo after the Lavaredo Ultra Trail

In trail running, finishing fourth is a unique experience, somewhere between the pride of an elite performance and the frustration of narrowly missing the podium. We spoke to two SCARPA® athletes who experienced exactly that at this year’s Lavaredo Ultra Trail in Cortina d’Ampezzo, racing over different distances: young Spanish runner Marcos Villamuera, who finished fourth in the 50K, and Slovak athlete Peter Fraňo, who placed fourth in the 120K. We asked them to reflect on their races, but the conversation also gave us the opportunity to talk about race strategy, effort management and the technical evolution of the sport.

 

Over the past few years, the level of trail running has increased significantly. Your time this year would probably have earned you a podium, a win or even a course record a few years ago. How is that possible? Where is trail running heading?

 

Marcos: Definitely. I think my time would have been enough for the podium last year, and also two years ago. Training has improved, but not enough to explain such a big difference. What has really changed is nutrition, attention to detail, equipment, altitude training... Everything matters. It is no longer just about training. It is about managing every aspect as well as possible.

Peter: That is true. There are more and more professional athletes, and they are running faster and faster. Shoes and apparel are evolving too, and everything helps us perform better. I am sure the sport has not reached its full potential yet, so race times will continue to get faster in the future.

 

Fourth place is probably the most bittersweet position. Are you happy with the result, or not entirely? What was your first thought after crossing the finish line?

 

Marcos: My first thought was that I had lost the podium on the final descent because I twisted my ankle. At that moment, I was not very happy. I was actually quite frustrated. Now that a few days have passed, I am very happy with how the race went. I managed to stay in third place for almost 40 kilometres and I felt quite good. It was my first 50K race, and the level at the front was extremely high. Despite the heat, I think I ran a strong time, similar to those recorded in previous years by Antonio Martinez or Luca Del Pero.

Peter: I cannot say I am disappointed. Fourth place is a good result in such a prestigious race as Lavaredo. Ninety-nine percent of runners would be happy with it, but I am a perfectionist and I always want to feel 100% satisfied. This time, I would say I was probably 70% satisfied. When I crossed the finish line, I was simply happy it was over. In the final minutes of the race, I started to realise what a journey it had been and how deeply I had to dig to make it all the way to the finish line in Cortina.

 

 

 

 

If you could go back in time and change one decision or the way you managed one specific kilometre of your race, where would you go back to? Do you have any regrets about your pacing, energy management or fueling strategy?

 

Marcos: Up until kilometre 40, I have no regrets. I think I managed my fueling and hydration well, and my heart rate and overall feeling were almost perfect. The problem came when I tried to take a gel at kilometre 40. I twisted my ankle, fell to the ground and lost the gel. As a result, I was completely drained during the final 35 minutes of the descent. That gel would definitely have made things easier, but with my ankle hurting, I still do not think I would have been able to catch and pass Lorenzo Rota Martir to get onto the podium.

Peter: I made a few mistakes during the race, and if I could go back, there is one I would definitely avoid. I did not stop at the aid station at kilometre 77 to refill my water. I skipped it because I thought the next one was close, but it was not. From that point on, I went through some very difficult kilometres and lost a lot of time.

 

Was there a moment when you realised you were right there, fighting for a place in the top three? How did that affect you mentally?

 

Marcos: Mentally, it was not really a problem. My strategy was to keep a controlled pace on the final descent rather than go all-out, and then try to make the difference on the flatter, more runnable sections. I knew Lorenzo, who was ahead of me, was struggling with cramps, so I thought I might be able to catch him if I pushed. After the fall and the pain in my ankle, though, I changed my approach. From that point on, I simply tried to maintain a survival pace all the way to the finish line.

 

 

 

 

Was there a specific moment during the race when you went through a real low point? How did you get through it?

 

Peter: The biggest low point came between kilometres 84 and 90. Those six kilometres felt endless. I was thirsty and had no energy left. My only thought was to keep moving forward, deal with the problems and try not to lose too much time.

 

What was the most technical section of the race, and how did you manage it? Which shoes did you choose?

 

Marcos: I do not think the most technical part was concentrated in one specific section. There were several short stretches, around 50 metres long, where you needed good technical skills to avoid losing time. Overall, I felt very comfortable in those sections, perhaps also thanks to a new prototype shoe I wore, which will be launched soon. My legs did not feel too sore after the race, which is a sign that the cushioning was also excellent. Even though it is not specifically designed for technical terrain, I felt I handled those sections very well. On the faster, more runnable parts of the course, the feeling was incredible.

Peter: There were a few technical sections, but overall the course is very fast and runnable. The most technical part was probably around Passo Giau. I wore a prototype shoe that is very fast and helped me maintain a strong pace on the runnable sections. I am very happy with that choice. The shoe worked really well for me.

 

A fourth-place finish often leaves you hungrier than a victory. Do you agree?

 

Marcos: Definitely. I am even hungrier now than I was before. I still feel very young and I know I have a long road ahead of me, one step at a time. At the moment, I am able to finish in the top five at high-level races such as Lavaredo or Calamorro. I will try to keep achieving results like these and improve little by little. For me, improvement is not really about training more or training better. It is about gaining experience over the years.

Peter: Definitely. Fourth place makes you even hungrier because you feel that success was so close. My next big race will be CCC at the end of August, which is my main goal of the season. I cannot wait.

 

If you had to describe your race in just one word, what would it be?

 

Marcos Villamuera: Flow.

Peter Fraňo: Experience.