O-See Ultra Trail 2024

Event Page: XTerra O-See Ultra

Oybin, here I am... again! It’s been a year since I ran the XTerra O-See Ultra Trail 50k, and boy, that was a lot of fun. I think I can say without an ounce of hesitation that this was, by far, my all-time favorite event — and I encourage you to check out the in-depth article I wrote about it last year.

Don’t get me wrong — by favorite I don’t mean the most beautiful one; it’s hard to compete with the Alps! But definitely the one I enjoyed the most. The route is quite technical (for a rookie ultra-runner like me), with a lot of narrow trails tangled with roots, big stones, fallen trees, stairs, and multiple peaks to climb. I had so much fun that I couldn’t miss it this year. Also, it usually takes place in mid-October, the same weekend as the Diag (Grand Raid de la Réunion), which makes it perfect to close the season.

This year, I’m back for the big one — the 65k — which, at that time, was the longest event (we’ll get to that later!). Same route as the 50k, but with an extra peak at the end and some snaking around town. Fifteen kilometers more doesn’t sound like a huge step, but it pushes me a little further into the ruthless world of ultra-runners, with its share of new challenges. Above all, a 6 a.m. start in complete darkness forces me to buy and train with a headlamp. Luckily, it’s only for about an hour, as the sun rises around 7 a.m. and we finally get enough light to turn our lamps off. But that first hour is tough — the early kilometers are quite technical; I have to be extremely careful where I step and find my way around the massive stones blocking the path.

The rest of the event is similar to last year, maybe with slightly better weather. I feel stronger; my body swallows kilometers like salty potatoes and pickles at the aid stations. My only fear is the time limit, since we need to finish before 18:00. But I quickly realize I’m well ahead of schedule, even though I’m walking half the way and taking time to eat at each station. Of course, something “fun” is waiting for me — as always!

I pass the 50 km mark, resisting the temptation to take the left turn and end the race. But I’m in for the big loop. Fifteen more kilometers to go — we can do it! Lost in my thoughts, already celebrating and writing this article in my head, I miss a right turn. My super-expensive, state-of-the-art GPS watch keeps counting kilometers happily without warning me as it should. After a while, I realize something’s wrong. I know this section; I ran it 6 or 7 hours ago. One look at my watch confirms it — I’m on the wrong path. 

I turn back, pushing on my poles and ignoring my legs screaming in agony. I take another way, but the same thing happens again. I hit huge stairs that I’m sure I already climbed in the morning. On my watch, the GPS track looks like spaghetti — impossible to tell which path is new and which I’ve already covered. I finally take out my phone, check the route, and realize I made a mistake a kilometer back. Now I’m standing at a crossroads I’ve already passed earlier in the day. I eventually find my way back, but I’ve lost 45 minutes — and now I’m at risk of not finishing in time. I have to speed up, which is exactly what every runner dreams of after 60 km of hill running!

I cross the finish line 15 minutes before the deadline. Not the last one, but close! I check my watch: 68 km instead of 65! The event organizers are in stitches. Thanks to the GPS tracker I was wearing, they noticed I’d taken a wrong turn and were already planning to send a rescue team to find me in the middle of the night. I’m the star — they even invite me to have dinner with them. I end my race sitting on a bench with a bratwurst, potatoes, and a huge piece of cake in front of me. Sometimes all it takes is a wrong turn to turn your world upside down. But keep your head up — it always ends well :)

“Hey, do you know we’re adding a 100 km event next year?” asks the lady in front of me.
Oh no... 😱😍