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Marianne Hogan chats all things UTMB and how she finished with a torn psoas

Hogan is the first Canadian trail runner to reach the podium at UTMB in the race's 19-year history

Marianne Hogan UTMB Photo by: Jordi Saragossa

After finishing third at the Western States 100 in June, Montreal’s Marianne Hogan took on UTMB for the first time two months later, and accomplished something only two female trail runners have done before–reaching the podium at both. Being only two months apart, most trail runners choose one race or the other, but few take on (let alone podium) at both.

Marianne Hogan before UTMB
Hogan in Chamonix before the start of 2022 UTMB. Photo: Instagram/Marianne Hogan

Hogan became the first Canadian-born trail runner to reach the podium at UTMB, finishing second behind Katie Schide in 24:31:22. Hogan called her second-place finish “a moment [she] dreamed about for the entire race.”

We chatted with Hogan about her race, her injury and how she felt racing in Chamonix for the first time.

CR: What were your expectations heading into the race? Did you have a plan? Can you plan for a 170-mile ultra with 10,000 metres of vert?

MH: UTMB lived up to all the hype and more. It was such a nice experience. The crowds are crazy. Each town you run through is packed with spectators cheering your name. It was hard for me to have performance expectations since I raced Western States (two months before), with no idea how my body would respond. My goal was top five.

CR: How did you feel when you found out you were leading UTMB? Did you and Katie work together?

MH: I knew when I passed Katie I was leading. We were given race splits at every checkpoint, plus the time and distance we were behind the next runner. During the race, Schide and I didn’t run together much. When she caught up to me the second time, we chatted a bit there. It’s funny, I gave her some advice on how to fix her stomach issues by eating a sandwich, and it ended up working for her.

CR: How did your psoas tear? Was that the hardest thing to overcome? When did the injury occur?

MH: I had 45 km to go, and I was walking up a hill and then had this searing pain in my left leg. It was probably from overuse.” (Hogan broke her right leg four years ago and now puts more weight on her left side.)

The more I ran on it, the harder it was to finish, but never for a split second did I consider stopping. All I wanted was to keep my second position. When things got rough, I was ready to get the job done regardless of what it took. I knew finishing was still in the capacity. I am currently out for 6 weeks off running, says the doctor.

CR: You and Mathieu Blanchard seem to have developed a great relationship. Did he give you any advice before the race? And what did he have to say to you after?

Mathieu and I did a Salomon training camp together in August called A Tour du Mont Blanc. Mathieu showed me where to use poles and where to use nutrition.

We both thought it was hilarious! We both finished second after sharing the lead (separately) at the same time.

Transalpine-Run
Montreal’s Mathieu Blanchard and Marianne Hogan at the TransAlpine Run in 2017. Photo: Philipp Reiter.

CR: Technically, you are the first Canadian-born trail runner to land on a UTMB podium. What does this say for Canadian trail running?

I hope my result shows Canadian trail runners that there is an opportunity to potentially podium at these big races. I am honoured to represent a nation of so many great trail runners. Canada’s Jazmine Lowther and Ailsa MacDonald are also having great years on the trails. 

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