Sports
Manuela Vilaseca: Adapting to Europe and Trail Legacy
On Stemma Na Trilha, the ultramarathoner details her move to Spain, major races, and visibility in Brazil.
Manuela Vilaseca opened up about the challenges of adapting to life in Spain and its impact on athletic performance. The runner recalled major international results and discussed the lack of historical recognition in Brazilian trail running.
Moving an athletic career abroad is often portrayed as an idyllic dream, but the reality on the trails exacts a heavy toll. In an interview with Sidney Togumi on Stemma Na Trilha, Manuela Vilaseca reflected on the behind-the-scenes realities of her move to Spain, which came right after one of the most consistent stretches of her career, boasting two top-10 UTMB finishes alongside standout results at Transgrancanaria and Lavaredo in 2015.
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Overtraining and the Limbo of European Adaptation
Upon moving to Europe, Manu parted ways with The North Face Brazil and signed with Buff. Thrilled by easy access to the continent's premier competitions, she made a mistake common to many athletes: trying to race everything. Her schedule turned into a marathon of monthly ultras, stringing together Transgrancanaria, Transvulcania, Madeira Island Ultra-Trail (MIUT), Lavaredo Ultra Trail, and UTMB back-to-back.
Culture shock and physical overload took their toll. The athlete describes a period of nearly three years in which she lost her competitive identity. Although she continued finishing races, she felt a lack of strength and connection to the sport, far removed from the joy of competing at an elite level.
The Comeback and Historic Performances
The turning point came in the Pyrenees during the Buff Epic Trail. Standing on the podium in third place, Manuela felt she had finally regained her rhythm and running essence. From that moment on, she launched into a series of top-tier performances on the international stage.
Key achievements include a victory at Ultra Peneda-Gerês in Portugal, a fifth-place finish at the legendary Marathon des Sables—held under extreme desert heat entirely outside her comfort zone—and a historic fifth place at the TDS (Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie), running stride-for-stride with Sweden's Anna Carlsson, which Manu ranks as one of the best races of her life. Later, she captured the coveted Triple Crown of 200 Miles in the United States (consisting of the Bigfoot 200, Tahoe 200, and Moab 240), shattering the previous course record by 29 hours.
Disconnect with Fans and the Sport's Memory in Brazil
Despite these monumental results, the coverage of these accomplishments in Brazil was often muted. Sidney Togumi and Manu pointed out that Brazilian trail running experienced two distinct eras: an initial surge between 2012 and 2014, followed by another significant boom in the post-pandemic period.
For the newer generation of runners, the pioneering feats of athletes like Manuela Vilaseca, Rosalia Camargo, Fernanda Maciel, and Cínthia Terra often go unnoticed. Being based abroad and away from the domestic circuit widens this gap, compounded by a Brazilian sporting culture that rarely celebrates the history of its champions. Still, with over 90% of her generational peers retired, Manu remains firmly established among the elite in the world's most grueling races.
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