Tarne Westcott: On a quest for UTMB glory
In Episode Six of the Running Tales podcast, in collaboration with Run Tri Bike, Craig Lewis talks to a man on a mission: Tarne Westcott.
Ever since finishing the London Marathon in 2004, Tarne's first effort over the 26.2 mile distance, he’s been on a collision course with the finishing line at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), the iconic 106-mile (171 km) mountain run through the Alps.
It’s a mission which hasn’t been without its ups and downs. Along the way, Tarne has completed a series of lung-busting endurance runs including the Race to the Stones, the Stour Valley Path 100, the Dorset Coastal Ultra, the Marathon des Sables, and the five-day Capital to Country Ultra through Nepal.
But Tarne has also had his share of Did Not Finish (DNF) results as he has taken on increasingly tough races, not least at the Chamonix-based UTMB.
Tarne has taken on the gruelling event four times, succumbing to a succession of injuries and setbacks.
Despite that, he remains determined that a running career that almost ended after that first London Marathon will bring glory at one of the best known races in the world.
Tarne Westcott’s journey to ultra success
Tarne Westcott’s journey to ultra success
Tarne Westcott’s journey to ultra success
From a pint in the pub to the foothills of the Himalayas, Tarne Westcott has seen it all on his journey to ultra success.
It eventually took him to the 123-mile, five day Capital to Country ultra which winds through Nepal’s undulating landscape - a race at which Tarne, despite initially intending to simply enjoy the experience, achieved one of every runner’s great goals: to win an event.
Read Tarne Westcott's story on Substack
Tarne Westcott’s journey to ultra success
Tarne Westcott’s journey to ultra success
“My younger self would probably say, dude, you need help.”
Tarne Westcott has run in a lot of ultra marathons - but things weren’t always that way.
It wasn’t so long ago, though, that he had vowed never to run again after having an “absolutely awful time” at the London Marathon... now, his heart is set on completing the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc.