The 33-year-old Indian, a pioneer of trail running in his country, has chosen Adamello Ultra Trail for his debut over the ultra distance distance: “I’m based in the region for the whole month of September, I want to get to know the event, its trails and its people”.
From India to Adamello Ultra Trail, from the Himalayasto the Alps. Over 6,500 km for his trail running debut over the 100-mile distance. Ahead of its main event scheduled for September 25-27, Kieren D’Souza is the latest testimony of Adamello Ultra Trail international growth.
33 years old, born in Bilaspur and now based in Manali at the foot of the Himalayas, D’Souza is one of the names paving the way for trail running in India. The first Indian to finish the Spartathlon, in 2016, and the first to break into the top 100 at the Trail World Championships, he holds the FKT (Fastest Known Time) on his home mountain of Friendship Peak (5,289 m) and today carries a UTMB Index of 711, among the highest ever recorded by an Indian athlete.
And how does a runner get from the Himalayas to the Alps? Adamello Ultra Trail came in the picture at the end of a months-long search, shared with his coach Robbie Britton, himself a former #AUT participant.
“I’d been looking at doing a 100-mile race since last October, and I was mostly looking for for something in the September-October window this year,” D’Souza explained. “I’m always fascinated by the route a trail follows, the community, the location of the race. I had a chat with my coach and he made a few suggestions, with Adamello Ultra being the one I should definitely look at, since it’s the kind of route I’d enjoy. I did a little reading up, and after that it was an easy decision.”
For the Indian athlete, the course represents a double debut. Not only his first 100 miles in trail running, but also his first encounter with a route that runs along the Paths of the First World War — mule tracks carved more than a century ago along the Italian-Austrian front, climbing to almost 2,700 m at Passo dei Contrabbandieri.
“From the maps I can already tell it’ll be a constant rollercoaster of steep climbs and steep descents, and really demanding. It’ll also be the first time I run through paths of such historical importance, and that side of it fascinates me. It gives me more reason to read up and educate myself about the region and the race route.”
A region and a route that, until a few days ago, were still a question mark. “When I arrived I knew very little about Pontedilegno-Tonale, but I’ve now found a place in Edolo, in the Brescia province. From there I plan to explore the trails and mountains around, which luckily include many of the paths of the race. Living here for a month, I’m hoping to learn more about the region and get to know the community and its traditions.” That’s why he also joined the Adamello Vertical Kilometer last Sunday, getting a first glimpse of the trails, and of the welcoming soul of Valle Camonica.
Adamello Ultra Trail and Kieren D’Souza have something in common: both are pioneers in their own settings. Before #AUT even existed, its forerunner the Red Rock Sky Marathon had already mapped out the trails of the Alta Valle Camonica. The Indian athlete, for his part, has set a number of records at home and abroad in trail running, with the aim of opening the way for the sport to grow in India.
“It’s incredible that #AUT has already reached this international level,” D’Souza said. “I’m glad to add my own country to the mix of nations taking part, and I like to think my participation can play a small role in that continued growth. At the end of the day, the hard and important work is done by the organisation and the people of the region, who make it possible for someone like me to come and experience the culture and the nature here — so the real applause goes to them.”
OVER 1.000 REGISTRATIONS FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW
If winning is hard, repeating it is harder. And yet, Adamello Ultra Trail reached the milestone of over 1.000 registrations in the 4 distances combined for the second year in a row, confirming its status in the international trail running community.
Following the debut of the Adamello Series last Sunday, #AUT returns from 25 to 27 September with its four classic distances of 170, 100, 60 and 35 km. Pre-race operations open on Thursday 24 in the afternoon at the Centro Eventi in Vezza d’Oglio (Brescia), the start and finish venue for every race — with the exception of the 35 km, which starts from Monno — and home to the expo village for the event’s sponsors and partners.
On Friday morning the Adamello Trail 100 km starts at 8:00, followed by the Ultra Trail 170 km at 9:00 and the Half Trail 60 km at 10:00. The 35 km sets off on Saturday afternoon at 14:00. Awards ceremony for the three shorter distances take place on Saturday evening, with the 170 km awards on Sunday at 14:00.
